A home is a commitment. Whether you are building from the ground up or simply adding an extension to an existing structure, you need to take charge, make the right decisions, and stick to them. Otherwise, you will have one complicated and costly home building project.
To avoid the stress and the unnecessary expenses, you need to find the right home builder and follow a good strategy for working with one. Here are some ideas.
- Make sure you are clear on what you want done.
Do you want to add another storey to your house? Do you need to extend the kitchen? Perhaps you need to add another toilet? Beyond knowing the kind of work you need done, you should also make sure about the kind of materials, the finishes, and all the other details involved before the project begins. Having a clear scope of the project will prevent delays.
- Get a proper estimate from several different builders.
You need more than just two builders to choose from before you find the right one. Get several proper estimates for the job, from multiple builders. Compare apples to apples, making sure each estimate addresses the same parameters of the project.
- Deal with the paper work before taking out a wall or doing any demo work.
Some building or renovation work may require lodging an application with your local council. The application has to get approved before you can make any changes to your home. Even small renovations and repairs may need council permits. These applications are necessary because some of the work you need to get done may not conform with certain regulations, e.g., building codes, energy and water-saving regulation, heritage regulations, and so on.
- Set a budget by adding about 5 to 10 per cent for extra costs.
The Australian Government initiative recommends adding 5 to 10 per cent for extra costs so you will have room for the surprise expenses.
- Make sure your home builder has a project manager.
A project manager will keep you updated on how the build is coming along, whether it’s on schedule or if any issues with the plumbing or electrical may require certain changes to your plan.
- Get everything in writing.
Lastly, changes are bound to occur during the home building project. For instance, the tiles for the floor you specified have been halted for production. Your builder will need to source another tile. This change may lead to other changes, and keeping track is essential to preventing headaches and increased expenses. Whatever adjustment or modification is necessary, make sure these things are put in writing, with a new estimate.