Are you planning to build your own home? Congratulations! You are about to sign up to the journey of your life.
From planning to construction, to move in, the path to your own four walls built from scratch is no easy one, but you will be sure to enjoy each and every milestone.
While you’re leaving your future domestic bliss in the hands of a builder you trust, you will want to be along every step of the way. We have put together this step by step guide for you, so you will know what to expect.
Keep reading to gain a better understanding of what goes into the home building process!
Planning Your Dream Home
While the construction of a house usually takes anywhere between 3 and 12+ months, the overall process of planning, buying and building your home can often take much longer.
First, you need to get a feel for the lay of the land and decide what features your house must include.
From there on, you might be designing the house with the help of an architect. This process can take a while, and be more costly than the alternative, but might get you the bespoke home you are looking for.
Otherwise, you could purchase a home plan and enlist professional help from an architect or building designer to make adjustments to suit your site and needs.
Present your plan to your local government building department to be certain that it complies with local codes. Once you’re happy with your design, it’s time to jump to the next step of the preconstruction process.
Choosing a Builder
Your builder is there to realise your vision, so deciding who to hire is a big deal.
Get several quotes, ask for recommendations from your friends and the local community, and be sure to do your research online.
Try to pick someone who’s regularly mentioned in a positive light, and ask them for examples of their recent projects. Ask the owners of those houses to provide a review.
Once you have found a builder you can trust, you can decide on a price and move along to step 3.
Financing Your House
There are plenty of guides out there explaining the mortgaging process.
Make a plan for all the materials and finishes you will want in your home, as well as the building costs involved. Once you know what it’s going to cost, you can approach banks or building societies.
There are different types of self-build mortgages for this purpose.
Be sure to take your time researching your options. Once funding is secured, the journey of constructing your home can begin!
Construction
Congratulations! You are ready to stand by and watch your home grow from the ground up.
As the project starts to take shape, so do your dreams of barbecues in the garden, cozy nights on the sofa and smelling the coffee in the morning in your brand new kitchen.
We would advise that you make regular appointments to be shown around the construction site and updated at each stage.
Due to safety regulations, it is best not to show up unannounced, but your builder should be happy to plan in time to keep you up to date.
Shortly outlined below are the steps to the construction process.
Firstly, The site is cleared and leveled, and the foundation poured. If your home includes a basement, then a hole is created and footings installed.
Inspection 1
Typically, this is when the first inspection occurs to make sure the foundation components are up to code, and everything up to this stage is installed correctly.
Inspection 2
Then the rough framing for your house is set up. This is the skeleton of the building. The sheathing is applied to the walls and covered in protective wrap. The spaces for windows and doors are set.
Inspection 3 and 4
Now the installation of rough plumbing and electrical wiring takes place. The plumbing pipes are completed first, as it is easier to wire around them than the other way around.
This decides the locations of your bathroom fixtures and sinks. For the heating, ductwork is the order of the day.
At this stage, the most integral structures to your house are finalised. To make sure all of these steps are in compliance with building codes and will be safe and certified for you to use, three further inspections occur around this stage.
The next of the construction steps are as follows:
- Insulation is installed. This keeps the climate in your home more regulated and allows for better energy efficiency.
- Drywall and interior textures are applied, and exterior finishes added. After this stage, you can add the base coats of paint to the interior walls.
- The completion of interior trimmings. This is where your house starts to gain its charm. You can finally install decor like work surfaces, cabinets, balustrades and window sills. In terms of the exterior, the pouring of walkways and driveways takes place.
- The installation of hard surface flooring: This could be wooden floors, tiles or vinyl.
- The completion and installation of mechanical trims and bathroom fixtures.
- Final decorative installations like shower walls, mirrors, and carpeting are sorted. These are the finishing touches. The site is cleaned up.
You get the idea!
Final Walkthrough
Once that’s all done, your builder will walk you through your completed home and explain its features and maintenance.
Take your time with this stage. Look into every corner and crevice. It’s your last chance to identify any faults you may notice.
Move-In!
For months you have been eagerly awaiting this day, and now it is here. You pack every one of your belongings into cardboard boxes and move it all across to your new abode.
Now’s the time to unpack and settle in. With the builders all cleaned out, the house is yours to decorate. We’re sure you have already put a lot of thought into what new trends to apply in your home!
Ready to Start Your Home Building Project?
There is no greater sense of achievement then finally moving into the home you have envisioned and constructed from its infancy. We know you will enjoy every milestone of your home building project!
If you’d like more advice, be sure to reach out and contact us. Happy house warming!
