Starting a dream home is exciting, but it comes with mammoth decisions that can shape the outcome of this huge project, potentially impacting your happiness, budget, satisfaction and the overall journey.
Whether you are working with a large developer or trusted local home builders around Ocean Grove, it is crucial you have open eyes, and stay informed throughout, but especially at the beginning.
The stakes are too high for mistakes to be made.
To help you get ahead and avoid incredibly costly mistakes, let’s walk through seven common mistakes that new homeowners regularly make – and how you can avoid them:
Rushing The Planning Stage
Such an exciting process can go by in a flash, with the planning being rushed to get straight into the construction. However, rushing approvals, designs and ideas is a critical error. This is your chance to fine tune everything before reality sets in. Every hour spent planning saves money and heartaches down the line.
Underestimating The Budget
Building a home often costs more than expected. Of course there is the cost of the structure itself, but then you have fencing, driveways, garages, landscaping and potential upgrades across the board. It all adds up, quickly, and that is even without anything going wrong, which can further push the budget up. Various experts recommend putting aside 15% or more as a contingency budget to avoid finances running dry before the project is finished.
Choosing The Wrong Floor Plan For The Future
It is so easy to focus on how cool or stylish your new property could be, leaving practical aspects of the build to fall by the wayside. The floor plan needs to suit your needs first, and that includes now and in the near future. Factor in what you need now, as well as future plans like growing a family, or working from home more. Once those needs are met in your build, your wants can come into play.
Skimping On Storage
We all know that clutter in the home can impact us negatively, both physically and mentally. Why not work to prevent that with your house build, paying attention to well-designed storage systems that make your new place more liveable and practical.
Ignoring Orientation
Ignoring the orientation of the property can lead to huge regret. It impacts everything from heating costs, air conditioning costs, property value and even which room position and use, because of the way the sun rises and sets across those zones. How natural light works in your home across the year should be heavily factored in when you start designing your new home.
Being Quick To Hire
Not all builders and construction companies are equal. You’re trusting these people with an expensive, important project, maybe the most important project of your life. Look for strong reputations, recommendations, reviews, references and more. You can’t be too thorough with this decision.
Being Led By Trends
Whether it’s bold vintage tiles, grey kitchens or sculptural landscaping – not all trends age well. Overly trendy design choices can date very quickly and have a huge impact on resale value. Instead, stick to timeless designs, and you can add your personality with soft furnishings, paint and furniture, down the line.
Mistakes will always happen during a house-build, but with thoughtful planning, a great construction team and a heads-up on common mistakes (and how to avoid them) you are much better equipped to make decisions that serve you now – and in the long run.