So you've decided to build your dream home, and since the majority of us don't build a dream home every year, you should do everything in your power to avoid having your home building project turn into a nightmare. Here are some important home building mistakes to avoid:
Always Hire Professionals
Choosing the right professionals for your home building project is crucial to its success. Hiring the right architect is extremely important in ensuring your get the house of your dream and not a house of horrors. Architects go through years of specialized education and internships to gain their licenses. Hiring an architect can be extremely beneficial to you in your home building project because a qualified architect can help you not only with the designing and planning phases of your house building but can also oversee the work done by other contractors. An architect remains involved with the building process to make sure plans are properly implemented. Architects can also help you with any required permits and zoning licenses.
Doing it Yourself
Building a house is a huge and complex project and attempting it yourself; even if you're an experienced do-it-yourself-er is never a good idea. Due to the huge volume of subcontracting required, it is highly advisable than you enlist the services of an experienced profession to manage this project. Professional contractors and architects who have had experience in their fields will know which tradesmen and subcontractors to hire for the various jobs that have to be performed such as plumbing and electricity work. Attempting to do this yourself may end up costing you far more than if you had gone with a professional.
Changing Your Mind Once Building Has Started
Make sure you have made up your mind fully about what you want done before plans are finalized in your home building project. Changing your mind about something mid-work can throw the whole project off. Even simple things such as changing your mind about a doorway can result in long delays because your engineer will have to change the original designs to make sure everything is structurally sound. So before you get everything finalized, make sure everything is exactly what you want.
Cutting Corners
You don't build a new house every day so make sure you do it right from the first time. Plan your budget properly before you begin and never cut corners when it comes to building materials such as bricks, windows and roof tiles. These are the fundamental materials of your house build and care should be taken to use the highest possible quality you can afford to ensure your house lasts for a long time with the least amount of problems possible.
Paying for the Work Upfront
HandyAmerican.com strongly recommends that you withhold payment and never pay builders in advance. An honest and reputable builder should have a good, long standing relationship with his suppliers to ensure work is completed without having to require a bulky upfront payment. In fact, according to HandyAmerican.com if your home building contractor insists on a large payment upfront this should set off alarm bells. Always agree on terms and payment before you hire a builder. HandyAmerican.com also suggests that withholding payment can protect you from lien laws should any unpaid suppliers sue the builder. Any contract you sign should be crystal clear on who pays for what and who's responsible for what in a home building project in order to avoid potential disputes down the road.
Failing to Plan your Budget Realistically
Always expect to go over budget, there will inevitably be aspects of your home building project that will go over your expected budget so plan accordingly. Researching what other people have paid for their home builds can give you an idea of what to expect.
Always make use of invaluable online websites such as HandyAmerican.com for reference. HandyAmerican.com offers free resources and articles for all your home renovation projects as well as comprehensive lists of highly rated contractors.
Posted by: TrustedProsSuggested Reading For You
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