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For many people building your own home is a dream come true and opens up so many possibilities.
Building your own home is both exciting and challenging and provides the opportunity for you to create a unique property with personalised living spaces.
However, it can also be overwhelming, particularly if you don’t know where to start. In our latest blog we’ll guide you through the main elements and the process of building your own home as well as providing you with some of our top tips on where to start.
Finding the right location is crucial when building your own home. Consider your preferred location, accessibility and the size of the land. It is worth getting to know local agents to get access to potential plots before they go on the open market, and to be flexible with your aspirations - the ideal plot might be a brownfield site or already have an existing house on it. Before making an offer on a plot take professional advice on the likely planning status to ensure that you will get permission to build.
Building a home is a complex project that requires a team of professionals to ensure everything is done correctly. You'll need to hire an architect to design your home, and a contractor to manage the construction phase.
Working with a qualified RIBA Chartered Architect, who is able to provide a one stop solution and not only design your home but manage the entire process from planning approval through to project management, offers so many benefits and makes the journey of building your own home really enjoyable.
Before you start designing your dream home, you need to determine how much you can afford to spend. Building a home can be expensive and it's essential to have a clear idea of your budget to avoid overspending. Your professional team will be able to create a budget cost plan to calculate all of your expenses, including the cost of the land, building materials, labour, and any additional fees you may incur. It’s really important to consider all of the possible expenses as well as leave aside a contingency budget in the event of unforeseen issues.
Once you have your team in place and you have an idea of budget, it's time to start designing your dream home. Work with your architect to create a plan that meets your needs and fits within your budget. Their expertise here will be invaluable. Consider the layout, style, and functionality of your home and make sure it aligns with your lifestyle preferences and how you’d like to live in your new home.
Before you can start building, you'll need to obtain any necessary planning approval from your local authority. This can be a lengthy process, so it's essential to get started as soon as possible and your RIBA Chartered Architect can help guide you through this process too.
Once you have the planning approval in place, agreed on the design and budget with your architect and construction contractors it's time to start construction.
Before you start on site ensure that your contractor has a detailed set of drawings to work to - this will minimise additional costs and clearly set out what is expected of all parties.
Good communication is essential to ensure everything progresses as planned and using an architect will ensure that a contract is in place defining roles and responsibilities from the outset. Be prepared for unexpected challenges and delays, but if you do the design work before starting on site you will be off to a good start.
As construction nears completion, work with your architect and interior designer to finalise the smaller details and spaces - selecting finishes, such as flooring and fixtures and making any last-minute changes to the interior design.
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Finally, once the construction is complete move in and enjoy your new home! Take the time to celebrate your hard work and enjoy your new personalised living space.
Building your own home can be both a challenging and immensely rewarding experience. By following these tips and working with a team of professionals and appointing a RIBA Chartered Architect at an early stage will enable you to create a home that meets your needs and reflects your personal style.
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