03 Oct Your custom home and builder
Thinking of designing and building your dream home? It can be a daunting process to go from your initial ideas, to a concept, right through to construction plans and development approval. All of this before you even think about the actual build. Designing and building a home that suits exactly what you want and need takes time. It doesn’t have to be complex though. Typically, a custom home builder is experienced across the entire process from concept to design to build. Doing it everyday means that they have seen some of the common challenges and roadblocks you may experience. In this article we discuss your custom home and builder & what to expect as you go through the process of building your dream home.
Understanding what you want
There are literally hundreds of options out there when it comes to building your new home. Floor plans, facades, fixture, fittings and finishes can make your head spin. Having a really good idea of what you want to achieve with your new home and how you & your family want to live is a great place to start. Building a custom home means you can adapt things to suit your tastes and needs. A good custom home builder should be able to blend aesthetics and functionality to achieve your desired outcomes.
Work from your budget
It’s really easy as you start getting into the design process to add more and more. At the end of the design process you may have something that ticks every single box, but is way outside your budget to build. Starting with a reasonable budget allows you to design and include what you want, while still being aware of the limitations of budget for your new build. Going through the entire design process through to approval without taking into account budget can end up resulting in costly changes and delays to your timeline.
Start working with the builder early
It’s important that you engage a prospective builder early in the process. Even better if your builder is able to design and build. Being involved from initial concept through to construction plans can ensure that you get guidance and feedback from the builder at critical stages. This can lead to better outcomes and timely decisions that impact cost, functionality and aesthetics. Having your builder involved early in the process will also mean that budget is at the forefront throughout the entire process.
Think about how you want to finish your home
There an endless number of ways you can finish your home. The finishes and fixtures in your home can increase the cost of your new home significantly. Talking to your builder and planning for the quality of the finishes you want in your home can help you build something aligned to both your lifestyle and budget.
It’s not just about price… value is important
Building a custom home should be about the value you get from the process and shouldn’t always be dictated by price. If you’re looking for the cheapest way to build your home a custom build likely isn’t the route to go. A custom home builder can provide value with a more personalised service and the ability to deliver exactly what you want with expert advice and input. A custom home is unique and the process from start to finish will be tailored.
Thinking about building your custom home and need some advice? Talk to Indie Living today and take advantage of our concept design offer.