Building a home is one of life’s most important decisions and investments. It is only through this complex process that many unknowns become apparent and how many decisions the experts have to make. The following lines guide the first steps to make the road to your new home as smooth as possible.
1) Purchasing Land
Before purchasing land, you must lay the groundwork. You can visit a real estate agent or look at ads on the Internet. Any land you see in pictures seems quite attractive, and advertisements like those of real estate agents spare no compliments. Don’t get caught up in the euphoria and focus on the basic parameters: location, price, and availability of land to build a family home. Up to 60% of the plots offered on the Internet are not immediately suitable for building. They have defects or are not networked. Beware of slogans such as ‘good for investment’ or ‘suitable for building recreational facilities.
2) House Orientation
Orientation must also be considered when building a house. Correct placement can improve indoor lighting and help reduce heating costs. People forced to face their living room windows to the north will have to use more heating and lighting in the winter, even though they do not overheat as much in the summer. There is no need to despair thanks to new technologies based on the “Human Centric Lighting” philosophy. Artificial lighting can perfectly simulate sunlight, varying the temperature and light intensity during the day.
3) Number of Rooms
Thinking about how your family will function is key to avoiding unnecessarily large or small spaces in your new home. Take inspiration from beautiful catalogs and, above all, from your life. A prime example of this is the children’s room. One large nursery is, paradoxically, a better choice than two separate rooms. However, when children are young, they should spend time together in one room, talking and falling asleep together. This creates a more profound social joy. You can divide the room with a wall when they start fighting during adolescence. Therefore, the number of rooms and the interior layout is directly related to the pace of family life.
4) Budget
Unless you are a Rockefeller, you may have a fixed price ceiling for your home that you must respect. Therefore, when choosing a plot of land, the distance to the nearest town and the transportation system must also be considered. All these parameters have a significant impact on the price of the land.
5) Materials
First, consider what parameters your house should have. Do you want a sturdy brick house or a wooden building? Consider all pros and cons and consult an expert.
6) Gardens
Not to be overlooked is the garden. Its construction and subsequent maintenance are one of the most demanding processes. Materials are exposed to adverse conditions, plants are constantly growing, and even slight changes can become complicated to sell over time. Therefore, it is essential to plan carefully from the beginning. When choosing exterior materials, one must consider durability, safety, and ease of maintenance. Surprisingly, you can get to the smallest details, such as weeds growing in garden paths or surfaces that are difficult to clean. Not to mention the modification possibilities.
7) Don’t Be Afraid to Get Your Hands Dirty
Getting sweaty is always an option. If you are skilled, many post-construction projects can be done yourself rather than waiting to be put on the builder’s schedule. Doing the plastering, painting, flooring, and yard maintenance yourself will save you time and money. You will also feel more familiar with your new home and have lots of exciting stories to tell your guests.
However, you should avoid wiring, plumbing, foundation work, and other tasks that are too complicated and that you find difficult to do.
Let us know if these few tips have helped you in the comments below!