By Mia Sims | February 11, 2021

Designing your own home is a dream for many people around the world. The idea that you can start from scratch and create the home of your dreams that is totally unique, inspires people and motivates them to save up and make the dream a reality! Designing your own home is an increasingly popular endeavour that many people are pursuing right now. Are you doing the same?

If you are considering designing your brand new home, there are many things to consider before you dive in. This is nothing like buying a home, and many people jump in headfirst without realizing how this process really works.

Here are 3 tips for designing your own home!

Prepare for the long-haul

One thing that most people don’t consider when they are designing a home is just how long this process takes. Designing and building a home from scratch can take over a year at the very least, meaning that you may not be moving into your new home until 2022, or even 2023! 

For some, this is absolutely fine; you can hang out in your current home until the new one is ready. However, for others, their new home needs are more urgent, meaning that it becomes impossible to design and build a home from scratch. 

Why does designing a home take so long? Here’s a breakdown of the step-by-step process, from start to finish.

Firstly, the design plans need to be drawn up with an architect. This will include the square footage of the property, the number of floors, and the general layout that it will have. These plans could also include specific design features you are looking for, such as spiral staircases, glass walls or wood burning stoves.

 

You need to find a plot of land to build on, and gain planning permission. This will vary depending on the country you live in, but in most places, you will be required to buy a plot of land and gain permission to build the structure you have designed. 

Finding a construction company and contractor. Next, you need to find the right construction company and contractor that you trust to complete your project. You will also need to establish their availability and book them in accordingly – this can take time.

The construction part! Finally, your beautiful new home will be built! This can take weeks or months, depending on your budget, its size, and the complexities of the structure.

Consider all hidden and extra costs

Within all the steps of the home design and building process, there will be hidden costs at every turn. This isn’t because your contractor or architect will be dishonest with you, but rather there will be unprecedented issues or extra requirements that will need to be dealt with. No matter how experienced you and those around you are with building and designing homes, every project is unique, and will present a unique set of challenges too.

This means that when you are budgeting for your home build, you should not work exactly to the limit of your budget. You should always plan to be under-budget, because the likelihood is, extra costs will arise that need to be paid for right away. This could be extra time for construction due to obstacles, planning permission problems, or material sourcing issues. 

If you are concerned about your budget for your home build, consult luxury home builders that can practically and transparently break down how much your budget should cater to. This will help you figure out if a custom home build is for you after all!

Your interiors need work, too!

A lot of people forget, when designing and constructing their home, about the interior costs. The entire home will need to be renovated with flooring, furniture, plumbing, electricity, painted walls and kitchen facilities; this will take a big chunk of your budget to pull off.

 

For this reason, you should never leave interiors out of your home construction budget. The last thing anybody wants is to have a custom home built, but having run out of money to furnish it, be unable to move in! This is a situation that happens surprisingly often, and catches people out every single time. Your interiors need attention, too – so don’t forget about them.

Final Thoughts

If you are searching for advice on designing and building your own home, start with this helpful guide and conduct your own research from here! Could 2021 be the year you live your dream and build your own brand new home?