So you’ve managed to afford to build your own home from scratch and you need to figure out the best way to start.
You’ve come to the right place!
The most important aspect of this, or any project for that matter, is to get the right people in to do the job. In this article, we’ll explain how to find people that are not only good at what they do, but who can share your vision and work with you towards the dream home you have in your head.
Getting Your Architect
It’s one of the first things you’ll have to do after having a think about what you want – hiring the correct architect for your project.
There are some things to ask your architect before taking them on. Have they designed a home like yours before? Can you see some of their previous work? Are any of their previous clients willing to give you a testimonial?
Like anything, if you’re not an expert then it can be hard to judge someone’s suitability. So part of it will go on how you think they understand your vision and empathise with your design preferences. After all, the architect is the one designing your home for many years to come, so it’s important to connect on a personal level as well.
Getting Your Builders
Once you have your architect, you need a team of builders to make the design a reality.
A good first step is to find out if your architect has a building team that they regularly work with and would recommend. If they’re used to working together, the whole build could run more smoothly. This is because every architect has their own quirks and way of instructing certain designs. So if there is already a partnership in place it can eradicate any teething problems or misunderstandings.
Once you’ve chosen the best site for your build, consider hiring local workers. It’ll save any commuting time and they’ll have excellent local contacts, like merchants, for picking up materials when they’re needed.
Get Testimonials & References & Check Quality Of Their Previous Work
It is vital to make sure that you check up on any contractors’ references; the quality of previous work; and their reputation before you take them on.
You can check contractor review sites such as homeadvisor.com, where you can compare contractors and read reviews left by previous customers. This can help you avoid any costly mistakes down the road!
It’s also a good idea to go and visit previous projects built by your chosen team. Unlike with an architect presenting you with designs, you can actually see the output of builders much more easily.
Keep On Top Of Project Management Throughout
Project management is absolutely essential with a self-build. Essential!
Before it all begins, find out how much work managing a self-build project can turn out to be. If you feel like you have the know-how and time to commit to managing your self-build, great. However, if it’s too daunting, you could hire a project manager.
A good project manager will keep everything on schedule and on budget. Hiring them might initially seem like a big expense but if you aren’t confident on your own, a project manager can help you avoid all the pitfalls that come from building your own home.
If you’ve ever watched the popular TV series ‘Grand Designs’ you’ll know that 1st time amateur project managers often get things drastically wrong. Although it can be tempting it’s best to leave such a huge responsibility to an experienced professional.
