Building your dream home can be a daunting task. There are so many things to consider! But don’t worry, we’re here to help. You will be creating a dream home, building, and investing in your future.
In this post, we will walk you through each step of the home building process, from start to finish. We’ll provide you with comprehensive guides to the stages of homebuilding
So whether you’re just starting out or you’re already well into the process, this blog post is for you!
Ways To Buy A New Build Home
Spec Home
When considering a building a dream home, one of the realities home buyers must consider is the purchasing of a spec home.
A speculative home is typically built by large developers without a specific buyer in mind. This option can help keep a home purchase within budget and fast-track the process leading to move-in day.
It’s important to temper expectations as buyers may not be able to choose all design features. Such as flooring and paint color or personalizing appliances or even enjoying customized landscaping.
Developers plan these homes based on what they think will appeal to potential buyers while keeping a cost in mind.
Most of these spec homes come fully furnished from complex light fixtures down to carpets and curtains. Making them ready to move into soon after closing papers are signed with little extra effort needed from the developers.
Tract Home
Purchasing a home is a major decision that involves numerous steps and careful planning. For those looking for a simpler homebuilding experience, purchasing from developers can be a great option. You still are involved in building your own dream home,
Buying from a developer offers advantages like greater customization if they are small enough and you get in early. With the ability to choose from a range of price points depending on budget and lifestyle needs.
The downside to these developers is that they often include additional costs beyond just the home price. When it comes to buying a tract home, make sure to consider all cost factors in advance.
Custom Home
Building a custom home from the ground up is an exciting opportunity to make your dream home come true. It requires a lot of getting involved and staying engaged in the building process with multiple different professionals.
Homeowners need to have a good grasp of the building process while ensuring they stay on top of their budget. Even before the building begins it’s important to have completed the steps of preparation.
With some guidance, preparation, and research these tasks can be overcome with success.
Who Can Build Your New Dream House
Custom Home Builders
If you are building a house for the first time and have a busy life, a Custom Home Builder could be a good solution.
Team up with an experienced custom builder for your entire home construction process. The project can all be accomplished on time and within your realistic budget.
Look for builders who have a solid track record of successful projects. As they are good listeners when it comes to understanding what you need from your dream home.
General Contractor
A general contractor is brought in once the lot is purchased and planning permission is approved. They are responsible for managing the overall process of building dream homes.
A general contractor estimates materials and labor, obtains quotes, and engages subcontract skilled workers. They oversee safety protocols, obtain necessary permits, and manage expectations throughout the project’s timeline.
A general contractor’s aim is to ensure that the building’s project is completed correctly, on budget, and on time.
Sweat Equity
Sweat equity is a term used to define the contribution of hard work and effort that an individual can provide. Hands-on labor and other inputs like skills, resources, and knowledge are provided in lieu of any monetary value.
Such contributions provide an excellent foundation on which individuals can chart the path to their own prosperity. The sweat equity model often appeals to families who don’t have the financial power but possess effort and time.
Owner-Builder
An owner-builder custom home can be a great option for those looking to make their dream home a reality.
By taking on the task of building your own custom home, you get to decide on every detail. This can save you 10-20% of build costs, which you would normally spend on a general contractor. However, you do take on more responsibility.
Your new house can be architect-designed or you can purchase customizable stock plans.
The time and effort spent on this project will create a unique atmosphere that is unmistakably yours; allowing you to express yourself in ways that are simply not possible in ordinary homes.
With the right guidance, an owner-builder custom home can become a stunning reality, tailored to each individual’s specifications.
Dream Home Building Budget and Financing
Before deciding on a lot of land, consider how much you can realistically spend. It doesn’t just come down to purchasing the lot and the cost of the build.
It is crucial to create a detailed budget that accounts for research fees, purchasing land, acquiring necessary permits and permits fees, insurance considerations, and more. Additionally, when and what percentage of the loan can be accessed at any one time.
Your current savings and equity in your existing house can be taken into consideration when looking into types of finance. Then you can work out how much you need for the square footage of your dream home and the cost of the perfect location.
Once you know the neighborhood and the estimated square footage of the property you will be able to calculate what you can afford to spend; materials, and labor costs to make your dreams come true.
Dream Home Building Land
Purchasing a lot can be an exciting endeavor for custom-build enthusiasts looking to create their own dream home from the ground up. However, before embarking on a custom build without permission, there are a few important factors to consider.
It is important to ensure that the site complies with all local zoning and development regulations, otherwise costly delays and expenses can arise. Being prepared ahead of time for any potential conflict is key when taking on this type of project.
It is safer to buy building land that already has planning permission. However, you likely won’t like the approved design, therefore you need to get advice from a local architect to see if it’s likely your preferred design would gain permission.
Architectural Design
An Architect can provide custom designs that allow you to create a personalized plan that exactly fits your dreams and needs.
Customizable stock plans also offer a wealth of inspiration and help you find your architectural style. Predesigned plans generally allow some limited customization to better fit your site and your own preferences.
Both options have detailed drawings, specifications, and even full walk-throughs. This provides an accurate representation of what your custom-built home will look like before any construction begins. See Designing A Dream Home for more.
Working with an interior and landscaper designer can help to ensure that you are prepared with the costs of your ideal project.
Speaking to professionals early on will give you the information necessary to make smart decisions about your furniture and other elements in the space.
With their help, you can explore and compare materials, styles, and more. Having confidence in knowing you have accurate information about all costs.
Don’t overlook the importance of getting detailed up-front estimates from interior design and landscaping pros. This will help you understand your project’s cost before it’s too late.
Dream Home Building Permissions and Permits
Obtaining custom building permissions and permits requires careful planning and execution. A particular jurisdiction’s building code and zoning laws come into play when the projects become large.
Whether building a new structure or modifying an existing one, the process typically begins by applying for planning permission from local authorities. Anyone performing building work will need to carefully check to ensure they are following all the regulations to be approved.
Once approved, further building codes become relevant throughout the project so building code compliance must occur at each stage. Ensure adherence to the codes and permits can be obtained so people can build their desired projects successfully.
An Architect generally applies for planning permission and a general contractor will double check any Zoning requirements and obtain various Permits before building work starts.
A Guide To New Home Construction Phases
Below is a guide to typical stages during the construction of a house.
Site Preparation
Remove all rubbish and unwanted trees and shrubs from the proposed house area and surroundings. Grade or level the site as per the plans. A site surveyor stakes out the locations of the excavations.
Excavations
To prepare for the foundations the ground is to be excavated ready for foundation oversite pour.Depending upon the type of foundation and depths, timber shuttering is installed to hold the earth in place until the concrete pour. This is to prevent earth collapse which would be costly to excavate again and also more concrete would be required.
Foundations
A reliable foundation base needs to be built in order to create a safe, structurally sound, and level home. If this is not level, certain frames such as a kit frame won’t fit together correctly. Consequently, it would be really evident as the build continued and would cost thousands to adjust the frame.
Construction workers will prepare and pour concrete in order to create a solid foundation that is able to support the weight of the entire house. This is done with precision and accuracy in order to ensure each piece fits together perfectly.
Framing
In order to ensure this stage goes as smoothly as possible, it’s vital for a team of capable builders to be assembled.
It’s critical to have a quality team who has the experience and knowledge to ensure that the framing is completed correctly. Poorly constructed frames can cause major issues, later in the project which can be both time consuming and expensive.
External membranes are to cover the frame and held in place by battens. The detail of the membrane laps and fixing is important to ensure no rain is blown through and reaches the main frame.
First Fix
The first fix stage of a house build is when contractors lay the groundwork for the different trade works that come later. This includes plumbing, electrics, drains, and HVAC.
These contractors will set out where these systems run and give an overall look into how the house is going to function and be built upon.
This is all based on the internal layout of the home therefore interior design plans need to be finished.
Membranes & Insulations
At this stage, the chosen insulations are to be installed. Insulation is required in external walls, across the floor, in the roof area, and also within partition walls for sound resistance.
This is another area where details are key, insulations around all openings such as windows and across steelwork to prevent cold bridging.
Internal membranes and vapor barriers are required on the inside face of the insulation. This prevents condensation inside reach the main frame and rotting it.
Drywall
The drywall stage of a house build is an integral and important part of home construction. Drywalling is specialized craftsmanship and attention to detail for a perfect finish.
To achieve the highest level of quality, a look of perfection must be achieved which takes time and experience for a successful result. The payoff from this hard work is instantly visible.
Exterior Finish
The exterior finish stage of building a house is an important one. You want to ensure it looks like a dream house for years. This stage involves cladding the walls, fitting fascias and soffits, and fitting rainwater goods such as gutters and downpipes.
It is important to select cladding materials carefully, considering wear-and-tear over time and how they will look aesthetically.
Interior Trim
Contractors specializing in this stage carefully handle every detail, from door frames and window casings to baseboards and stair railings.
Their skillful installations align with the design aesthetic you chose for each area, completing the look through the unification of color and texture.
Flooring & Kitchens
The decorative flooring and kitchen are exciting parts of a house build. It takes more than just laying down tiles or putting in cabinets to make sure your home looks and functions as you want it.
Choosing the right materials, fixtures, and features all require careful consideration as it is not a decision to be taken lightly, as these changes can cost a considerable amount of money.
Taking into consideration your future plans for the property along with your lifestyle is key when deciding how you plan to finish the flooring and building a kitchen in your new dream home.
Lighting & Mechanical
Without careful planning, interior design and ambiance can become compromised.
When selecting the appropriate fittings for interior lighting fixtures and mechanical MEP systems, it is important to research various options and understand their individual functionalities. Doing so will ensure interior design aesthetics are met without sacrificing energy usage efficiency or safety standards.
Getting the balance right between interior design intent, energy-efficiency performance, and mechanical systems’ lifespan is key to achieving a successful interior design outcome.
Hard Landscaping
Landscaping should be one of the key considerations at the outset. It’s important to decide what features you need and would like in your landscape design.
The best way is to work with an experienced landscape architect who will ensure that all elements of building the hard landscaping for your dream home are accounted for. They will tailor the design to your needs creating a design suitable for your lifestyle, budget, and locality.
With their expertise, you can create something which brings form, function, and value to your property that will last for many years to come.
Decoration
Decorating your home can be an exciting and rewarding experience. From deciding on initial designs to selecting the furniture for each room, there are several factors involved in the decorating process.
To save time and money, it’s important to consider hiring an interior designer as they can help you complete the task of decorating a house more easily.
An interior designer will be involved in all aspects, from figuring out the perfect paint colors to choosing accessories that perfectly fit your vision.
Ultimately, engaging an expert in decorating can save you time and money while still enabling you to have a house built just how you’ve dreamed it up.
2nd Fix
When the time comes for the 2nd fix in a new dream house build, home fitments can be added to give life to a kitchen. Bathrooms often receive sanitary fitments like showers and toilets.
Plumbing jobs are essential for appliances to work together – delicate coordination has to be considered for it all to fit in place as desired. Electrical appliances like heaters should also not be overlooked.
Punch List
A punch list is an invaluable tool used by home builders to ensure their work is completed to the highest standard. Compiling a punch list requires contact between the home builder and the person occupying the home.
During this contact, each party can take a thorough look around and note any items that need attending. These items are organized into the punch list, to ensure everything is addressed before completion.
While relatively straightforward, this step in the process is absolutely necessary for satisfaction on both sides.
Handover
After months of preparation and building, the new dream home is complete and ready for the homeowner. This handover marks a mile stone and a chance to experience a dream come true.
As the market values keep changing, it’s important that the builders make sure each project is completed on time. In order for owners or future buyers alike, to enjoy their investment.
With the final handover of this new build, we can be sure that those involved will have much satisfaction in having helped create something special.
If you have a run down home or you’re outgrowing it, one solution would be to rebuild your home and take a look at different styles. Such as Barndominium homes.
