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Top tips for building your dream home

Are you building your dream home? This is an exciting time of your life, but it can also be super stressful. Here are some top tips for building your dream home:

Have a solid plan

All successful dream homes start with a plan. Make sure you’ve meticulously planned all of the details of your home. What will the flow and layout of the rooms be? What direction will it face? How many power points will it have? Will you have a ducted air conditioner?

Budget more than you think

No matter how much you’ve mentally budgeted, your dream home is likely to cost more. There are likely to be a number of things that aren’t included in the estimate from your builder, such as cable and internet hookups, gas and electric metres, outdoor concrete and landscaping, gates and fences, letterboxes, and decking. These types of items are known as finishing costs and could increase your costs from up to 15 to 25 percent.

You’ll also need to plan for zoning fees and site costs. Along with these add-ons, it’s crucial to budget for unforeseen circumstances. You could change your mind regarding the materials or expectations or have another unexpected expense pop up.

Choose the right builder

This could be the most important decision you make when you’re building your dream home. The builder you choose will be working with you for months, and choosing someone who you have a good rapport with (and trust) will help you avoid problems down the road.

Make sure your builder has adequate insurance and licensing. They should also have a number of references, and you should check to make sure they don’t have any complaints against them online. Be sure to check the service and warranty they offer with that service.

Take a look at some of their previous houses. Check that they’re high quality. It’s also a good idea to check out the resale prices of those houses. Another thing to consider? The builder’s style. They could be an expert in a particular style, but unless that style is what you’re going for, you may end up disappointed.

Prioritise communication

You should be continually communicating with your tradesmen and builder. That means getting regular updates on the progress of the build, and checking in often. Be sure to stick to your guns if your tradesmen, builder, or contractor tell you they can’t do something. If you’ve done your research, push back. It may cost you a little extra, but if this is your dream home, it’s worth fighting for the details you deem most important.