Here is a checklist of steps to make sure you know what you’re doing when building a house.
1. Know your budget, make adjustments, & consider building materials
First, find the house plan that matches your dream vision. Look for cost estimator software to determine the approximate amount you need to spend to build your dream space. There are plenty of cost estimators available online. Maybe you’re working with a tight budget. Having a realistic budget before having an architect or contractor build your house would be advantageous.
These principles apply whether you’re building an L-shaped home or a mansion.
2. Plan how you want the floor plan to be divided.
The cost to build is usually fairly proportional to the size and how complex the overall design is to be made. So make sure to have the architect divide the spaces of your floor plan efficiently based on how you want to use them.
Purchase a floor plan or have one designed by your architect with plenty of flexible living spaces. This ensures all your family needs are addressed accordingly and no square footage is wasted.
3. Determine how you want to use and experience your floor space
Ultimately, how the architect will draw the different spaces of the floor plan of your house will be based on how you want to use it. If you love to host gatherings for your family or friends, the architect will suggest you design an open floor plan.
Maybe you’re the type of person who loves to have defined spaces like home offices and living rooms. You’ll want an architect to design a compartmentalized blueprint.
Which features are important to you?
- Being able to entertain
- Open spaces
- A mountain retreat
4. Pick a design that suits the location & style
Your design has to be appropriate for the location where it will be built. To give you an example, a single-detached option for a family of 3 – 5 is perfect for the suburbs.
What it will lack in interior space, its exterior space will make up for. You can imagine a sizable front and back yard that comes with it. However, this design will not work in highly urbanized areas. When you live in the middle of the city and have a very small plot of land, you have very few options when it comes to floor space.
You’ll have to expand upwards instead. While this type of design may not include the amenities available in the suburbs, there are public parks that you can go to and unwind at instead.
Here are some additional factors to consider when choosing the right design. Even if you want a cheap one, you may still want one with a walkout basement.
| Special factors to consider | ||
| Contemporary | Narrow lot | Lakehouse |
| Affordable | Walkout basement | Small mountain retreat |
5. Write down some necessary amenities & cost of each
We all love family heirlooms, and probably a couple of you guys have them in your current home.
Moving your stuff to your new one can be challenging because you might need to carefully consider the floor space and where all this furniture can be placed. A good example is your grandma’s red oak hardwood table or your mom’s dresser.
You’ll need to talk to your architect and discuss how the interior decoration will blend these antiques into the overall design. You don’t want it looking like furniture was randomly thrown in there.
Features to include:
- Adequate storage space
- Minimal detail to avoid budget overruns
- Efficient use of space to maximize square footage
- Straightforward design
6. Some of your needs require modifications
Maybe you want to ensure your project is successful. Consider all the possible challenges and circumstances before asking your architect to design your perfect dream vision.
The more things you forget, the more modifications to the floor plan will be needed later. Some modifications will be due to budget constraints.
However, this is also good as it will help you work within your budget and maximize floor space. Talk about all your family’s needs before the architect starts drawing anything.
For instance, you may know that your new home must have three bedrooms.
7. Follow the blueprint down to the last detail
One of the things to do to save money along the way is to follow the blueprint down to the smallest detail. You have your architect or contractor whose job is to make sure that this is the case. Keep in mind that they’re going to follow your specifications. So if you get caught up in some of the smaller details, you might miss out on some of the larger things.
Modify the floor plan as much as you desire to accommodate everything you’ve considered before the construction, not after. Making changes once construction has started is very expensive.
8. Learn to live with the fact that no design is perfect
Even with the help of professional architects and with preparation, there may be things you wish you would have done differently. Still, you can be sure that you’re closer to it than those who did not take the time to do a lot of early planning. Do you remember those large windows that we’ve talked about earlier?
They will save you money on the electricity bill throughout the spring and summer seasons. They might be a problem when fall and winter come. They will make your HVAC work more unless you can make a custom outer protective cover for them with proper insulation.
Another issue could be noise concerns associated with an open floor plan. Noise travels easily to the adjacent rooms and might cause some nuisance to other people living there. You may have to give up certain aspects of your dream as you can’t have it all!
What are some features you couldn’t be without?
- Great views
- Lots of open spaces
- Extra bedrooms
9. Trust your instincts when you build
In the end, you will have the final say as to how it will be built. Some designs may seem great on paper, and they might not turn out to be a good idea in the end. Other ideas will make a lasting impression on you. The bottom line is to make sure that the house will work out for everyone in the family.
Otherwise, you’ll end up with family members complaining and regretting your decisions. Your gut feeling will let you know certain ideas work and that trust your instincts is a good idea. An architect may tell you that other ideas may not work as intended.
