Building a custom home is becoming increasingly popular in Australia and many other countries worldwide.
However, you should not jump into it with both feet without exploring the pros and cons. Let’s take a closer look at why you need to look for custom homes.
1 Be Honest About Your Needs and What You Want
There is a difference between what you need and what you want. The idea of a custom home is to use all of the space. Just don’t decide you want five bedrooms and bathrooms for the sake of it.
Two of the most critical factors are deciding how many rooms and what kind of rooms you need.
2 Lifestyle
Your custom home should fit your lifestyle. Do you need to work and live in it?
Increasingly, the Roe and Co Builders team talks to clients who would like to work from home. If this is you, you may want to dedicate part of your own to home-working.
A workspace does not necessarily mean a home office. It could also mean a yoga studio or beauty salon.
We also like to point out to our clients that mobility and accessibility are essential. Building a house on one level is an excellent way of future-proofing your home.
Make a list and put your needs and wants in separate columns.
3 Determine Your Budget
This is a biggie!
The sooner you tackle the budget, the better. Be honest with yourself. How much can you comfortably afford to spend on your custom build?
Don’t forget about living expenses. While we are busy building your home, you need to have somewhere to live.
A top tip from us. You may come across unexpected costs. Having some slack in the budget is always best practice.
4 Obtaining Finance
Are you paying cash? If so, you need to be careful and watch every cent. Changing and modifying a build affects your budget. Once you have the custom design, it is best to stick to the plan.
When you need finance, you should shop for the best deals that fit your overall budget.
5 Research Builders
If you have built a custom home in the past, you probably have a preference for builders.
When you are new to the process, you should do your research. Working with a local builder is often better. Make sure they have the right previous experience. Licenses, permits and insurance are also necessary.
Don’t just take their word for it. Make sure you see the documentation before you sign the contract.
6 Location, Location, Location
Building a custom home probably means you are not planning to move for some time.
This is where the location comes in. The location of your custom build needs to be right today and for the foreseeable future.
You may want to be close to schools right now, but your priorities may change in the future.
Find a plot and make sure it fits within your budget.
7 Quality Matters
When you build a custom home, your choice of materials matters. Investing in quality materials in the beginning means you have to spend less on maintenance in the future.
Also, ensure your builder has a good track record. As you are financing the build and it is unique to you, ensure your builder can deliver on time and to your specifications.
This is very important and something that many new custom homeowners forget about.
If you live in rented accommodation or need to sell your existing home within a specific time frame, ensuring your home is ready on time is essential. Otherwise, you may spend part of your budget on a rental or risk losing the sale of your home.
In particular, this is important when financing your new home using the proceeds of your old home.
8 Style and Architecture
When you want to complete a successful custom build, choosing a construction company and builder who reflects your aesthetics and style of architecture is essential.
What do we mean by that? If your builder has never built an energy-efficient home before, they are unlikely to have the right experience. Both of you will be on a steep learning curve during the project.
Architecture matters! Building modern functional homes that still offer personality is not easy to do.
The design needs to be correct and the builder must have experience. Choose your builder carefully, ensuring they have experience and a love for your project.
9 Working Together
It would help if you felt you could work with the builder and trust them 100 per cent.
If you don’t like the team, choose another company instead. When it comes to custom-built homes, you are going to be working together for some time, and getting along well is super important.
Final Thoughts
This page offers a lot of food for thought. Take your time, and don’t rush into the project. Remember what we said—there is a difference between wants and needs.
They both need to fit within your budget, and your builder of choice must be able to deliver your dream custom home.
