Building your dream home can be one of the most memorable things you ever do. Rather than buying a property to suit the needs and preferences of the owner before you, you get to create your own personalized space from the ground up and choose every feature you prefer.
If you’re ready to track down the best home builders around Ocean Grove and the Bellarine Peninsula or elsewhere and get started on your new build, here are some of the steps you’ll need to follow:
Photo by Avel Chuklanov on Unsplash
Step 1: Think Of Your Needs and Preferences
Even before approaching a construction company, start thinking about the type of home you’d like to build. Some people prefer green builds and custom designs with innovative features, while others like kit sets, prefabricated houses, and off-the-plan properties. Your needs and preferences can dictate the building company or builder you contact to help bring your dream home to life.
Step 2: Research Building Companies
You shouldn’t trust just anyone to build your dream home. Instead, you want a competent builder or building company with plenty of experience, a good reputation, and the right qualifications or licensing.
Research building companies in your area to learn more about them. Read online reviews and testimonials, and even ask people you know for recommendations. This easy but important process can save you a great deal of stress.
Step 3: Buy Land
If you don’t already have land or aren’t buying a house and land package, purchasing a section to build your house on should be your priority. There are many things to consider when choosing the most appropriate section for a house, including:
- Compatibility with utilities
- Zoning
- Road access
- Section size
- Compatibility with your preferred house design
- Your budget
- Accessibility
Step 4: Pre-Construction Planning and Design
After finding a preferred builder and acquiring land, it’s time for design and planning to get underway. This can involve developing your home’s design with floor plans, specifications, and elevations. You can also include fixtures and fittings if you know what you want already.
Signing a build contract with your preferred builder and obtaining resource consents and building consents needed to bring your home to life are also crucial. Financial planning forms part of the process, too. It can involve confirming finances or a construction loan with your chosen lender, such as a bank.
Step 5: Commence Construction
With finances, design, and consents taken care of, it’s time for construction to get underway! From foundation to finish, your chosen construction team should take care of these phases:
- Site preparation and the foundation
- House framing
- Plumbing, electrical, and HVAC work
- Insulation and drywall
- Interior finishes, such as flooring, cabinets, and paint
- Exterior finishes, such as landscaping and siding
Step 6: Finalize Construction
The wheels of progress move quickly once a home build gets underway. It won’t be long until you reach the final stages of your dream home! When that happens, you can perform a ‘walk-through’ with your builder to ensure you’re happy with everything they have done. Your home will also need to pass final inspections for a certificate of occupancy. When this is completed, it’s time to celebrate, move in, and make your dream home truly yours!
Building your dream home can be straightforward when you’re aware of and can follow a series of steps with the help of a trusted builder. If you’re getting ready to plan a new build, use the six helpful steps above as a guide. You could be moving into a beautiful new property in no time!
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