8 Important Lessons About Building From Scratch No One Tells You

Before you even consider building your own home, take time to consider exactly what you can afford to spend. Once you have that number, add at least 25 per cent as a buffer. Your vision has to be realistic. The size of your home may be important, but be aware that a new build can cost between $250 and $300 per square foot. That’s $500,000 to $600,000 for a 2,000-square-foot home – and that’s if all goes well!

It’s important to do your homework before you buy a piece of land. Talk to the city or town in which it’s located and see if there’s water, hydro and/or gas running onto the property. If not, it doesn’t mean you can’t buy it, but it will cost you significantly more money to get these utilities to your home.

We all know research is important, but the best possible thing you can do is talk to the neighbours of the piece of land you wish to buy, and ask them about the area, the logistics of living there and so on. Even better, find someone local who has built their own home and pick their brain about the process and problems they faced.

Architects and builders often discuss the floor plan, but it’s also important to consider ceiling height. When designing your dream home, the sense of spaciousness can come from ceiling height as well as square footage. This might be something worth considering when you look at the design of your new build.

If I had a cent for every client who had an unrealistic time frame for their project, I wouldn’t have to work again. I understand where this stems from: we all want to begin our new life within those walls, but a project well done takes time. Have a realistic schedule in mind, and if this is something you’re currently considering, start talking to professionals and contractors now to get a sense of the time required. Then add 25 per cent more time to what they say, and you’ll probably be close to the realistic finish date.

While this may sound obvious, this decision is paramount, and one that should not be taken lightly. Having a team of builders who have experience, all the necessary legal requirements and a solid reputation is a non-negotiable. You need someone you can trust and who is honest.

If you’re planning on working during this project (because how else are you going to pay for the place?) then it may be worth hiring a designer or project manager who can guide you through the process. This is an extra cost, but it can dramatically reduce the level of stress and help mitigate mistakes.

If you can stretch your budget to include the features you really want, then do it, as it will cost more to try and include them down the road. Building a home from scratch is your chance to add exactly what you want, as long as you’re doing it within your means.

Building a new home is an exciting process and is very rewarding. But it is stressful. Whatever you do, don’t go into a new build thinking it will be a breeze, because you’ll be unpleasantly surprised. Instead, approach it with a flexible mindset. And if possible, have a lot of fun, because you probably won’t want to do it again!

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