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Everyone has their own set of standards and goals for the result of their Self-Build project. The process of designing a property is challenging, as it's a critical stage that has the capability of turning your vision into a reality.
On the other hand, creating your own home is (usually) a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You have the opportunity to design a space that's precisely suited to your interests and lifestyle.
How then do you pick what to put in a house, and how do you draw out blueprints that an architect or home builder can use? This article will you through the home design process in six phases and help you realize your dream home.
We'll go over a few simple steps you can take to turn your vision into detailed ideas that a contractor can work with.
1. Consider Your Budget
Although this is the least enjoyable aspect of home design, it is vital to outline. Your budget will influence every other decision you make.
Custom house design costs can quickly add up if you're not careful. Throughout the design phase, you'll most likely have to have difficult conversations about which wishlist items are essential and which are not. This is just one of the many decisions in building a custom home.
You can anticipate spending money on the following items:
- Fees for an architect
- Interior and exterior finishings
- Fees for building permits
- Inspections
- Framing
- Construction on-site
- Foundation
- HVAC, plumbing, and electricity are all included.
- The driveway and the deck, possibly landscaping
It's wise to set aside an extra portion of your budget for unanticipated problems. Sometimes things don't go exactly as planned, and you don't want a surprise issue to make you to go over budget.
2. Consider the Location of your Home
Before you start planning your future home, you must first decide where it'll be located. The house's location and how it's oriented will directly influence the design and feel of your home.
Some portions of the house, for example, will receive more natural light than others, which may impact where you place each room.
Before coming to any conclusions, familiarize yourself with the local construction codes. There may be limitations on where and how you can build your home.
Consider energy savings. Direct sunlight will cut heating and lighting expenditures in a cool region. On the other hand, putting the house in a shadier location in a hot environment is advantageous for the same reason.
Trees and tall hedges can provide shade as well as shelter from the wind. Remember that smaller trees will grow larger and obstruct sunlight. Allow the trees space to grow unless you intend to remove them eventually.
Hills around the property can interfere with sewerage and drainage systems. Rainwater runoff must be channelled away from your home's foundation if you live at the bottom of a hill. You might have to install a sewerage pump if you live at the top of a hill.
3. Select an Architectural Design
Admittedly, not every aspect of building a custom home is thrilling. This portion can be fun, however, because it allows you to see your ideas come to life. Whether you deal directly with an architect or through your builder, you can choose the architectural design and layout that appeals to you.
You might consider driving around the neighborhoods, snapping pictures of properties that interest you, and looking for images on real estate websites. These are just a few of numerous methods for obtaining inspiration.
When you decide on a specific style, you can explore unique floor plans online and present your ideas to a builder. Alternatively, your builder may have some floor plans you can use as a starting point to create your design.
4. Figure out the Floor Plan
A floor plan describes how your home to look. Determine the total number of bedrooms and bathrooms you require. Then, decide which rooms you want to be large and which you want to be small.
It's best to start with the ground level of a one or two-story house. The ground floor is the foundation of a plan, because it determines the size of the property.
The size of your home and the ground floor plan are inextricably linked. A ground floor that is larger than the actual size of your property is impossible. After determining the ground floor, design the floor plans for your stories.
Your priorities also determine the size of each room. For example, make your living room relatively larger if you enjoy entertaining guests and relatives. Consider having an open-plan kitchen layout if you wish to converse with your visitors or family while preparing dinner. That is how you determine the dimensions of your spaces.
If you've never made floor plans before, it can be difficult to know exactly how big to create the rooms and other spaces. As a reference point, measure the walls of the rooms in your current house.
5. Have a Reasonable Timeline
It takes a long time to build a beautiful custom home, and it requires patience. It can take up to eight months or more to build a new home. This involves getting permissions, construction, inspections and audits, and the often-unavoidable delays caused by inclement weather, supply shortages, and other unforeseen circumstances.
As you might expect, the more customized the home is, the longer it takes to build it. So if time is a major issue, go with a simpler floor plan.
6. Hire Professional Builders
Not all home builders are made equal. The creative and methodological variations between them are significant. Look at internet reviews to help you create an idea. Once you've determined that you've chosen the ideal builder for you, contact them to ask about a possible completion date.
You'll need a good working connection with the builder. Treat the early meetings like an interview, and assess their trustworthiness and capacity to match your demands.
At Leenan Homes, we pride ourselves on having over 30 years of experience in the Regina custom home building and remodelling market. If you're looking for an experienced, competent, reliable, and well-established luxurious custom house builder in Regina, go no farther than Leenan Homes.
Our team of professionals will offer the best services to help you in your process.
Conclusion
It's wonderful to design a home, but it can also be daunting. It doesn't have to be, though! To make the procedure as easy as possible and guarantee that the result is what you've imagined, follow the steps above.
For more questions on custom home design, get in touch with the experts at Leenan Homes today.