Building a home doesn’t have to cost you a fortune. In fact, you can build the house of your dreams with a well-defined budget, cost-effective planning, and an economical budget. The best part is saving money with each construction phase.
From choosing your home’s design to hiring the right builders, knowing where to buy materials, and avoiding costly mistakes, these tips can help you cut costs while building your dream home:
1. The Value of Hiring a Professional
You stand to gain a lot by hiring a trained and experienced construction company to build your home. From browsing different plans to hiring the right ‘fundis’ who know their stuff.
By using a professional contractor, you will mitigate risks that may end up costing you more in the long run. Unfortunately, many homeowners avoid hiring professionals in a bid to save on construction costs. But the overall cost to fix this mistake is often much higher.
Contractors and architects have the experience and knowledge needed regarding material quality and structural processes for different projects.
2. Consider Material Alternatives
Every homeowner ultimately wants to spend as little cash as possible when purchasing materials for the project. This can easily tempt you into using cheaper, alternative construction materials. Naturally, a professional contractor can share with you different material alternatives and guide you on the best materials to use.
Some clients may prefer to use certain materials over others, which isn’t uncommon. However, it could make the material selection process more difficult.
It is also important to note that using recycled materials doesn’t mean they will compromise the construction process. On the contrary, some recycled construction materials such as recycled steel can maintain their structural design and last for decades with proper maintenance. The same is true for other materials as well, such as recycled wood, concrete, and plastic.
So, don’t break the bank while trying to purchase only new materials from the workshop.
3. Build Taller
Did you know that building up can help lower your home’s construction costs as opposed to building across? Therefore, when given a choice between building a single-storey home that spans across your lot and a two-storey home of a similar size in square feet, you should always go for the latter.
As much as both houses have the same amount of living space, the foundation and roof of the two-storey home will be smaller – and consequently cheaper. Moreover, ventilation and plumbing are less expensive in taller homes.
4. Stick to the Plan
Like most situations, changing your mind after the construction process has started can be quite costly. Any changes to the original plans or finishes after signing the building contract and commencement of the construction will mean additional material and labor costs.
Some contractors may even charge you a premium percentage for variations to the plan. So, ensure you finalize all plans and fittings upfront to stay within your budget.
We also advise you to know and understand any site issues that may occur from the onset. You don’t want to miss out on any features you won’t be in a position to add later.
5. Keep It Simple
A rectangular or square home costs less to construct than a similar-sized home with exterior bays, angles, and turrets. Similarly, labor costs will increase as your home’s design configurations become more complicated.
For example, it takes builders longer to frame custom forms to pour the foundation beneath the bay. It will also take more time to figure and cut the angles of complex frames. And the added costs could extend all the way to the roof.
It is Possible to Cut Home Building Costs
By heeding the tips in this post, you can considerably reduce the costs of building and operating your new home. Improving the efficiency of operations and enhancing communications between builders with these smart financial tactics can offer gains through the entire process. Do you want to build your new family home on a budget? Global Architects will provide you with the best dynamic construction processes and tactics to cut construction costs. Get in touch. We would love to hear from you!