Creating your dream home means choices, options, and sometimes a little bit of confusion! This handy guide gets you started on what features to consider when building a new home.
Location
The first factor is a somewhat obvious one: location. Identify the area you believe will fit your lifestyle and be a good place to call home. A home’s value per square foot is directly related to its location. So, as you make your home location decisions, you may find yourself balancing the size of the house you want against the neighbourhood you prefer.
The location you select may determine certain aspects of the structure, including its size and what building materials you may be able to pick. Other things to consider include traffic, proximity to shopping, schools and hospitals.
Know your numbers
You need to develop a budget and stick to it closely. Define a budget you are comfortable working with and willing to spend. When it comes to budgeting, it’s convenient to think in terms of hard and soft costs. Hard costs would be the cost to build the structure. Soft costs would be what you pay for the land, government permits, taxes and engineering.
Consider resale value
Building or purchasing a home is a major investment. You want your new house to meet your current needs while also providing future resale value. If you plan on later selling the home, ensure that what you spend on the property doesn’t exceed the estimated sale value, you want to make a profit. Think of it as protecting your investment.
Generally speaking, you want your house to appeal to the largest number of future buyers. Factors to consider: number of bathroom and bedrooms, living area layout, storage, kitchen size, total square footage, size of yard, noise etc.
Design theme, inside and out
There’s certainly nothing wrong with “going big” on your interiors, but think about how the designs will age, and consider how they would appear to a potential buyer should you ever put the home on the market.
Classic, timeless design principles can still include a bit of personal flair. Consider your needs in terms of appearance, function, and whilst it’s important to add your own personal flavour to the interior style, you don’t want to regret that damask pattern wallpaper choice. Decide this at the outset and your design will fall into place with very little effort.
Think green
No time is better to think about a green home than at the beginning of the construction process. From solar panels to energy-efficient appliances in the kitchen, even the smallest details can go a long way. Saving resources and energy is easier now that green products and materials are readily available.
Installing water-saving appliances such as washing machines, toilets and showerheads can help cut water costs while also reducing the amount of water you and your family use on a daily basis. Don’t forget to use the sunlight to your advantage. You can also use double-paned windows to assist in saving energy and controlling the air temperature.
Plan for storage
Be realistic with how much space you’ll need and ensure you plan for sufficient storage where it’ll most be required. Storage is prime real estate in a home. Planning for storage isn’t the most exciting part of the process, but it has a huge influence on your lifestyle and organization later on.
It’s always better to have too much storage space than not enough. Ensure that storage space will be easily accessible and not too high for you to reach.
Security
Typically, your security measures won’t affect the way you build, but they will very likely need to be considered before construction is complete.
Home automation and security have become popular in recent years. Consider incorporating the following smart-home-technology options:
- A home security system that includes smart door locks and a doorbell camera
- Built-in speaker systems
- Ample power outlets with USB charging points
- Home automation system including a smart programmable thermostat and smart appliances
Designing and building your dream home should be a fun and exciting experience. The good news is, you don’t have to know everything. You can rely on others who have been through it before to make homebuilding a memorable experience.
With a strong background in single, multi-dwelling residential and commercial projects; Frampton Builders can help you design a home exquisitely tailored to your unique lifestyle. Contact us today to begin the conversation about your dream home!
