Many people dream of building their own home. However, despite the fact that it can be cheaper to build your own home, the process is complicated and time-consuming. The first step is planning the house you want, you’ll then be able to look at the various locations and work out what you can afford. Of course, assuming you get planning permission, you’ll have to do the build, supervise it, or pay someone to look after it for you. Even when the build is complete you may still need to finish the inside of your new home.
It certainly takes longer than purchasing a ready-built one. However, you can simplify the process by using a specialist in custom-built homes.
The Design Stage
This is often the most difficult part as you need to know what layout works best for you today and in the future. Designing a home is traditionally something that architects do. They are trained to ensure all the loads are correct and supporting walls are in the right places. Architects can make some great suggestions as they are aware of the latest trends and building materials.
But, you may be surprised to learn that Australia is one of the few places where you don’t legally need an architect to design your home! In fact, only 3% of homes built every year are created in conjunction with an architect.
The short answer is yes! You can design your own house without an architect.
Things To Consider
However, if you intend to design your own house then you need to be aware of several things.
- Flow
Your house needs to flow. It may look great open plan but are you comfortable walking across the living room to get from your bedroom on one side to the shower at the other? It’s essential that you consider how your house flows to ensure it is comfortable to live in.
This will help to increase its appeal and value and even make it easier to sell, should you ever wish to.
- Future Needs
You may be single or a couple now but are you planning on children in the future or having an extensive car collection. If you’re designing your own home you need to consider how many bedrooms you actually need. It’s much easier to include them in the original design than it is to add rooms to your house later.
- Insulation
One factor that many people overlook is insulation and the use of modern materials. The better your home is insulated and the more you include green technology the cheaper it will be to run. A little extra outlay today is worth it in the future.
- Orientation
Don’t forget to think about the sun and when you want it in your home and yard. If you like morning sun your house needs to face the sun. That means knowing where it rises and sets on your plot and what obstacles create shade. It can make a big difference to the amount of light in your home and your comfort.
