Building your own home is one of the greatest challenges someone can put in front of themselves. Constructing your dream home from the ground up can be a very taxing and demanding mission, It will require a lot of patience, a lot of careful planning, nerves, courage and, more than anything, money. However,  all that stress,  expenses, and hard work pay off handsomely,  because the feeling of accomplishment when you finally finish your dream home is incomparable, Fortunately, there are many ways to save money without affecting the quality of your residence. It will take you more time and preparation,  but when you draw the line you’ll find yourselves in better financial standing than expected. So, let’s start.

1. Planning

In order to get an idea of how do you want your house to look, you should plan a couple of weekends driving around and visiting a lot of homes. Note what are exact things you like about those homes and write them down, as well as things you don’t like. Instead of buying expensive home books, rent them in the library. Most of the libraries have a plethora of those books and magazines, and you can learn a lot of useful things from them for free. The crucial thing before you undertake any action regarding the building of your dream home is to have a lot of conversations with your partner about every aspect of your new home. The worst thing you can do is to change your mind in the middle of the construction process, so think thoroughly about how your future residence shall look.

2. Preparation

The foundation for a successful home build is choosing the right lot. It’s easiest to jump on the first good looking area and claim it, but there are many things you should be aware of. Above all, the connectivity with the city’s power, water, and sewage network. Keep your options open by installing the application to alert you whenever new listings become available. Before meeting with an architect or builder, you have to take a good look at your finances. You should determine how much you can spend, down to single-digit, and then make a plan for paying it off. Check with your bank about your financial status and monthly payment, and make adjustments if necessary.

3. Hiring Right People

When looking for an architect keep in mind that a good architect is like a good doctor: You need someone who is keen, capable of listening well and competent. Meet with several architects and discuss your ideal home with them. Feel free to propose all the ideas and find out how they fare in the eyes of an expert. The right architect won’t be the cheapest, but it will be unquestionably worth it. Considering the builders, the best place to start looking for them is your architect’s office. Very often architects have builders they are regularly working with, and will gladly recommend them to you. However, don’t forget to be careful. Do your research, ask for examples of their previously built homes, talk to their clients and, most importantly, get everything in writing and signed.  

4. Look For Discounts

Every price is negotiable, so before agreeing on contractor’s conditions it is advisable to check prices on eBay or Amazon. If you want to save some extra money you can look around the local discounts and pick the desired items. There are even companies that make a single building item, so you can order some ATS formply plywood from a specialized manufacturer. Also, keep an eye on hardware store sales and discounts for home appliances such as lighting, fans and other miscellaneous items. A lot of commercial sites have coupon codes. Sometimes you will find that will give you an additional rebate on some items that are already on the discount, and even if you don’t you will at least pull out free delivery for sure.

5. DIY

You will save a significant amount of money if you decide to do some of the work yourself or with the help of your friends and family. Even if you’re not very skillful with construction works or decoration, you can learn about it from YouTube or find a friend or relative to do it for you. Most people have someone among friends or family who works as a construction worker, or is skillful about it. Encourage them to bid for the construction of your home, and you will probably get a discount.

Conclusion

It is much more expensive to build a custom home than to buy an older one. However, it’s much more rewarding to finish building your dream project, suited to your taste and sensibility. If you hire the right people, they will be more than happy to accommodate your wishes. Just make sure that your dream home is not too big of financial strain, so you can appreciate your homestead once it’s built.  

Author Bio: Alexis is a Sydney-based part-time writer and a full-time mom of two. Her words carry the richness of her travelling and parenting adventures, offer advice and inspiration to those who desire to improve their lives. Outside of the office, she takes pleasure in spending precious time with her youngsters and absorbing the happiness they constantly radiate.