Building Your First Home
Building a new home is an exciting experience. Whether you are building your first home, or just a new one, being on a budget is common in these tough economic times. At DJP Developments, we completely understand the need for keeping the purse strings tight and building a house on a budget. Staying awake at night worrying about blowing the budget should not be a part of the process at all if you follow these easy tips.
Tip # 1 – Prioritise the features
You can cut costs by detailing the features you absolutely need against the features that you don’t. Focus on what you and your family really need, and remove the ones that are just ‘nice to haves’. Ask yourself questions like:
1. Which rooms would we use often? If you’re a family that eats while watching TV, perhaps a formal dining room is not needed.
2. How much storage do you need? Is your kitchen cupboard plan enough for your needs, or do you really need an extra walk-in pantry?
3. Are we building for now or the future? If you’re a first-time home builder and are planning on having children later on, perhaps adding a guest bedroom that could be turned into a baby room would be a cost-effective idea.
Tip # 2 – Choose the right building company
Just because you’re on a budget, doesn’t mean that you have to choose the cheapest and first builder you come across. Building a new home requires experience, attention to detail and qualified expertise, so make sure you choose a building company that has been around for a while and has the expertise to show for it. Any reputable building company will understand your need for a budget and will advise and discuss the various options available to you for sticking to your budget whilst still being able to get the home of your dreams.
Tip # 3 – Create a robust budget
Guesstimating on costs will certainly cost you more in the long run. Creating a detailed, robust budget will assist you to plan for all eventualities and avoid nasty hidden costs in the long run. Work with the reputable building company you choose to get the most detailed quotes possible. If you take the guesswork out of budgeting, you are sure to avoid over-spending. Always remember to add a bit extra into your budget for snags and overruns.
Tip # 4 – Keep regular communication
Once your building has commenced, make sure you and your building contractor stay in regular (we suggest weekly) contact. Measure the progress of your build each week against a project plan and timeline. Staying in regular communication will make sure you are able to stay on top of the process as well as keep a close eye on the budget too.
Looking for building contractor that specialises in building on a budget? Look no further than well-known Perth building company, DJP Developments.
