Building a brand new home is an exciting time, but it can mean a lot of decisions and added pressure, which can lead to mistakes being made. The good news is that most of the time these mistakes can be avoided with the proper planning and by using experienced local builders!
However, even with the best of intentions, mistakes do happen and can waste a lot of time and money on your build project. Having an understanding of what can go wrong helps mitigate the effects, so take a look below at the 10 most common home building mistakes to avoid when building a new home and get ahead of the game!
1. Incomplete Or Non Existent Plans
Always invest time and effort in getting professional house plans that are quality checked and error-free. You would be surprised at the number of times even small errors can affect the outcome. There can easily be misunderstandings between workers and subcontractors, which can lead to expensive mistakes and delays. Do not make the mistake of assuming that because you have told one person about an issue or requirement, it will filter down to the right people – unless it is explicitly expressed on the site plans.
Every builder will tell you that it is absolutely essential to have a highly detailed set of plans. These plans act as an ‘instruction book’ for all of the contractors, sub-contractors, workmen, plumbers, electricians, flooring specialists, kitchen installers and pretty much anybody who is on-site at any time during the build. It is absolutely essential that the plans are accurate, up to date and on-site at all times.
2. Poor Design
When you’re planning the design of your new home, it’s really important that you take the time to think about every little detail. Yes, this is time-consuming, but it will pay off in the long run. This means considering everything from things like the size of the rooms, window placement and size, the width of the hallway, through to shower size and placement, entryways, wall space and the use of space within each room.
Taking the time to examine the design from every angle will mean you are able to pick up on the little things that may end up bugging you after the build is complete. This can be as simple as moving a wall over 100mm to expand the bathroom space to allow for a larger shower or to fit in a larger vanity or a towel rail. Or addressing an odd corner wall situation where the space is going to be unusable as it stands. See here for more on choosing your house plans.
3. Forgetting To Future Proof
When you’re planning the design of your new home, it’s really important that you take your current lifestyle needs into consideration, but also any changes that may be on the horizon. For example, is there a possibility that your family will be expanding? Do you have children who may have different needs as they reach the teenage years? Do you often have guests who stay overnight? Are you taking long-term sustainability into account? Is your new home eco-friendly?
Even though addressing these kinds of future needs may add to the cost of the build now, building new is the best, most cost-effective time to consider these additional aspects, allowing you to future-proof your home without the need to move again or expand at a later date. For more on building healthy homes in NZ see here.
4. Thinking You Can Do It All Yourself
One of the biggest home building mistakes people make is thinking they can do everything themselves or project manage the whole build themselves. Even if you are the king/queen of DIY, building a house is a massive undertaking for anybody. All the meetings and time involved, the addition of purchasing and sourcing all the materials, finding and meeting with contractors, applying for permits and consents, as well as project managing the entire process, will require more than full-time hours across the course of the build.
And while it can be a way to save some money, it can also be false economics. The problems prevented or quickly resolved by using the management expertise of a building company can mean investing that little bit extra is well worth it in the long run. Their comprehensive understanding of the process and their skill level translate into significantly increased efficiency and a higher level of attention to detail – meaning fewer mistakes and less costly delays.
5. Compromising On Location
One mistake homeowners often make is to choose a cheaper location in order to build a larger or more expensive house. Although compromising on your location for a better price point may seem like a good idea at the time, always remember that location is often what largely determines the price of a property. In fact, any real estate agent will tell you that location is one of the most important factors in any property sale.
Houses in prime locations are instantly valued higher, regardless of the state of the building itself. Here in NZ, we only have to look at Auckland house prices to see this valuable lesson in action. Don’t underestimate the value of location; a great section in a great location instantly adds to your home’s value.
6. Immediately Choosing The Cheapest Quotes
When building a new house, everyone’s goal is to save money, nobody wants to pay more for something than it is worth or get ripped off. However, when it comes to choosing a building company for your brand new home, the cheapest option may not always be the best. The old saying ‘if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is’ comes to mind.
Sometimes contractors will provide extremely low quotes to get the job, but you have to ask yourself, how is it possible they can do this job for such a low price? Do they pay their workers poorly encouraging a poor level of workmanship? Are their workers unlicensed or inexperienced? Are they leaving out key aspects of the job such as applying for consents? Are there hidden costs that will pop up when it’s too late to change your mind? Are they using cheaper construction materials?
7. Letting Someone Else Tell You What You Need
Extended family, friends and professionals can make suggestions, give their ideas, explain why some things won’t work or why they will, but don’t let them take over and tell you what you need and want from this build. You know best what your needs and the needs of your family are.
You are the one who has to live in this house and the one who has to pay for it. Letting other people tell you what you do and don’t need will only lead to dissatisfaction later on. Stay strong and make sure you are getting what you want.
8. Choosing The Wrong Builder
Having decided to build a new house and where you want to build it, you will now be in the process of trying to decide on a builder. Choosing the right one can be a tricky decision, do you go with a large building company with multiple locations throughout NZ or a local builder with solid local connections? Choosing the wrong builder can have long-lasting consequences that will significantly impact the entire building process, affecting everything from budget to the overall finished product.
Larger building companies may have bigger overheads, but they also may have more buying power with suppliers. Smaller, local builders have more reliable local connections, long-standing relationships with contractors and local know-how when it comes to building in local conditions and dealing with the consent processes. Who you decide to go with will depend on many factors, but always keep these three things in mind: Communication, Experience and Qualifications (or see here for more detailed information on how to choose the right builder).
9. Not Factoring In The Surrounding Outdoor Environment
One of the biggest mistakes people make when building a new home is forgetting to factor in the surrounding environment. This can mean the difference between a warm, sunny, quiet home and a home that is an unpleasant place to live.
Always think about the direction your bedrooms and living room are facing and how much sun they will get throughout the different times of the year. Positioning the house to maximise sun exposure is key to creating a warm, healthy living environment. Also, think about the neighbours and existing homes – is your living room facing into their bedroom? Is their driveway right beside your bedroom? Does their two-story home mean your living room will be in shade most of the day?
10. Second Guessing Or Not Making Timely Decisions
Yes, we all have busy schedules, but not getting back to the builder or contractor who has left you a message or email only leads to delays in the construction schedule and added stress, as does second-guessing the decision you just made.
Long lead times and precise build schedules make timely decisions very important when it comes to avoiding delays in the construction schedule. In fact, many builders will insist on many selections for things like colours, and fixtures and fittings being made before construction even begins. Allowing for all of the decisions to be agreed upon and a set plan to be established so that the building process proceeds smoothly.
Thinking about building your new home in Christchurch or Canterbury? JAR Builders offer a professional, experienced local build team that can help! Give us a call today and ask about our complete design and build services.
