One of the biggest steps you can take in life is designing your own custom home. The process is more than deciding on how many bedrooms and bathrooms there should be. It is a long, carefully crafted journey to make a dream come true. Here’s where you can get started with planning to build or renovate your custom home in Canmore.
Get With the Program
“Program” is an architectural term that means “goal setting.” In other words, have a solid plan for what you want. To accomplish this, you will need to indulge both sides of your brain. One side is practical, the other side dreams. Each side needs equal input to form the perfect program.
Create a Budget
Start this step by establishing exactly what you can spend to build your house. Consider the purchase price of the land, taxes, fees, design and construction costs along with decor and landscaping. You will need to figure in contingency funds to cover any delays or extra expenses.
Find the Right Location
Whether it is a large tract of land or an old, neglected house that needs some tender loving care, you have to find the spot that is just right for you. Even if it does not have the coveted ocean views or stand in the shadow of gorgeous mountain peaks, you can reinvent yourself again later. Find something that works for you and your program right now.
Build a Team
You cannot do this big job all by yourself. You will need help from an architect, a builder and an interior designer. At some point, you may also need a landscape specialist to create a dream yard around your custom home. Your team is there to help you turn your goals into reality.
Consider All Possibilities
During the planning phase, you should consider all factors and possibilities. You do not want to have a moment of “we should have done this another way” after the work is completed. Take a few weeks or months to bring your plan together and know what you really want down to the last detail.
Deal with the Hiccups
No matter how smoothly the planning phase goes, when the work starts, there will be surprises, delays, and hiccups. How well you handle these situations with the construction crew and your design team will determine how efficiently your project will proceed over the long term. It is in your best interest to communicate and cooperate.
Enjoy the House
When all is said and done, and the workman have left for good, enjoy your new home. You worked hard on planning it, you endured its construction and you spent hard-earned money on it. It is now your unique place in the world. Put up your feet and revel in what you have accomplished.
Designing and building a custom home is a large task. Following the advice from the professionals is the first step.