Building a custom home is one of the biggest steps a person can take in life, and you have probably been thinking about it for years. Even if you have worked out every detail in your mind, you may not know how to start the actual design process. The experts at Alair Homes Vancouver offer the following five tips to get you closer to the house of your dreams.
Family Needs
While consulting with professional designers and looking through style books is a good beginning, you must also consider the needs of everyone who will be living in the home. Sit down and think about the rooms in your current living space. What do you like or not like about them? Consider the patterns of living as well. There are likely places where everyone congregates or forms congestion patterns in the morning or evening.
Style and Livability
When people consider style, they think of how the house will look on the outside and how the interior will be decorated. These are important factors, but the house should also function well and suit the personal lifestyle of the family occupying it. For example, think about the type of neighborhood you want to live in along with whether you will be entertaining regularly or need a workshop with extra storage space.
Budget and Style Goals
One of the most difficult stages of the design process is the budget. Many people run into snags because of too many changes, unexpected events and just being unrealistic. You must consider the monthly cost of the mortgage and other financial obligations when creating a budget. When you get a firm idea of these expenses, you can work them into your custom home plan and stay out of trouble later on.
Scope and Direction
Once the desired style and family needs are aligned with the budget, you can begin working with a local home builder to get the project off the ground. You will need to provide the right information, guidance and timeline to get the most out of the experience. Make sure that everyone is on the same page before work begins and communicate clearly throughout the entire job.
Trust the Process
When you design your home with the help of an experienced builder, the project will be streamlined, which will reduce the stress on you. Openly discuss each stage of the construction, and then let the professionals take over. Do not be afraid to ask questions, but keep in mind that you hired the builder for a good reason. Trust that they will get it right.
Planning and designing a custom home does not have to be overwhelming. Following the five tips above will ensure a smooth building process and a home that you will enjoy for years to come.