Building a home is a massive undertaking, but it does not have to be one that wears you down with stress and anxiety. There are things you can do before and during the home building process that will alleviate the stress and make the process a pleasant one.
Do Your Research
You will thank yourself in the end if you do it before you start the process of building your home. Knowing exactly what you need to do to avoid any missteps is one important reason to research prior to beginning to build. Do not expect anyone else to make sure you know what needs to happen and when. You need to know so that you can verify that those who claim to know what they are doing and want the job of building your home actually know what they are doing. So make sure you are prepared to ask in-depth questions of possible architects and general contractors. Make sure you understand the planning process necessary to prepare the plans and the timeline for the planning and preparation process and the build itself.
These are just a few of the things you should research. The research process will undoubtedly direct you to other information that will be vital for you to know. Add these items to your list for research and be sure to due your due diligence before anyone is hired and any ground is broken.
Know What You Want
Home builders need to know what you want and how you want it in order to execute. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that decisions that must be made in terms of layout, design, and so on are made on time so the builder can proceed with the plans. Delays in decisions on your part result in delays for the builder. Do not let any delays be because you have failed to fulfill your responsibility of deciding on materials, cabinets, fixtures and other things only you can decide.
Stay Involved
Inevitably, in spite of your research and advanced planning, mistakes may be made. The likelihood that mistakes will be made by the contractors can be greatly reduced if you stay involved in the process. This is not to suggest that you micromanage, but continuing to be in regular contact and regularly visiting the building site and having the contract explain where they are in the process is wise. Do not let a fear of being pushy or annoying keep you from staying up-to-date on what is happening at your home.
Enjoy Making It Your Own
Being prepared and taking responsibility for what is happening at your home does not mean that you cannot enjoy it. Quite the opposite. The point of planning, making decisions, and being present is so that you can enjoy that your home is being built and being built to your liking. So have fun making the decisions and be proud to take ownership of your role in the home that you are building.
Do not let the gravity of the task of building a home make it an unnecessarily stressful task that makes you miserable. If you do your part, you will find that building your home was an enjoyable process.
Photo. Michal Jarmoluk