Monday, June 15, 2015

5 Common Pitfalls To Avoid When Designing Your New Home

When you buy a house and land package, you have an opportunity to build your home according to your preferences. Budget constraints aside, you'll enjoy much more design flexibility than would be the case if you purchased a display home. If you desire large bedrooms, you can have them. If you prefer a large kitchen and living room, that too is possible.

Having said that, the added flexibility introduces a number of potential pitfalls. Mistakes made during the design phase can set the stage for big problems down the road.

In the space below, we'll discuss 5 common blunders people make when they purchase a house and land package. Our goal is to help you avoid making the same mistakes, thereby saving you time, money, and frustration.

#1 - Ignoring How Your Family Will Use The Home

The design of your house should take into account how your family will use it. For example, if you have kids, you might want to build a playroom. The location of the playroom should make it easy for you and your spouse to supervise them.

Consider how your family will use the kitchen and living room. If you or your spouse enjoy cooking, the accompanying noise might make it difficult for your family to watch films, hold a conversation, and relax.

If you and your family normally enter your home from the garage rather than the front entry, consider building a small mudroom that sits adjacent to it. That way, your spouse and kids will be less likely to drag dirt and debris into the main living areas.

#2 - Failing To Properly Plan Open Spaces

Open spaces are popular among homeowners. Unfortunately, those who buy house and land packages often fail to properly plan them. For example, they combine hardwood floors and high ceilings, a combination that increases the level of noise in the room.

Such problems are usually easy to avoid. For example, adding insulation to the walls and installing carpet will dampen noise, ensuring that it stays at an acceptable level. If you prefer hard floors, you can also use drapes, cushioned chairs, and other furnishings to create a dampening effect.

#3 - Neglecting To Consider The Sun's Path

Many homeowners fail to think about how the sun's trajectory throughout the year will affect the temperature in their homes. They create their houses without considering the orientation of their windows. As a result, their homes heat up during the summer and remain chilly during the winter.

The ideal orientation is for the windows to face north (that usually means the house will sit on an east-west axis). North-facing windows will allow more sunlight and warmth to enter living spaces during the winter. They'll also help to minimise both during the summer. The result is that your home will be more comfortable to live in throughout the year.

#4 - Underestimating The Cost To Build The Home

This is one of the most common mistakes homeowners make when designing their houses. They spend a considerable amount of money on plans, consulting reports, and various experts, and then discover that they lack the funds to move forward with the project. They fail to accurately gauge its cost. The project comes to a grinding halt at the design stage until new, more affordable plans can be drawn up.

It's important to periodically consult the builder to ensure that the cost of your new home design doesn't exceed your budget. Keep in mind that most projects go slightly over budget. Build a small buffer into your cost estimations so you can absorb the overage.

#5 - Overestimating The Amount Of Space Available

When you first start designing your house, you may find yourself overestimating the amount of space you have at your disposal. That's common, even for individuals who have purchased a house and land package before. The problem is, unless you revise your numbers, your initial design will be unviable. You'll lack sufficient room.

Before having the builder start construction, make sure the dimensions of the rooms, hallways, and entryways are feasible. Be prepared to make compromises. For example, you may need to design your home theatre to accommodate guests if you lack the space to incorporate a separate guest room.

Buying a house and land package is an exciting experience that gives you an opportunity to design your home the way you envision it. But keep the common pitfalls listed above in mind during the design stage. Doing so will help to ensure that you and your family are ecstatic about your new home for years to come.

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