Your realtor has just shown you several real estate properties. You’re building your first house and finally settling in America. The options were down under in Truganina. Of course, everything in America is big, even the land being sold. In the early 1990s, the average size of lots sold in the U.S. was around 10,000 square feet (930 square meters). But this has gone down significantly for nearly three decades, and by 2015 the average lot size was 8,600 square feet or 799 square meters only.
The size of the land is, of course, the primary consideration when building your first house. Sometimes, the size and the location of the property play a role in what kind of home you need to build. If you’re still unsure about some decisions regarding building your first house, the following discussion can help shed some light.
Preparing Yourself
That uncertainty that you’re feeling might stem from the fact that you don’t feel fully prepared to engage in this project. Crucial to building your first house is to get yourself ready and committed. Preparation starts with planning your budget. The properties that you’ve viewed should serve as input on your overall budget. Budgeting always starts from including everything that you want and then working your way down to something realistic.
Think about how you’re going to finance the whole project. You will likely take out loans for both the property and for building your house. You will talk to contractors, designers, architects, and suppliers. They will provide ballpark figures for price quotes. This will take more time than you think, but you will need to do the exercise rather than face regrets down the road.
You also need to decide on a house plan and the team that will execute the project. These are all critical aspects of the preparation stage.
Critical Ideas for the Build
You’ve got the budget all sorted out and your team ready to go. Here are more ideas to consider when building your first house:
- Maximizing your land. Incorporate plans for landscaping from the get-go. If you purchased a lot with enough space, think about how you can build a pond, a garden, or a patio.
- Plan your build. Where do you want to face your bedroom window? Or your main door? You need to be very meticulous about the details to avoid saying something that begins with “I wish I had…” years after the build. Do storms often visit your location? Do they come from the east or the west? How many children do you plan to have? All of these you need to consider carefully.
- Escape route. Your design should incorporate safety and security. This is a non-negotiable component of your build. The alarm and exterior lighting fixtures are too expensive? Drop the lawn sprinkler system from your budget. Never compromise the security of your home and the safety of your family. Safety should always be a priority.
- Environmental sustainability. You’ve heard of Greta Thundberg’s clamor, right? Incorporate designs that will allow you to save water, energy, and electricity. Technologies are there for your taking, like solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems.
- Let the pros do it. You have a dream, and the best way to make that dream a reality is to let the professionals do all the work. Consult with them but never be in their way.
Be prepared to face challenges and problems as well. Materials not delivered or paperwork misfiled do happen. Have a well of patience, and you will see your dream come true.
