Are you daunted by the idea of building a house? Have you seen many people go over budget, take years to complete, or split up with their partner over the stress? It doesn’t have to be that way. Building a house is akin to manufacturing; there's a process to follow. As long as you adhere to this process, things won’t go too far wrong.
Pre-Construction Planning
Before commencing your build, ensure you have completed all your pre-construction planning. This can be done in any order but must be thorough.
Planning
Ensure your planning conditions are as complete as possible. This will prevent issues and delays towards the end of the project.
Utilities
Submit your utility applications well in advance of starting your build. Delays in this area are notorious and can create complications at the end of the build, often taking months to process.
Budget
Create a realistic budget. Budgets always increase, never decrease, so allow for a good contingency. Consult professionals to verify if your budget is realistic. Remember, building costs rise annually, so ensure your information is current. If you don’t have the money right now for your budget, do not start your project.
Project Programme
Develop a realistic programme before starting. Without an initial programme, dealing with delays later will cause immense stress. Consult tradespeople to gauge how long their tasks will take. Consider weather impacts, especially in winter, and allow for potential delays in outdoor tasks.
Safety
Do not start your project until you have your safety documentation and systems in place. Regardless of the size of your build, the same safety rules apply. If you’re unsure of what you need, consult a professional. It’s not worth the risk.
Quotations
Obtain at least two or three quotations for every task. Provide tradespeople with clear objectives and ensure their quotations are detailed. Avoid asking for a breakdown into labour and materials but ensure you receive like-for-like quotes. It’s not always wise to go with the cheapest quote.
Contracts
Issue every tradesperson with a contract, no matter how small the job. This clarifies what the client wants and what the contractor will deliver. If unsure, consult a professional to draft a set of contracts. They don’t need to be overly comprehensive but should cover the main points.
Insurance
Ensure your project has the relevant insurances. Basic site insurance will protect the client, but ensure your tradespeople have necessary insurances like public liability and contractors all risk for larger contracts.
Drawings
Obtain a comprehensive set of drawings from your architect. Don’t skimp on a few basic drawings; the more detailed, the better. Investing in detailed drawings now reduces the risk of future mistakes.
Building Control
Appoint building control prior to starting your project. For new builds, consider a building warranty.
Procurement
If you’re providing materials, create a Bill of Materials or have a professional do it for you. Obtain at least three quotes from merchants and compare. Allocate the materials into ‘stage call-offs’ (e.g., for roofing or plastering) to save time later.
Project Management
If you can’t manage the project yourself, appoint a professional. Decent-sized projects require more than a few hours at weekends or evenings; they need constant monitoring. Failure to oversee your project can lead to setbacks, lack of materials, poor organisation, and even poor quality. Investing time and money in management now prevents higher costs in the future.
Seeking Advice
If you’re unsure, ask. Don’t start your project until you are absolutely certain about every aspect.
Remember, don’t rush your pre-construction preparation. Spending time on it now will improve the project outcome in the future. Building a house requires the same level of meticulous planning and precision as preparing for the Olympics. Just as athletes prepare for years to achieve their best performance, thorough planning and preparation are crucial for a successful build.
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