DIY vs. Builder
It may initially seem like a cheaper and easier
option to do it yourself until you actually
start doing the work and mistakes begin to
happen. While no mistake is ever intentional
it is worth considering that any mistake no
matter how big or small will need to be fixed
and this will cost you and in some cases
could cost an awful lot. In addition you will
also need to consider the red-tape of local
councils and environment officers, building
a house is not as easy as you may think
today there are a lot of building regulations
to consider. If after weighing up these points
you decide to use builder then you MUST
research – today so many people get stung
by “cowboy builders”. Ask your local council
for recommendations, speak to friends and
above all demand whatever builder you
choose he provides you with previous clients
details so you can verify his credentials.
Get your paperwork in order
Your finances are in order, you decided on
either doing it yourself or hiring a building
now is the time to get going! But before you
progress its crucial to make certain you have
the appropriate consents to build, including
planning permission, building control
approval and any special permissions (such
as conservation area consent).
Your building project may be one of the
biggest investments in your life so it’s
essential that you safeguard your investment
by getting the right contracts, warranties
and insurance in place.
96
Ensure your builder holds a valid insurance
policy, and if you’re doing it yourself get a
self-build insurance from either your financial
lender or providers such as Self-Build Zone
or BuildStore.
Plan your purchases
It is important to make sure that you have
selected the right materials for building your
property. It is also import ant that you budget
for the correct amount of materials that you
will use in your building project. Ordering too
many unnecessary materials can easily blow
your budget and can put a hold on your
building project if not enough materials are
readily available.
Try to be green in your approach
We can all do our part to help the
environment during the building process and
for the finished result of the home. Aim to
be as green friendly as possible. Some tips
include:
Water conservation
Try to take measures where you can
to reduce the amount of water being
consumed onsite. Where water is necessary
for the building project, seek to use recycled
water (such as rainwater). Additionally, when
you’re building the property look at ways
to incorporate rainwater (or recycled water
systems) into the home especially for use
for irrigation systems and water gardening.
You’ll be amazed how much you can save.
THE WORLDWIDE PROPERTY BIBLE - www.simplymedia-group.com
Energy conservation
Artificial lighting is a factor that we cannot
get away from, however aim to use energy
conservation bulbs in your finishes and
where possible make use of natural light,
ask your architect about installing light
tunnels and sun pipes into darker areas of
the home. Skylights and shutters are also
another brilliant way to bring light into the
home and combined with the use of smart
systems it will conserve energy and help the
environment too.
Think smart
Smart homes are fast becoming a popular
trend. Where you have the opportunity to
integrate smart technology into the new
home, consider it. It should help to improve
the perceived value of the home and will also
help to reduce ongoing running costs.