Common
home
building
mistakes
Ensuring your dream home doesn’t become a
house of horrors is simply down to the planning
and detail. First time builders will always run in to
problems but here we highlight a few of the most
common to help you avoid any disasters.
Changing the plans
Once the architect gets the engineer’s seal of approval any changes made after that can throw
the whole project off and trigger a domino effect
of problems and costs. For example, wanting to
move a doorway, may sound simple but the current position could be supporting a beam which
if moved would mean that this part of the house
would need to be fitted with an alternative support.
In this case, the engineer may need to revise drawings to accommodate the change – which adds up
in time and cost.
Make sure your planning sessions with your architect produce a plan that is exactly what you want
and need in terms of space and layout for your new
home.
Cutting corners
Even if you are working within a tight budget cutting
corners on design and materials does not make
economic sense to. Do not cut corners on the fundamentals of your build such as bricks, roof tiles
and windows because you want to save money for
internal fittings as the old adage says “ you pay for
what you get” and replacing a roof in a few years
will costs an awful lot more than internal fittings
Paying up front
This is a big no-no. Paying builders in advance is
one of the most common mistakes. If a builder
doesn’t trust you enough to start work without
cash up-front, you shouldn’t t trust them either.
Set up terms and pay when different stages of the
work are completed. Alternatively register funds
with a third party such as a lawyer who can release
funds at designated stages.
PERFECT HOMES INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE
97