There’s a lot that goes into constructing your new home from scratch. A lot of pride, personality, and time. But there’s a lot that goes into it that isn’t so great, too; Headache, possible injury, and money, money, money.
That’s why we’ve put together this quick list of 7 tips to save in constructing your home from scratch, whether it’s time, money, or just a little headache.
1. Shortcut Tools
If you’d prefer to build your home with nothing but a hammer and nails, go for it. But for those who prefer modern conveniences that can save time and up accuracy, there are tons of tools out there; From the nutsert that help make fencing a breeze to getting your wood pre-cut the spec at a home improvement store, it’s never been easier to DIY even extensive projects like a home. Even the oldie-but-goldie level is a must. Nail guns are a lifesaver. And magnetized tools save a lot of looking around for any dropped screws. Do your research and get some quality tools to not only make your life easier, but help you finish your home faster.
2. Measure First
In school and with minor projects, you’ve probably heard the phrase “measure twice, cut once”. They’re words to craft by and will save you an enormous amount of time, money, and frustration. However, when you’re undertaking such a large and costly project, you’re going to want to make absolutely sure that your measurements are 100% correct before you cut.
3. Architect’s Approval
Before you even start to lay down the foundation, you need to make sure that you’ve met with an architect and that your home is sound and well-structured. Not only is this a good idea, but many cities and states require it before you build.
Bring your designs to the table – literally. If you have a sketch or photo of what you’d like, let your architect see it.
This can be especially helpful if you’re going with older floor plans that might not have modern conveniences like a bathroom.
4. City, State, & HOA
Before you meet with an architect, you’re going to want to go to your city and look up state and city requirements for housing. This can be restrictive. From telling you how big or small your house must be, to informing you that you might not be able to build on that back acreage because endangered toads were there 20 years ago, you will hear an earful from your city about state and local requirements for building.
Your HOA will probably want to approve any design you come up with to ensure continuity with the rest of the community. While this might seem ideal, it can get annoying if you’re wanting something a little more unique. (Some HOAs even have to approve of fence type and paint colors.)
5. Upcycle
There are tons of cool ways to save when you’re building – including recycling. From discounted, odd-colored paints to salvaging metal doors from the junkyard, you can end up saving a lot of money by using recycled parts.
Now, you’ll want to check the structural integrity of anything you choose to salvage. And if you’re worried about your ability to discern the good from the bad, you can always go to places like the Restore, which offers off cuts, slightly used, and overstock building materials for a very reasonable price.
6. Invite Friends
Having your friends help you out only really helps save time and energy if they know what they’re doing. If you trust your friends and you work well as a team, make it a race to the finish line, with everyone working on projects at the same time.
Remember that beer goggles affect construction as much as it affects your dating life. Try not to go overboard with the drinking, at least while you’re still measuring and using your tools.
7. Know when to call in a professional.
There are some parts to building a house that you probably want to leave to the professionals, assuming you aren’t one or don’t have experience with the area. Most commonly, that will be the foundation, electrical work, plumbing, and roofing.
Whether you’re saving time, money, effort, or headache, we hope that our list on how to save during home construction has helped you even just a bit. Be sure to do your research and speak to all the proper authorities before you start your project. Good luck!