From the very first drawing to the handover of keys, it’s vital to have a professional overseeing your home build. Photo: BACE.
Every brilliant home starts with a sheet of paper and a dream. It’s exciting putting together a rough sketch, wondering where the pool room will go, but home design is a lot easier to get wrong than you might think.
In the worst-case scenario, you could end up paying thousands over budget for a home you don’t want to live in.
Claudio Alarcon has been building Canberra homes for 25 years.
He has worked on countless dream designs through his full-service construction company, BACE Project Management, and has seen how badly things can go wrong if a skilled hand isn’t involved.
“One of the first issues we see is a lack of insider knowledge. Floorplans, in particular, can cause serious issues if they don’t flow properly,” Claudio says.
“Narrow hallways, inadequate lighting, not including enough storage space or power points, and having windows in the wrong places are some other common mistakes that come to mind.”
Is your dream home built from brick? Or maybe timber? Whatever your preference, knowing which materials work well together is key. Your choice of cladding might look great, but it could cost you in the long run if it isn’t paired properly.
“As the house settles, materials need to expand and contract in unison,” Claudio says.
“If they work against each other, it can cause cracks and gaps in the structure, which can be expensive and complicated to fix.”
Something else to pay attention to is the sun’s natural position on your block. Orienting your home properly will help keep it cooler in summer and warmer in winter, reducing energy costs and keeping you more comfortable year-round.
With hundreds of decisions to make that could be the difference between a safe, enjoyable place to live and a logistical nightmare, the general message is not to go it alone. Photo: BACE.
Once that masterful design is down-pat and it’s finally time to build, project management becomes key. Think you could organise the right builders, in the right order, at the right time, without any experience? Think again.
“Knowledge of a typical build timeline is super important to roster trades effectively,” Claudio says.
“Otherwise, you could end up with tradies waiting on each other’s work to continue their own, which not only disrupts them and you but can blow out your budget.”
Speaking of budgets, think about what yours looks like before meeting with your designer. Better yet, find someone who will work with an upfront number and tailor your vision to suit. Building a home that you love doesn’t have to run your wallet ragged, and there’s nothing worse than saying yes to a design only to find out it will cost way more than you can afford.
The trick, Claudio says, is to look for someone who can lead you through the process from initial design to handover of keys.
“You can absolutely design your own home with the proper support, but it’s important to ensure everyone has a deep understanding of your build, including what areas are non-negotiable and where you might feel more flexible.
“The more detail you can bring to your designer, the better.
“Tell them what you want, where you want it and why from the very start, and you’re more likely to end up with your dream result.”
Thinking of designing your own home? Get in touch with the specialists at BACE Project Management.
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