Photos By: Pexels and Unsplash

By having your new home constructed with all the features you desire from the start, you also reduce the number of changes that must be made later. You are also able to incorporate any special additions you need or want from the start such as smart technology, ramps or solar panels, allowing you to have maximum functionality.

However, if you are ready to join the nation’s homeowner population by having a custom home built, it is important to take a moment and think about all the factors involved. Before proceeding with the custom home building process, consider these things.

1. The Future

While this one may seem obvious, many individuals fail to take into consideration all future eventualities. They only look at their present needs or wants, or those of the very near future, and fail to factor in those that may come along five, ten or 15 years later. For instance, do you plan on having children somewhere along the line? If so, you may need to add extra rooms to accommodate this possibility. Will you house your parents or other family members at some point? If you’re not in a relationship at the moment, do you see yourself potentially being in one serious enough to ask the other person to move in with you in the future? These are the kind of questions you need to ponder seriously before settling on a final design.

2. The Storage

While you’re gushing over your dream bedrooms, that massive kitchen you’ve always wanted and the amazing bathroom with the big claw tub you can just picture in your head, don’t neglect to think about storage space. You may think a couple of closets is adequate, but people accumulate a lot of stuff. Even if you don’t have many material possessions now, you are most likely going to acquire more over time and anyone who eventually resides with you is going to come with some physical baggage. So make sure those closets are big enough and maybe tack on extra cabinets or cupboards here and there just in case.

3. The Contractors

Again, this may seem obvious but research your contractors thoroughly when planning to build your custom home. Many people go online and pick the first contractor close by with a decent-looking website and non-exorbitant fees, but this is a big no-no. Taking the time to read those reviews and talk to your contractors prior to hiring them can save you a lot of hassle and money in the long run.

4. The Warranty

If your builder offers you a warranty, don’t reject it outright. Some warranties are scams, but builder warranties offer real protection. If something in your new home breaks down or you discover a construction defect two months after completion, you do not want to be without it.

The road to becoming the owner of a custom home can be an arduous process, but worthwhile in the end. By considering the important factors upfront, you can save yourself trouble and money.

Photos By: Burge & Associates Architects

No longer satisfied with homes that look identical to others in a development, home buyers want a stylish home that meets their requirements, not the other way around. For too long, home buyers have had to adjust their lifestyles to homes which have already been built and now they are speaking out about wanting to help design the home they will be spending a great deal of their lives in. If this sounds like you, one thing you may not realise up front is that you will need the services of a structural engineer.

Don’t Architects and Structural Engineers Do the Same Thing?

This is a question so many people ask and so the simplest answer is yes, at times their jobs overlap. However, an architect will design the space, inside and exterior, whilst a structural engineer with take those plans and then go about seeing to the structural integrity of the building.

Once the plans are laid, the structural engineer, like Brisbane engineers such as Incode, will make sure that the design is compliant with building codes and that all structural materials are also up to those codes. This is the person who will specify exactly what is needed when installing HVAC systems, plumbing, electrical wiring and even ventilation. Those duties are beyond what an architect has been trained to do.

Why Is a Structural Engineer Important When Buying a New Home?

Here again, a structural engineer will conduct all the necessary testing to ensure the structural integrity of a building and that builders followed building codes. Not all builders are as ethical as they should be and cutting corners could lead to devasting losses of life and property for the homeowner. Consider, for a moment, the 1974 floods in Brisbane as the result of getting hit by Tropical Cyclone Wanda.

Rain fell for more than three weeks which resulted in the loss of many homes. Today, building codes are much stricter and so when buying a home, it is imperative to hire a structural engineer to assess whether that home is structurally sound and up to current building codes. If not, you have the right to insist on renovations prior to signing a contract or you can refuse to buy that home altogether.

Builders and Structural Engineers

Finally, bear in mind that most builders work with a structural engineer and that is something you might like to investigate. If you are not satisfied that the engineer has done enough to ensure the structural integrity of the home you are looking at, you can always hire your own structural engineer to give you an unbiased assessment.

Remember, it is always in your best interest to contract a structural engineer who will be that one person who lies between you and catastrophic losses. Without a professional, unbiased report, there is no way of knowing what will happen if flooding rains and high winds of another Wanda strikes the area.