Should You Build a House?

The title of this article poses a pretty difficult question. Namely – should you actually build a house, or should you buy? Becoming a homeowner is an exciting, but also stressful, moment in anybody's life. It's pretty difficult to decide what you want to do with something like this, and how. For this reason, we have written up this little article.

The points below deal with whether you should buy your own home, or whether you should have it built from scratch. Both sides have their pros and cons, and you should take your time and consider which one is more important. There are some serious questions you need to ask yourself if you're ready for such a task at all, questions that we have also included below. 

Look at your budget 

Can you afford it? And of course, not the base cost, but everything, including things that might spring up. You have to pay for the materials, the builders, the land, fees, municipal costs… And that's just what you expect. You will need to have some surveying done, get estimations, a ton of other stuff.

Furthermore, you will need to calculate costs like changes in the pricing of materials (this is a fulltime, long-time endeavour after all). Zoning laws might change, as can municipal regulations, and you need to have that accounted for as well. Our point is – something will always spring up, it's a matter of time.

Can your family handle it? 

 This kind of thing can really take its toll on a person. Many couples treat this as a sort of baptism by fire when it comes to home construction. It requires a lot of stress, waiting, hard work, and tons and tons of bureaucracy. Furthermore, you might fight over details, when stressed (or not). Finishes, paint colour, and some other much more permanent elements of the home will be analysed, attacked, and taken into question by the both of you.

A good way to get this under control is to be very, very clear on what you and your partner want, as well as what you both are willing to compromise on.

Can your lifestyle handle this? 

This is a lot of work, a lot of time, and a lot of hassle. Are you completely, 100% certain you can handle this? You need to find the patience and the time to deal with a host of different people and a ton of activities. This means talking to builders, getting the right materials, spending time at your municipal office, and get the right permits…

For some people, this might be impossible due to their jobs or some other obligations and passions they might have. Are you willing to sacrifice to do this? Will these sacrifices interrupt these activities?

Can you find a good builder? 

A huge headache when it comes to building a house is getting a good builder. But, finding a good one means the hardest and most stressful part will be handled easily. We suggest you go local when choosing the right person to build your home. For example, construction companies in Sydney are best if you're building in Sydney. The closer to your home the better, anyone going outside your area won't be as used to the weather, soil, and bureaucracy.

Talk to people you trust, and see if they have any recommendations. Parents, friends, your boss, whoever has had their home built, or know someone that has, you go with that. Search for testimonials online, or ask around. See if they have all the right certificates and licenses.

You also want to get someone who is willing to communicate, a builder that is there to listen to your wishes and needs, somebody whose judgment you can trust, but also somebody you can ask for advice.

How financially stable are you? 

Look at your careers, at where you are in life, and think – how stable are you when it comes to your finances? This is a long-term investment that needs to be paid for an extended period of time. It will take years, and the last thing you need is to be part of an unstable industry, lose your job five years down the line, and end up with a half-finished house.

Conclusion 

And there you have it folks, a couple of hard questions you need to ask yourself if you're thinking about building your home. Look at your finances, and plan properly. How well can you handle the stress of building a new home? What about things like stress and how easily you can find a good builder? Take stock, take a breath, and then make a decision.

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