House building is no mean feat. Every home owner who has ever attempted to build his or her from scratch has gone through quite an ordeal – from choosing the right home designer to hiring a trustworthy builder to choosing the right paint colour.
Designing and constructing a home is a complex and long-term project. There are plenty of lessons to be learnt. I could talk for days about them from the perspective of a professional home designer. But as a present or future home owner, you might like to hear from another group of experts – home owners who have just completed their own homes.
Here are some helpful house building lessons learned by happy new Australian home owners who have kindly shared some of their key tips and tricks with us all.
What was the biggest lesson during the design or building process of your new home?
“The biggest house building lesson was to be patient and not to put all your faith in any one person or company. Things go wrong and things change so we learnt not to rush things. It’s better to get it perfect rather than rush it. Some of the people that did jobs within the construction promised things and didn’t deliver. We trusted those people and it backfired.” – Tom Mattessi, Founder of Climate Headwear, Melbourne, VIC
“It took a while before our house got completed. I suppose it was because we did not check in often enough with our contractor and push them to deliver on the agreed date. There was always something that ‘needed more time,’ and maybe it’s true. It was annoying and we almost changed contractors because of it. Halfway through, we had an honest talk with them about timelines. The big lesson is to always communicate with your builders and don’t trust your assumptions. If possible, keep a record of all your agreements with your builder.” – Ron Sterling, Brisbane
What was the biggest surprise during the design or building process of your new home?
“My husband and I set a working budget for the construction of the house. We said we wouldn’t go past a certain amount. But I was so particular with fixtures like sinks, tubs, etc. that at some point we had to order from outside of NSW, and that cost money. In the end, we went a little bit over budget. We were just so surprised sinks could cost that much!” Kristine Miliband, Sydney, NSW
“The biggest surprise was that the changing seasons is a factor in house building. We wanted to have a house by summer time which means we have to start building by winter. The days are shorter and colder and therefore the subcontractors have to work shorter days. There is also an issue on molds, humidity and air quality. We thought, at this day and age, there would be some sort of solution for these issues. In the end, you just have to accept it and carry on.” Nicole Lange, Sydney, NSW
What would you advise a first time home-builder to never ever do?
“I’ve built several homes in my time, and in my experience, the most common mistake that first timers make is that they are too afraid of change. Building homes is a process of evolution and the final result will always be different to those first concepts. First time builders tend to lose a lot of time and money trying to rigidly stick to their original vision. But if you can embrace change, you will rapidly find yourself standing in a better house, built under budget and in less time.” James Hamilton, Sydney, NSW
“Do you an extensive research before hiring a builder because you house will depend on them. Make sure they can be trusted and they have successful projects under their belt. And even if you found the perfect builder, add a clause to your agreement that is they don’t deliver certain sections of the house at an agreed upon time, they will be legally liable.” Ron Sterling, Brisbane
What was the best thing about the design or construction process of your new home?
“The best thing was following the progress. Some days, we would come and have a look and so much had been done, and it was becoming reality. Then for a few more weeks nothing would really happen, and then suddenly again there would be a great step. Very satisfying.” Tom Mattessi, Founder of Climate Headwear, Melbourne, VIC
“It is a very exciting prospect to be building something as tangible as a house. The planning, design, paperwork are all part of the process and they can be annoying at times. But the best part is knowing that at the end of this challenge, you get to live in a beautiful home with your family.” James Hamilton, Sydney, NSW
Like all major endeavours in life, building a new home is a unique and very personal experience. A big thank you once again to each of our contributors for kindly sharing their house building lessons and wisdom with us.
If you are planning to build or renovate a home, especially in Sydney’s northern suburbs, feel free to get in touch.
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