Once you have made the decision to build a new home, it is important that you have a clear idea of what you want. This will save you a lot of stress, time and money down the track, as making changes once construction has started is a recipe for disaster. In this article, we have outlined 8 crucial decisions that you should make prior to employing a designer home builder.

1.       Budget
This will often involve speaking with your bank or lender, as you need to determine how much you’re allowed to borrow. As well as materials and tradesmen, you will need to factor in legal fees. It’s also a good idea to have a buffer, just in case an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance arises.

2.       Style
Have a think about the style of home you would like. Do you want something ultra modern and contemporary? Or would you prefer a more traditional look? It can help to have a look at other properties and take photos of the features that you really like. This can help you to settle on a style for your project.

3.       Rooms
Determine how many rooms you would like to have (don’t forget to include toilets and laundries). If you have a smaller block of land, you might need to build two or even three storeys in order to incorporate them all. As this will significantly increase the price, it helps to list each room as a want or a need.

4.       Layout
Whilst your designer home builder will handle the final plans, if you can provide them with a basic idea of the layout you want it can make the process go much smoother. A rough sketch is a good idea. Your builder may be able to advise you of better ways to achieve your dream and can polish up your original plans.

5.       Furniture
Unless you plan on purchasing brand new furniture once your home is complete, you should definitely take the time to work out how your existing furniture is going to fit into it. If you have a king size bed or a massive sofa, for example, you will need to ensure that there is enough space for them to fit.

6.       Direction
Determine whether you want a south or a north facing garden, where you want the sun to enter your home and where you want to keep shaded, and so on. Keep in mind that the afternoon sun is quite warm. This will help you to figure out which directions each room should face and where windows should be located.

7.       Sustainability
If you are concerned with doing your bit for the environment, consider how the latest technology and building techniques could help. These sorts of practices are quite expensive, but there are smaller steps that you could take instead (such as sourcing local or recycled materials to reduce your footprint).

8.       Fixtures
Think about the kinds of fixtures and fittings you would like to use in your home. You can find inspiration anywhere – have a snoop in your friend’s and family’s houses or scour interior design magazines. These elements will often be added to the design fairly quickly, so having an idea of what you like can help.

If you’re thinking about building your dream home, it is crucial that you have made the 8 decisions outlined above before contacting a designer home builder. This will ensure that the construction process goes as smoothly as possible and that you are completely satisfied with the finished product. Rushing these decisions almost always leads to disaster.