7 Tips on How to Save Money When Building a House

new house paintingWhen building a home, getting the best quality while sticking to a budget can be difficult, especially if you do not have contacts within the industry. For home builders on a budget, here are some insider tips on how to save money when building a house.

1)      Purchase Low Maintenance Building Materials: Some materials are low maintenance and will save you money in the long run, such as vinyl siding or metal roofing. These types of building materials will pay for themselves over time as you will not have to worry about repairing, replacing or repainting them.

2)      Use Salvaged Building Material as Décor: Do you want to add some character to your brand new home? Pick up some used bricks, old barn-wood and distinctive wood doors from demolition sites. Make sure to get permission from the owners first though! Often owners and site operators will give you the materials for free, as they simply want the items removed.

3)      Splurge Only on Items Important to You: Try not to splurge on expensive items, but if you have to make sure you do only on items that are “must haves.” In addition, do not try to get away with spending less on structural components, doors, windows, or any other component which may compromise your safety. These items should be the highest quality in your home, even though you may not be able to see them.

4)      Do Not Build a Home Too Big for the Neighbourhood: Especially if you do not intend to live your whole life in this home. If your home is larger than all the others in the neighbourhood it will not receive a fair price when you re-sell. In these cases the home will be assessed closer to the price of the smaller homes around it and will receive a value partially based on recently sold homes in the neighbourhood.

5)      Monitor Construction Allowances: You are paying for a service in addition to a particular grade and brand of material. Make sure you monitor the materials and budget to ensure you are getting what you paid for. If your contract states you are to get a particular brand of materials, do not accept a brand that is of less quality without having the contractor decrease the price.

6)      Make Sure Your Contractor is Certified: When hiring a contractor, make sure you choose one that is certified, has business insurance, is licensed, etc. Do not choose your contractor based on price. Often the cheapest contractors are the least experienced and make mistakes that will cost you money. Additionally, experienced professional contractors have already established a rapport with suppliers and subcontractors and can leverage these relationships to help you save money.

7)      Choose a stock plan: Custom-drawn plans are incredibly expensive. You can save money by choosing a stock plan and having the stock plan customized, rather than customizing the entire blueprint.

By sticking to these tips, you can ensure a high quality brand new home on a budget without compromising quality or safety.

About the Author

Stephanie is the Search Engine Specialist for vocational training school Brighton College. Brighton College currently offers construction programs in a number of different areas including construction technician, AutoCAD, civil engineering and architecture. For more information visit http://www.brightoncollege.com.