Whether you’re just starting to explore the idea or you’re ready to break ground, this post will walk you through every step, from finding the perfect lot to adding those final finishing touches. 

So, let’s dive in!

Laying the Groundwork

Before you can even think about construction, there are a few critical steps you’ll need to take. First up? Determining your budget. Building a custom home is a significant investment, so it’s important to have a realistic understanding of what you can afford. 

Work with a lender or financial advisor to get pre-approved and set a firm budget that accounts for land, materials, labor, and any unexpected costs.

Next, it’s time to find the perfect location. Consider factors like proximity to work, good school districts, and access to amenities. You’ll also want to research zoning laws, building codes, and any homeowner’s association rules that could impact your plans.

Assembling Your Dream Team

Once you’ve laid the groundwork, it’s time to assemble your dream team of professionals who will help bring your vision to life. At the top of the list? A reputable architect and custom home builder in Columbus. Interview multiple candidates, check their references, and ensure they have experience with projects similar to yours.

You may also need to enlist the help of other experts, like interior designers, landscape architects, and various subcontractors (electricians, plumbers, etc.). Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions and ensure everyone is on the same page regarding your goals, budget, and timeline.

Designing Your Dream Home

This is where the fun begins! Work closely with your architect to design a home that not only meets your practical needs (number of bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.) but also reflects your personal style and any special features you desire (like a home theater or outdoor kitchen).

During this phase, you’ll also need to select all the materials and finishes, from flooring and countertops to light fixtures and hardware. Don’t forget to consider factors like durability, energy efficiency, and long-term maintenance.

Breaking Ground

With your plans approved and permits in hand, it’s finally time to break ground! This is where your custom home builders really shine, taking those blueprints and turning them into a tangible reality.

Expect the construction phase to take several months (or even longer, depending on the complexity of your project). Stay in close communication with your builder, and don’t hesitate to ask questions or raise any concerns along the way.

The Finishing Touches

As the construction wraps up, it’s time to focus on those all-important finishing touches. This might include things like:

• Landscaping and outdoor living spaces
• Smart home technology and security systems
• Window treatments and light fixtures
• Built-in cabinetry and storage solutions
• Decorative elements like paint colors, wallpaper, and artwork
• Don’t forget to schedule any necessary inspections and obtain a certificate of occupancy before moving in.

Enjoy Your Custom Home

After months (or years) of planning and hard work, the day has finally arrived – it’s time to move into your brand-new, custom-built home! Take a moment to soak it all in and appreciate the countless decisions and details that went into creating your dream living space.

Of course, the journey doesn’t end there. Proper maintenance and upkeep are crucial to ensuring your home stays in top condition for years to come. Be sure to follow any recommended maintenance schedules and don’t hesitate to call in professionals for any repairs or renovations down the line.

Wrapping Up

Building a custom home is a significant undertaking, but the rewards of having a space that’s tailored to your unique needs and preferences are truly priceless. By following these steps and working closely with a team of experts, you can navigate the process with confidence and create a home that you’ll love for years to come.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Custom Home Building appeared first on Houseyog.

Aside from that, it also safeguards your living space from the negative impact of rusting as well as structural damage that is caused due to any sort of interior fault within the building. So, make sure that you opt only for the finest waterproofing chemical such as foundational chemicals that can protect the foundation of your building from any internal damage out there.

In fact, the advanced technologies evolving with each passing day have led to the creation of some of the top-quality waterproofing chemicals to say the least. Simply apply a few coats of these waterproofing chemicals to ascertain the maximum protection for the exteriors of your house while preventing all those irksome damages and leakages effectively.

Coming to selecting the finest waterproofing chemicals, the task may seem a bit daunting for many but it doesn’t have to be. With so many brands that have come up on the market, using premium waterproofing chemicals has become easier than ever.

To know further, continue reading today’s post.

Top 5 waterproofing chemical brands in India

Now that you know how to select a waterproofing chemical correctly, you must know which waterproofing brands in India are leading in the market right now. Please take a look.

Berger Waterproofing

Waterproofing chemicals offered by Berger offer a superb resistance against any kind of water ingression. Not only this, it also has an amazing breathability and ensures effective adhesion particularly for masonry walls. Besides, a couple of chemicals sold by the company that are specifically meant for leakage prevention ensure a good deal of microbial proofing as well. These chemicals often consist of adequate heat resistance ability along with an effective solar reflective index. As a result, one can expect a smooth and liquid-resistant surface for a long period of time.

Dr. Fixit Waterproofing

Known for selling affordable, non-flammable yet leakage-resistant waterproofing chemicals, Dr. Fixit waterproofing solutions is worth giving a try. The chemicals you will buy from them are durable, easy to apply and are effective enough to protect your walls from all kinds of damage or leakage. Since their products come with an amazing hardening and thickening ability, water vapor cannot seep via the walls at any cost. It also adheres to the concrete properly, hence can prevent any sort of sulphate or chloride related infestation for your residence.

Abro Waterproofing

If repairing solid structures like toilets, roofs and slopes are more your thing, then going for Abro Waterproofing would be the best idea. Since, they have effective binding properties, they can bear UV rays quite a bit no matter the type of property. Similarly, you can use their water-proofing solutions to fill cracks as well and needless to say they are extremely nature-friendly too. Coming to concrete and mortars, they act as amazing acrylic modifiers that’s indeed an added advantage. And you know the best part? The chemicals are smart enough to prevent any unwanted crack development or shrinkage within the mortar that gets Abro an edge over its competitors.

Ardex Endura Waterproofing

Just the way the waterproofing chemicals of Ardex Endura are appropriate for tiles-grouting, they are highly-water resistant too. So, one can use them both for interior as well as exterior use. Besides, they also have an outstanding binding capacity teamed up with a high elasticity and low permeability. In fact, as soon as the chemicals solidify, they turn into an outright elastic surface, adhering to the concrete walls properly without being toxic on any part of your house.

Fosroc Chemicals Waterproofing

Ensuring a high adhesive capacity for all its waterproofing chemicals, Fosroc sells some of the finest products in the market. They are super-economical and are extremely easy to use as well. Once applied, the solutions have the capacity to upgrade any possible surface reasonably. Also, repairing large cracks or mending dilapidated walls can be done by using these chemicals in the proper and expected way. Aside from that, you can use them for water-resistant plasters or that of slurries as per your convenience. Additionally, one can use these components as primers since you will get them in several volumes in the market.

Difference between Damp-Proofing and Water-Proofing

Before you go for your version of waterproofing chemical, it’s good to know the key differences between damp-proofing and that of water-proofing. Well, the main distinctions lie in terms of physical attributes.

This mainly applies from the perspective of the construction materials that are chiefly used throughout the entire waterproofing process. That apart, the application condition and its thickness may also vary a bit both in the case of waterproofing and damp-proofing respectively. Nevertheless, here is a quick look of how these two aspects vary from each other.

Damp-proofing

Damp-proofing refers to the treatment of a particular surface. In simple words, it’s just a coating that is either applied manually or sprayed on the exterior of the walls. The main objective of this treatment is to protect a residence by hindering the incoming flow of water aside from having the ability to prevent the seepage of water vapor effectively. So, if moisture related issues have really jeopardized the health of your home’s construction, then, damp-proofing is a feasible option to opt for.

Water-proofing

Unlike damp-proofing which is just a basic treatment, waterproofing is regarded as the most effective treatment so far. It retains water within the pertinent structure in many of the forms it has such as water lying under hydrostatic pressure, water vapor and moisture from soil etc. So, if splurging money and investing adequate time is not a great deal for you, then it’s always good to go for water-proofing rather than damp-proofing.

Currently, many reputed brands are providing both these treatments to their best ability. So, to protect your walls as effectively as possible you can zero in on any of these treatments as per your convenience. The choice is yours.

Key factors to consider when choosing a waterproofing chemical

There are certain factors worth considering before you select the best waterproofing chemical for your house. Here are a few of them.

UV stability

Check the UV stability of the waterproofing solution you will be using. This is because choosing the wrong product may lead to unnecessary hardening of the surface or some of its properties may also diminish suddenly if exposed to the sun. So, choose a product that is UV-enriched and can bear sunlight quite a bit.

Hardening Time

Choose a waterproofing chemical with a faster hardening time. Where some of the items take as long as 48 hours to dry, some take only a few seconds to get the job done. So, choose wisely.

Binding capacity

Ensure that your selected product has an adequate binding capacity in case you are mixing it with another substrate.

Durability

Make sure that you opt for a waterproofing solution with a great deal of durability in it. For this, you need to ensure that the product you’ve picked offers an amazing elongation power as it expands and shrinks from time to time with the changing weather post its application. As a result, there will be the least of cracks, wear and tear on the surface of your walls.

Aside from taking these factors into consideration, you must also take a look at the testimonials of each of the brands from where you will purchase your water-proofing solution. What do their customers say about them? Do they seem utterly satisfied by using the products manufactured by those companies? If you get a big ‘YES’ for these questions, then, rest assured that you have chosen the correct waterproofing chemical provider for your home.

Last few words!

Waterproofing doesn’t have to be a hassle when you’ve already purchased the top-quality chemicals pertaining to it. Read the guide above thoroughly and understand the importance of waterproofing and damp-proofing in protecting your home from any sort of unexpected damage or leakage.

Subsequently, you can select any of the five reputed brands that come handy with today’s write-up and buy a waterproofing chemical in the smartest way possible.

The post Top Waterproofing Chemical Brands and Factors to Consider Before Choosing appeared first on Houseyog.

So, what do you think is the best cement for house construction in India? Before you procrastinate and continue pondering over this fact, it’s better to take a look at today’s post.

As you continue reading you will get to know about the five best cement brands for house construction in India. And the reasons they’re considered the best cement brands.

So ready? Let’s dive in!

Five best cement brands in India

There are several cement brands in India right now. However, not all of them are considered equally sought-after amongst going-to-be homeowners. To get you a clear notion about it, here are the top five cement brands in India. Also, this list is not in any specific order. So, choose as per the specification, cost and availability.

Birla Cement

Birla Cement is chiefly headed by the Birla Group of Companies that was founded in the initial phase of 1890, one of its headquarters being in Kolkata. Subsequently, the brand started selling cement since 1918 and the rest is history. 

Apart from just selling cement, the company also renders quality services pertaining to education, steel, jute and healthcare etc. At present, they’ve close to ten cement manufacturing factories all over India. You can certainly get in touch with any of them and be ready to purchase the top-quality cement so far. Some of the variants of  cement that they sell to their customers include:

• Portland Slag Cement
• Low Alkali Cement and
• Fly Ash Cement

In the case of pre-fabricated constructions, mass concrete and concrete that needs to be exclusively water-proof and resistant to sulfated soil reactions and alkali, Birla Samrat Cement can be the best brand to opt for.

Ambuja Cement 

Formerly called Gujarat Ambuja Cement, Ambuja Cement came into being almost 40 years back. Since it is up there with Birla Cement, it is also regarded as one of the finest cement brands in India.

Presently, Ambuja Cement has its headquarters in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Having said that, it’s good to know that its administrative management unit was taken over by Holcim, a globally acclaimed cement brand in 2006.

Pozzolana Portland Cement (PPC) and Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) are the two most popular cement variants that Ambuja Cement renders to their customers. In fact, both OPC and PPC are considered extremely durable and high in quality, mainly due to their active hydraulic binders.

It is for this reason for which you can use them for all kinds of constructions. To one’s utter amazement, Ambuja Cement currently holds a capacity to produce 29.65 million tons of cement year by year.

ACC Cement

ACC Cement is basically the acronym of Associate Cement Companies Limited. It is one of the leading cement brands in the country that was founded in the year 1936. Aside from selling cement, the company also actively participates in the Indian Building Materials Business.

Not only that, but ACC Cement has a substantial PAN-India-enabled marketing presence in India right now. In fact, it was the first Indian cement brand to have shown a significant amount of concern towards the environment through its initiative to go green with its products.

Currently, the company runs twelve cement manufacturing and seventeen cement-producing segments all over India. It is the fruition of this incessant hard work and effort that they are able to sell the choicest cement in the country so far.

And you know the best part? They use high-end technologies while fabricating their one-of-its-kind cement variants.

Dalmia Cement

Having been headquartered in New Delhi, Dalmia Cement operates as Dalmia Cement Bharat (Ltd) owned by a comprehensive subsidiary of Dalmia Bharat Ltd. The company has fourteen cement factories at the moment and can produce 35.9 MnT of cement annually.

Apart, it also has several cement-grinding facilities spread across ten different states of the country. Right now, the brand is enjoying a substantial presence in as many as twenty-two states that are mostly located in the north-eastern, south-eastern as well as eastern parts of India.

In fact, Dalmia Cement is the first Cement brand in India, having a separate branch in the four prominent states of the nation including Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal. Composite Cement, PSC (Portland Slag Cement), and PPC (Portland Pozzolana Cement) are the main cement categories that Dalmia Cement is selling to its customers at the moment.

J.K Cement

J.K Cement, alternatively known as J.K Cement Limited, is one of the best cement companies, predominantly in Northern India. With a substantial grey cement manufacturing capacity of 10.5 MnTPA, it is currently considered one of the largest cement brands in the country.

At present, the company manufactures both PPC (Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC) as well as OPC (Ordinary Portland Cement), the latter being sold in grades 33, 43 and 53 respectively. J.K Cement primarily sells these products under the grey and white cement category with a production capacity of 600,000 tons every year.

It is also for this reason that the brand has got the sobriquet of ”the second largest white cement producer in India”.  In case, you are fond of this cement-manufacturing corporation, do try out the J.K Water resistant, yet another product invented by them.

Since it is solely made for application on the walls, floors and other special areas of your house, one cannot use it just like any other cement variant.

Know more about the cement

As already said, no house construction is possible nowadays without the use of cement. In fact, it is one of the sturdiest materials so far that allows any residential and commercial structure to stand imperiously on its foundation.

The reason is as soon as it sets and solidifies, it eventually turns into a rock-hard material. Hence, whether it’s the tiles, bricks or stones of your house, they will remain clung to each other quite well unless your property gets dilapidated over time.

So, as a layperson, you may ask what cement is. Well, cement is a key building material that holds all the other ingredients like bricks, concrete etc tight comprising every nook and cranny of it.

Coming to its ingredients, cement is made of clay or sand (silicon), limestone (calcium), iron ore and bauxite (aluminium) etc. Take a look at it and you will see that it’s a finely crushed powdered material used in the construction of a residence of any size.

Besides, slates, shells, shale, marl, clay and blast furnace slag are some of the other ingredients that cement usually has in it. At the time of manufacturing, these elements are heated and subsequently converted into an exceptionally solid formation.

After this super-hard component is crushed and powdered, it is then sold as cement in the market. As soon as it is combined with water, a particular chemical reaction takes place.

Gradually, this results in the setting and solidification of cement, allowing the rest of the components to stay well-bound to each other. Ultimately, this entire process leads to the creation of an exclusively sturdy and long-lasting property.

Time to zero in on your favourite cement brand!

So, what are you waiting for? Read the post above from start to finish and select any of the cement manufacturing companies in India that you think are the best. Rest assured that in return you can build a house that is adequately durable and would last for years to come.

Just finished constructing or renovating your home? Share your experiences about the cement brand you have used by commenting below.

The post Top 5 Cement Brands for House Construction in India appeared first on Houseyog.

In fact, there are several factors worth considering before you finally start constructing a house and do everything to make it your perfect living space. Moreover, you need to take care of each and every aspect that goes into the design, placement and privacy of your residence.

Factors to consider when building a new house

Usually, we build a house only once in our lifetime. And therefore it’s important to plan everything well and consider the factors that can make or shatter the dream of building a beautiful and sustainable house.  

If you are planning to build a home of your dreams any time soon, then consider these factors as it will help you avoid any pitfalls while constructing your house. Considering these factors can also help you eliminate any guesswork and complete the construction in your budget.

Prioritize your individual requirements

What do you want your home to appear like? Ponder over the decor, the layout and the embellishment pertaining to each and every part of your house.

Besides, focus on the essentials that your house will consist of aside from getting some fresh ideas that you wish to implement for your favourite abode. Also, pay attention to its size as per the length of your family.

It would even be better if you can communicate your ideas with a professional like an architect etc. in order to share your thoughts and intentions with that person. Subsequently,  he or she can revamp your ideas a bit and coin some more effective hacks that would help enhance both the aesthetic as well as the price value of your dwelling.

Take your budget into consideration

No matter what you spend on, it must remain within the limitations of your budget. In this case, your home-making project cannot be an exception. So, make sure that you plan a proper budget in advance and stick to it as hard as possible.

Always remember, that while building your home, you will have to spend quite a bit of money from time to time. Devising a financial strategy wisely would not only save you from overpaying but also let you avoid unnecessary costs.

In this process, try and reap the maximum benefits of each of the spaces you’ve built. After all, you’ve shelled out your hard-earned money to make such a lovely residence. Say, for example, you can utilize your kitchen space by creating an open kitchen and dining space together over there.

Besides, you can also convert your hallway into your study area if need be. This way, you can surely make the most of the budget you’ve framed while constructing the house of your dream.

Focus on the Home Automation and Utilities

Using automated devices and getting the lighting of your Kolkata house proper is the key to reinforcing your property’s aesthetic appeal and utility. So, make sure that you install premium lights to get every part of your abode well-illuminated.

The fact is, each of the spaces of your house will appear outright stupendous once the desired kind of lighting has been incorporated there. Besides, the components that are kept inside these areas will also look way more fascinating and visually attractive than before.

Coming to the usage of smart tools must be one of your imperative considerations when building a home. Instances include getting automated heating and cooling systems, window coverings, lighting and alarm systems and so on and so forth.

Using such modern-day devices for your home means you’re trying to stay abreast of the changing technological advancements from time to time. The greatest advantage is that you are able to manage your house remotely even while you are away.

Reflect upon the materials you purchase

Even before the construction of your new home begins, you may wonder what the materials you would need indispensable for it are. Doing so is quite important as you must shell out for these things by keeping a particular budget in mind.

Again, don’t invest in alternate and cheaper home-building materials like bricks, cement, steel etc just to save a little bit of money. So, choose only the top-quality building materials needed to construct your home that too in the right amount.

While the cost of constructing a house in India can range between Rs. 1300 to 1700 per sq ft using standard quality materials, if you are looking for premium quality finish, then you may have to allocate a higher home construction budget.

Also, you can decorate and furnish your home as and when needed. However, you can’t really change the structure of the house. Hence, it is important to not compromise on the quality and grade of cement, steel, sand, aggregate, tiles and marble, electrical wire and switches, plumbing pipes and fittings.

On the contrary, if you order materials more than is needed, it will not only lead to wastage but will also impact your budget negatively. That’s why, it would be wise if you can buy your construction materials from a renowned company as they sell good-quality products at affordable price options.

Go for a functional floor plan

Building a house is not just about building a space to live. You need to do a lot of planning ahead in terms of positioning the different areas of your home according to your varying requirements and design preferences.

Like, you can divide your dwelling into portions according to the purposes they serve. Using your kids’ play areas or bedrooms, the dining area or maybe the recreational spaces at night would be a great idea.

Similarly, you can optimize the bathrooms, guest bedrooms, study area, kitchen, living room and dining space of your home during the day. However, make sure that these areas are away from the attached baths, master bedrooms and walk-in closets of your house to make the most of them.

Besides, consider building your dining and living areas towards the south or may be southwest in your residence.

Ensure proper lighting and ventilation

Since we tend to spend most of our time in these rooms, we need the maximum amount of lighting there. And needless to say, both south and southwest are the most sunlight-friendly positions so far.

Subsequently, install large-sized windows for these areas of your house so that they seem well-lit-up and bright all through the day. Most importantly, pay attention to making amusement zones and a home-gym if possible within or outside your home.

Last but not the least, there should be a few fun spots as well where you can get along with your family to stay connected and close to each other.

Work with professional architect and building contractor

No amount of planning can substitute the importance of a professional architect near you. They have the expertise to help you through the planning and construction of your house. Similarly, it is equally important to choose the well placed and experienced team of building contractors while constructing a house.

While the architect helps you with functional and efficient floor planning, 3D house designs, structural and working drawings, the building contractors can help construct the house. The building contractors will be responsible to take care of all the civil as well as plumbing, electrical and other finishing works like putty and painting.

Constructing your dream home is now a cakewalk!

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and daunted when you think of building your dream home.

You may find it hard to make easy decisions like which brands of materials to choose for waterproofing or painting a house. Which cement will work well for slab casting? Luckily, with adequate planning and a bit of help from professionals like architects and construction contractors, you can easily figure it out.

However, executing the tips and tricks mentioned above would definitely let you build your most-awaited house easily and effortlessly.

FAQ

The post 7 Things to Consider When Constructing a House appeared first on Houseyog.

However, if you can stretch your budget by another Rs. 150 per square feet i.e. Rs. 1850-1900 per square feet, you will get even better quality of materials and finish. But if you believe that homes are built once in a lifetime, and you should use a little premium construction materials, then the construction cost in Kolkata may range between Rs. 2000 to Rs 2100 per square feet.

Besides, home construction involves different types of building materials, architects, labour and contractors. And all these factors can add up to the total cost of constructing a residential or commercial building in Kolkata.

Important factirs for home construction cost

Some of the major factors that affect the home construction cost are:

• The size and layout of the plot/land you are building on
• The actual build area of the house i.e. simplex, duplex with parking or total floor of the house
• Quality and grades of building materials being used i.e. cement, steel, tiles, external and internal bathroom and kitchen fittings, electrical fittings etc
• Exterior elevation and design of the building i.e. tiles or glass on exterior wall etc
• Features of the house e.g. landscaped garden, open terrace, home automation system etc
• Utility features like water harvesting, solar panel installation etc
• Expertise of the builder, architect, contractors and technicians

If you are planning to build a house and you are at the budgeting stage then I have got you covered. Today in the post, I am explaining everything worth knowing about the cost of constructing your dream home in Kolkata, West Bengal. Although we are primarily discussing the construction cost in Kolkata, the costs are more or less similar in other major cities across West Bengal including Howrah, Durgapur, Asansol, Burdwan, Kharagpur etc.

Calculating the House Construction Cost in Kolkata

The accurate cost of construction can be calculated only when the architectural blueprint i.e. floor plan and house design is ready. However, even if you don’t have the floor plan and exterior elevation design etc ready, you can calculate the approx house construction cost in Kolkata considering a tentative house size.

For instance if you want to construct a house on 30×40 sq ft of land then you can easily calculate the tentative cost of construction in Kolkata. But, before that you need to figure out the size of the house to get the build area.

Now, depending on the position of the land i.e. access to road and municipal area, you may get different floor to area ratio and build up area. If you have to leave approx 25% of the land i.e. approx 300 sq ft, then you can construct your house on remaining land i.e. 900 sq ft area.

This is how I calculated the approx floor area ratio (FAR) for budgeting purpose. Please note that the AR can vary and you may use almost total land for construction at some places.

Plot size: 30×40 sq ft= 1200

Approx set back: 25%= 300

Approx build area on ground floor: 1200-300 =900 sq ft

The approx cost of constructing a 900 sq ft house on 30×40 sq ft site in Kolkata will be Rs. 1530000.00 to Rs 1890000.00 depending on the build quality of the house. Costs for duplex and multi storey building are listed hereunder:

Similarly, the cost to build a house on 40×40 sq ft plot, with approx 1200 sq ft build area will be between Rs. 2040000.00 to 2520000.00. The below table can help you estimate the approximate cost of constructing a duplex or a multi storey building.

Now with the help of above formula, you can get the basic idea of the costs involved in building a house in Kolkata and nearby cities in West Bengal.

Major home construction costs heads and share of expenses

According to this news article, the average cost of construction has increased by over 10-12% in the last one year due to an increase in the raw material prices for key building materials like sand and cement. And the construction cost is expected to increase further in coming years.

Now that you know how much of money will be required to a build a house, let’s take a look at the major cost heads and construction expenses in constructing a residential building.

The major cost heads of constructing a house are:

Let’s take a look at the expense chart below and get a better understanding of these costs heads and its share in overall construction expenses.

It’s also important to note that some of the cost heads are flexible and can have larger shares or smaller shares depending on the individual home owner’s preference. For instance, someone may want to do flooring with Italian marble instead of normal vitrified tiles. In that case the flooring and tiling expenses will be more than the anticipated budget. This will also result in escalation of the overall home construction cost.

Things to consider while constructing a house in Kolkata

Building a house of your own can be overwhelming and consuming. Right from choosing the expert architect to design your house to finding the best quality building materials and engaging professional architects and contractors, the entire process can really get tiring and consuming. Besides going wrong in choosing the right architect and building contractors may lead to budget and time escalation.

Some of the important factors you should consider while constructing a new house:

• Do adequate planning before starting the construction
• The total construction budget and making financial arrangements
• Understanding your current and future space requirements
• Use readymade house designs or go for bespoke architectural designs
• Hire professional home builder and architects
• Understand the grades and quality of building materials, and choose the right ones
• Follow local building code and advisory on building a house
• Utility and features important to your family e.g. solar panel, water harvesting, home automation etc

Over to you

The process of constructing a house can easily be overwhelming and tiring for most of us. Finding a suitable plot, preparing land, finalizing the house blueprint and house design, preparing bills of quantities and estimating the cost – the entire process of planning can be tiring and time consuming. Besides, taking the approvals from local municipalities and engaging a professional house construction company needs a well thought out approach.

Luckily, the process of budgeting and estimating the construction cost can be simplified to an extent. And that’s what we have discussed in this post today. If you have already selected a plot, you can calculate the house construction cost in Kolkata based on different sets of materials and finish.

What else do you think one should know to calculate the much accurate per square feet costs of constructing a house in Kolkata?

As always, I hope this post will help estimate the overall construction cost. If you have any questions related to budgeting and estimate the cost of constructing a house, do write to us in the comment section below.

The post Home Construction Cost in Kolkata – Calculation Explained appeared first on Houseyog.

Managing a tracking home construction project becomes much easier when you have a detailed checklist to keep track of construction in different phases. Irrespective of whether you are building a house on your own or you are working with a single home builder, there will be certain tasks that must be tracked and managed properly.

If you are planning to construct a new house and you are looking for a construction checklist, then I have got you covered. I am sharing a detailed and the most comprehensive home construction checklist. This will help you manage everything smoothly and complete the project on time.

Home construction involved several actionable steps such as:

• Selection of plot
• Preparing an approximate budget
• Preparing the land before construction
• House plan and building elevation design
• Hiring construction contractor
• Defining scope of work
• Finalizing construction cost and payment terms
• Documentation and plan approval
• Building materials
• Engaging subcontractors
• Supervision and updates

The home construction checklist I am sharing below can help you manage and track all of these actionable steps easily.

Detailed home construction checklist and guide

Planning, managing and tracking a new home construction project can be overwhelming for many of us. Moreover, if you do not keep track of everything correctly, you may get stuck during the construction. And even end up delaying the completion of the project and shooting up the construction budget substantially.

Here’s a comprehensive home construction checklist that can help you manage and track every aspect of your home construction project.

Selection of plot

Land selection and preparation is the first step that has to be right. If you already have a plot registered in your name then you may proceed to preparing the land.

However, if you are still searching for a plot of land to build your home then spend some time looking for a plot that has the essential amenities like an approach road, water supply, electricity etc. The locality is also an important factor to be considered when selecting a plot to build a new house.

Usually, land prices are higher in established localities. However, if your budget does not permit you to buy a plot closer to the city, there is no harm in moving a little away from the main city and getting a plot in a new or upcoming locality. Buying a plot of land in a gated community is also a great choice that you may like to consider.

Preparing an approximate budget

Budgeting is very important as home construction is an expensive affair. As you are already planning to construct a house, you must have a budget in mind. Consider tentative quantity and costs of major building materials like bricks, cement, sand, steel etc.

Forget about everything for the time being and look at the savings you may have. Ideally, you should start saving and getting your income and expenses balanced from early on. Even if you plan to borrow some money from your friend, or family and through a housing loan, you need to save money to build your house. You should target to save around 20-30 per cent of the overall construction budget.

If you have saved a decent amount, then that’s great, otherwise make a quick calculation of how much it may cost to build a new house today. For the sake of calculation, you can assume the base construction price at Rs. 1100 to 1300 per sq ft of the built up area.

So if you are planning to build a house on a 1000 sq ft house, you can safely assume it will cost around Rs. 1100000 to Rs. 1300000 using standard quality materials, floor and wall tiles, basic bathroom fittings etc. Now you have the ballpark idea of construction cost, if you have the funds, then that’s just perfect. Otherwise you may like to apply for a home construction loan or look for alternate ways to raise the money for construction.

Preparing the land before construction

Now that you have a plot or land to construct a new house. The next step is to prepare the land before you can start the real construction work.  Depending on the type of land, you may have to do certain preparation like clearing the land of any disturbance. Moreover, if the land is not even then you may have to level the land.

Another important thing to consider is to do the soil testing (Geotechnical Investigation). Especially, if you are constructing a multi storey building and you don’t know much about the history of the land. Land testing helps analyse the quality of land. It also helps design the structure of the building to sustain for a longer period of time. Moreover, soil testing also helps decide the depth of the foundation and overall building structure.

So you may like to tick it off before starting the foundation and construction work.

House plan and building elevation design

The next important thing to look at it is to work on a house plan and building elevation design. It’s highly recommended to get a professional architect on board.

Professional architects can add real value in designing the full building plans. An architect or engineer can help design the best house plan for your new home. They can also design building elevation that can be constructed in your budget. In fact you can discuss your budget with them. And they can design the plan keeping your budget in mind.

Architects can also create 3D building elevation designs and perspective views as per the house plan. 3D elevation designs can give you the perspective view of the building from the outside. Building elevation designs help visualize the external view of the house from the front and other sides.

However, please be mindful of expenses when choosing the external elevation design of the building because fancy looks can easily increase the construction and finishing cost of the building. For instance, if you liked the design with exterior wall tiles, then be sure to spend more than using exterior weather coat wall paints.

So, discuss the associated cost and your budget with the architect. And get the perspective elevation views designed before starting the construction work.

Once the house plan and perspective front elevation view of the building is ticked off, it’s time to bring the construction contractor on board.

Hiring construction contractor

Now that the house plan is ready, it’s time to look for a reliable builder or a home construction company to move forward. There should not be any shortage of local building contractors. And therefore it’s highly recommended to talk to at least two or three construction companies available near you.

The best way to get the most accurate home construction estimate is to share your final building plan and elevation design with the builder. That way, they can see the full plan with the total built up area to prepare a detailed bill of quantities for the construction.

However, when comparing and evaluating the offers from the builders, don’t always choose the lowest offer. Because, lowest may not be the best choice always, especially for a home construction project that can run over months. And therefore, before anything else, you should look for the credibility and quality of supplies they propose to use to construct your dream home.

Defining scope of work

Most of the builders and construction companies offer end to end construction service which may include everything from the planning stage to finishing or semi finished construction. And therefore it is important to clearly define the scope of work before signing the deal.

Workout with the contractor to define the specification of every item as per the bill of quantities they might have generated.

Clearly define the scope of work and work with total cost including materials and labor charges. If the builder is providing all the materials and labour then discuss the brands and price range for each of the items like cement, steel etc.

Finalizing construction cost and payment terms

Home construction cost can easily run in hundreds of thousands of rupees depending on the size of the house and quality of construction you want. And therefore, construction cost and payment terms must be discussed with the builder and defined in the contract.

Moreover, you discuss the total cost including the cost of the materials, labour charges and any other charges that may arise due to some reason like price rise. For instance the price of a bag of cement today may increase after three months. And therefore, it is important to discuss and sort such issues well in advance to avoid any future price disputes and surprises.

The payments to the contractor can be linked with the progress of construction work. That means, you will pay as they progress with the construction. However, some developers and builders may ask for a percentage as advance and then rest of the payment as per the progress.

Whatever be the case, make sure to define the total cost (including taxes) and payment terms well in advance before signing the contract.

Documentation and plan approval

The developer or architect can easily get the plan approved from the local building authorities. However, the house plan must be designed according to the prescribed local building guidelines. Otherwise, you may have difficulties in getting the house plan approved.

So, you should talk to the architect or the builder to get this right in the first place.

Moreover, if you plan to get a home construction loan, then you have to get the documentation right. Banks will require a different set of documents to process your construction loan. Primarily, the bank wants to ensure that you have a freehold land registered in your name. And therefore they need the deed, mutation certificate, tax receipts etc. They’ll also ask for building plan and bill of quantities with projected construction estimates to process your loan application.

Home loan processing and approval can easily take a few weeks. Therefore, if you plan to avail a home loan then spend time in getting the documentation right.

Building materials

The quality of materials you are using in the construction can directly affect the strength of the building. The builder has most likely provided you the specifications of the materials they will use. Therefore, you have to ensure that the materials being used in the construction are as per the specification.

However, there may be a situation where a particular material specified in the contract is out of stock. Or it may be simply unavailable due to high demands. In such cases, the alternate material being used must be of similar quality and standard.

Engaging subcontractors

Mostly the developer and construction companies have their own set of sub contractors. However, in some cases they tend to employ other sub contractors for different work like flooring or plastering etc. However, the sub contractors should be skilled, experienced and capable of delivering best finished work.

Secondly, if you want your own sub contractor for a specific job like plumbing or electrical work, then you must discuss the same with the builder in advance. and get the prices adjusted accordingly. Sometimes it’s better to use local resources especially for tasks that may require understanding and future support like electrical wiring or plumbing lines.

Supervision and updates

It is seriously important to supervise the construction work and get periodic updates about the progress from the builder. You should make a few surprise visits to the construction site and to oversee the work. This will help you get a clear picture of the construction work.

Moreover, if you have taken a construction loan, then the bank will release funds after reviewing the progress of the work. And therefore, it is super important to constantly monitor the progress of the construction work.

Final thoughts on construction checklist

Managing and keeping track of different aspects of constructing a new house can be overwhelming. Especially so, because it involves several tasks e.g. documentation, plan approvals, budgeting etc. It’s not going to be easy to keep track of contractors, raw materials and construction without a checklist.

However, you can easily manage and keep tack of everything using a construction checklist. A detailed construction checklist like that will help you track and manage everything much efficiently.

What else do you think one should add to the home construction checklist to make it more effective?

Share your tricks and hacks by commenting below!

Happy home construction!

The post Home Construction Checklist and Guide to Building a New House appeared first on Houseyog.

Moreover, it also requires plenty of money to build a house today in 2021 and therefore, everything has to be planned minutely before starting the construction of a new house. In fact, you should make a construction checklist to track everything and to ensure you are not missing out on anything important while building a house.

There have been phenomenal changes in the way people build their homes today e.g. home construction process, tools and equipment they use and also the building materials. Today, people are talking about sustainable living, smart homes and whatnot. 

Therefore it has become even more important for someone planning to construct a home to plan everything minutely and consider all the vital factors and aspects of building a house.

If you are building a house or planning to build your dream home in the near future and you are wondering about what to know and consider when building a house, then continue reading.

I have been associated with some of the best builders for over a decade now, and I know the industry and the process of constructing a house inside out. So, today, in this post I am sharing a list of the most crucial things you should consider when building a house of your own.

So, are you ready? Let’s talk about the first thing first.

What things should be considered before building a house?

There are many vital things that have to be considered when building a house on a plot of land e.g. the location of the land, legal formalities, size of the house, actual built-up area, open space etc.

Here’s the list of the most important things you should consider before building a house in India.

Location of the plot

Among all the other things that you should keep in mind, the location of the land is probably the most important thing worth considering. While all of us want to live in a developed residential locality, sometimes you may not get the appropriate size plot in an already developed area. Moreover, the cost of land will be super high in such residential areas, and unless you have a decent budget, you may have to look out for a plot in other localities, and that’s absolutely fine.

However, you should just see to it that the area in general and your plot of land in particular is not in a restricted zone. Double-check and ensure that you’ll get the required permission for constructing a new house before booking the plot or proceeding further with your home construction plan.

Legalities

Different cities may have different zones and building regulation laws. For instance, in major cities like Kolkata, there are different zones that are planned and developed by local building authorities. But the same is not the case in smaller towns.

So, based on where you plan to build your home, check with the local building authority, and Municipal Corporation or Gram Panchayat office about the legalities of constructing a house.

For instance, if you have farmland where you plan to build your home, you can easily do so in smaller towns, but you can’t build a house in major cities without converting the use of land. So if you are planning to build a house on a farmland, you may have to follow certain legality and documentation to get the permission for construction of a house.

Build area

The build area is not going to be the same as the land area. So for instance, if you have a rectangular plot of 50×40 sq ft i.e. 2000 sq ft, then you can’t really use the entire space for building the structure, especially in major cities / municipal areas.

Different cities may have different regulations and building codes, which may restrict you from using the entire space. Depending on your city, you may have to leave anywhere between 15-30% (or more) of the space as open space. And, you can only carry out the main construction in the rest of the area.

So if you are asked to leave 25% of the plot, then you are left with only 1600 sq ft to carry out the construction of your home.

The best way to know how much open space has to be left at your plot is to check with the local regulators and building authorities. Only when you know how much space you have got to carry out the construction work, you’ll be able to take a call on the build-up area you can use for construction purposes.

House size

It’s very important for you to think through and decide the size of the house you want to build. Depending on the size of the family, and the build-up area you can use on your plot, you can take a call on the size of the house and the number of floors you want in your house.

However, when deciding on the size of the house you want to construct, you should think long-term and decide accordingly. Because we build a house only once or twice in our lifetime and therefore, it is important to think about:

• The immediate space requirement
• Space you may require in the next 5-10 years
• Size of the land and built-up area
• Home construction cost
• Maintenance cost etc.

Open space

While building a house, we often think about the building and how to best use the built-up area. However, you should pay equal attention to the open space and use the space wisely and creatively for different purposes.

If you have plenty of open space available then you should ask your architect to develop that space strategically. Similarly, if there is little open space left then also they can put it to best use.

Some of the best and the most creative ways to use open space could be to:

• Design a landscaped garden
• Use the space as a sit-out area with or without shade
• Setup a home garden
• Create a barbecue zone
• Plan for a small swimming pool
• Build a deck

There are many ways to utilize the space, and you just have to think through and make the best use of free space.

What should you not miss out when building a house?

Building a house is a long and complicated process and it involves multiple stakeholders from architects to interior designers, construction contractors to building material suppliers etc. And you can’t really afford to miss on anything which is crucial.

It usually involves:

• Working with architects to get the house plan right
• Working with local bodies to get necessary permission and sanction
• Construction contractors to get bill of quantity
•  Sourcing of building materials from suppliers
• Working with interior designers to decorate your home

Then you have to finally furnish the newly constructed homes before moving in with your family.

Here’s the complete list of the most essential things that you should not miss out on when building a house on your own land.

Detailed house plan

If you want to build a beautiful home then you can’t really miss out on designing a perfect house plan. House plans are usually created by professional architects and engineers. A properly drawn house plan can help visualize the division and usage of the entire plot space, including the open space.

Getting a detailed house plan before starting the construction of the house is very important. I have seen people build houses without a proper house plan. And then regret later as they end up wasting space and creating inefficient traffic movement on the floor. As a result, they end up demolishing and reconstructing a part of the building. Building without a proper plan may result in wastage of space and increase in overall construction costs.

However, you can avoid all these hassles by getting a properly designed house plan designed by a professional team of architects. And it’s highly recommended to not miss out on getting a customized house plan according to your space requirements, lifestyle, plot layout and construction budget.

Efficient floor planning

I have seen people build homes without getting a house floor plan drawing from architects, especially in villages. Sometimes, the building contractors help draw a simple house floor plan and at other times they do it themselves.

However, that’s not the right way to do it.

Floor planning is a crucial step where you divide the buildup areas into various rooms, passage, balcony, open terrace etc. Moreover, it is easier to tweak the size of a room or any other area at the planning stage. Because you are working on a paper or a computer file and it does not cost anything to edit.

However, it’ll be really difficult, expensive and impossible at times to adjust the size of a room once the construction is already in progress.

Imagine a situation when during the construction you realize that the bedroom is actually small. Or the kitchen could have been a little wider, can you really do anything about it now? Maybe yes. But that means demolishing some walls and then redoing it and that is going to cost you time and money.

Moreover, you are already spending a lot of money in constructing a house. So, there is no reason you would not engage a professional architect to create a space optimized and efficient floor plan for your new home.

Building elevation design

If you want a beautifully elevated house within your budget, then you can’t really miss out on not designing the building elevation. Building elevation design helps you visualize how the structure of the building will look from the outside.

However, the building elevation designs are not done just to visualize the design of the house from the front and other sides. But, it helps you prepare the bill of quantity, and the most accurate estimate to construct the building.

Moreover, without visualizing the structure and finishes of the exterior walls of your upcoming house, you may not estimate the cost of construction correctly and that may result in increased construction cost. So don’t miss out on building elevation design when building a house on your own land.

Budgeting the construction cost

Estimating the cost of construction is yet another crucial thing that you can’t afford to miss out on when building a new house.

After all, it’s not about a few thousand bucks, because home construction costs could easily run in hundreds of thousands of rupees.

Moreover, if you don’t do detailed estimation of construction cost, you may end up shooting the total home construction cost. And in the worst case, you may have to pause or halt the construction work due to lack of funds. I am sure you don’t want to get into such a situation while building a house.

Calculating the construction cost accurately is so very important before starting the construction of a new house, so don’t miss out on this.

While estimating the cost of constructing your new house, you should always keep a buffer amount to deal with the sudden price rise of the construction material or some unplanned expenses that may come during the construction.

Home construction loan

If you have a detailed home construction estimate and bill of quantities (BOQ) and if it runs beyond you might have thought of, then you can avail home construction loan. Home construction loan as the name suggests is offered by Indian banks to an Indian citizen who has a free hold plot and who wants to construct a home on their land.

As the rate of interest on home construction loan is way less than personal loan or a loan against fixed deposit, it’s always better to apply for a house construction loan than taking any other loan for building a house.

We have already published a detailed post on home construction loans that talks about the process of documentation, eligibility and everything else you need to know to apply and avail such loan, that you may like to check out.

Home building contractor

Unless you plan to build your house on your own, you have to work with a reliable and credible building contractor to build your own house on a plot of land. And if that’s the case, you can’t really miss out on finding a reliable custom building contractor who can help you in constructing your home as per your house plan and budget.

Ideally, it’s better to work with one building contractor to build a new house instead of dealing with different individual contractors for different tasks like flooring, roofing, water proofing, plumber, electrician etc.

Moreover, when you have one key contractor working on your home construction project, then there is more transparency and accountability and that matters a lot in the long run. However, if there will be different independent contractors working on your construction project, they start playing blame game for any error or mistake they might commit inevitably.

So think through and take a call on if you want to give a full construction contract to one reliable construction company, or you want to work with several independent entities or individuals. And whatever you decide, make sure to check their credibility, prices and quality of work before signing the contract.

What costs the most when building a house?

Cost of constructing a house primarily depends on the size and elevation of the house. However, there are certain elements like foundation, roofing, flooring etc that costs more than other jobs.

Here are the top five cost heads that you should think about when estimating the costs of constructing a house.

Foundation

You already know that the foundation has to be really strong to ensure the longevity of the house.

Roofing

The next major expense goes towards the roofing, especially the concrete roof.

Flooring

Flooring again is a costly affair, but thankfully there are many options when it comes to flooring from simple mosaic flooring to floor tiles, Italian tiles and marbles, there are plenty of options.

Fittings

Majority of expenses will go towards the fittings e.g. bathroom and kitchen fittings.

Doors and windows

Doors and windows when done right can cost you some good money.

What to know about building a house with a builder?

If you are building a new house, you are most likely going to hire a home builder contractor available near you. However, because of the no entry barrier to the construction industry anyone can become a construction contractor.

But can you really trust just anyone coming your way to build your home?

You can’t and you should not. Here’re a few things you should know about building a house with a builder.

Credibility

Before hiring a building contractor, you have to ensure that the builder is credible and trustworthy. Anyone can become a construction contractor because all it takes is a little experience and some contacts. But, that does not mean you will award your home construction contract to anyone coming your way.

So, check everything from license to industry certification, team strength to the building they have built in the past. And only when you are fully satisfied with their credential, you should award your home construction contract to the builder.

Experience

Ideally, you should work with a builder with relevant work experience i.e. builders who have experience building the kind of house you are planning to build. If you’re planning to build a small house, then you should work with a builder that specializes in building small homes.

Materials

This is the most vital thing that should be considered when working with a home builder. The grade and quality of materials the builder is planning to use is directly related with the strength and longevity of the building. And therefore, you should ask for a detailed bill of quantities to get the most accurate idea of what types and grades of materials the builder is proposing to use and at what price.

If you just keep these things in mind before hiring a home builder, you should be fine.

Conclusion

Building a new house from ground up requires adequate planning and preparation. From coordinating with different stakeholders like architects and construction contractors to getting permission and sourcing materials, it takes a lot to build a beautiful home.

The journey to building a new home can easily become easy when you know of the things that are crucially important and you can’t do without it. We have already talked about what are the essential things to know and what you can’t miss out on when building and constructing a new house.

Hope that’ll help you plan and prepare yourself for building your own house.

What else do you think one should consider and absolutely not ignore when constructing a new house in 2021?

Bring up your tips and ideas by commenting below.

Happy home construction!

The post Things to Consider When Building a House in 2021 appeared first on Houseyog.

Builders and developers in major Indian cities are building different types of residential complexes with different facilities and amenities. And therefore, one can easily find and buy a suitable house to move in. However, if you are unable to find the perfect house as per your space requirements and preference, then building your own custom house is the most viable option.

Besides, you may not always find a house that suits your space requirements and budget. And therefore, building your own house may be the way forward for you. So, if you are considering building your own house on your own land, and wondering about:

• Building your own your own house
• Selecting and buying a land
• Making a perfect house floor plan
• Finding construction contractor
• Making construction budget

Then continue reading this post. Today in this post, I am sharing a simple guide to building your own house on your own plot from ground up.

9 Easy steps to building a house on your own land

Building a dream home on your own land can be an exhausting and an overwhelming process. Because it involves a number of steps from selecting a plot of land to getting the house floor plan drawn, hiring an architect to finding a construction contractor to build your custom home; it requires plenty of planning, coordination and of course patience.

But, the joy of building your own house on your own land and the way you always wanted to build can’t be matched. Of course, its time taking and tiring process, but the joy of living in a custom built house as per your space requirements, preferences and style can be phenomenal.

However, there is plenty of scope for error and therefore you should spend time in planning everything perfectly to avoid any error along the way of constructing your own house. A construction checklist can come handy in keeping track of every aspect of constructing a new house

So are you ready to discover how to build your own house on your own land without hassles?

I heard you saying yes, so here we go.

Freeze the space requirements

When building your own home, you should start with freezing your space requirements and the most essential features. This is an absolutely important first step as unless you know what you want, it’ll be difficult for you to plan other essential aspects of building a home.

Think through and figure out:

• How many bedrooms do you need?
• How many bathrooms will be required?
• How many floors do you want to build now or in future?
• Do you need any extra room like a store room or a study room?
• Do you need a garage?
• Do you want to build a single storey or a duplex house?
• How many balconies do you need?
• Do you want an open terrace?

Ask more questions like this so that you know what are the absolutely important spaces and features you need in your house. Don’t bother about other nice to have features for the time being, or maybe note them down, but focus on absolutely important space requirements for your new house for the time being.

As you already know, there is so much money, time, and effort involved in building a house, having a clear idea of what you want will help you immensely when building your new home.

Finalize a plot of land

Now that you know about the key features and size of the house (number of rooms and floors), the next step is to find a suitable plot of land. If you already have a plot of land, then you can skip this step. However, if you don’t have a freehold ready plot available, then you have to find and buy a plot of land to build your house.

Finding a suitable size plot to build your dream home can be a time consuming process. Sometimes you will not like the location, at other times it will be the size or dimension of the plot or the plot may be out of your budget.

However, you can’t really do without a plot, and you have to find and select a plot and get it registered to move forward with your home construction. Plots and lands at main locations in your city may be a little costly. You can find a residential plot a little outside of the main city at economical rates, if not cheap.

However, when choosing a plot, don’t go over budget because you still have to spend money in constructing your house. Moreover, cities are growing rapidly these days, and what seems like a little remote may become the future of the city in a few years from now, so just keep that in mind.

Finalize house floor plan and elevation

Now that you know your space requirements, number of floors you want to build, you have a free hold ready plot available, now is the time to reach out to an architect to design your house in your style.

Depending on the dimension and size of your land, you may even consider using a readymade house plan design and get that customized to suit your requirements. But, if you are after a fresh new custom house design, then you can do so as well.

Whatever is the case, you have to finalize the house floor plan for each floor, and get a beautiful exterior elevation designed for your new dream home.

Figure out construction budget

You can easily get a tentative idea of construction cost based on the build size of the house. But, as you already have a house plan and building elevation design ready, your architect can help you figure out the construction budget.

Usually, in India a new home can be constructed with Rs. 1300 – Rs. 1500 per square feet. Since you already know the total build area, you can calculate the construction cost easily.

However, you should be ready to adjust your budget by 10 – 15% at the construction stage.

Think of nice to have features

Now that you have the tentative construction cost, it’s time to review your space requirements and check if you can add any nice to have features while elevating your house like using a little expensive floor tiles, or using wall tiles in the exterior of your house or going for a small landscaped garden etc.

If your budget allows, you can make these small adjustments after discussing with your architect. And, if your architect okayes this and they think that adding these features will not increase the overall construction cost by much, then you should tweak your feature list before approaching a construction company or the custom home builder.

Hire construction contractor

Architects and construction contractors are the two vital stakeholders and they have a very crucial role in helping you build your dream home effortlessly. Needless to say, you got to be very sure about hiring a custom home builder or construction contractor.

Usually, the architects help design your house, and the builder will turn the design into a reality. So, they both need to work collectively and collaborate well with each other.

To begin with, ask your friends and colleagues and check if they know any reliable builder. Working with someone referred by your known contact is way easier than hiring someone you don’t know about. However, be prepared to spend some time screening and asking right questions to the builder before hiring for a new home construction.

Here’re a few of the best ways to hire the best home builder near you:

• Check their portfolio to ensure they are capable of building your home in your style.
• Review their credentials and industry certifications etc to ascertain they are reliable.
• Check their prices and estimates to ensure they are competent and cost-effective.
• Ask for referrals of clients they have worked with in the past.
• Visit a site they are currently working on to know their way of working.

And most importantly, compare a few of the home builders in town instead of going with a builder that came your way. This is important because unless you compare apples with apples, you may not get the best apple in town.

Once you have found a suitable home builder, just review the construction contract and sign the deal to start the construction work for your new home.

Review construction work

New home construction takes time and depending on the size of the house, it may take anywhere between 12 to 15 months to complete the construction work. So, it is important for you to review the progress and monitor everything as your new house is being constructed by the builder.

Ideally the construction company you are working with should keep you posted on the progress. In fact some of the construction companies have started sharing live CCTV footage with their clients so that they can stay updated.

However, that should not be a reason to not inspect the site physically. Whenever you get time, you should visit the site and review the progress. Because, it is easier to make any corrections at an early stage of construction and therefore it is important to do site visits frequently.

Furnish your home

Once the construction work is over and the builder hands it out to you, you have to furnish the house with the most essential items. Depending on the kind of construction contract you signed with the home builder, you may have to prepare a list of essential items needed to set up a new house.

If you are planning to do interior designing and decorating after construction, then you may have to talk to an interior designing company and get your house decorated and furnished.

If you don’t plan to decorate your home for the time being, then just furnish it with the most essential household items like furniture, curtains, lights, fans, kitchen appliances etc and your house will be ready to welcome you.

Move in and enjoy

Now, that your house is ready to welcome you, it’s time to call a moving company to get your goods packed and help you move to your new house.

Usually it takes some time to adjust and settle in a new house, especially for kids as they hardly know anyone in a new locality. They are going to miss their old friends and neighbors.

But, that’s okay and they will start loving the new house automatically in a few weeks.

So it’s time to throw a housewarming party and enjoy the new home with your family.

Conclusion

No other feeling can match the experience of living in a house you built as per your preference and requirements. Living in a fully custom built house is always amazing.

However, building your own house from scratch is not an easy task. It takes a lot of planning, effort, money, involvement and 12-15 months of time to build a house of your dreams. The process of building a house can be tiring and exciting for a homeowner.

But, when you follow a process step by step, your chances of getting everything right will improve substantially. I have already shared a 9 step guide to building a house on your own and I am sure if you follow these steps, you will have no issues building your house.

What else do you think one should know and do while building a new house on their own land?

Feel free to share your tips and hacks by commenting below.

Happy home building!!

The post Building Your Own House on Your Land? Get Started in 9 Easy Steps appeared first on Houseyog.

Custom home builders have a very crucial role in new home construction. When you have a rightly placed custom home builder and contractor on your side, they can make the entire process of home construction much efficient and hassle-free.

However, if you fail to choose the right builder for new home construction, then you may end up shooting the entire constriction budget and have to make, break and re-do many things during construction.

Home construction is a costly and time taking affair, and therefore it is important to work with the best builders and contractors in town, because they can complete the construction as per the house plan, and without shooting the construction budget drastically.

We deliver hundreds of house plans every month and help future home owners like you with all the resources and connections to make the process of building your dream home cost-effective and hassle-free.

No matter at what stage of planning you are today, if you are unsure about what to look for when choosing and hiring the right builder for new home construction then we have got you covered. Today in this post, I am sharing a few of the best tips on how to choose the best builder to construct your dream home smoothly and on budget.

Tips to choose the best home building contractor

As I said, a well placed, reliable, licensed and experienced building contractor will add plenty of value in building your dream home. They can build as per plan, reduce wastage of materials and help you stay close to your initial home construction budget and building construction timeline.

But how do you find and choose the best custom home builder near you to build your new dream home?

Well, finding and choosing the right home builder is not that difficult, especially when you know how to get it right.

Here’s what it takes to choose the right builder for new home construction.

Get house plan design

Before you reach out to the builder, you have to get a house plan and elevation design in place. Without a properly designed house plan, the builder may not get the complete picture and enough information to finalize the scope of work.

Unless the scope of work is defined, the builder may not be able to calculate the build area and accurate estimates of materials and labor charges.

Moreover, if you insist on quotation without showing house plan and building elevation designs, the quoted price will be much inaccurate. And therefore, even before you approach a custom home builder, it is important for you to either purchase a ready to use house plan design or get a custom house plan designed as per your plot, space requirements and construction budget.

Search for reliable builders

As you might be aware, there are hundreds of small home builders and building contractors available near you. But, all of them may not be the best and you can’t really choose them just like that.

Anyone with a little knowledge and experience can start a small home construction company. There is no specific regulatory norm or licensing to start a small home building company, especially in small towns in India. And therefore, you can easily find many small home building contractors near you. It does not really take a lot to become a building contractor, and that’s why you should be a little cautious when choosing and hiring a custom builder for home construction.

How do you find the best building contractor?

Now the question is how do you find the most reliable custom building contractor for your dream home construction?

The answer is to be practical and start early on?

When you have time in hand, you can actually pay attention to even smaller details and that is very crucial for finding and hiring a right builder and contractor for home construction.

And here’s how you can get it right:

• Talk to your friend and relatives and check if they know any reliable custom home builder in town.
• Search online on Google and other social media platform
• Check out local news papers and classified sites to find contact details of any reliable building contractor.

Please note that the idea is not to find the contact details of home builders and contractors, but the idea is to reach out to the very specific type of builders and contractors with proven track record who can complete the project on time and in budget.

So be specific when asking for referrals from your friends and colleagues or when searching online. Use very specific keywords e.g. home builders in Kolkata is so generic and therefore you should refine your search phrase as “Award winning small home builders in Kolkata” to be more specific.

Screen the list

Whether you got some referrals or you have found a few home builders online, you should dig deeper to narrow down the list before proceeding any further. The goal is to end-up with a list of not more than three building contractors.

The best place to start screening is to check out their website and social media pages for reviews, testimonials and general background of the company.

Reviews and testimonials shared on their website may not be treated as the most authentic testimony but reviews and testimonials on social media can definitely give you some idea of how they work and treat their customers.

Be a little smart and think practically when screening the list of companies you found online or through referrals from friends and colleagues.

Remember that the idea is to gauge a custom home builder based on their expertise, quality of work, diversity of their portfolio and overall ability to build the kind of building you want to get constructed.

If you have any specific question then you may like to contact them through their website and official social page to check out how promptly they respond and how friendly the team is.

Approach the builders

Now that you have a list of two or three screened and sort listed custom builders, it’s time to approach them one by one. To begin with, you may like to call them or send them an email asking for quotations.

At this stage of screening, the idea is to get a ballpark estimate as per your custom home build requirements and get to know more about the builders, their approach, cost estimates, delivery time and beyond.

So, share them your construction requirements along with the house plan and elevation designs. Usually, they need a house plan and elevation design to prepare a bill of quantity and tentative estimates for construction.

Meet face to face

Once you receive responses and cost estimates, it’s time for a face to face meeting with the probably home builders and contractors. Be prepared to spend some time with the builders and ask them all the questions you might have related to the construction of your new home.

Ideally, you would want to work with a custom home builder and contractor with relevant experience who is known to complete the construction in due time and within a specific budget, without compromising on the construction materials and overall build quality.

The builder should also be credible with plenty of completed projects and happy clients in their portfolio.

Question to ask a custom home builder before hiring

Finding and screening the best custom home builder and contractors for your new home construction can be a time consuming process.

But trust me, it’s totally worth it.

The more time you spend screening builders and construction contractors, the better for your project.

Here’re a few of the questions you should ask the home builders to understand them better:

Do you engage and communicate with the architects?

During the construction of your new home, the contractor may need to engage and collaborate with the architect for clarification and to sort out any issue with the plan and elevation, especially if the design needs some clarification.

It’s always better when the contractor or the project manager communicate to the architect to get any query clarified or to resolve any issue.

Have you built similar size homes that I want to build?

Ideally, you should work with a builder that has expertise and experience of building homes like you want to build. There is no point working with a large builder who specialize building big residential and commercial complexes, especially when you want to build a simple 3 bedroom duplex house.

When you ask the probable builder about the kind of project they maximum work on and if it matches your building requirements, then that builder may be the right fit for your construction project.

How fast can you send the construction estimate and budget?

Sometimes, the builders take weeks to send a detailed estimate and that shows they may not have all the resources to complete the construction. They often get estimates from other independent contractors and that could be the reason for delays. And in most cases, such estimates are not accurate and therefore it’s better to work with a builder who has ready resources available to complete the project cost effectively and on time.

Could you share the cost breakup and explain the estimate?

It’s really important for you to get all the details as far as the construction cost is concerned. When you have a detailed construction estimate on the table, you will be able to compare apples to apples and make a better decision.

Some custom home builders and contractors send consolidated cost estimates, but it is better to get detailed cost breakup as it helps you understand everything correctly.

Can I source and provide construction materials?

It’s also very important to have the flexibility to procure and source the best construction materials like floor and wall tiles etc as per your preference and budget. Some of the home builders offer this flexibility, but you should clarify this upfront.

Do you offer service warranty post construction?

Service warranty is very important because you may have minor issues here and there and these can be best discovered when you move into the house. Ideally, you should opt for builders who offer such issues.

Some of the most common issues include damp, water leakage, water logging etc. It’s also important to work out a detailed list of post construction warranty and know what is covered and what is not.

Could you provide me with some references of past customers?

This is vital, and you must see to this.

No matter how many positive or negative reviews you have found for a particular construction company online, but nothing matches the kind of assurance you get from speaking with their past customers.

Not only it helps you verify the credential, but you get to know real experiences of real customers and this could help you big time in choosing or not choosing a particular home builder and construction service provider.

Can you arrange for a live construction site visit?

This question is equally important. If you get a chance to visit a live site, you will be able to discover a lot of things about how the company works, the kind of materials they use, proportion of concrete, sand, iron etc. Given a chance, you should visit a live site because it will help you get a better understanding of the way they execute the construction project.

Is the payment linked with different stages of construction?

In case of home construction and interior designing, the payment is linked with sourcing of materials and different stages of construction. It’s not that you have to make 50% payment up front and 50% on completion.

Sourcing of materials involves a lot of money, but at the same time you have to ensure that the payments you are making are actually being spent on your project. Therefore, you should always look for builders that offer flexible and transparent payment terms.

Compare and choose a winning builder

Now that you have found, screened, met them face to face and asked them all the right questions, it’s time to evaluate all the inputs  you have received and take a call on hiring a builder and construction contractor for your new home.

You have already reviewed their website, checked for publicly available feedback and testimony, spoken with their past clients and even visited an under construction site. You have also got the detailed cost breakup and estimates and that should help you to choose the final builder.

While evaluating all the offers and proposals, you should always look at the overall cost and estimate. But, it’s equally important to evaluate a company based on their credential, capability, team, industry certification, license etc.

Conclusion

Home construction is a budget intensive, time taking project. There are a lot of stakeholders involved in designing and constructing a beautiful dream home. From finest architects to the best custom home builders, you have to spend time and work with them to get your dream home designed and constructed.

If you are looking for beautiful house plans and modern elevation designs, then we can help you get it right. We have a team of finest architects and a huge catalogue of ready to use house plan designs to choose from.

But, if you have already chosen a house plan design, then the next crucial step is to find a reliable builder to construct your new house. Choosing a reliable and the best building contractor is not as easy as it appears.

The best is to find a few building contractors from reference, and if that does not work, then you should search for them on the internet. When you have the basic contact details of the builders, you should request for estimates.

Once you have the quotations, you should compare their offers, evaluate their credentials and then take the final decision on hiring the best possible builder for your new home construction.

What else do you think one should look at to find the right builder for home construction?

Feel free to share your tips and hacks by commenting below.

The post How to Choose the Right Builder for New Home Construction appeared first on Houseyog.