7 Essential Steps to Planning Your Dream Home

Can you imagine living in a beautiful home that feels like it was designed just for you? A place where every room, and each corner as well as details will complete your personality. Isn't it incredible? This is the wonder of envisioning and building your dream home.

It's an adventure full of anticipation, imagination and of course a hurdle, along the way. Worry not! We'll guide you through each stage of the journey, with these 7 steps to turning dreams into reality. Let’s start on how you can create a home that truly reflects your desires.

Define Your Vision

First, without knowing what you want in your new house, don't rush to drawing plans or choosing paint colours. The first step is about planning your life and knowing what you need. The clearer the picture, the easier it gets.

Start by asking yourself some important questions:

• How do you spend your days at home? Do you love to cook and need a big kitchen? Or are you more of a takeout person who'd prefer a smaller kitchen and a larger living room?

• Do you work from home and need a quiet office space?

• Do you enjoy entertaining friends and family? If so, you might want to consider an open floor plan or a large dining area.

• What about outdoor spaces? Do you dream of a big garden, a cosy patio, or maybe a pool?

• How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? Think not just about your current needs, but also about the future. Are you planning to have children or maybe have elderly parents move in someday?

• What style of home do you love? Modern with clean lines and minimal decoration? Traditional with classic details? Rustic with lots of natural materials? Or maybe a mix of styles?

Take your time with this step. Browse home design magazines, and websites. Save pics of the homes and rooms you love or create a vision board if that helps you visualise your ideas better.

Also, create two lists; one, for the things you ‘absolutely need’ and another for the things ‘you'd like to have if possible’. Your must-haves consist of the features you require in your residence, such as a specific number of bedrooms, a home office or a spacious kitchen.

On the other hand you're nice to have encompassing amenities that would be great to have but are not crucial, for your living situation. For example, these could include a pool or a home gym.

Set a Realistic Budget

The next step is to find out how much your vision will cost in life. The key is to set a realistic budget. It gives you an idea of what can be achieved. It also reduces the chances of the bill going far beyond its limits.

Creating a budget for building a home can seem overwhelming, but let's break it down into manageable steps:

1. The first step is to decide where the amount is going to come from, like from your savings, a mortgage or a combination of the two. Consult with either your advisor or mortgage broker to determine the financing options for you.

2. Your total budget needs to cover several different areas. Here's a general breakdown of where your money might go:

• Land (if you're buying): This can be 20-25% of your total budget.

• Construction: This is usually the biggest chunk, around 50-60% of your budget.

• Fees and permits: These can take up about 10-15% of your budget.

• Interior finishes and landscaping: Plan for about 10-15% here.

• Contingency fund: Always set aside about 10-20% for unexpected expenses.

3. The cost to build can vary drastically by where you are building. Ask builders and real estate agents how much it costs per square foot to build where you live.

4. Some of the online tools will help you in doing an estimation on building costs. \

5. It's easy to get caught up in envisioning your home and overspending. However, it's important to stay grounded and consider what you can realistically afford. If your dreams exceed your budget, it's wise to prioritise. 

6. Building a house often comes with unexpected expenses. You might like a pricier bathroom tile or opt for landscaping. That's where having a contingency fund comes in handy.

Assemble Your Team

Building a home isn't a solo project - it takes a team of professionals to turn your vision into reality. Assembling the right team is crucial for the success of your project. Here are the key players you'll need:

Your architect is like the director of your home-building movie.

The builder is the person who will actually construct your home. They manage the construction site, hire and coordinate subcontractors, order materials and ensure everything follows the plans and local codes.

An interior designer isn't always necessary. But they can be invaluable in helping you choose colours, materials, and furnishings. These things will bring your vision to life in your home.

Other professionals you might need include:

• Structural Engineer who ensures your home is structurally sound.

• Landscape Architect for designing your outdoor spaces.

• Surveyor to accurately measure and map your land.

So, how do you choose the right team? Here are some tips:

1. Ask for recommendations from friends, family, or colleagues who have built homes. You could check for online reviews, and portfolios.

2. Don't just go with the first person you meet. Interview at least three professionals for each role.

3. Ask to see examples of homes they've designed or built. If possible, visit some of these homes in person.

4. Talk to people they've worked with before. Inquire about their experience, including if the job was finished on time and within budget or whether they'd work with the professional again.

5. Show them some of your ideas and listen to their feedback. Are they excited about your project? Do they offer creative solutions to potential problems?

6. While it's tempting to go for the most famous architect or builder, make sure that their fees fit into what you are prepared to spend.

4. These people will be working side by side with you for months or even a year! You also want to be able to feel like they are someone whom you can actually talk with about your ideas and that listens when something is concerning.

Develop Detailed Architectural Plans

Once you've identified your team members it's time to transform your idea into plans. This is where the architect’s expertise comes in translating your inspiration into details that will guide the builder in bringing your vision to life. 

The details included in residential architectural plans are comprehensive and critical for bringing your dream home to life. Here's what you can expect to see in these plans:

1. Site Plan: This can include the orientation of the house, driveways and landscaping details.

2. Floor Plans: These blueprints depict the arrangement of rooms, doors and windows on every level of your house.

3. Elevations: These drawings depict the appearance of your home, from angles including the front, back and sides. They highlight elements such as roof design, window placement and any additional features like porches or chimneys.

4. Sections: These illustrations represent cross sections of your home to tell how different levels are interconnected and the height of spaces.

5. Detailed Drawings: This may include custom cabinetry designs, unique architectural elements or intricate structures.

6. Electrical Plans: These diagrams indicate the locations for electrical outlets, light fixtures and switches throughout the house.

7. Plumbing Plans: These layouts outline the positions of all pipes, drains, sinks, toilets, showers and other plumbing fixtures in your home.

8. HVAC Plans: These plans outline the layout of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, within the property.

Your architect will likely walk you through these blueprints gradually starting with sketches and then progressing to plans as you refine your vision. Feel free to ask questions or suggest changes, along the way. It's much simpler (and cost effective) to make modifications on paper than during the construction phase.

Obtain Necessary Permits

Before setting off with the construction of your home, ensure you have all the legal authorisations. This first phase can be a somewhat time-consuming component of the procedure, as tedious paperwork and waiting times are typically required. It is crucial, for guaranteeing the lawful construction of your home.

The specific permits required may vary based on the location of your construction project.

The general process for obtaining these permits usually involves:

1. Before you can start building make sure to share blueprints of your house with your local council or a private certifier.

2. The authorities will carefully inspect your plans to confirm they align with the building regulations and zoning laws. This process may take a week or even months.

3. In case your initial designs don't meet all the criteria, be ready to adjust them and submit them again.

4. Once everything gets the light, you'll be issued the permits needed to move forward with your construction project.

Your architect and builder should have knowledge about the permit procedures in your locality and can often take care of most of it on your behalf. Nonetheless it's beneficial to grasp the process yourself to be prepared for what lies ahead.

Plan for Sustainability

When you're envisioning your home, think about integrating sustainable elements. Not only does this benefit the environment but also cut down on costs over time and enhance the overall quality of your living space.

Energy Efficiency:

• Utilising solar panels can aid in producing your electricity lessening your dependence on the power grid and potentially cutting down on energy expenses.

• Effective insulation helps maintain a temperature inside your home throughout the seasons lessening the requirement for heating and cooling.

• Opting for triple glazed windows can notably decrease heat loss.

• LED lighting consumes significantly less energy compared to standard bulbs and has a longer lifespan.

•  When selecting appliances, prioritise those with energy star ratings, for energy efficiency.

Water Conservation:

• Installing water fixtures, like low flow faucets, showerheads and flush toilets can help cut down on water consumption.

• Rain barrels are great for collecting rainwater that can be used to irrigate gardens, flush toilets or for purposes.

• Greywater systems recycle water, from sinks, showers and washing machines to be used for watering plants.

Sustainable Materials:

• Consider using materials like recycled steel reclaimed wood or sustainably sourced timber, for an eco-approach.

• Opt for VOC paints to minimise the release of harmful chemicals in your living space.

Smart Home Technology:

• Utilise programmable thermostats to customise your home's temperature settings according to your routine.

• Incorporate lighting that automatically switches off in rooms to conserve energy.

Passive Design Elements:

• Properly orient your home to make the most of light and solar warmth.

• Focus on designing for airflow to reduce reliance on air conditioning.

Green Spaces:

• Using plants native to your area can reduce water needs and support local ecosystems.

• These can provide insulation and support biodiversity.

It's advisable to seek advice from your architect on incorporating these elements into your home design. They can help you find a balance, among sustainability, cost effectiveness and aesthetics.

Plan for the Future

When you're immersed in the thrill of planning your home it's common to concentrate on your present desires and tastes. Yet an exceptional home is one that has the flexibility to evolve and expand alongside you as time goes by. This is why it's essential to consider possibilities while creating your home design.

Here are some ways to make your home adaptable for future needs:

• Create rooms that have the flexibility to be used for functions. For instance, a home office that can be used as a guest room.

• Think about incorporating dividers of permanent walls, in certain spaces. This gives you the option to adjust the layout as required.

• Spacious doorways and hallways can create a sense of openness in your home. Provide access, for wheelchairs if required later on.

• Having a bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor can be beneficial as you grow older or when elderly family members come to visit.

• Entrances without steps ensure that your home is welcoming and accessible to people of all ages from children, to grandparents.

• Plan for plenty of electrical outlets and consider including USB ports in your outlets.

• Install conduits that allow for easy upgrading of wiring in the future.

• Consider including a space for a home automation hub.

• If you're planning to have children (or more children), consider how your home will accommodate a growing family.

• Think about noise isolation between bedrooms and living areas.

• Install grab bars in bathrooms or at least reinforce walls so they can be easily added later.

• Consider a walk-in shower with a low or no threshold.

• Plan for good lighting throughout the house, especially in stairways and work areas.

Conclusion

Building your dream home is a huge project but also an incredibly rewarding experience. By following these seven steps, you're paving the way for success. However, you must remain patient, persevere and adapt. Obstacles may come along the way but don't be discouraged. Every challenge that you overcome is one step closer to your dream home personified.