Building a home can be an investment in your life and future happiness. But it can also be a great deal of work, worry and waiting. Even the savviest consumer can find that the home-building process taxes them and their relationships with family and friends. But with some prior reflection, you can minimize the stress as you progress toward closing day.

To help you out with this, here are 5 tips to help you survive the home building process:

1. Plan, plan and plan some more

Prior planning is important whether you are selecting a builder’s floor-plan and making a few design choices or creating a completely custom design. Complete the following steps to help you feel more prepared:

• Research and follow the building codes for your area
• Make a detailed list of what you need and what you want
• Look for common faults in design and how to avoid them
• Plan for the long run
• Hire professionals who are licensed and well-regarded
• Make sure your plans are clearly delineated
• Get agreements and changes in writing

2. Be realistic

It can be very difficult to reconcile your dream home with reality, but it must be done. You have already spent the time deliberating over all the details of home-building and investigating building services. Not only should you consider how your plans relate to the actual space, you should reflect on your relations with your building staff. They are human, cannot read your mind, and are prone to misunderstanding and mistakes. If you develop a rapport with them based on clarity and mutual respect, you will find that the relationship will lead to your greater satisfaction upon completion.

3. Prioritize your needs

Unless you have unlimited funds, at various points in the process, your budget is going to become an issue. When you are building the home of your dreams, your plans may overload your pocketbook. While you’re still in the planning stages, take the time to prioritize your wants and needs. You may want a large, spacious kitchen, but need more storage space. If you rank your desires according to the most important, it will save you hassle down the road.

4. Ask for help

In this age of DIY, it may be tempting to rely on your own decision-making power. But this can be disastrous. If you are going through a builder, they may ask you questions about what you want and you may not know the answers. The good news is, a lot of people you know have gone through the home-building process. They are a veritable mine of advice that ranges from coping with frustration when things go wrong to recommendations of contractors for specific services. Don’t be afraid to ask family, friends, and the professionals you hire for help. This streamlines the building process and reduces the likelihood of mistakes.

5. Get involved

If you are a hands-on type of person, don’t be afraid to get involved! Someone with your makeup will go crazy if you aren’t able to be absorbed in the process and progress of your home. So dig in; get your hands dirty! Get some rubber gloves, a hard hat, and some tools, and see where you can be of help in the building of your home. This will help you to not only feel the accomplishment from actually participating in the completion of your home, but it will help you to keep from going crazy with too much time worrying about the progress of your home.

6. Be patient

Your home may not be completed by your estimated closing date. In fact, your closing date may be adjusted several times due to delays or errors in construction. This can be extremely aggravating, especially as the date draws near and you prepare to move. If your previous residence has a set date by which you must vacate, do yourself a favor and prepare for this eventuality by establishing temporary housing with a flexible end-date. That way, you aren’t scrambling for a place to sleep while you wait.

Home-building can get a little crazy, but it doesn’t have to cost you your sanity. With some work and the right mindset, you can survive this process and thrive in your new home.

About the Author

Nicole loves writing articles to help new home owners and people building homes. She is currently building a home in Western Australia, and loves this land for sale in Perth.

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