Are you thinking about designing your new home. Chances are that you might have already visited a number of display homes and found yourself liking a bit of everything about them. A bedroom of one display home might appeal to you and you might like the bathroom of another one. There are times when you might be tempted to change in the plans to suit your specific requirements. Also there is no penalty associated with changing the plan because the building has not started yet.
There are builders who would accommodate the changes that you want to make however it all comes at a certain cost. Obviously there are going to be costs associated with customising the standard plan. A layperson may not even be aware of how much they would be paying for the customisation.
What you need to understand about customisation costs?
It is just not possible to say how much it is going to cost to customise a specific plan. It also depends upon your builder and the plan that you have chosen plus the modifications that you would require would have an impact on it as well.
When it comes to things like changing the colour of the paint or the style of the tiles it is not going to cost you a great deal. However if there are changes required in the bathroom fixtures or the kitchen fittings, there might be a customisation cost associated with what you have selected. Also making changes in the passage of the layout of the home and the size of the rooms would definitely come at a higher cost. It is your builders duty to make sure that they write down everything in a detailed manner instead of charging you a lump sum amount for the changes that you require.
As a homeowner you should be careful that you are not being charged extra for customisation. When it comes to specific requirements like changing the colour of the paint or the design of the tiles you can expect a difference of a few hundred dollars but not more than that. This is why it is important that you should review all the inclusions in the plan. You need to find a reliable builder who would not charge you extra for features which any other builder would include in a standard plan.
When looking for a builder makes sure that they will allow you the following benefits:
- Standard floor plan which has been designed to maximise the space
- Your choice of a specific facade. Majority of the home designs have different facade styles to choose from. You can choose from styles like Hamptons or urban depending upon your own specific requirements.
- Any sort of personalisation when it comes to fittings and fixtures.
- Any advice offered by the home consultants in regards to the layout and the position of your block.
Tips for keeping the cost down
Despite the fact that it is not easy to calculate the extra cost associated with customisations upfront there are certain rules which can help keep the cost down.
- It is best to go for a builder who offers you a wide choice between the different kinds of home designs and floor plans. Since you would have more options to choose from you are so to find a design which is going to suit your budget and your specific style. This would also allow you to make a minimum number of changes thus helping keep the cost down.
- Choose a design which is in accordance with your land. For example if you are building on a sloped piece of land it is best to go for a split level design. On the other hand you might also need to take into account the direction of the sun and the privacy. You should not compromise to use a particular plan to build upon your site otherwise it might not result in the kind of home that you are looking for.
- Make sure that your builder provides you with a breakdown of the cost instead of providing with a lump sum amount.
- If you are going for a standard design without any modifications it is important that you make your builder commit to getting you a fix price. Although there might be a time when you might want to change a certain fixture or fitting, having the amount written down would allow you to know whether you would like to make these changes or not.
- Go for a builder who supplies their own fixtures and finishes. Going to a builder who purchases the raw material from some other supplier, it is not a cost effective choice. They might be required to get your customised fittings from others and could result in increased costs.
The first step to building your new home
If there are any changes which you need to make in the standard plan it is best that you are upfront with your builder about it. You should let them know that there are certain changes which you would like to make in the plan and let them speak for themselves. This would help you get an idea of whether your builder is committed towards helping you build the home of your dreams.
Make sure that you have a detailed talk with your builder and provide them with any inspirations in the form of clippings or photographs which you have seen. If there are certain floor plans which you like the look of make sure that you show these to your builder as well. If there is a certain plan which you have already had drawn up by an architect make sure that you bring it along at the meeting as well.
The right builder would make sure that they take interest in what your vision is about. They would also try to make sure that they include your specifications in the standardised plans. Although the minor changes may not increase the expenses if there are some major changes which you require then you might need to shell out some extra cash.
Make sure that you find a reliable builder who is flexible to your individuality without making you pay an exorbitant amount of cash for changing the standard plan.