Revealed: Secrets to Building Your Home on a Budget
Know how to prepare and go about the making your dream home within a reasonable budget
Start thinking of putting together a budget much before you decide to start building your home. Shaping your budget will give you a chance to choose all the design elements of the house, from the ground up, yourself. Then, once the budget is finalised, building a home at a cost that’s within reason needn’t be a daunting task. A few design considerations, a few precautions and a streamlined process – that is all. Here are points to help you build a budget and implement it smoothly.
Modify choice of materials
Materials dictate a large chunk of the building cost. Limiting the number of materials can help you keep the cost down. Also, the use of multiple materials brings various differently skilled workers into the scene and that increases cost, too. For instance, the life-cycle cost of a wooden flooring is much higher than that of tiled flooring. Wood-composite materials need a lot of professional work, as well. Metal-based panels require a group of qualified labourers who demand a high price in return of their services.
Consider using recycled materials (like fly-ash bricks, recycled steel, cement composite boards, and so on) that are eco-friendly and light on the budget. The cost of materials varies with locality. It is always best to use vernacular or easily available materials when building a home on a budget. It eliminates the cost of transportation and minimises wastage.
Always remember that a low-grade or cheaper material is never a good option in the long run. Good quality matters, as quality materials reduce the need for repeated repairs at a later stage.
Materials dictate a large chunk of the building cost. Limiting the number of materials can help you keep the cost down. Also, the use of multiple materials brings various differently skilled workers into the scene and that increases cost, too. For instance, the life-cycle cost of a wooden flooring is much higher than that of tiled flooring. Wood-composite materials need a lot of professional work, as well. Metal-based panels require a group of qualified labourers who demand a high price in return of their services.
Consider using recycled materials (like fly-ash bricks, recycled steel, cement composite boards, and so on) that are eco-friendly and light on the budget. The cost of materials varies with locality. It is always best to use vernacular or easily available materials when building a home on a budget. It eliminates the cost of transportation and minimises wastage.
Always remember that a low-grade or cheaper material is never a good option in the long run. Good quality matters, as quality materials reduce the need for repeated repairs at a later stage.
Go modular
You can have a fancy home within a budget, too. Prefabricated sections, including walls, structural frames, floor and roof slabs can be transported and installed on site. Not only does prefabrication ensure faster construction but the structure is sturdy and durable, as well.
Tip: Modular construction is more efficient when floors are stacked up. The foundation and roof areas, the two most expensive parts of any house, remain the same while you enjoy the extra floor area on the upper levels.
You can have a fancy home within a budget, too. Prefabricated sections, including walls, structural frames, floor and roof slabs can be transported and installed on site. Not only does prefabrication ensure faster construction but the structure is sturdy and durable, as well.
Tip: Modular construction is more efficient when floors are stacked up. The foundation and roof areas, the two most expensive parts of any house, remain the same while you enjoy the extra floor area on the upper levels.
Rethink bespoke features
When it comes to interiors, a simpler treatment, where you can leave some parts unfinished, can be purposeful as well as budget-friendly. For instance, an exposed cement wall eliminates the cost of finishing, in addition to making a rustic statement.
Ornamented features and difficult finishes can sometimes demand a lot of money and time. Moreover, the repair and maintenance of such features may take a toll on your pocket later. Materials such as nacre (also known as ‘mother of pearl’), metal mosaics and leather need regular touch-ups and nurture. Hence, pick your design elements carefully.
When it comes to interiors, a simpler treatment, where you can leave some parts unfinished, can be purposeful as well as budget-friendly. For instance, an exposed cement wall eliminates the cost of finishing, in addition to making a rustic statement.
Ornamented features and difficult finishes can sometimes demand a lot of money and time. Moreover, the repair and maintenance of such features may take a toll on your pocket later. Materials such as nacre (also known as ‘mother of pearl’), metal mosaics and leather need regular touch-ups and nurture. Hence, pick your design elements carefully.
Design for an efficient home
- Energy-efficient and good-quality appliances may cost more up front but they will help savings later on.
- Bring in passive heating and cooling techniques (such as a solar wall, a terrace garden and shading devices) within the building to reduce heating and cooling loads in the interior. Weather-proof your home by using insulating materials, like foam, fibreglass, mineral wool, rubber and so on, in the walls and roof.
- Make the most of available natural light to cut down costs for artificial lighting during the daytime. Strategically placed windows and fenestrations can greatly contribute to a comfortable indoors.
- Indoor plants are great at absorbing heat, moisture and noise; pick the ones suitable for your climate zone.
Monitor every move of your building team
You will have to keep an eye on everything that is going on during the construction phase. Make sure that you get what you have paid for. Do not settle for low-grade materials or poor quality construction if you had finalised something otherwise. Fix a time duration and a strict work schedule in consultation with the designer and builder. Follow up with the builder about the number of labourers on site and quality of work done on a daily basis.
Apart from your own work, make sure your designer visits the site regularly to ensure that fewer mistakes happen on site and if they do, they do not delay the construction process. After all, time is money.
Read more:
8 Vernacular Design Elements We Love
Houzz Tour: A Mandvi Home Blends in With its Location
Tell us:
Do you have more tips on building a home on a budget? Share in Comments.
You will have to keep an eye on everything that is going on during the construction phase. Make sure that you get what you have paid for. Do not settle for low-grade materials or poor quality construction if you had finalised something otherwise. Fix a time duration and a strict work schedule in consultation with the designer and builder. Follow up with the builder about the number of labourers on site and quality of work done on a daily basis.
Apart from your own work, make sure your designer visits the site regularly to ensure that fewer mistakes happen on site and if they do, they do not delay the construction process. After all, time is money.
Read more:
8 Vernacular Design Elements We Love
Houzz Tour: A Mandvi Home Blends in With its Location
Tell us:
Do you have more tips on building a home on a budget? Share in Comments.
A budget should account for all that you need prioritised in your new house. Start with listing out the essentials that are ‘must haves’. These bullet points will help you shape your budget:
- The budget depends upon the geometry of your home, among other things, and this needs to be decided beforehand. A surefire way to avoid additional costs is to adopt a plan with a simple geometry, avoiding circular or curved rooms as they account for more increased labour, cost and time. While finalising the design, insist on creating a plan with zero wastage (needlessly huge rooms or passageways). Also, make sure all the rooms are functional and appropriately connected.
You can also opt for an open-plan home – the construction cost and time is reduced with the reduced number of walls and partitions. Simultaneously, the cost of lighting, finishing and fixtures can possibly lessen.- Add the cost of design elements; a detailed and ornamented design directly increases the budget. The designer will then help you to fix the estimates of the different stages of construction of your home and the management of the process. Make sure the estimate includes the cost of little details (like hardware, finishing tools, wastage, and so on).
Allow for splurges in the final stage where you want a special feature or make a statement in the interiors. You can always add more of your personality to a basic plan!Tip: It is prudent to take estimates from more than one professional to compare quotes and then finally decide.