Building a house is one of the biggest projects in life for many families. The challenge seems to be more difficult for those who have the least building experience. Building a home usually involves a long-term loan. It is no wonder that people who start building a house strive to optimize its costs. In order to build a cheap house, it is necessary to start the preparation well before the first shovel gets in the ground at the construction site. So how to build a house cheaply? Below we present some advice from out top London architects.
What is cost optimization?
Optimization of construction costs starts already when choosing a plot and a house project. Each next step must be planned just as carefully, preferably with a cost estimate in hand. At the same time, striving to reduce construction costs for inexperienced investors may be a trap. The house should be not only cheap to build, but also functional and solid. And also inexpensive to maintain. Striving to optimize the cost of its construction, it is not difficult to make mistakes that will destroy the whole plan. As a result, the house will turn out to be non-functional, it will require numerous renovations, and its operation will be much more expensive than it was assumed. Therefore, it is necessary to be reasonable in reducing construction costs, so we don’t try to save money at the expense of quality.
Building plot
The first step on the way to your own home is to buy a plot. Of course, it’s best if the plot is inexpensive, but we should remember that the plot at a bargain price may require a lot of preparatory work, and hence - a greater financial outlay. The costs of additional work must be added to the purchase price of the plot. Ideally, if the plot is located on an even terrain.
House Project
After buying a plot, it's time to choose a house project. It must, above all, comply with the guidelines contained in the local plan or in the building conditions. The house design is a key element for the future of the investment. The costs of building it will largely depend on which building will be selected. The ready house designs that we can purchase from many London architects http://sigmalondon.com/blog/2018/9/17/what-does-a-london-architect-do-exactly-your-question-answered are usually much cheaper than projects prepared for individual orders. We should, however, remember that all the ready projects require adaptation, and the cost it depends on the number of changes in the project and their difficulty. Therefore, it is best to choose a ready project that meets the investors' expectations as accurately as possible and does not require many changes. In addition, the design should include solutions adapted to the standard dimensions of such elements as windows or doors. Otherwise, we will need to buy products made to order, and their price can be up to several dozen percent higher than the standard ones. The body of the building should be solid, compact, devoid of decorations, arcades or balconies. A house with a compact body is also easier to heat.
Investment estimate
Proper planning and construction are not possible without a cost estimate. Investors who finance the construction with a loan have to have a cost estimate at the stage of applying for it because it is one of the documents on the basis of which banks provide loans. A cost estimate prepared by experienced London architects can be ordered for every ready house project, for some, it is offered free of charge. The cost estimate is worked out in such a way as to be clear and understandable for people unrelated to the construction industry. It consists of a series of works, a simplified cost estimate, a detailed listing of materials, labour and equipment. All information is in order and catalogued. The document contains not only quantitative data but also the time frame in which the next stages of works should be closed. The cost estimate makes it easier to compare the offers of individual contractors, and then - control their work. If changes are made during construction, it is easier to calculate their impact on the costs and time of project implementation with a cost estimate.
Building a house
Investors who want to build the house at the lowest possible cost, use the economic system. They buy building materials themselves, employ more contractors, supervise their work, and often also participate in it themselves. The construction based on the economic system is cheaper than construction commissioned to one London construction company. But it lasts longer and requires much more commitment from the investors. When employing more than one London construction company, it is important to remember that low prices often lead to low-quality services. Employment of unproven, low-cost contractors can quickly bring more trouble than good.
