There\u2019s nothing quite like a home that is purpose-built for your needs, but for most South Africans, the thought of building a house from scratch is more than a little overwhelming.<\/p>\n
The good news is, with a little help and a lot of planning, it’s definitely possible to build the house of your dreams, notes Rawson Property Group.<\/p>\n
Bill Rawson, chairman of the Rawson Property Group and experienced property developer, has identified some of the main steps you\u2019ll need to take as you venture into the world of owner-built homes.<\/p>\n
Be realistic about building costs<\/strong><\/p>\n “One of the most important things to understand and accept before building a house in South Africa is that it\u2019s highly unlikely to be the cheapest option,” said Rawson.<\/p>\n He explained that our relatively high construction costs tend to make building significantly more expensive than buying, although new construction techniques on the market \u2013 like steel- and timber-framed homes \u2013 can narrow this gap by a fair margin.<\/p>\n As a rule, however, he does not advise building if your interest is purely financial.<\/p>\n “It makes much better sense to renovate and sell if profit is your motivation,” he said. “If you\u2019re willing to pay a bit more to live in your perfect home, on the other hand, building could be an ideal choice for you.”<\/p>\n Find the right land<\/strong><\/p>\n Location is an essential consideration for any home, but when you\u2019re planning on building from scratch, it\u2019s not just proximity to good shops, schools and neighbours that you have to think about.<\/p>\n “You\u2019ll need to consider accessibility for construction vehicles, and access to power and water for the construction process,” said Rawson, “not to mention getting a professional survey done to pick up on any slopes, drainage issues, soil types and underlying rocks that could cause problems.”<\/p>\n Zoning is also an important factor, as some even have restrictions that limit building options. Rawson recommends double-checking zoning status and getting a copy of the site plan before making an offer.<\/p>\n Understand building loans<\/strong><\/p>\n A building loan is quite different to an ordinary mortgage, and Rawson says it\u2019s important to understand these differences before signing on to the building process.<\/p>\n “For starters, building loans aren\u2019t lump sums,” he said. “You don\u2019t get paid the full amount of your loan to manage as you please \u2013 the bank gives you instalments based on the progress their assessor sees on site. That means if progress is delayed, or you hit unforeseen problems, you might not have immediate access to the capital that you need.”<\/p>\n For this reason, Rawson recommends putting aside the equivalent of a 10% \u2013 20% deposit to use as an emergency fund in case of unexpected expenses.<\/p>\n Get professional plans<\/strong><\/p>\n To qualify for bank financing, you\u2019ll need to have a comprehensive construction quote based on accurate specifications and finishes schedules. These are much easier to get with the help of an experienced architect, who can not only help to make your design dreams a reality, but also keep them within your budget.<\/p>\n “The more accurate your initial drawings are, the better your chances are of securing the appropriate financing, but enlisting the services of an architect can add a lot more value than just that,” said Rawson. “When it comes to project management, the right architect can save you immeasurable time, stress and money, and those savings tend to more than make up for their professional fees.”<\/p>\n Expect the unexpected<\/strong><\/p>\n “There is no such thing as a perfect construction process,” said Rawson. “Every, single building project comes with at least a few gremlins. For this reason, it\u2019s a good idea to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for surprises, and have a little cash on hand to deal with unexpected expenses.”<\/p>\n Rawson also warns that very few building projects run 100% according to schedule, so you shouldn\u2019t bank on having access to a completed home on the precise date your contractor has promised.<\/p>\n “Try to keep some flexibility in your accommodation options while you\u2019re building,” said Rawson. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to find yourself with nowhere to stay because things are taking longer than expected.”<\/p>\n Choose a quality contractor<\/strong><\/p>\n Of all the things you need to consider when building your own home, Rawson says a quality contractor is the most important.<\/p>\n “Nothing makes the building process more stressful than a contractor who doesn\u2019t deliver on his promises,” he said.<\/p>\n Sadly, it\u2019s not always easy to tell good builders from bad, which is why Rawson recommends only considering contractors with plenty of contactable references.<\/p>\n “If at all possible, go with a word-of-mouth recommendation from someone you trust, or get your architect to appoint a contractor from their own trusted pool,” he said. “It\u2019s also a good idea, if possible, to pay a visit to your prospective contractor\u2019s recently completed projects to make sure that their workmanship is up to snuff.”<\/p>\n
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