Are you building your Dream Home? First, build your Dream Team!
So you want to build your dream house? Yay! Designing, building, and ultimately living in your ideal home is a dream that many share. It is an exhilarating, overwhelming and somewhat exhausting roller coaster. So jump in and buckle-up! Because we’re going to breakdown the trade experts you need to have on your dream team for the ride you just punched your ticket for.
Architectural Designer
The first and arguable, the most important person to hire is the right designer. You want to find someone that understands and listens to your needs and wants. Knows what the heck they are doing. And has a shared vision for your home. This person (or team) are about to become your new best friend and guide for this endeavour. It all starts with the design.
Builder
The next and only rival to the most important player is your builder. They are going to be putting A LOT of hours into your dream home. And will be working with you throughout this journey; dealing with issues that arise, again, guiding you through this process and likely making recommendations on materials and other people to flush out your dream team.
Quantity Surveyor
A quantity surveyor, or QS, is someone who you potentially won’t be spending as much face time with, but whose role is vitally important. Their job is to look at your plans and create a report of the collective costs and quantities of the materials required to complete your project. This helps ensure that your project stays within your budget, is completed on time and gives you and the other parties involved a clear understanding of their role and the time required of them. A QS will be present throughout this project to deal with variations to material requests, tradesperson availabilities, and budget changes. They are your touchstone to ensure you don’t wrack up a bill higher than you can count.
Tradies galore!
I hope you don’t mind your personal space being invaded. Because if you’re living in your home as it’s being completed or remodelled- say goodbye to a peaceful household! You are about to have a series of plumbers, electricians, tilers, jib-stoppers, painters, heating technicians, and more in and around your house for months. Power tools, large equipment and fumes infiltrating your space. This team of people will likely grow beyond what you envisage at the start of your project- but welcome them. Remember, it’s a team effort. Finding the right professionals to complete these jobs is a biggie. You want people you trust, like and know will complete the job.
Go the next step…
Hire a landscape architect and interior designer to help put the final pieces of your dream home together. Maybe you have run over budget (or near to it) towards the end of your project; we’re not going to lie- it can happen. But at the very least you could consider a consultation with these two professionals. Hint- ask the other members of your dream home dream team for recommendations and referrals!