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[Edition datE] 3<br />
Your guide to Show Homes & New Sections<br />
in the <strong>Selwyn</strong> District<br />
11<br />
CREATING A CHECKLIST WHEN<br />
PLANNING TO BUILD<br />
When building a new home, a budget blow-out can occur<br />
with far more spent than was originally intended.<br />
Exciting new features, fashionable<br />
design trends and having bigger and<br />
better can all be reasons for this, as<br />
can, not determining the true cost<br />
before embarking on the building<br />
project or making changes during the<br />
build.<br />
To help avoid this, carry out some<br />
exploratory research before deciding<br />
on a house design. Visit kitchen and<br />
other outlets to get ideas of building<br />
products available, as well as a<br />
selection of show homes that appeal,<br />
collecting concept plans of interest.<br />
Next draw up a checklist with three<br />
headings: Constraints, Must Haves,<br />
and Desirable Features.<br />
Under constraints, start with a<br />
minimum and maximum budget<br />
figure. This should include the cost<br />
of fences, driveways, paths, and<br />
landscaping.<br />
Compile a list of ‘must haves’<br />
considering each requirement and<br />
whether it is something that is<br />
absolutely essential or just desirable.<br />
An example is a separate laundry. A<br />
compromise might be locating this in<br />
the garage. Another consideration is<br />
the size and positioning of windows.<br />
If you love the sun streaming in,<br />
larger windows might be opted for.<br />
The question is: What do you really<br />
need? A ‘must have’ might be a<br />
smaller easy care section or having<br />
sufficient space to park a caravan<br />
or work vehicle. Inside, it might be<br />
having an office to work from home,<br />
or separating bedrooms and living<br />
space so a shift worker can sleep<br />
during the day.<br />
The ‘desirable features’ list is likely to<br />
be the longest. It might have elements<br />
such as a higher stud (ceiling), larger<br />
doors, cedar panelling, butler’s pantry,<br />
free-standing bath, bi-fold doors, a<br />
covered outdoor entertaining area<br />
with fire or pizza oven, and more<br />
storage space. Unless the budget is<br />
extremely tight, you should be able to<br />
incorporate some ‘desirable features’<br />
into the final design though possibly<br />
not all.<br />
Once your checklist is drawn up, look<br />
again at the concept layouts collected<br />
from show homes visited. Select those<br />
that fit your requirements and will<br />
suit the building site you have chosen<br />
then go out and look at the show<br />
homes once more, taking the checklist<br />
with you.<br />
As you walk through each house,<br />
make comparisons with your<br />
checklist. Weigh up whether any<br />
‘must haves’ might be relegated to the<br />
‘desirable features’ column and vice<br />
versa. Collect extra concept designs<br />
that you like and that might work for<br />
you.<br />
When you have a firm idea of the<br />
size and features for your new home,<br />
talk to the designers who might work<br />
independently or for a particular<br />
building company. Listen to their<br />
suggestions but be firm about what<br />
you can or cannot afford. Ask the<br />
designer to visit your building site so<br />
the home can be positioned to make<br />
the best of the elements then before<br />
finalising the plan, get a firm price or<br />
quotes from a builder.<br />
Proud to have been building<br />
homes for Cantabrians for<br />
over 25 years.<br />
Ph: 348 1994<br />
www.peterrayhomes.co.nz
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