Building your own house is an important step. Too important to be left to chance. Between the choice of the land, the hiring of the right professionals and the construction itself, the future owner must think of everything. For beginners, here are some tips that should not be overlooked.
Do you dream of having your house built? Only here, between the choice of land, the architectural style of the house, that of the builder, the administrative procedures and the financing, you do not know where to start. Follow the guide.
In the midst of deliberation on your house building project, you probably hear anything and everything on the subject. It is therefore not easy to prepare for this big step which will occupy you for a while. We want to help you, with the 10 things you must know before building your house!
10 Things you must know before building your house!
Has this confinement made you want to have a bigger house than you imagined yourself? 10 things to know before building! Are you tired of going through a series of visits and seeing your favorite goods pass under your nose because other buyers are offering ever more substantial offers? Or are you tired of seeing properties that do not meet your expectations ? If this is your case, you have certainly already considered building. Here are 10 things to know before you start.
Finding the right pitch can take time
Yes, before having your house built, you will have to find the right land, the rare pearl. And there very, very many factors come into play. First of all, there are your personal preferences: proximity to the workplace, city that attracts you, area of the land, the right place for a eco-friendly house, etc. But to this must be added the requirements related to the construction of a house: constructability of the land, price, proximity to neighbors, etc. So do not rush, the choice of land is the cornerstone of your project and must therefore be as thoughtful as possible.
Not all manufacturers are created equal
For the construction of a house you will have a wide choice of companies to contact, but how do you find the right partner? There is no magic recipe for this. You will need to consult reviews, make an appointment and compare dozens of quotes. Some manufacturers also have specific fields of expertise. Some specialize in contemporary houses, others in wooden houses, etc. Do not hesitate, if you have someone in your entourage who has already built a house, to invite them during a meeting. He can give you an informed opinion on the subject.
Site visits are compulsory
Do not think that you will be rid of all problems as soon as the contract is signed! Once construction has started, regular monitoring is what helps to avoid unpleasant surprises at the end. First of all, you must take care to indicate in the contract the periods during which you would like to access the site. This will avoid any dispute afterwards. During your visits, take the time to monitor the progress of the work. If you notice any anomalies or damage, call a specialist who will assess the problems and offer you various remedies.
The obligations of the building permit
Before starting construction, you will need to obtain a building permit for your site. This administrative document is subject to several obligations:
●The building permit must be displayed at the town hall for at least 2 months;
●The building permit must be displayed on the site for the duration of the work;
●He must provide information on: the nature of the work, the surface of the land, the identity of the client, the construction plans;
Allow about 3 months to obtain a permit for the construction of a single-family house.
You have to insure your work
You don’t have to insure your home while it’s still under construction, but it’s still highly recommended. Home insurance for a home under construction will cover natural damage like fires and floods. Thefts or acts of vandalism are not covered. If there is damage of this type, it is the responsibility of the builder who must protect the site.
Incomplete specifications
To offer prices as low as possible, many builders indicate amounts that do not include VAT, finishes, architect’s fees as well as more complex structures. So, know that if your soil tests are not conclusive, it is possible that the engineers ask you to place a raft, a cost estimated between 10,000 and 15,000 euros. Ask what is planned in this amount and always plan a good cushion for additional expenses. Scrupulously detail the specifications to ensure that they are as complete as possible.
Pay attention to town planning regulations!
Each site is subject to town planning regulations which vary from one municipality to another. These requirements may be accompanied by stricter regulations if you choose a subdivision. So a bunch of rules can define your facade, the size and location of your house, what you should plant in your yard, and even whether or not you can have animals. Do not forget that, for villas with four facades, it is often necessary to respect a space with the neighboring houses. Thus, a plot of 15 m long does not mean that your house can be 15 m long… Check with the seller and the municipality.
Construction costs
Costs related to the land first, to ensure its viability: if you buy land in a subdivision, little fear (these costs are generally included in the price). But if you are in diffuse housing, you will have to finance the necessary equipment to connect the land to the EDF and GDF networks, to the water supply, to the sewer. The costs related to the house then: in addition to insurance, you will have to pay the VRD (roads and various networks), not to be confused with the previous servicing costs. It is about connecting not your land but your house to electricity, to water, to the wastewater evacuation network. These expenses are rarely specified on the construction estimate!
The future life of the house
The children are still small. What will be the conditions of their schooling in a few years? Will the neighborhood offer opportunities or will they have to make long journeys every day? They will quickly need independence. And you too will get older. You will climb upstairs to your room with a little less enthusiasm. Perhaps one day you will want to stay on the ground floor. All these transformations should be considered before signing the “construction permit” on the plan of your project, even if it means planning for future expansion work when the time comes.
Choose the right heating system
The choice of a heating method is a fundamental point in a construction project. The alternative is often between a relatively inexpensive system to install (all electric) but with a high operating cost (and unlikely to drop in the future), or more sophisticated solutions combining solar and gas / fuel oil, for example, for better controlled operating expenses. A file is devoted to this subject in this magazine.
5 key steps to build a house
Choose the right location is essential
Indeed, the place where you have chosen to have your individual house built depend not only on your comfort (being close to schools, shops and railway tracks will greatly facilitate your life) but also the price you pay will be able to get your property for resale (yes, it’s never too early to think about it!).
Find the ideal land to build your house
Whether you opt for a subdivision rather than a meadow to build your house, no choice is better than another as long as it meets not only your desires but also your needs and your means. However, when it comes to the land itself, make sure that it is constructible. For example, it is strongly recommended to bring in a geotechnician so that he can carry out an examination of the subsoil of the land that you plan to offer yourself. By their very nature, some floors are not suitable for any construction work, or even make them more expensive.
Trust the right builder
If it is possible for you to opt for self-construction (in short, it is you alone who will coordinate all the craftsmen who will intervene in the construction of your home) or for the use of a project manager (in this case, it is then a professional who is responsible for supervising the site for you, checking insurance, deadlines, etc.), it is most often to a builder that most French people address directly for the construction of their first house. Indeed, self-construction involves a lot of sacrifices. As for the project manager, the price he gives is only an estimate.
Sign an individual contract
Because it mentions crucial elements such as the designation of the land to be built, the adaptation work to the ground, the description of the house, the date of opening of the site, the time limit within which the dwelling must be delivered, the amount of penalties due in the event of delay, the final cost of the house and the terms of payment, the single-family house construction contract ( CCMI ) of December 19, 1990 is essential for the protection of any individual wishing to build his house.
Become owner
That’s it, you are the owner! And the time has (finally!) Come to check that the house that the builder has delivered to you is in all respects as planned. If this was not the case, then it would be up to you to make reservations. A guarantee holdback of 5% of the price may apply until the reservations expressed are lifted. You should know that you have the option of having the assistance of an expert who will help you track down any imperfections that you may not have noticed during your site visits. In the absence of an expert, you will have eight days to express your reservations.