Tel No. : for direct contact 082 753-2072
Tel.No.: for appointments 076 125 7224 Mr G.A.Loock
Email homehds@vodamail.co.za
Requirements for building your dream home
Buy a stand where you feel safe and easy access to all public places
If you have children think of proximity of schools and after school activities.
Think of traveling to work and back.
If you are just married think of evening activities.
Think of hospitals and access to clinics and doctors.
Now evaluate your financial prospects. To do that will be best to ask your bank to help valuate the amount you qualify for a home loan.
Never, but never exceed your own potential that you feel comfortable with.
Make sure you calculate interest rate increases for at least 5/five years or else you will find youself jumping from job to job or lose your home.
You will have the choice to lock your interest rate at a certain rate and release it after a certain time but this option is the last option you must use, because of the flactuation of the rand versus the dollar and inflation rate.
Now that you have decided you are ready to buy a stand. Choose the stand accordingly to your future anticipated needs, you will add on later or sell your house and buy a bigger house or stand.
After you and your partner have decided on a stand.
Sit down and think what you NEED not what you want, That will come later.
Many home owners buy to impress,it is good, but to find out that half of the house is not suited to their needs and then sell the house within the first 5/five years, the chances are great of selling it with a loss with interest caculated.
Design your home to take on additions, unless you are sure you dont want to expand.
Ask your designer for types of home designs. There are a lot to choose from, eg. Tuscan, Modern, Farm Style to name a few.
Now think of a comfortable size home,bedrooms,bathrooms, etc.
Remember the increases of electricity, so you want to design your home to use as much natural energy as possible. Always let your living rooms like lounge,tv room,bedrooms face north for the suns energy in summer and in winter.
The use of big windows is always a plus for your home, the type of roof is also very important, to retain heat or the escape of the heat.
Think what type of structure you can afford in years time, Face brick is a good option, it is low on maintenance, if you use the correct bricks and treatment on the bricks in the early stages, Remember your home reflects the person you are. So think of keeping your home in a perfect condition is a bonus to you and your family. Gardens must be designed to advance your home. So the design of the home is very important to have the right image.
Now that you and your partner have decided on the size and location of your home and have bought your stand, engage a registered Architect or a Registered Pr Archt T. You can also find them on SACAP website.
Spend as much time with your designer as possible and never be happy with less than what you have decided on. It is always an advantage for you, if you have put what you need on paper. Always use designers that are willing to do the hard work for you. It means you lose less time in sorting out the the minor details that can take a lot of your time.
Remember cheap buy is expensive buy. You dont have to use the most expensive designers to get what you want, and you sure will not get what you want if you go for the cheapest designers. So keep a good balance it is for the sake of your money and your home. When your plans are finished let the designer do the work, let him take your plans for municipal approval and for convenience sake. You may lose many hours from work by doing it yourself.
Now that you have your aproved plans, ask your designer for NHBRC registered builders. It is important to use NHBRC registered contracters, you can also find then on the NHBRC`s website.
Have a contract drawn up for you between the parties involved,stipulate terms of payment and completions and stages when payments are due, eg deposit up front, foundation height, roof height and completed. Make sure you have a trusted contractor, you can enquire his status at NHBRC. Make sure you still use your designer`s services because he can save you disappointments.
Remember your home is a investment for the future.
Use semi stock or stock bricks. For foundations use face or semi face bricks and damp proving.
Use a recommended truss manufacturer. Remember that all roofs must be manufactured by a specialist.
With double storey house or buildings use a registered Civil Engineer for soil tests and foundation designs and floor designs, a good designer will have his own engineers for these designs. Slab manufactures can save you alot of trouble.
If u are living in areas where there are no municipal sewer systems use only bio tanks and not septic tanks with french drain systems. Firstly think about health and the nature we share.
Happy living and God bless you.
For more information please do not hesitate to contact us.
Email at homehds@vodamail.co.za
Web page created and updated by G.A.Loock
