Many people who have finally achieved their dream of building a new home find that there can be considerable setbacks that come with home building. Since most people don’t have experience with construction – especially first-time homeowners – it is understandable that the same mistakes are often made when it comes to choosing a builder, designing the home, and keeping the whole process affordable. Here are a few frequently made but easily avoidable home building mistakes.

To start with, unless you are an expert meaning that you actually have experience building homes don’t try to handle any part of the process on your own. Many people think that they can save money by taking on the role of general contractor or doing other work. This can be a great way to save money initially, but it will cost more ultimately if you hire bad contractors, let things be built incorrectly, or experience delays because you can’t coordinate the people you’ve hired.

Next, when you hire a builder, make sure that you’ve done your research. You shouldn’t just find someone online or in the phonebook and hope for the best. There are plenty of places to cut corners when building a home and plenty of scammers waiting to capitalize on that fact. You should read client reviews, look at past work, and check for accreditations like membership in trade associations.

Unless you’re looking for an extremely customized home and have great faith in your builder, consider buying professional house plans. This can save you a lot of grief later on, as these designs are tried and tested. They are also sure to be marketable; a truly eccentric custom floor design might prove hard to sell to others if you do end up moving to another home someday.

Finally, really think about your home’s design – everything from the broad layout to the location of doorways and light switches before giving the go ahead for building. Consider how you’ll use the space on a daily basis and what changes you might make in coming years. Making even minor changes in the design of your home once construction has begun can lead to delays and complications, and going back years later to make those changes can bes expensive. If you’re in doubt about a certain feature, consult with an architect or builder, or give yourself a little more time to think “you’ll be glad later that you did”.

These tips should help take some of the stress out of home building. Having a new home built should be an exciting and enjoyable event, so do your best to lay a good foundation beforehand and enjoy the construction stage instead of feeling frustrated or regretful.