How to Build Your Own Dream House

Everyone has her own concept of what a dream home should look like. For some, it's a penthouse apartment in the heart of an exciting city. Others may think of it as a cottage on the seaside or an opulent mansion isolated in the countryside. The whole point of a dream house is that it fits your unique wishes and no one else's. Building your own dream house is a considerable challenge, both in planning and in financial cost. For those with the means, however--and for those who simply like to daydream about it every once in awhile--it can make for an enjoyable process.

Instructions

1. Find the ideal site. Before you can plan out the structure of the dream house itself, you need to find a locale which suits it. Not only does it help you find the ideal surrounding territory, but you will need to plan the architecture around the landscape... preferably in a way which merges building and location into a single beautiful package. In addition to the aesthetic beauty of the landscape, you'll want to watch the location of other buildings nearby. Do they enhance your view and accentuate the territory? Or are they eyesores that you would prefer to do without? Road location is pertinent too. How long does it take you to get there? How long will you need to get to work or other important locations? Is the drive a pretty one, or just a chore?

2. Determine how much space you both need and desire. This will be constrained somewhat by the location you have chosen, but any kind of dream home will need a certain number of rooms and amenities. Determine how many people will be living there: they will likely each require a bedroom, and private bathrooms are ideal in a dream house. The number of occupants will also determine the size of the kitchen and dining areas. You'll need to plan for extras such as a balcony or a patio, chart out the size of a garage and driveway based on the number of cars you'll have, and factor in both yard size and amenities such as a pool or jacuzzi. You'll also need to plan for outlying buildings: anything from a guest house to a horse barn to a simple tool shed. Be as detailed as possible about what you want and what you will require: it will make subsequent steps much easier.

3. Consult an expert. A precious handful of people have the right skills to design and build a dream house solely on their own, but 99 percent of us will need some professional advice. The first stop is an architect. Talk to a number of different firms, give them your basic plans, and ask them to come up with specific designs for your homes. From there, you should talk to a contractor, who can handle not only the construction of the home itself, but the landscaping of the surrounding area. Interior decorators can help plan the decor of the home once basic construction is complete, electricians can wire your home for specific appliances, and gardeners can be hired to make sure the exterior stays in good shape year 'round. All of these services should be negotiated and finalized before construction begins. Online sources such as Dream Home Source can provide stock plans and a directory of luxury builders, while

4. Work with your team to meet the specifications you desire. Top-end architects and designers are committed to making their clients happy, but may have their own ideas about what works best for your chosen space. Listen to them and get detailed information on any concerns they may have, then find ways to work with them around any difficulties they may bring up. Don't start building until you are happy with the plan and your team is satisfied that it can be safely implemented within the chosen time frame.

5. File for all the proper permits. Local building codes and statutes must be adhered to when building your dream house. Not only must basic safety and fire codes be passed, but local areas may forbid buildings of a certain size, certain kinds of outlying amenities, or the presence of animals such as horses. In many cases, a contractor can take of those details for you, but you'll need to be aware of them before you begin to build and speak to local civic authorities about anything they will require from you.

6. Never stop planning. No house is ever perfect, and any place where people live becomes a living, breathing extension of their lifestyle. Be prepared to adjust your dream home as tastes alter, as you find new passions to explore, as you family grows or moves away, and as other circumstances in your life change.

Tips & Warnings

• When selecting a location for your dream house, it helps to walk the area at different times of the day. A location that looks beautiful during magic hour may seem plain and ordinary at midday, and you won't have a choice about dealing with it once you move in. If you're not happy with the given plans for your dream house, or you're looking at stock plans which don't quite fit, remember that minor alterations can be made quite easily. An architect can make adjustments to existing plans for a fraction of the price of a full-scale design. Furthermore, exteriors can be changed very easily as well, simply by consulting the building and asking for different materials, colors or window lines.

• While a dream house naturally assumes that you have money to spare, a detailed budget is extremely important. You should always know how much you have to spend and how much each element is going to cost. Budgeting will also allow you to plan things properly and let you decide when to make cuts that aren't absolutely necessary.

Resources

• Scholz Design for dream house plans.
• ePlans.com for more online house plans.
• Dream Home Source for information on plans. and builders.
• Global House Plans, for finding home plans and top-level architects.