Owner Builder Kit Homes – First Time Tips
Step by step meticulous planning is going to be your greatest asset as you prepare for your first owner-builder kit home project. Patience is a virtue and will reward you in the end with the smoothest process possible. It would be impossible to say that even then you will have no problems because life is life and things almost always do happen.
But as with any major undertaking, being prepared is the key to not losing control when things go a little awry. Get a task list together and work through that on a daily basis, this is the best system to getting to the final goal successfully.
Don’t Get Caught Up In the Emotions
By far the most exciting part in the beginning is choosing a design. But there are so very many kit home designs available it may be very difficult to narrow it down. Of course each company will likely have a little of something you love and little of something you don’t love. Now is the time to think clearly and get a good list going between you and your partner, and even the kids, if that applies.
If you have lived in other homes you may well have a set of ideas of what works for you and your family and what doesn’t. The first job of the owner-builder is to get a list of those things you cannot do without, and those you simply cannot live with. From there you write down any other preferences and get all involved to have their input. The pictures on websites inflame desires and while fun can often have everyone more confused than ever. Take a look by all means, and if you fall in love with one check out the company well.
There is likely to be a lot of conflicting opinions and no doubt money will be a mitigating factor. Before you really start to look at designs look at kit home companies. Find one that is flexible, that really takes your needs into consideration and one that will help you fit your own unique spin into any of their designs with some tweaking. The best companies will say here is the home plan, make the layout inside your own. Take your favourite designs too them and ask if they can do the same or similar for you.
Once you have found the right company you’ll get the perfect design, so don’t get caught up in the emotional excitement and rush decisions, and then you are onto the next stage of the pre-planning.
Do You Need A Builder?
Many kit homes are erected by qualified builders for various reasons.
- First home owners might have trouble getting finance unless they employ a builder
- You may not have do-it-yourself bone in your body but you want to project manage
- You might want to be the builder’s offsider to learn for your next build
If you do need one, be very careful about who you choose. Do thorough checks on previous customers, Google their name, ask for references, and check their credentials. Don’t fall into the trap of getting the first one that comes along because you are eager to get started. See this as a long term process and it will turn out more satisfactory. Once you have a list of the best builders in your area, check their availability.
You are far better to wait for a good builder than you are to settle for a half-good builder. Most of consumer complaints about home builds are caused through incompetent builders. This is your home. This is a huge debt for most, and you may only get one shot at the money. Don’t compromise.
Get The Owner-Builder Training You need
Some states made owner builder courses compulsory under certain criteria. Unless you have experience in building and the process of building a home, do a course. The courses are available on the internet or in a live class. This will get you ready with learning about the step by step process of not only building but the coordination required for materials and other tradesmen.
You may also want to think about a hazards course, a first aid course and some type of leadership skills course if you don’t feel adequate in that area.
Work up a Budget
Here is the second most common area first time owner-builders fail at. Accurate budgets are far from rough estimates and in many cases finance will depend on this being done well. No matter how good you are as project manager, there will still be extra money spent here and there as you go.
You must have emergency money and be prepared. Get the help you need in this area or if you can hand it to someone else you trust then that may be an answer. Some kit home companies will send the house materials in stages and accept part payment, so ask about that.
Decide Exactly What Your Role Is
Will you be project manager, builder’s labourer or the hands one builder of the house or a combination? Once you have defined that make sure you get everything ready way ahead of schedule.
You will be responsible for the slab or footings being put down and for the housing materials to arrive before the tradesmen do. Not much makes a tradesman angrier than arriving at a job and having you have to go and get materials. So do have everything ready to go with some extras for back up.
Be sure to do a site cleanup at the end of every day. If you set the standard of the site then others will get the message. If you leave it a mess then the workers will get the message that it’s okay to be untidy. Another important reason for this is occupational health and safety issues and duty of care. If any gets hurt on your site, you will be liable if they sue. So get all your insurances paid up.
Things to Think About To Get Started
- Get your building pad down as soon as possible. Even a year ahead is not too soon. It needs good time to settle and be compacted ready for the build. The pad basically means an area with the topography raised or flattened to the correct elevations.
- Have a square and layout handy in case the pegs from the laser level process get removed.
- Get professional help if you haven’t done a slab or footings before. Remember the foundations are what everything else sits on. Be careful.
- Have an area set up of pouring a slab for unused concrete to go. It’s expensive so have a path set out, a garden shed base or something you can use it up in if needed. It has been paid for so use it.
- Have all materials and fitting ready before the tradesmen arrive
- Keep your site clean and other will follow suit
- Be considerate of neighbours
- Ask tradesmen if they prefer to be there at the same times or like a little space when doing their job. The recommendation is to have everyone there together to save time, but many tradesmen don’t like it this way.
- Check you kit home materials when they arrive for any damage. If you find any then call the company right a way to find a solution. Don’t use damaged material a building inspector could postpone the job for a damaged batten for example.
- Cover new doors and floors with hardboard on a frame and get the workers to use another entrance this will stop damage to the door. Do the same with hardboard and double sided tape over new wooden floors and stairs. They can be walked on without worry then.
- Old carpet will do the job for new decks if you have some. Black plastic is hardy and does a great job for all sort of covering. Keep some hand from the slab pour or go buy a few metres.
- Buy extra nails, screws and those bit s and pieces. It saves many trips to the store.
- Have you kit home plans on site at all times
Be patient and work your way steadily through your kit home build. Set daily tasks and before you know it that piece of cleared land and lonely footings will be your brand new kit home and no one will ever know, except for all those you boast to.
