Define the home you need
Year-round living, seasonal use and holiday rental call for different layouts. List occupants, bedrooms, bathrooms, storage, working space and plant-room needs. Allow for furniture and equipment instead of considering room areas alone.
Design for the actual site
Before selecting the structure, establish site conditions, terrain, access, utility connections and ground information. Check project feasibility and required approvals early. A house seen in a picture cannot simply be transferred to a different slope or ground condition.
Break the budget into clear packages
- Design and site preparation.
- Structure, roof and external envelope.
- Building services, internal finishes and equipment.
- External connections, terraces and landscaping where required.
Compare the same specification
Two offers may treat floor area, windows, bathrooms, heating and outside work differently. Ask for inclusions, exclusions, material specifications and payment stages. A preliminary estimate helps choose a direction; an executable budget needs an agreed design and schedules.