If you love the idea of building your dream home with a sustainable environmental impact but don’t know where to begin, then we are here to help. The aim of this blog is to get you started building your dream house which is energy efficient and has low running costs in the future.
1. Get Planning
Planning your new build home can be quite overwhelming – with so many options to choose from. You want to make sure that the home you design will fit you and your family’s requirements both now, and in the future. You’ll need to figure out what you need in your home. What rooms will your family require? What areas will be used most of the time?
For example, if you’re currently a couple with no children, but plan to start a family within a few years, it’s worth considering how your future family needs will impact your house design e.g. a large,safe outdoor area? Is there enough space for a playroom separate from the living area?.
Even if you aren’t planning on expanding your family, consider the likelihood of extended family visiting or staying over frequently. Will they have somewhere comfortable to sleep? Or perhaps you’d like a large, well lit area dedicated to work—especially if you work from home—and therefore would like a study incorporated into your design. If fitness is a priority, perhaps space for your own gym and workout space. Perhaps outdoor dining is important, and preparations if there is wet weather, such as an outdoor covered area.
It’s also important to consider how much storage you’ll require. With all this in mind, it’s worth drawing up a list of must-have rooms and features, then prioritising them according to what is most important for you and your family in terms of functionality, day-to-day. Everyone’s dreams are different – so it’s important to work out what is right for you and your family.
2. Finding the right building team
When you are ready to start the process, you need to find the right builder. Look for a builder with a good reputation who specialises in the kind of home you’re interested in creating. Building your own home is an exciting venture. Because it is such an intimate project, you want to pick a builder who can do the kind of work you want and give you the best possible value.
It’s important you do your own research. Speak to people who have used them before, especially if their homes are similar in style and size. Check out their portfolio if they have one online and see if they have testimonials from previous customers on their website.
Quality is important in your new home, but so is price. You don’t want to be overcharged for materials or labour, but at the same time, you don’t want to sacrifice quality and end up with a home that isn’t structurally sound or has other problems.
When you need a builder, you need to make sure you’re working with people who will give you the right property and the right finish, on time and on budget. You don’t have time for shoddy work, not-quite-right designs, or being left in the lurch.
3. Plan for energy efficiency
We are all trying to focus on cutting our utility bills and managing the energy better within our homes. When you’re trying to reduce costs, it can be hard to make the right decisions about your home energy plan. It’s important to balance spending a little extra up front in order to save in the long term.
Our team at Early Birds can help you add value and bring down your bills at the same time. We offer sustainable building solutions that work with nature and our environment so that you can enjoy a comfortable bespoke home for years and years to come.
When it comes to planning energy efficiency for your new home, there are various factors to consider some of which will be determined by the style of the building, its location and its materials. You can never make a building 100% efficient, but you can ensure that all areas of the energy systems are planned and installed to the highest standard possible.
From that point, we can look at the floor layout ensuring every element is energy efficient. The layout of your new home should suit your lifestyle. It’s important to consider how you intend to use each room, and how this may change over time. Will you be extending your family? How does this affect your needs for bedrooms, living spaces, bathrooms and storage areas? Do you currently work from home? Would you like a dedicated space for this purpose? Would you value extra rooms for leisure activities or hobbies?
You will need to decide during the design stage and include what type of insulation is most appropriate and if any additional heating or ventilation systems should be installed. Again, these will depend on the building’s location and intended use.
A bespoke building project is an ideal opportunity to invest in renewable energy technology, especially if you’re planning on spending a lot of time there. Solar panels could be fitted to generate electricity, or you could use geothermal heat pumps for heating in winter and cooling in summer.
Final thoughts
Our skilled and friendly team offers a wide range of services to help you cut your bills and make your home more environmentally friendly, including:
- Installing insulation, Installing cavity wall insulation
- Draft proofing, Soundproofing
- Roof and loft insulation
We can also assist you with:
- Renovation planning and design
- Tiling, plumbing, electrical and gas works
- Bespoke home building projects
Whether you’re building a new home (or perhaps you are making renovations on an existing one), think about how your choices will affect your future – and contact us today to find out how we can help!
We believe in listening to our clients, which ensures they get the property they want and need – and that they get it on time and on budget. When we take on a new project, it’s because we know we can deliver what our client is looking for.
We love building homes whose finishes are unique and custom-crafted, just like their owners. We don’t only want to build houses. We want to create a life-changing experience for our clients by building them the home of their dreams.
Together, we build dreams.
