Tips for a stress-free building project
Building a house can be difficult; many people who undertake this type of project find the endless paperwork, scheduling issues, budgeting and lengthy to-do lists very overwhelming. Fortunately, there are things which can be done to make this seemingly monumental task a lot less stressful.
Prioritise important paperwork
Property construction usually involves quite a bit of paperwork; those working on projects of this nature will usually have to fill out lots of financial forms, draw up agreements with their contractors and submit various types of permits. Many people dread the thought of this and so make the mistake of ignoring their paperwork until the very last minute or, worse yet, not dealing with it at all.
Whilst paperwork certainly isn't the most enjoyable aspect of building your own home, it is absolutely crucial not to put it off completing it. Postponing this activity could cause result in delays, fines and disputes, all of which will increase your stress levels and negatively affect the progress of your construction project.
There are two types of documentation in particular which you should prioritise; namely, your agreement with your building contractor and your development certificate. The former serves s a legally-binding contract with your builder, which enables you to seek compensation through legal channels if, for example, the quality of their workmanship isn't up to scratch or they fail to complete the project by the agreed-upon deadline.
The latter is a document which confirms that the construction work you have had done complies with the relevant legislative requirements and has been carried out in accordance with the council-approved version of the building plans. The property cannot be occupied until this paperwork is in order; as such, if you've already set a date to move into your new home, obtaining this certificate should be your top priority. Only accredited certifiers who have thoroughly inspected the construction work can issue these certificates.
Establish a good relationship with your contractor
One of the best ways to ensure your project is as stress-free as possible is to establish and maintain a good working relationship with your building contractor. The way in which you communicate with them will play a significant role in how smoothly the project goes.
If the contractor does something that you're not happy about (for example, if they show up late to the construction site several times) and you choose use antagonistic or impolite language when confronting them about this issue, you will most likely find that they respond in an equally hostile manner.
Not only does this approach create a tense and very stressful environment, but it can also slow down or even halt the progress of the construction work, as a contractor with whom you have had an argument may be less willing to admit their mistake and resolve the issue. As such, when a problem arises, do your best to be as respectful and polite as possible when explaining your position and try to reach a compromise which is mutually beneficial.