For many the idea of one day having your dream home is not buying a bigger home, but a home that you have built for yourself. A house that is unique and customized to your tastes and to your lifestyle. It sounds great but where do you begin to design your dream home? Here is a quick guide that can help you to design and build the home of your dreams.



The first step in any building project is to get an idea of what type of home you want. If you do not know yet then get inspiration from others. Drive around to neighborhoods that have the styles of homes that you like and take as many pictures as you can. You can also cut out pictures from magazines, newspapers, or print-out pictures you find on the internet. And do not just look at the outside. Browse through architectural and home design magazines for ideas about the interior of the home as well. Everything from plumbing fixtures to countertops and landscaping. Compile them all into a scrap book. This will help you to compare an narrow down the style of home that you like best.

The next step will be to make two lists of items for yourself. The first list will be those items or features that you feel your new home must have such as granite counter tops or an tankless hot water heater. The second list will be those items or features that are on your wish list like a fireplace or slate floors. When you have the opportunity, start pricing out the items on both lists. Be creative in your shopping and do not just look at the big box stores. This will allow you to create a realistic budget for your home and you may find that you will be able to include many of your wish list items.

At this point you will probably have a good idea of what your dream home will look like so you will need to seek some professional help. You will need to hire an architect to put your ideas down on paper. You may need to interview a few different architects to find one that you are comfortable with. If the design is not turning out the way you had expected then speak-up now. Once it is built it will be too late.

Make sure the whom ever you choose to make the final drawings has a full understanding of local building codes and zoning by-laws. In any case your final plans will need to be approved by the city and a building permit must be obtained before any construction can begin. If your plans are not approved you may be able to appeal if the issue is minor.

Once your plans are approved and you have building permits in hand it is time to look for a contractor. This can be done as the plans are being draw if you want to begin construction as soon as you have the city's okay. Whichever way you do it be sure you are comfortable with your contractor and you have gotten references from his past clients. Any reputable contractor will not object to you contacting people they have done work for in the past.

Seek as much professional assistance as you feel you need to avoid any unnecessary surprises. Building your our home is not going to be easy, however the more homework you do in the beginning the more enjoyable the process will be.