Common home self-build mistakes to avoid

Most home building projects will come up against problems, but knowing the common pitfalls before you get started can help you to avoid these common mistakes and to stay on track.

Pay attention to your HVAC system

Poor planning with this can lead to issues with moisture and mold growth. This can then lead to great health concerns. Careful attention should also be paid to the size of the units. A model that is too small will underperform and won’t effectively cool and heat your home. You’ll regret this when your home is too cold in the winter and not cool enough in the summer. Units that are too large will use too much energy. 

Poor space planning

Unless you are going to build a very large home, planning the space is crucial. You need plenty of storage and need to think about where you put this storage. Does the master bedroom need that huge walk-in closer when that space could be better used in the master bath?

Pay attention to where you put the closets. There should be one in each bedroom and in the main hallway. However, too many closets will take away from the living space.

If you live in a cooler climate where you’re wearing coats for at least half of the year, a closet in the foyer could be wise, especially if you often have guests over. If you have no use for a cost closet, don’t build one. Do you want a mudroom? A closet or cubbies would be very useful storage. 

Poor overall home planning

When you design your own home, you should take your lifestyle and habits into account. How long are you going to live there? Do you need to accommodate young children or elderly parents? Do you need to consider your needs in retirement? Think ahead for what you will need from your home. 

Planning mistakes can also include failing to plan far enough advance for laying on utilities and booking things like water bore drilling. 

Poor lighting in the home

You need plenty of outlets and light fixtures. You also want plenty of windows. Windows should be present in every room and should be made as large as possible. Natural light should be the main source of light wherever possible. You could also add in some skylights for more light. 

Under-utilized rooms

Adding a playroom, a game room, or a multipurpose room sounds like a good idea, but you should only plan to build rooms that will actually get used. What use is a playroom that never gets used? An unused room can often end up just being used as a dumping ground to place things that never get used.

If you plan on adding a spare room, make sure that this is a room that can transition easily into a different purpose if you need it. For example, you might hardly ever use a craft room, but if you can easily turn your craft room into a bedroom for guests, this is a lot more useful.