by Nidhi Patel

Quick Review

Things to Keep in Mind Before Starting the Construction of Your New Home

• Have the right team of consultants and contractors.
• Differentiate between your needs and desires, and prioritise your needs.
• Prepare and set aside a realistic budget for your house construction. Include the cost of every item and a contingency amount for unexpected expenses.
• Obtain all necessary permissions and approvals well in advance.
• Take sufficient time to finalise the plan, and once approved, stick to it. Avoid major modifications or changes during construction.

Keep sustainability in mind when choosing materials and construction techniques.

Building a new house is not just a project for many; it’s a realisation of a lifelong dream and one of the most emotional milestones in life. However, turning that dream into reality requires planning, the right team and wise decision-making at every stage. This home construction guide by Gharpedia will help you navigate the process cleverly.

Things to Keep in Mind While Constructing Your New House

Use this as your building a new house checklist to ensure you don’t miss important steps.

1. First, you must have the right team of consultants and contractors. Do not compromise when forming your team. Choose professionals with sound knowledge, good reviews, and years of experience.

2. You will need many of the following as your team members.

Consultants	Contractor	Other Consultants
Architect	General Civil works (R.C.C., Masonry & Plaster)	Loan facilitator
Interior Designer	Electrical	Advocate
Structural Engineer	Plumbing	Tax Consultant
Civil Engineer	Doors/Windows/Partitions	Valuer
Vastu Consultant	Flooring	Brahmin/Pandit for Puja/Ceremony
MEP Consultant including lighting/illumination consultant	Waterproofing
Liaison Architect/Engineer for Municipal / Local Authority approval	Painting
Landscape Architect	Structural steel
Geo-technical Consultant/Soil Investigator	Metal roofing works (Prefab)
	Swimming pool
	Glazing
	Landscape
	Insulation & Acoustics
	Surveyor

Most of the above consultants are hired by the architect, who is considered the leader of the entire team. However, in recent times, project management consultants are taking the lead role.

3. The second most important thing is to identify what your “need” and “desire” are, what you can afford and what you can’t. You must clearly draw a line between your needs and desires. Remember, desires can be endless, but needs are always specific and practical. Finalise your needs on the basis of your necessities, budget, lifestyle, culture, etc.

4. Prepare a realistic budget and remain committed to it till the end of the project.

5. Take all the necessary building permissions from the respective authorities well in advance, and make sure to modify your plans as per the permissions granted to avoid future complications.

Also Read: Can I Start Construction Without Permission From Local Authority?

6. Think, design and plan in totality. Proper planning before home construction ensures that your project runs as smoothly as per your plan. When you finalise the plan and elevation, don’t stop there. Make decisions about colour scheme, both interior and exterior, and finalise materials for flooring, doors, windows, roofs, fixtures, etc. These choices should be made in advance, not at the last minute, because last-minute decisions often cause delays, cost overruns and poor design outcomes.  

7. Landscaping is an important factor. Obviously, no one likes to live in shabby surroundings. Include landscaping in your overall plan and make sure it blends well with your house design.

8. The following items should be finalised as a part of the design process, in order of priority, before starting construction work on site.

• All floor plans with layout of plot/land, terrace floor, basement, etc.
• All elevations including 3D views.
• Location and size of doors and windows.
• Furniture layout in all rooms.
• Electrical point layout with respect to furniture layout.
• Toilet layout.
• Specification of all materials/types of finished including their basic rates.
• Review everything from Vastushastra point of view, if you believe in it.

9. Avoid changes and revisions later. Make changes or modifications to the plan or any of the above elements before the commencement of the construction work. This will accelerate the construction process and eliminate delays.

10. Make sure your architect and interior designer are on the same page. Their coordination will deliver the desired results.

11. If you are a firm believer in Vastushastra, then keep the vastu consultant in the loop since day one of the planning. But trust your architect more, rather than being driven by a belief, which we do not know whether works for our advantage or not.

12. Once construction begins, make sure the work proceeds as planned. Do not be distracted or swayed by relatives’ or visitors’ comments suggesting changes in design. Trust your consultants, experts, and your own decision. Your visitors’ opinions are often impulsive and lack deep understanding, unless the person is experienced in that field.

13. Check the availability of all materials in advance and pre-order them. If certain materials are unavailable, arrange suitable substitutes or make changes during the planning stage itself.

14. Sustainability can no longer be ignored. Your plan, choice of materials, construction technique,  and lifestyle should be sustainable and not harm nature. 

Also Read: 9 Sustainable Home Design Ideas You Can Implement This Year

15. Enter into a formal contract agreement with the contractor. Contract conditions should be clear before the start of construction with the contractor. The detailed scope of work needs to be mentioned in the contract.

16. Prepare your budget based on the finishing rates of items. Additionally, include every element like furniture, interior, appliances, household items, legal documentation, etc., while preparing the budget.

17. Always set aside a contingency reserve (around 10-20 per cent of your budget) to cover possible unforeseen expenses. This helps you avoid debts and delays in construction.

18. Money is the biggest motivator. Work progresses faster when you pay labourers/contractors on time.

Tip: If the contractor is trustworthy, give some advance and get a discount.

19. Appoint a site supervisor for quality assurance. Hire an engineer or an experienced supervisor, or ideally, a Project Management Consultancy.

20. You might have heard the common saying, “Once you’ve spent ₹99, spend ₹100 — how does an extra ₹1 matter?” However, it’s wise to avoid this attitude. Such a mindset may seem harmless at first, but small extra expenses often add up. Before you know it, that extra ₹1 here and there can turn into ₹1000 or more. This approach can easily inflate your overall expenses and push your budget off track.

Common Mistakes During Home Construction

One of the most common mistakes that a homeowner can make is changing or modifying plans midway or ignoring their budget limits. Finalise every element and material at the planning stage; do not keep it for later or as work progresses. Skipping site supervision will also cost overruns, delays, and later modifications.

Conclusion

Constructing your dream home is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It involves numerous tasks that can often be confusing. To simplify your home construction process, follow these house construction tips before starting your project. They include all the basic and minor details that are usually missed or overshadowed under major tasks. These tips ensure a smooth and stress-free building journey.

Also Read: The Complete Process of Buying a New Construction House

FAQs: Things to Know Before Starting House Construction

1. What should I do first before starting the construction of my new home?

The first and foremost step is to hire the right team: an experienced architect, structural engineer, and reliable contractor. Having the right team ensures your project runs smoothly, safely, and within budget.

2. Why is it important to differentiate between needs and desires during planning?

When preparing a house plan, it becomes necessary to differentiate between needs and desires. Needs should be prioritised, while desires can be fulfilled later on.

3. What permissions are required before beginning house construction?

You must obtain all necessary approvals from local municipal authorities, such as building plan approval, land clearance, and environmental permissions, depending on your location.

4. How can I avoid delays during construction?

Finalise your plan, design, and material selections before starting work. Avoid making changes midway, as they often lead to cost overruns and project delays.

5. Why should sustainability be considered in home construction?

Sustainable materials and energy-efficient designs reduce environmental impact and lower long-term maintenance and utility costs, contributing to a greener and healthier home.

6. How do I ensure good coordination between the architect and interior designer?

Involve both professionals from the early planning stage. Proper coordination avoids design conflicts and ensures a cohesive aesthetic and functional outcome.

Person: Mr. Raj Tilak Desai

I am building new house for my family of 6, so what precautions I have to take and any suggestions from your side?