How to plan or design your new home without losing the dream

Is it likely that your dream home will come crashing to earth when fantasy meets the harsh realities of budget and compromise? Not necessarily. 

With a bit of research, some thought and expert consultation from the likes of your Maddren Homes design and build consultant, there is no reason why your new home experience cannot closely resemble the dream.

Firstly, gather expert advisors right at the beginning of the process. Your trusted advisors are the best people to help you shape your dream. Consultants, builders and architects are the people who can point out that a particular pitch of the roof will require additional steel and therefore cost more—saving you time and money to invest elsewhere without compromising on the overall experience you want from your home.

Analyse your dream

When your dream home comes to mind, it may be many things, but the people and the experience that the home provides will likely take centre stage. For example, you may imagine your extended family around an outdoor pizza oven or taking long, luxurious showers beneath a cascade of water--both are experiences.

If you look closely at your vision, you may find you can achieve your dream with effective lighting to create a certain ambience or a particular type of showerhead (not necessarily the whole shower) to achieve the dream effect. By considering the elements of your dream home, you may find you can prioritise where you spend a lot and where you spend a little, while still keeping the dream intact.

Practical budgeting

Nothing says reality better than a budget, and in all likelihood—unless you have spoken to a Maddren Homes design and build consultant—there will be costs you have not factored into the budget. When those costs you didn't know about emerge, it may make you feel like your dream is slipping away. Therefore, you want to temper your dream by getting practical with your budgeting. 

For example, it may be a simple choice between a rain-head flush-mounted showerhead or a rain-head rail-mounted showerhead—both deliver similar flow, but at vastly different price points. In both scenarios, the experience is the same, and both are consistent with the dream; it's just that one solution may be a little more flash than it needs to be.

To accommodate costs you likely did not foresee at the start of the new home design stage—like unexpected site work— you may want to make sure that you take a practical approach to budgeting. This may involve exploring all options to create the experience you wish to create rather than just going with what first comes to mind.

Focus on the important

Certain things about your dream home may be important to you, and you may be reluctant to let them go. For example, watching the sunrise while enjoying breakfast on your deck (make sure you're a morning person). 

Consider building a smaller home that lets you keep some of the elements of your dream that you love. Smaller homes can offer more luxury for the same price as a big house. For example, you might like a bigger dining room, but an extra bathroom may be more critical. 

Futureproofing

You may already have a young family or plan to have one. Do you intend to care for an elderly parent at some stage? Do you want a big dog? Perhaps you're planning to take up a hobby that will make demands on your space.

When planning your dream home, think beyond the now. Imagine your life and plans for the next two, five and ten years and design for that. Make sure you talk to your trusted advisors about your future needs.

Working with your Maddren Homes consultant and architect and bringing your Maddren Homes builder into the process at the start will ensure that you have the information and expertise you need at your fingertips.