If you are willing to put in the effort, trying different permutations and combinations will save you money. Thinking outside the box is the key.
When building a house everyone is constantly thinking about ways to minimize the cost. This is one most the trickiest questions asked by a client, because more often than not, this question is followed by a question concerning the quality. Quality in this sense has many adjectives attached to it, namely durability, finish and look, maintenance free, workability etc. Buying a cost effective material or product does not always affect these factors linearly. For example, a tile which is bigger in size is costlier than a smaller one of the same make and brand. But this does affect the look and finish of the room it is laid in, without effecting the durability of the product.
Understanding the pros and cons of a material is very important. Costly is not always maintenance free. But it is a fact that better brand products have better quality.
The following points will give you a better understanding and direction.
1) Choosing a plot.
The distance and location are important because you will be paying a handsome amount in transporting construction materials. Apart from this, the type of soil should be a major consideration when selecting a plot, as loose soil means more investment in the foundation and hard soil means you save money.
2) Materials used for construction.
A lot of options are available in the market and it is always a task to choose the right one for you. Always go for quality brands and consult with the engineers and the contractors before purchasing. They are very well versed with the market and thus much more capable of directing and advising you on a product or material. Most common products have alternatives and the viability of these alternatives should be explored before a decision is made.
3) Ask the engineer to provide essential drawings.
Most do not care about any other drawings apart from the elevation and the floor plans. But the fact is these drawings alone do not carry the necessary information needed for construction. Grade of concrete, steel requirements, size of cross section of frame members, etc are not included in a floor plan. But, when planning to make a cost effective house, these plans give you insights and thus you will be able to calculate materials, labour and expenses much better.
4) Choosing materials for interiors.
Interior work is always a major chunk of your budget, and if not planned properly would blow your budget. A table top can be a 30 rs/sqft tile or a nano white which cost around 500-600 rs/sqft. Also the labour cost changes according to the material. Granite used for flooring is more labour intensive than vitrified tiles. Understanding the pros and cons of a material is very important.
5) Avoid altering plans.
Stick with your plan once you have commenced construction. The decisions you have taken during planning process are usually very well thought out. An impulsive decision to alter your plans are always heavy on the pocket. It also put the work schedule out of track. Also for the benefit of my viewers, I would like to mention that square or rectangular floor plans are usually much more cost effective. My post on how to choose a good floor plan will give you better idea.
6) Always think about maintenance cost.
Before going through with any work, always ask the experts about the maintenance frequency and expense, it would require. This can be about something as simple as an electric switch. Replacing it would cost you very little, but the time and trouble is not worth it. Quality of hinges, of door and windows, taps, paint, etc all should be considered. Costly is not always maintenance free. But it is a fact that better brand products have better quality.
7) Reduce the number of partitions.
Privacy, according to the characteristic of the room is very essential. But building a wall is not the only way for privacy. Sometimes simple things like altering the position of the door or changing the circulation path will provide the desired effect. Also, less walls also means better light and air circulation.
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