It isn’t every day that you get to design your own living space, indeed, some people go through their life without living in a structure they designed. If you are fortunate enough to be in the position to design and build your ideal home, here are a few tips to ensure your living space lives up to your expectations.
- Source a master builder – As you would expect, there are builders and there are builders; they range from small outfits that build extensions to large developers that construct housing zones. The type of builder you need is one that builds to order, with an exceptional level of workmanship and a great reputation. They have all the resources to provide you with a turnkey solution that includes every step of the project from developing blueprints to snagging the final build. They also handle planning permission and ground surveys, which is sometimes essential.
- Use top quality materials and components – The best guttering, for example, can be acquired from the VG CNP company, a leading Thai supplier of building materials with all the solutions. Composite materials offer a high level of insulation, plus they do not require maintenance.
- Analyse your lifestyle – This is something you should do during the initial planning stages; design a house that best meets your needs. The resident architect would have a lot of hands-on experience in taking a client’s concept and drawing up a set of plans that a builder can work to.
- Go solar – Anyone building a house in this day and age must incorporate solar panels into the build and create a solar energy system that brings you energy independence. The cost of a top-rated solar energy system can be recouped in as little as 5 years, which means free electricity from that point on. The master builder would definitely have an association with a leading Australian solar energy system contractor and the Australian government is offering financial incentives to homeowners who make the switch to clean & renewable energy. Of course, you should insulate your home for energy efficiency.
- Think direction – When designing a home, think about which side the sun comes up and goes down, you might not want the morning sun on your terrace, so do plan accordingly. Many Thais actually consult with a psychic to ask about which direction the front of the property should face.
- The importance of communication – If you hire a team of Thais to build your home and none of them can speak English, that puts you in a difficult situation. If you hire a master builder with an English-speaking manager, then your input will be taken onboard.
Once you find a master builder with hands-on experience building to order, the rest should fall into place and if you are unsure about the law regarding foreigners owning land in Thailand, click here.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.
