One of the most asked question in my DMs is, “I’m thinking of starting a new home build / renovation / remodel, when should I start? How soon is too soon?”
From making plans that stay relevant to applying to the city, and getting a building permit, what are the time constraints? How long would a project like this take?
The answer?
It’s longer than you think.
But here’s the good news..
If you plan for your new home build or renovation early, you're not committing yourself, financially or otherwise, but you’re setting yourself up for success when it comes time to start.
DREAMING
Years From The Start Date You Can:
Dreams are free. But don’t just dream...
At this stage, you might have bought a home with great potential, a piece of land, or are still on the search. Wherever you’re at, take the time to understand the home, the land, and what you’re specifically looking for.
If you’re renovating, my best projects are the ones clients live in for at least a year to understand the home. Clients like John and Shauna learned what they liked and what they didn’t like? How they used it day in, day out and how they lived in each space?
Write that down.
Over time, your preferences will change, but eventually you will notice that specific elements remain. Those should go into your design.
The same goes for new home builds. Get to know how you live and how you want the home to work for you and not against you.Then, join us inside Homeowner HQ to nail your vision, your money mindset, and get ready to engage in the experts. Our Clarity Course will give you the tools you need to organize your thoughts, narrow down your vision, and create an overall plan for your project.
So start dreaming & pinning to your heart’s content.
Join us when you’re ready.
PLANNING
12+ Months From The Start Date You Can:
12+ months before construction is a great time to start planning. The bigger the project, the more time you’ll likely need, but 12 months is a good place to start for an average type of home.
TIP: Contact your City to determine how long a building permit takes. Could be 2 months or it could be a year. Then add 12 months (+/-).
Of course there’s no harm in starting sooner. We have plenty of Private HQ members who join without a date in mind, but gain so much from being a member of HQ that they are ready when the time comes.
Nail your vision, engage the experts & get started with Homeowner HQ. Work through your vision, budget, planning, various documents, design, permits and everything in between.
Don’t go at it alone.
This is the bulk of the work that you will do and what we do together. Planning is a crucial part of the process. Without it, you have nothing. With pieces or even with it all done but done poorly, you’re setting yourself up for a disastrous build.
A spin on the old saying → let’s slow down the planning to speed up build.
WAITING
Months From The Start Date You Can:
Months before starting construction, you’ll be confirming your budget, have your financing approved, waiting for your permit(s) to be issued, putting your contractor on speed dial…
With all the planning you’ve done, the rest is making decisions and watching the build come to life.
But we know making decisions is THE hardest part of any project.
What if this doesn't work out as I planned? Am I making the right choice? Will I regret this decision later? Is there a better option I haven't considered?
You know exactly what I’m talking about.But what if you had all the decisions made (or close to it) by the time you start your build. Amazing right?
The best part, we help you through that too.
So if you’re wishing you had a team of industry professionals in your back pocket, it’s never too late. If you’re getting ready to start your project, or you’ve already started, join Homeowner HQ today.
Chelsey Morphy
Home Consultant & Designer