Building a new home

 

 

Before starting your building process, take the following into consideration:

• Always be realistic of what you can afford;
• Plan everything in as much detail as possible;
• Construction can’t begin until the stand has been registered in your name, the building plans been approved by the Local Authority and Home Owners (if building in a Security Estate), your loan been approved and lastly that the NHBRC enrolment has been done;
• Get a comprehensive cost analysis from a respected and registered Builder;
• Work closely with the Project Manager and ask for a Project Planning Schedule to ensure that all decisions (especially on the final finishes) is made in time;
• With occupation and / or final payment of your new home make sure that you receive all necessary certificates (g. engineer, roof, electrical, plumbing, glass, occupation, etc);

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Whether you want to create a new home through a Builder that meets your specific needs or you want to save money by building your own home, there are a few important things to consider.  When starting from scratch in finding a suitable piece of land might be time-consuming unless you know what you are looking for.  Here are a few things to consider:

• Make sure the stand’s size & shape is suitable for your lifestyle.  It should  complement the design you want as well as later improvements;
• Make sure that the general aspect of the stand suit your plan.  North facing is the ideal but there may be a spectacular view to one of the other sides that you would like to enjoy from your entertainment room for example.
• Make sure of the level of your stand.  Remember that the steeper the slope, the more expensive foundations, excavations and / or earth retaining walls might be.
• Evaluate the direction in which the prevailing winds blow, and is your stand protected from these elements?
• Make sure of the soil conditions.  Different soil conditions might entail a specific type of foundation which might be more expensive than a standard foundation.
• Make sure that there is suitable access to the site especially for the delivery of building materials;
• Make sure that all the necessary service (water, electricity, sewage disposal, telephones and refuse removal) are available.
• Make sure there is no building restrictions or servitudes on your stand.
• Evaluate the time limit in which you must build.

Once your building plans has been approved by the Local City Council they are valid for a year, after a year the plans needs to be re-submitted for approval, which will entail extra costs.  Most Security Estates in the Pretoria area has a 1 to 2 year time limit on construction.

Finally make sure that you consider all the options and gather as much information as possible about the stand you are considering, before making a final decision to sign the Offer to Purchase.

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Points to consider for any respective Home Owner before the Building Process get started:

• Purchase price of the stand;
• Deposit;
• Bond registration costs;
• Registration of title deed;
• Transfer fees;
• Other fees (e.g. valuation fee, processing fee, cancellation fee, interim interest, etc)
• Insurances;
• Architectural drawings;
• Local Authority fees;
• Building costs & escalation;
• Removal expenses;
• Contingencies.