A Basic Checklist for House Construction

1. ABASIC CHECKLIST FOR HOUSE CONSTRUCTION A basic checklist for house construction helps save time and money and promotes quality in this long- drawn, tedious venture For most people, constructing a house is not only a dream and one-time event, but also a long-drawn, tedious venture. If not done with utmost caution, it can become a very daunting task, affecting the budget and leading to hefty expenditures. Preparing a basic house construction checklist can make the entire process and your life much easier. Experienced house construction companies in Trivandrum work with their clients to ensure that each stage of home construction goes according to plan. Constructing a home that is beautiful, functional, comfortable, and contributes to your physical well- being is everyone’s dream. However, the process of building a house varies from region to region and builder to builder. Here is a basic checklist that is applicable for most house constructions in Trivandrum: ACQUIRING THE LAND ✓The first towards house construction is to acquiring a piece of land in residential zone, with all the necessary documents.

2. ✓Check whether the land is filled or has loose soil. If it does it will not provide a strong foundation and you might have to spend a lot of money to rectify it. For a strong foundation, the soil should not be loose at least to a depth of 2 feet. ✓Determine minimum setbacks and required yards. PLAN YOUR BUDGET ✓Have a clear picture of the costs involved -- from start to finish and determine your budget ✓If you own the land, you can leave out the cost of land from budget planning. If not, you should decide the amount that you can spend to buy a plot. ✓While the cost of land will vary depending upon the location you choose, construction costs would depend on the materials used and your goals. ✓Communicate with your builder on your ideas and budget. ✓Have a clear idea about your sources of income and repayment mechanisms. DESIGNING YOUR HOUSE ✓Have a clear idea about your requirements, including exterior and interior design. ✓Hire the best house architects in Trivandrum. A good builder will put your priorities upfront and be knowledgeable about the guidelines for building construction laid down by the local authorities. ✓Spend time going through the rough sketch given by your architect and make necessary amendments. ✓If you wish, check Vastu compliance CHECK THE APPROVALS ✓Ensure that the developer has all the necessary approvals (such as a copy of the sanctioned plan, No Objection Certificate, and consent from various departments) related to the construction. DISCUSS THE LATEST TECHNIQUES AND PRODUCTS ✓Have a discussion with your contractor or architect to see if any modern techniques or products can be utilized in constructing your house. Modern techniques such as pre-fabricated walls, pre- cast lintels, etc., can save time and efforts as well as reduce construction cost significantly. DISCUSS LABOUR AND OTHER EXPENDITURE ✓Before the start of construction, discuss the cost of labour ✓Ensure that the developer provides you with the estimate of labour, material, and construction cost along with an estimate of the changes that might arise in future. ✓Have a well-equipped plan and budget in place to save cost on home construction

3. INTERIORS DESIGN ✓Have a clear idea of the design of each room in your new house. ✓Create a furniture layout ensuring that there is sufficient space in all rooms to manage the traffic between the rooms efficiently. Having basic knowledge of the house construction process can help save money and time. There are many builders and developers in Trivandrum. Choose your builder wisely and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your project is in the r ight hands.