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What to know before building a house?

Building a house goes through many different stages, so we identifiy here a set of bullet points that are a good starting point. Still, it's always important to speak with professionals, such as architects or civil engineers, so that everything is clear and ready for this big first step.





Building a house is an important step and is often lifelong desire. Every corner has been thought out and dreamed of and every cent of the investment has a specific destination. So that there are no regrets in the future and that the dream house is really a comming true, it is important that there is specific information about the different steps, so that each person knows everything they are supposed to do before building a house.


Building a house goes through many different stages, so we identifiy here a set of bullet points that are a good starting point. Still, it's always important to speak with professionals, such as architects or civil engineers, so that everything is clear and ready for this big first step.


1. Hire an arquitect


Most people who venture into the making this dream of building a house come true, do not have the necessary experience and knowledge to lead the project. That's why you should start by hire an experienced architect to help manage the entire process and the next steps of building a house.


An architecture studio can help with the entire process, from bureaucratic issues to planning and completiing the work, saving time, headaches and often even the budget itself. It is an important plus when the architect is involved before purchasing the land or house, as their vision can be essential in choosing the best investment for their client.


It's important to acknowledge that there are great differences between an architect and a civil engineer. The architect is responsible for the design of the house, considering the aesthetics and functionality, the materials used and the whole concept. On the other hand, the civil engineer is focused on the structural component of the project. These professionals work together to provide a complete answer, but it will be the architect who is best prepared to help with the entire process of building a house, from start to finish.


2. Setting the budget


Setting a budget to build a house is an important starting point in the process of it all. Thus, you must establish, right from the start, how much you want to spend, with a safe margin to cover unforeseen events.


To start defining the budget to build a house, it is important to know the price per square meter of the land you are looking for. Comparing surrounding land based on its value per square meter is important, but it is equally important to study the constraints that the land may have in the construction process, as each land may have very different constraints, which may even make the construction unfeasible.


Lastly everyone must know that the choice of materials and finishes significantly impact the budget, so you should study the market and count on the help of the architect and project team. The architect is well aware of the types of materials that work best in a construction project and is very good in managing budgets.


3. Assess the need for a loan


It's very common to need financing to build a house, so it is essential to evaluate this issue. One of the most common mistakes in this process is not finding a good balance between what is asked for in financing and the ability to pay later. In order for this not to happen, it is necessary to assess the total expenses, not only of construction but also after the use and maintenance of the house, with the support of the architecture team.


Compara Já and Doutor Finanças are good tools you can use to simulate financing.


4. Finding a good land or place


Having the budget set and the total value of investment in a construction project, it is necessary to look for the right place to build the house. The choice of a site must go through an important decision process, and must also include the architecture team. An architect helps a lot in choosing a land, as the architect sees the full potential of the land to build a house.


Analyzing the quality of the land is essential. For example, it is always better and faster to buy land in an area authorized for construction that is therefore connected to sanitation services and electrical lines. But it is also necessary to take into account the characteristics of the land itself, such as the type of soil, slopes or dimensions, as well as environmental factors. An uninformed and unexperienced view can be based on the beauty and appearance of the land, so it is important to count on the help of professionals who know how to evaluate and see beyond these characteristics.


Finally, issues related to construction licensing and all the bureaucratic part related to this step are also solved much easier, with the help of professionals.


5. Moving forward with the project


Having defined the most technical and bureaucratic parts, it is time to widen your imagination and start seeing the dream come true. Having architects that went through all the previous steps is a huge help in this last one, as they are more involved in what is expected with the construction of the house. The project is then designed and it is possible to start to see the dream come true.

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