This blog is useful for those who are planning to construct their first house ! I am currently constructing a Duplex house in a 30 by 40 sqft plot with the ground floor for tenant (2 Bedroom House) and duplex house in the first floor (3 Bedroom House).
An Architect plays a very important role during the planning stage. Initially do a lot of analysis on selecting an Architect for your project. He should be easily available, knowledgable, understand your requirements and implement it etc., Select 3 to 4 Architects and talk to them. Tell them your requirements and see how well they respond to your queries. Talk to friends and acquintances and ask them for feedback about these architects. Finally, you take a decision to select one who is going to work with you.
Once Architect is finalized, discuss with him about how your dream home should look like. Give him details like your budget, your plot details (Facing, dimension). You need to clearly give your expectations based on which your Architect will design your house. Any changes or new requirements during the construction stage will incur huge cost to your house. Bottom line, spend as much time as possible during the planning stage to save your cost. It is also beneficial if you plan your interiors at this stage (particularly location for Wardrobes, TV Cabinet, modular kitchen to name a few). Based on your inputs, request your architect to come up with a design and construction cost estimate. My follow up post details on what you need to do during your next visit.
