Becoming a homeowner is the dream of a lifetime, but to make this dream come true, it is advisable to gather as much information as possible to ensure everything is in order; it is necessary to limit expenses and unpleasant surprises. In this article, we will list point by point what you should not neglect to obtain the desired asset under the best conditions if you want to build or renovate your future home.
Tip 1: Check if your land is connected to all utilities.
You have finally found the desired land and would like to start all the construction procedures for your house? It is time for you to check if everything is alright.
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Do not hesitate to inquire at the town hall. First of all, because sometimes people dare to sell houses that do not belong to them at all. If you are then assured that the house belongs to the concerned person, do not hesitate to ask the town hall (always) if your land is connected to all the utilities you want (electricity, water, gas, sanitation, and telephone).
You should know that in rural areas, far from town halls, connections can sometimes be impossible!
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Tip #2: Energy Performance Diagnostics (DPE)
The DPE is a property diagnostic. It assesses energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Excerpt from the full article on Parusold:
The DPE is divided into four parts:
- Annual consumption, expressed in kWh and euros.
- The good practice document for saving money through energy.
- Positioning of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, expressed from A) to G, where A is very low in pollutants and G is very polluting.
- Finally, the description of the basic data of the building (surface area, orientation, wall composition, roofing, insulation, windows, ventilation, etc.)
Tip 3: Geology
If you do not know what geology is, it is simply the current composition of the soil. If the soil on which your construction rests is clay on rock and sand… this can be a cause for foundation accounting or the cause of cracks appearing. To avoid any inconvenience, you can conduct a soil examination. Everything is specified in this document.
The study of your land must be carried out by a qualified geo-technician, who will provide you with a document that you can attach to your contract so that you do not incur additional billing at the end of your project.
Wall crack Photo by geirt.com photos
Tip 4: Boundary Survey
If you do not know what a boundary is, the idea is to establish the limits of two private lands. You can hire a specialized surveyor to avoid potential disputes with your neighbors. It should be noted that boundary marking is not mandatory; it only allows for the establishment of the boundary between two private lands. However, if one of the landowners requires a boundary and nothing has yet been established, then the boundary becomes mandatory here. You have two options: amicable boundary marking between neighbors or through legal means, but if you do not agree.
Tip #5: Ensure that the craftsmen have insurance
Choosing your craftsmen is important for the project to run smoothly. You can check several points to ensure everything is functioning.
- Make sure that the company you are working with has a certification label: (Qualité ENR, Eco Artisan, Qualibat…)
- Ensure that the company is registered with the Trade and Companies Register (RCS).
- Determine if you are going through a contractor to see if they are covered by non-life insurance. Avoid starting your work without this guarantee.
- You can learn more about the various construction sites that the company has previously completed.
Tip #6: The Quote
Do not hesitate to ask several companies for different offers for all the registration items on the various documents. In general, your offer includes the type of all the work, the volume and quality of the materials, prices excluding taxes and any applicable taxes, as well as VAT. The start and end dates are usually entered along with the payment conditions and the date or offer takes effect. However, if you find that your offer is too low, make sure that the invoice is not increased later.
Tip 7: The Contract
The more precise a contract is, the less likely fraud is to occur. Do not hesitate to study your project management contract in detail.
You can include a construction plan in your contract so that each room of your house does not change. Also include the study you have set up for your land so that you do not have to pay anything. Additionally, include in the price the necessary work which includes all taxes, so as not to be surprised. You can also specify if there will be a delay in the contract.
Tip 8: Payments
Be cautious with full payments before starting the construction site. Indeed, scams sometimes arise from payments made too early. The risk is that the contractor may leave before completing the construction/house work. Furthermore, it is important to know that the specialist is not allowed to request a deposit if there is no signed contract.
Tip 9: The On-Site Visit
If you
go to the construction site, you can be assured. Moreover, as payments are generally made step by step, you can also visit the site to check that the steps are completed or you can track the progress of your work with the archireport app (see Tip 15). IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER: If you wish to make an unannounced visit to the site, the client must be informed!
Tip 10: Do Not Work Without Mention
It is quite possible that additional work will be added during the construction. However, if the manager works without your permission, you have the right not to pay. If you agree, do not forget to add a change to the contract to include it or to rebuild a contract if the changes seem too significant.
Tip 11: The Notary’s Involvement
It is important to call a notary to sign the final purchase deed. The notary’s task is to verify the identity of the parties and to ask them to read the authentic purchase deed. Do not hesitate to ask the notary questions about the consequences of this transaction. Since both parties are bound by the sales law, the legal ownership indicates that a transfer from the seller to the buyer is made.
Tip 12: The Location of the House
Ensure that your property is not close to a railway line or an airport. However, if that is the case, the windows and doors must be sufficiently insulated to avoid noise disturbances. Ask in the neighborhood if the noise is bearable or not.
Tip #13: The Attic
It is important to check the attic of your house. Consider checking the frame. Also check if the wood is in good condition, if there is no mold or fungus. If there is, then the wood must be treated as soon as possible.
Tip 14: Average Prices for Construction
Learn more about the current rates you wish to create. Let’s compare a traditional house and a contemporary house.
A traditional house: it is built with fairly common and classic building materials: bricks, wooden frames, concrete blocks…
A contemporary apartment: it is a house that uses techniques and materials specific to the time when the house is built. A contemporary house promotes good living with plenty of openness, common spaces, and fluidity.
Regarding prices:
- A single-story traditional house: starting from 1100/m²
- The traditional house (one story): starting from 1200/m²
- Modern house (one story): starting from 1300/m²
- Contemporary construction (one story): starting from 1400/m²
Be careful, but prices vary significantly between new work or renovation work and, of course, depend on the complexity of the project and the quality of the materials used. Many websites offer simulations and examples of costed realizations.
Tip no. 15: The Most Important Thing!
This article will give you the best advice for building or renovating your home.
If you want to follow the progress of the work in detail, ask your contractor or architect to review the archireport solution. This app will quickly become essential for you and your architect.
Archireport provides you with detailed reports for accurate tracking. Architects create a report directly on-site with annotations, observations, and a timeline with all stakeholders, plans, photos, and sketches present during the construction work, which will help each party to stay organized.
You can create a weekly report of your sites to track the progress of the work without necessarily moving.
If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact the archireport team for explanations.
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