When you decide to build your own property, it should be a simple matter of whether or not you can afford it, right? You would think so, but if you answered “Yes” to the question, then this article is for you. There is a lot more involved than whether or not you can pay for the construction of your property. You need to have your local government institution’s approval for starters.

Here’s a list of what you need in order to have a smooth building experience.

Builders Checklist

1. Acquire land

   This may seem like a basic thing everyone knows. Before you can claim ownership of a piece of land, you need to have the title documents to the said land in your name. You can do this at the Lands Commission. Remember, paying for the land does not end the transaction. Owning the title documents secures your ownership. Get title documents to your acquired land. When buying land, make the choice of land to acquire based on the type of purpose you want to use the land for; farming, building a ground-level structure, a storey building, warehouse, etc. The situation of the land could be a huge factor in determining the success or failure of your construction project if it’s for commercial purposes. 
   

2. Architectural Plans for the House

   Some people assume this is a luxury and don’t bother with it, but this is an essential part of the checklist. You need to secure the services of an architect and have them design the house you intend to build according to your specifications and within the standards of the profession. These should include architectural drawings, structural drawings (especially, in the case of a storey building), and a site plan.

3. Buiding Permit

   This part, as with most things involving state institutions, can get quite frustrating. You will need to get a Building Permit from your Metropolitan/Municipal Assembly. With the current system, this might take anywhere between a month and some years unless you know some influential people or know some particularly effective ways of motivating the right people. You require the Land Title documents from the Lands Commission certifying your ownership of the land, as well as the designs of the house, which you should have already obtained from your architect. Without the Permit, your building might be halted or torn down at any point by the Authorities.

4. Budget

   Ideally, you should make this budget in consultation with your architect. If you have a building company (or some other external professional) handling your construction, you might not over-exceed your budget but if you are overseeing it all yourself, be prepared to go at least 20% over the budget with the costs that come with acquiring your building and the finishing fittings you will be requiring. As with most other things in life, your budget will most likely be too conservative. Adding about 20% to it makes it more realistic.

5. Basic Building Materials

   Blocks, sand, chippings, wood, iron rods, etc. Essentially, the main things your builders/masons will require to get started once the building starts officially and the foundation digging begins.

Putting up a property may seem a daunting task, but when you have all the necessary things in place beforehand, it can take out a lot of the stress involved and make it a whole lot easier. Building a house or commercial property can be quite fun if you go about it right too. Have some other important requirements left out of this list? Let us know in the comments.