This article offers the reader information about designing and building a sustainable home.
Most people have a set of goals and the main objective is to pay off the mortgage. Once you reach that point, the next goal is to build a dream home in the sun, where you can spend your golden retirement years.
In this article, you’ll learn a few tips for those who are looking to build a sustainable home.
Define Your Lifestyle
It is a golden opportunity to design your own living space and rather than choosing a design template and conforming to that, you can design the home around your lifestyle. Are you an outdoor person? If so, you should design a large terrace that adjoins the property; do you prefer an open-plan design? The answers to these questions will help you to design the perfect home, one that is based on your lifestyle.
Choosing A Builder
Finding the best house building contractor Cyprus could provide is a process of meeting each one and looking at what they have to offer. You want a builder with extensive experience in constructing bespoke homes, a builder that can work with your concept. Ask for a few references and visit some of their builds to get a clear idea of their workmanship. Check that they are a member of building federations and trade associations. Look for a firm with sustainable solutions at the forefront of their identity.
Solar Energy
If you want your new home to be sustainable, you really have to consider solar energy, especially if you live in a country that has many hours of sunshine. Technology has advanced and the cost of a solar energy system has dropped significantly. You can free yourself from the tyrannical grip of the money-hungry energy corporations by becoming self-sufficient for your energy needs. Governments around the world are offering financial incentives to homeowners that wish to switch to solar power and the cost has come down a lot; you can expect to recoup your investment in 4-5 years.
Think Direction
Take note of where the sun rises and sets; design the home so that you have the shade when you need it. Indeed, some Asian people will call in a fortune-teller who tells them which way the front should face. Direction is an important aspect of a house design and not something to overlook.
Composite Materials
You should consider using composite materials, as they are generally maintenance-free with high levels of insulation. Any builder would know about composite materials and can advise you accordingly.
Think Maintenance
If you are a busy businessperson who doesn’t have the time for gardening, you won’t want a garden that is high-maintenance. If, on the other hand, you are retired and like to potter in the garden, that’s great!
Set Your Budget
Unless you happen to be extremely wealthy, you need to set a budget for the build, which should be done prior to anything else. Decide on a figure that you can afford and that should be your guideline; the custom builder should be able to work to the client’s budget. Be realistic and don’t make the mistake of compromising quality for price, as this never works to your advantage.
It is an exciting time when you are planning to build your dream home. Let’s face it, not everyone gets the chance to design their living space, so you need to make sure the layout suits your lifestyle. Finding an experienced custom builder is easy with Google, wherever you live; browse a few websites and invite builders to visit you (separately of course) and see how things go.