The myth of saving – economic method of building a house

Your dream house is an investment that brings a lot of joy, but also many strategic and logistic challenges. It’s a multistage project, which requires skillful planning and experience. The economic method of building is tempting to many – you can save up to 20% of your costs. But is that true?

Time is money

At first glance, everything looks safe. We model the lengths of the construction process ourselves, depending on the size of our wallet. Can’t afford to continue the construction? Let’s wait. Easy, we have time. In moments like these, we often forget about a key issue: the longer it all takes, the higher the cost of the investment. Construction materials won’t get any cheaper, it’s not stale bread.

By commissioning the construction to an experienced firm, we get a precise schedule of works. It determines the time and fixed cost, so we don’t need to worry about the increase of prices for materials and services. Except for the money, we save or even eliminate something way more valuable – stress. Time is also our experience and the errors that we make. While the first one may be a lot of fun, the mistakes or fails resulting from our lack of knowledge create more delays and as a consequence – additional cost.

Want vs. can

When we’ve assessed our own strengths and skills and checked all the technical issues, there comes the time to hire some “professionals” to help us with our dream. Don’t let us fool ourselves, we can’t do it with our own hands, however much we may want it. And that’s another tricky area unmarked on any of the maps. Hiring a construction company will help us execute the terms of the agreement clearly and easily, holding a brother-in-law, father-in-law or another friendly “handyman” responsible may be a lot more difficult. The burden and responsibility falls solely on us.

Faulty calculator

It only takes a moment to realize, that savings on construction materials are illusive. Following the economic method of building, we surely skip the middle man in the purchases, but we can forget about one thing: as an individual investor, we will never get the prices, that are reserved for construction companies, that buy in much greater quantities. Not to mention the difference in VAT (investor 23%, construction company 8%). Since we’re talking about savings, what’s worth mentioning are the tools necessary when we’re doing the job on our own, rented or bought. You can’t build a house only with your putty knife…

The Tandem of Price and Quality

A renowned construction company will keep the deadlines indicated in the agreement. It has to, it’s not a favor. What is more, the hired professionals will advise in case of dilemmas or objections, they will show some possible and safe alternatives. And you are not condemned to deal with „tongue and groove” – the only really safe solutions for an amateur bricklayer, that comes with high water absorption (this is when the race with time and weather starts), weak compressive strength, fragility and poor acoustic insulation. A real professional will lay the bricks according to the way indicated in the project. Not using the materials, that work with our lack of experience, but the one the architect considered appropriate and optimal.

Comfort under control

Economic method of building has some benefits to offer, no doubt. However, it carries a big risk, which we usually ignore while calculating the cost of our adventure. Focusing all our attention on the savings, so often illusive, we miss the not quantifiable issues.

A trusted and reliable construction company doesn’t mean just continuity of the works, verified and reliable people and guarantees included in the agreement. It’s not just comfort and time, that we can easily spend working in our own profession or devote to our family. Among all, it’s a sure process, that can be predicted without unnecessary surprises. It’s safety and peace, that comes with it.