What are the Most Overlooked Details When Building a Home?
Home ownership has long been a dream for many in Australia. In a recent ABS Building Activity report, around one-third of homeowners prefer to build from scratch rather than buying an existing house despite the significant planning and work involved.
Undeniably, some aspects of the whole house-building project are deemed more important and take more time to plan and review than the rest. This includes site preparations, council and regulatory approvals, floor plan layout, plumbing, and electrical connection details.
While the above-mentioned elements are considered vital in a new build, there are more components deserving careful consideration that are oftentimes overlooked.
The Five Most Overlooked Details in Building a House
Natural Lighting and Ventilation
Energy efficiency is increasingly becoming an important factor in the design of modern homes. Unfortunately, this is often neglected during the planning stage.
Reviewing window placements could be a simple yet highly effective way to achieve this without adding significant costs. Placing windows on the north side of the house, for example, provide natural lighting and warmth, while adding wide eaves or awnings on the hotter west and east sides could potentially reduce your power bills from needing artificial lights and air-conditioning less.
Parallel ventilation is another feature worth looking at by ensuring there are direct paths for air to flow freely within the home from opposite sides.
Storage Features
Storage is another overlooked detail in some areas of the home, such as the garage, laundry, bathroom, and the mudroom or entryway.
While some designs already incorporate built-in cupboards, wardrobes and drawers, adding recessed corners or nooks can later prove to be useful for extra storage and shelving requirements.
Electrical Power Outlets
Power points top the most overlooked detail in building a house. It is quite a common problem because despite how much planning is involved, changes in furniture layouts, technology use, and appliance needs can quickly make existing outlets insufficient.
It may be good to consider having a walk-through before finalising this detail in the new build to anticipate future occupant requirements.
External Finishes
Outdoor / alfresco living, outdoor power sockets, garden, drainage, and taps are often missed not because they are less important, but because homeowners tend to put more energy into the interior of the house itself. While these areas can be improved later, it does not hurt to map their placements before driveways, pathways, or concrete works are completed.
Internal Fittings and Finishing Touches
Finishing touches are the finer details that were often left last, both in the building process and in the budget consideration. However, these are the details that give the house its character and what makes it yours.
Incorporating smart upgrades (e.g., automated lighting systems and light dimmers), contemporary LED lights and modern light switches not only improve your home’s appearance and functionality but also provides higher perceived home quality.
If you are looking for some inspiration to wrap up all the hard work, consider Vimar’s range of minimalist light switches that elevate the feel of your home.
The Vimar Vintage (toggle switch or lever switch) and Flat (rocker or push rocker switch) product ranges offer three-gang light switches with mechanisms, available in matt white, anthracite grey, gold, and brushed nickel finishes.
Browse our range here or contact our team for more information.
