Designing your dream home gives you the opportunity to create something special and unique. You can think outside the box, opting for an unorthodox, unconventional design. It’s the best opportunity to showcase what you love and put some of your personality into the property. But, are there any potential drawbacks? We want to have a look here. Then, if you want to work with top architects in London, you can rely on us.
Three things to think about
Over the years, people typically have three similar drawbacks when they design their own dream home. First is the build cost. There are plenty of examples on shows like Grand Designs where the project quickly exceeds the original budget. Sometimes costs become such an issue that even finishing the property is unlikely.
Secondly, unique, unconventional homes can be harder to maintain. There can be a lot to think about here, including the lifecycle or materials and maintaining any tech and systems you choose. Even something simple like lovely bi-fold doors might need additional maintenance over the years.
Finally, unique homes can often prove to be tricky to sell. If you’re designing something just for you, the chance of finding someone who loves it equally is difficult. You’ll probably get people who appreciate the design, but would they want to live in it? It’s even harder the more out there you go.
What to do?
You might think it’s strange for some of the top architects in London to talk about the potential downsides of creating your own home. However, there are things you can do to overcome them. Plus, if you really love the design, even if it is quirky, you should go for it.
In terms of budget, it’s best to get as clear an idea of the cost as you can from the start. This includes materials and tech. Most importantly, you need to manage the project effectively. In many cases, costs rise because of delays, bad planning, and bad decisions.
The upkeep cost is also something you can control to an extent. It’s more fun to design a property and choose all the features and amenities, but it’s a good idea to think about the maintenance side. If you plan ahead, you can see what will be required of you. Plus, make sure when you’re thinking about quirky layouts and features that you look at how to keep them clean.
Most estate agents will tell you that selling a unique home is always more difficult. However, there is an interesting new tactic that can work really well. What you should do is present the home as a piece of art. If you look at it that way, they can be a fantastic purchase. The best case is if you can find rare examples by architects that don’t or didn’t design many homes.
Design a home with top architects in London
Coffey Architects is the ideal sounding board if you’re looking to design a unique property. In fact, we have an arm of our businesses dedicated to high end homes. We’ll give you all the support you need to explore the feasibility of your ideas. In addition, we’ll offer advice, recommendations, and guidance to help you get the most from your project. We can even navigate all of the potential future drawbacks.
So, if you’re thinking about a project, why not talk to us? We’ve become one of the best architects in London thanks to our creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. It’s the perfect way to create lovely properties.