THE MISTAKES I MADE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MY OWN HOME

There is no better way to learn something than to feel it, to live it and, ultimately, to go through it yourself.

Meri is an architect and in 2019 she decided to embark on a great adventure: to build her own house. In today's post she wanted to share with everyone, from this great experience, all those mistakes she has learned and that we should take into account if we decide to follow in her footsteps.

Hello, my name is MeriI am an architect and I have a master's degree: renovate and rehabilitate my own house. Making my own home meant, from the time we bought it in October 2019 until we moved in May 2022, one of the biggest challenges and learnings of my life.

It is well known that, no matter how much you study and how much experience you have, there is no better way to learn something than to feel it, live it and, in short, go through it yourself. In the end I am a woman with a life, a budget and a lot of fears and worries. Just like most of my clients. But today I don't want to tell you my story. Today I want you to take something away with you when you finish reading these words. 

I'm going to explain some of the mistakes I made in my work. Maybe then you won't make them. Shall we get to it?

1. Thinking that I could handle everything on my own.

How typical! Buying and renovating a house is not an easy thing to do in two days. To all this, you add being the architect responsible for the work. With all its difficulties and responsibilities. But, on top of that, as if that wasn't enough, she was also the contractor. Because of course, I'll manage it myself, and that saves me money..

No, it is not. He who grasps at too much grasps too little.

Focus on your role and delegate. Surround yourself with the best professionals you can afford, trust and do it from the beginning, take my advice. Because the money that you can save is not worth the nerves, the discomfort and the stress that you are going to have if you want to do it all yourself.

2. Making decisions based solely on money.

I knew it... I see it every day... Well, come on, I fell for it too. In fact, I think that even if you read this, you'll fall for it too. That's alright. Maybe someday someone will be able to get rid of this "curse". Understand me, it is important to keep an economic control during the work. I would say it is fundamental. But it is true that sometimes we get lost by choosing something that at the moment solves the problem (we don't have the numbers) but that, in the long run, is far from being the best option for you.

It happened to me with parquet. I chose synthetic and discarded natural wood. On paper, one cost twice as much as the other. That and the fact that it's very cool (really), that's what made us decide. Now I hear the sound when I walk. I see how much more dust accumulates than with natural wood and let's not talk about the material it's made of. At that moment I didn't know how to take a step back and see what was really important to me in the long run.

3. Let myself be carried away by wear and tear and the desire to finish.

And this has to do with the first mistake. 

There came a point in the work that I was so worn out that I just wanted to finish. Things that I would never have overlooked as the person in charge of a building site (especially with the finishes), I did allow in my own house. At the time the issue passes, but then it's what you decide and what you take for granted forever. Again. You have to get some distance and some air. Take a breath. Make demands, always politely, of course, on everything you think is not right and leave the rush aside.

4. Underestimate the work of industrialists.

Who wouldn't dare to paint their house? Anyone can paint - noooo, not at all! Painting is an art that requires skill, tools, knowledge and experience. Like almost everything in life. Painting a house is not just about buying a roller and a can of paint. 

It's the end of the building work, you're tired, you're looking forward to settling in, and you start sanding and painting as if you've never done it before? As if it were easy. Don't fool yourself, but above all, don't underestimate any of the trades or professionals who will be working on your site. Because do you know the worst thing of all? You will have to do an inhuman job, it will take you 3 times longer, and it won't look nearly as good as a professional would.

These are some of the mistakes I made. I hope I remember them all the next time I build a house. Because this is like children, when you have just had one, you don't even want to talk about having another one, but with time, you forget the bad things and you only keep the good things. Because everything good in life you have to fight a little bit, don't you? And this is how my house turned out 🙂

I hope you find it useful. A big hug.