Embarking on the opportunity to reside abroad presents an exhilarating prospect of shaping your new life in a foreign land. However, this endeavour can also evoke feelings of trepidation, particularly if it marks your inaugural experience in navigating such a significant life transition.
In addition to the logistical challenges and intricacies associated with establishing new roots in a different country, one must also contend with the multifaceted process of acquiring and designing your new residence, so to speak.
The procedure for purchasing and designing a home can differ markedly based on the destination country, your financial resources, and various other critical factors. It is not a matter to be approached impulsively, even if you possess the financial capacity to do so.
This not only helps you minimise costs, but it also ensures you don’t start any steps that you won’t be able to follow through as smoothly as you’d like. So, in this blog post, we are going to share some tips to help you plan and design your overseas dream home most effectively.
Let’s jump right into it!
Key Takeaways
- Understanding ways to solidify your lifestyle and needs
- Looking at the local building regulations
- Uncovering the need for studying climate and the environment
- Decoding the utility of design apps and platforms
1. Solidify Your Lifestyle and Needs
It’s crucial to understand the circumstances surrounding your move. Are you planning to move to this country permanently? Are you planning to just stay there for a couple of years, then bounce? Do you plan to create a family in this new place?
The pick will decide what type of accommodation will best suit you in this new environment.
If you’re planning to live and raise a family there for the long term, then it’s generally ideal to choose a large house with an ample amount of space to make space for your spouse and future children.
Conversely, if you plan to just stay there for a couple of years, then you can get away with choosing a small and low-maintenance studio near your workplace to make it easier to commute to work and live a simple life while you save up for something bigger and better.
This guide from Westpac can help you find suitable housing options if you’re planning to move to Australia.
Besides the length of time you plan to stay in your new location, you should also consider your lifestyle. If you work from home, then having a dedicated work setup is essential to ensure that you can remain productive throughout the day. If you want to host guests, then having a spacious, open-floor layout where they can gather is essential to house them when they arrive.
In any case, when designing your dream home, you should ensure that this place can accommodate your and your family’s needs without compromising other vital aspects of your life.
Choosing a home that can fit into your daily rhythm is key—as this helps ensure that your dream home’s layout is practical and functional, not just beautiful.
Interesting Facts
Expats often purchase homes abroad for investment purposes, to have a second home, and to improve their quality of life, access better climates, and reduce living costs.
2. Read Up on Local Building Regulations
One of the most crucial things to sort out early is your understanding of local building rules.
Every region has its own set of zoning laws and permits that determine what you can or cannot do with the property of land that you’ve purchased. It’s crucial to abide by both national and local policies to ensure that you don’t get in trouble with the law in your new location, as this can cause hefty fees or costly renovations on your end.
To tread on the safe side, it’s a good idea to consult with a local contractor who knows the ins and outs of the renovation and building process for properties in your area. They have in-depth knowledge of how to navigate the property building process, ensuring that your project is compliant with all facets of the local law, from environmental regulation to permit acquisitions.
On top of that, hiring a local architect and contractor also helps a ton, as they can guide you along the home construction process and reduce the chances of you making major mistakes. They can also inform you of laws that you may not know about in this new country, keeping you legally informed and in check.
3. Study the Climate and Environment
Before undertaking your house construction project, it’s crucial to have a thorough understanding of the annual climate situation in your chosen area.
The surrounding weather and environment can play a big role in influencing the most optimal and efficient home design, so you must have a thorough understanding of it before starting the material acquisition process.
For instance, if you’re moving to a warmer country, then you’ll need to design a home with ample shade, ventilation, and moisture-resistant materials. Conversely, if you’re moving somewhere cold, then you’ll need to have proper insulation and heating equipment to keep yourself nice and cosy indoors.
On top of that, you should also be mindful of the landscape surrounding your home. Consider the direction the house is facing, as well as the optimal way to position windows to bring enough sunlight in. You should also consider natural disasters and implement safeguards to ensure your house can withstand damage from these potential risks.
By tailoring your home’s design to the extremes of the environment, you’ll ensure that your house is sturdy and can last for years to come. Or, at the very least, wouldn’t require as much repair work during worst-case events.
4. Set A Realistic Budget And Timeline
Unsurprisingly, designing and constructing a house can cost quite a large fortune. If you haven’t started saving up for it yet, then make it a priority.
You should also have an actual goal amount in mind when planning the construction of your new home. This way, you’ll be working towards something actually realisable and will be more disciplined to ensure its completion.
To create a budget, you should first start by outlining the checklist of things that you’re expected to do during the construction stage. This includes everything from permit applications to furnishing purchases. You should also add a buffer fund to account for costs that may slip by. This ensures that you’ll never really run short of funds when everything’s fully planned out.
In conjunction with the budget, you should also consider the timeline of the construction. Research how long house constructions usually take in your area, and make a timeline that considers that. You can also consult with your architect and contractor to gain more insights into the matter.
By properly preparing your budget and timeline, you can systematically create the house. This makes it all the more possible to build your home abroad without running into any major financial woes.
5. Use Design Apps And Platforms For Inspiration
When designing your home, you have a load of options on how you choose to go about it.
The easiest way is to let your architect handle it all, with you throwing a couple of inputs here and there. But if you want to be more involved in the matter, you can find inspiration from design apps like Pinterest and Instagram and implement some ideas there into your dream home.
There’s a wealth of resources you can find online to give you some creative house design ideas you can consider. From bedroom designs to living room designs, these platforms have thousands upon thousands of pictures you can draw inspiration from.
Alternatively, you can also consider creating your own home designs using design apps and tools.
These programs allow you to test different layouts and lighting choices to give you a picture of what style you’re aiming for in your new house before actually implementing it. This helps you avoid bad designs or perform any costly redesigns in case you’re not happy with the actual product.
By using these visual references for inspiration, you can have a clear vision of your dream house and ensure cohesion throughout the whole process. Just be sure to communicate this properly with your interior designer and architect to ensure that they can implement your desired design too.
Happy house designing!
Which country has the best house design?
Japan is renowned for having minimalist and calamity-proof house designs.
What makes a house a dream home?
A good ambience and a peaceful locality where you can make infinite memories.
What is the 3-5-7 rule in interior design?
It is a basic interior design guideline that says decor items look better when grouped in odd numbers.
