The Australian Heritage Homes team loves a good challenge. That’s part of the reason that we got into the building business, and why we continue to push ourselves to learn new styles and techniques. One of the pillars of our experience and success has been building custom period-style homes. We find beauty and inspiration in the stories that older homes can tell. With a period home, you’re resurrecting a piece of history and we want to do that carefully and methodically.
You may be on the fence about what style of home you’re looking to explore. There are definitely considerations that you want to keep in mind as you’re determining if this course of action makes sense for you. Because we’re particularly passionate about sharing our knowledge with our valued customers, we’ve compiled some of the most important ones to consider.
Be Cognizant of Your Neighbourhood
First and foremost, you’ll want to be cognizant of the neighbourhood that you live in. There may be homeowners’ associations or neighbourhood councils that already have rules in place about what you can and can’t build. They put these in place so that there is consistency in different neighbourhoods so that existing homeowners know what to expect if new neighbours are moving in. The conversations are easy enough to have. In fact, most of the time, homeowners’ associations and neighbourhood councils publicize what is and isn’t allowed in the vicinity if you’re moving in for the first time.
Adjust the Design to Match the Actual Land
If your local groups do allow you to build period-style homes, the next step is to check out the actual land that the home will be built on. You may be working with a sloped lot, which will have entirely different heights at different ends of the property. You may also live in an area that sees a lot of rain, and you’ll need to plan accordingly in this case as well. It doesn’t remove the opportunity entirely, if just means that there are potential shifts in process and the materials that you can use if you’re building in one of these areas. Conversely, you may live in a dry and dusty area. Again – the building materials will just need to shift slightly.
Plan the Budget and Timeline for Your Period Home
Next up, the age-old budget and timeline. This is consistent with any style of home that you build. You’ll want to be upfront and honest with your contractor, in order to be on the same page and be realistic about what your home will look like. Sometimes a period home takes considerably longer to build. There are slight nuances and details that need to be taken into account if you’re truly going to authentically replicate that time period.
Luckily, if you’re working with the Australian Heritage Homes team, you’re already in good hands. We can help walk you through all of the above and make sure that you feel safe and confident as you navigate this important decision. Questions? Comments? Let us know. The Australian Heritage Homes team would love to hear from you.