Planning to build a house in any part of the world is a task that
requires not only a good amount of money but also a generous amount of time
& thought. This also applies to the Indian housing market. While most
Indians prefer to come up with their own house plans or designs rather than
professional architects, then they land up hiring a contractor to build their
house with the best available knowledge which most often than not results in
certain structural defects as they are not properly designed, analysed and
constructed to last forever. A house is built more with a common practice
followed by a contractor who is aware of building materials, like cement, sand,
rubble, reinforcement, etc but not is not well versed with the science of
building construction. Constructing a house involves multiple tasks but before
the process begins at site they need to be vetted properly so that in even
worst case scenarios, the house still survives and also doesn't cause
damage to the residents. Recent example of Nepal Earthquake is a constant
reminder to us as architects and to the plot owners in India to build more
stable structures which are designed by professionals and not with
team of labour with hands on work experience. Destruction of
homes is not only a financial loss but an emotional and logistical nightmare.
Below are ten reasons why Indians need to think of hiring professionals to plan
and design their house.
1. The nature of the Asian continent
While India is a beautiful country, it is prone to environmental and weather
hazards that more often than not tend to destroy homes, leaving families
homeless and distraught. If there is ever a reason for one to hire professional
planners and designers of houses, the nature of the Indian continent ranks
highest. The recent earthquake in neighbouring Nepal, the yearly typhoons and
floods and many more hazards should be catered for by professional planners as
they advice one trying to build a home. Professional planners have the ability
to advice one on the kind of house they can build depending on where their
property is located. This will prevent any tragic eventualities that affect
builders without structurally sound plans.
2. Quality of the construction
Nobody likes to live permanently in a house of temporary quality. A house is a
long-term investment for the builder. It is meant to withstand generations of
habitation. Houses are a history unto itself, a good example being the Taj
Mahal. It is, therefore, imperative that the second best consideration for a
builder would be to put up a good quality structure that could be relied on for
hundreds of years to come. A quality house plan can therefore not be a
compromise.
3. Better Services
Most planning and design companies provide package services. Hiring house
planners allows one to get other quality services by the same company or by
their partners. The headache of having to scan through profiles of contractors
is relieved, and one can focus on other issues. Besides, planners will have to
produce a well-designed house plan as they are aware that their partners are in
charge of the construction. So better quality drawings and details are produced
before the beginning of construction at site, so all unexpected shocks are
experienced and make the plot owner aware of the overall investment he/she will
have to incur for the house over the period of construction. This also helps in
better financial planning for the house owner.
4. Relief from Legal Disputes
Legitimate house planning and design can only be done on properly acquired
property. House planning and design must first verify the legal status of the
property before dealing with it. This will help the one building to ascertain
their property and rest assured that it meets legal requirements before any
construction can be started on it.
5. The Benefit of Budgeting and Estimation
Many an Indian home owners does come across this big headache when it comes to
building a house as usually the overall budget shots higher up from what it was
initially thought to be. This happens with and without a professional planner,
but if the architect has prepared all the necessary drawings and a proper Bill
of Quantities are developed then the same can provide better Cost Estimate from
different contractors and this can be used for comparing their rates as well as
to come to a reasonable conclusion about the Overall cost that the owner will
have to incur to build the house. Apart from a well designed house plan,
professional planning, and design breaks down the costs of the house the owner
wants.
Many home owners end up either making unrealistically small budgets or failing
to include all requirements in a budget and then struggle to finish the
incomplete house or start cutting corners to fit it to their budget. This
trimming of construction specifications do lead to wrong preference which at
times doesn't maintain the structural stability of the house.
6. Ability to get advice on the structural requirements depending on
location of the house
While most prospective home owners know how they want their ideal homes to look
like, the ideas might not be very sound on the ground. Professional planning
helps the prospective owner to understand the nature of the terrain upon which
they are building. This informs what they can or cannot do to produce a
structurally sound building as well as what other structural alternatives are
possible towards making their ideal home.
7. Green Energy
The world is moving to a phase where green energy is the preferred source of
energy for homes. A well-designed house is structurally capable of maximizing
heat from the sun and storing it for future needs. Only a professional planner
would come up with structurally sound improvisations to adopt into making one’s
house a green energy booster.
8. Structural Safety
Houses are built for human beings to live in. Safety is, therefore, an
important measure when talking about structurally sound houses. A good house
plan includes the needs of members who may be blind, paraplegic or with any
other disabilities. A professional planner will ensure that needs of all
members are incorporated in the structural plans. This goes a long way in
saving the family money in case of injuries caused by poor planning and design
of a house.
9. Save expenses down the road
A proper house plans importance cannot be underestimated especially in the long
run. A structurally sound house will save the owner costs of repair as the
years go by. Good planning and design prevent the occurrence of the typical
wear and tear shown through cracks and leakages when the house can no longer
support its weight.
10. Building material that suit location of the house
A design professional will tell you that a structurally sound house is all
about the material used to put it up. India is a country with a varied mix of
climate, so a good understanding of the same is critical for design process. An
architect knows it well about this and will put up your house with building
materials that is available locally and also right for the use on your plot.
A proper house plan will, therefore, point out what a home owner needs to
know to inform them of what steps to take to build a lasting house.
Anyone building a house should ensure that they incorporate all the above ideas
into building a house that can stand the test of time. Even better,
professional house planning and design can produce the home of your dreams free
of any encumbrances for future. A structurally sound house in India is soon
becoming a necessity, not a luxury as it was considered before so plot owners
now need to be moving ahead with time. Paying for a properly done house plan
that takes all the above factors into consideration will be essential in making
sure citizens of India live comfortably and safely. Besides, the cost of
acquiring a house plan now is nothing compared to the cost of repair or loss of
homes several years down the line.
