5 things to consider before starting your house project

The decisions you make before the first drawing is finished shape the cost, the timeline and how well the house works for years. These are the five we ask every client to think about first.

1. Know your land

Check the deed and survey plan, the boundaries and the width of the access road. Walk the site after heavy rain to see where water goes. A soil investigation tells your engineer what the foundations need, and the slope, trees and neighbouring buildings all shape where the house can sit.

2. Understand the approvals

Building plans must be approved by the local authority: the Pradeshiya Sabha, Urban Council or Municipal Council for your area, and the Urban Development Authority in declared development areas. Street lines and setbacks can limit what you can build. In landslide-prone districts, NBRO clearance may also be needed. After completion, a Certificate of Conformity (COC) confirms the house was built as approved. Allow time for all of this in your plan.

3. Set a realistic budget, and plan how you'll pay

Decide on a total budget that includes fees, approvals and a contingency, not only construction. If you are using a housing loan, find out how and when the bank releases money, because construction payments usually follow stages of work.

4. Write a clear brief

Think about how you live now and how you might live in ten years: bedrooms, a home office, parents moving in, a future upper floor. If you may add a floor later, the foundations and columns can be designed for it from the start. In Sri Lanka's climate, orientation, shade and cross-ventilation make a real difference to comfort and running costs.

5. Choose who will build it

Separate designers, engineers and contractors can work, but you end up coordinating them. Whoever you choose, check their CIDA registration, visit work they have completed, and expect a detailed quotation, a written agreement and proper site supervision.

Thinking about one of these already? We're happy to walk through your land and brief with you.