Five Things I’d Never Do If I Were Building My Own Home

Aug 28
6 min read

Green Abode Director Kevin Turley working at his desk

When you work in construction, you get to see a lot of homes take shape.

You also get to see the decisions people are pleased they made and, occasionally, the ones they wish they'd approached differently.

Green Abode Director Kevin Turley has spent years building homes and working alongside homeowners through the entire process, from the first conversations and early designs through to handing over the keys.

So, we asked him a simple question: "If you were building your own home today, what would you do differently based on everything you've learned?"

His answers weren't about expensive appliances, designer finishes, or the latest home technology.

They were much more practical.

1. I’d never start without a realistic budget and contingency

One of the biggest regrets Kevin sees doesn't necessarily come from a poor design decision.

It comes from reaching the final stages of the build and realising the budget has been stretched too far.

As Kevin explains:

“It always seems to be about running out of money at the end of the project. It’s easy to add things in on the way through without taking into account what happens at the end. Having a budget with a decent contingency is really important.”

Building a home involves hundreds of decisions. Individually, an upgrade here or an addition there might not seem significant. Added together over the course of a project, they can make a considerable difference.

That's why the budget needs to be about more than establishing what you can afford at the beginning. It needs to allow enough room to get to the end comfortably, too.

A contingency gives you some breathing room when something unexpected happens or when you decide there is something genuinely worth spending more on.

The key is knowing the difference.

Being realistic about your budget doesn't mean giving up on building a home that performs well. In 5 Things to Help You Build an Energy-Efficient Home on a Budget, we look at some of the ways good decisions early in the project can help balance performance and affordability.

2. I’d never compromise on the building envelope to spend more on finishes

If Kevin were building his forever home tomorrow, there is one area where he'd prioritise the budget.

“My top priority would be the building envelope…that’s something that can’t be easily altered later. Kitchens and bathrooms can be upgraded later if necessary.”

It's an important distinction.

The building envelope plays a major role in warmth, energy efficiency, moisture management, and overall comfort. Window choice is a critical part of that, too. Good-performing windows can make a significant difference to heat loss, condensation, and overall comfort, and they're an expensive element to upgrade once the home has been built.

The same thinking applies to ventilation. A good-quality ventilation system, designed as part of the home rather than treated as an afterthought, can have a major impact on indoor air quality, moisture management, and how comfortable the home is to live in.

A kitchen or bathroom can be renovated in ten or fifteen years. Improving the fundamental performance of an already-built home can be considerably more complicated and expensive.

That's why we believe it makes sense to get the fundamentals right first.

If you'd like to understand how the building envelope fits into the bigger picture, our article What Makes a High-Performing Home? looks at the elements that contribute to a warmer, healthier, and more energy-efficient home.

We also explain in more detail why high-performance homes are designed as systems, rather than simply relying on individual upgrades such as more insulation or better glazing.

3. I’d never rush the planning stage

If one of Kevin's own children were about to build their first home, his advice would be straightforward:

“Spend as much time as possible in the early planning stages and price it correctly.”

There can be a natural urge to get started.

Once you've decided to build, seeing diggers arrive on site feels like progress. Spending another few weeks working through plans, specifications, and pricing doesn't always feel quite as exciting.

But some of the least expensive changes you'll ever make to a home are the ones you make while they're still lines on a drawing.

Taking the time upfront allows you to think carefully about how you'll use the home, what matters most to you, where your budget should go, and what you're actually going to build.

It also allows for more accurate pricing before construction begins.

The goal isn't simply to start building quickly.

It's to start building the right home with the right plan.

For a deeper look at the decisions that are worth working through before construction begins, read Building a SIP Home: What You Need to Know Before You Start.

4. I’d never build to the minimum just because I could

We also asked Kevin which building trend he'd most like to see disappear.

His answer:

“Building to just meet the requirements of the Building Code.”

The Building Code establishes minimum requirements that every new home must meet.

But minimum compliance and creating a genuinely high-performing home are two different things.

At Green Abode, we're interested in what happens beyond that baseline.

How comfortable will the home be in winter?

How will it perform in summer?

How much energy will it require?

How well will it manage moisture and fresh air?

And how will it feel to live there year after year?

These aren't decisions you make simply to satisfy a requirement. They're decisions you make because you're going to live with the outcome.

One example of what that looks like in real life is Ian and Ingrid's SIP Home Story, which shares their experience of building and living in a high-performing home.

There's another housing trend Kevin wouldn't mind seeing less of either.

“On a personal note, I hate the way houses are built ‘on top’ of each other now, creating a modern Coronation Street look. I love privacy and space around my home…I don’t want to have the neighbours literally through the wall or having a BBQ with just a boundary fence between us!”

Not everyone will have the luxury of a large section, particularly as our cities become denser.

But Kevin's point goes back to something important: designing around how you actually want to live.

For some people, proximity and low maintenance will be exactly what they want. For others, privacy, outdoor space, and separation from neighbours will be priorities worth protecting.

Your home should reflect your version of a good life.

5. I’d never go hunting for the cheapest price

Finally, we gave Kevin an unfinished sentence:

“I would never…”

His answer was simple:

“…go hunting for the cheapest price!”

Price matters. Of course it does.

Building a home will probably be one of the largest financial commitments you'll ever make.

But there's a difference between looking for value and simply looking for the lowest number.

Two building quotes aren't necessarily offering the same home, even when they're based on similar plans.

Specifications, materials, construction methods, allowances, and the level of performance being targeted can all influence the final price.

That's why we'd always encourage homeowners to understand what they're getting for their money, rather than comparing the bottom line alone.

If you're comparing quotes from different builders, our Guide to Understanding and Comparing Builders' Quotes explains what to look for and why the cheapest quote isn't always the best value.

Saving money at the beginning isn't much of a saving if the compromises cost you more over the life of the home.

Building Your Own Home? Get the Things That Are Difficult to Change Right

There's a common theme in Kevin's five answers.

Think long term.

Plan properly before you start.

Allow enough money to finish properly.

Spend on the things buried within the home before the things you can easily replace.

And don't let the cheapest price make the decision for you.

A new kitchen can come later.

The fundamentals of your home are much harder to change.

If you're planning a new home and want to understand what we'd prioritise before you start designing, talk to the Green Abode team. We'd be happy to have the conversation.