10 lessons learned from a house build

BUILDING A HOUSE: It is a rather significant investment - surely you want to do it right first-time?

Richard Gough, general manager of Future-Proof Building, made some mistakes when building his family home five years ago.

Now that he has moved on to a new project - a house renovation - Gough took some time to reflect on things he would be doing differently this time round.

Here he shares his top tips for building your own home.

Fairfax Photographic

DO YOU HAVE THE POWER?: Gough says it is an investment worth thinking about.

1. Rays the roof

Solar power: When I built I didn't give much consideration to solar power, the units weren't that attractive and it wasn't as cost-effective as it is now. But prices have reduced dramatically installation is now less than a third of what it was in 2008 and they are more slimline and aesthetically minded.

My advice: Solar power can pay for itself in about eight to 10 years. If you can't afford to install it at this stage, it's definitely worth pre-wiring in case you want to upgrade in the future. It is a selling point if you put your home on the market.

SECURITY: Gates aren't enough to deter criminals, but the good news is there's plenty of technology that can help.

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10 lessons learned from a house build