A Guide to Designing & Building a Home from Far: Gauteng to the Cape
The Cape has long since been beckoning enticingly to everyone up north, which until recently, has not been a viable location option for many. Post-pandemic life has now resulted in a significant shift in working arrangements from iron-clad in-office 9-5s to flexible work-from-home set-ups. With this new work freedom, homeowners have been answering the Cape’s call by making plans to move there permanently to take advantage of the gorgeous views and laid-back lifestyle. But people have begun to question how they can effectively commission the design and build of their new house while they are living halfway across the country.
We have put together a quick guide on how to have the best experience undertaking a new design and build home project while staying in another province.
Choosing Your Architect
By far the most important consideration when beginning such a significant project is finding the right architect. Not only should your architect be experienced, knowledgeable, and trustworthy, they also need to be accessible and familiar with the area in which you are planning to build. JK Designs has offices in Johannesburg and Pretoria, and is currently in the process of setting up an office in Cape Town. This makes it very easy to meet with clients in person in Gauteng while also effectively managing building projects in the Cape. The in-person contact is vitally important to understanding the unique and nuanced needs of the client and the design, while the inter-provincial offices makes it easy to effectively oversee the building process of the house in the Western Cape.
The Cape has long since been beckoning enticingly to everyone up north, which until recently, has not been a viable location option for many. Post-pandemic life has now resulted in a significant shift in working arrangements from iron-clad in-office 9-5s to flexible work-from-home set-ups. With this new work freedom, homeowners have been answering the Cape’s call by making plans to move there permanently to take advantage of the gorgeous views and laid-back lifestyle. But people have begun to question how they can effectively commission the design and build of their new house while they are living halfway across the country.
Choosing the Location & Land
The design process can only truly begin with a piece of land on which to build. Not being familiar with the areas and neighbourhoods in the Cape is a reality for most people from Gauteng, and so having an architect assist you with finding the right piece of land in the best location is invaluable when considering the long-term nature and investment potential of a new home. This is not only important when looking at the geographical location of the land, but also the physical attributes of its slope, size, orientation, views, estate guidelines, and opportunities, all which directly impact the design. JK Designs’ service begins before you’ve even thought of an area in which to buy. Our team will assist you with finding the right location and perfect piece of land to achieve your dream design.
Designing Your Ultimate Home
Not only does your new home need to suit you and your family’s needs in a practical sense, but it also needs to speak to you in a creative and artistic way. There is so much beauty in the Cape that can be used as inspiration for incredible designs, and so it is extremely important to choose an architect that can understand and interpret your vision and dreams for your new home. JK Designs understands that designing a house is, for most, a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which is why clients are given unlimited design changes to guarantee they will get a design that will exceed their wildest expectations. The ultra-realistic render walk-throughs JK Designs provides means you will be intimately familiar with your home before one brick is laid on another. This gives perfect piece of mind that the home you will end up with is same one you dream of in your mind.
Managing the Building Project
Once you have gone through the process of choosing your land and designing your home, you can now start seeing it become reality. Being so far away from the building project can be daunting, which is why it is so important to use the service of an expert Principle Agent who can manage the project from start to finish ensuring that every stage is handled effectively on time and within budget. JK Designs’ presence in the Cape, as well as its network of construction professionals, means that every home is built to the highest quality while meeting every building code and standard of the local area. Rest assured that your project is being handled with the greatest expertise – which means all you need to do is look forward to the day you can make the big move and enjoy your phenomenal new home.
Planning to move to the Cape? Contact JK Designs to discuss how we can make your dream a reality.
