We all strive to achieve the very best with our projects – but how can you decide what ‘good’ means to you, and ensure your build team delivers it?

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One of the main motivations for tackling a major project is to get a higher-quality home; one that looks good and meets your expectations in terms of how it performs for your family.

In general, it’s sensible to pour plenty of budget into the structural fabric first, to achieve your space and energy efficiency goals. But once those building blocks are in place, it’s really all about the finishes. After all, nobody’s going to be spending too much time gazing at your foundations or posi-joists once they’re covered up. It’s the elements on show that will wow friends and neighbours, and give you greatest satisfaction once the works are completed.

Perfect vs good

A self build, total renovation or major extension is likely to be the single biggest investment you’ll ever make – so it’s understandable that you’ll want to strive for the very best you can afford. But be careful about shooting for pure perfection, even if you’ve got a near-unlimited budget. For most of us, a better approach is to aim for a good standard (with details that look and feel right) that’s genuinely achievable within the cash reserves we have available. By all means aspire; but realism is important, too.