When you’re starting to think about the house you're going to build, there is a temptation to go for the biggest you can afford. Perhaps your architect has opened your eyes to what you could have or maybe your heart is set on the maximum amount of floor space possible. However, unless your funds are flexible, it’s important to bring it all back to the budget.

If you want to build your house the right way, with the right products, then the only way to get back on track if you go over budget is to reduce the floor area. Most people want the maximum amount of floor space for their money and therefore they have to compromise and it’s normally the fitting out or quality of the products that go into the building.

Be very careful about how big you build your house.