Bryan and Sarah Baeumler, the power couple of HGTV Canada's "House of Bryan," have tackled countless of home projects and are currently building their own dream house. They know first-hand that while the idea of putting up a house is exciting, the whole process can be overwhelming, not to mention, stressful.
The couple recently spoke with Huffington Post Canada and talked about what they've learned about home building through years of experience. Here are their five tips in building your forever home:
1. Don't compromise.
"Normally, I would say be willing to compromise," says Bryan. "But if you're gonna be there forever, this is your dream home, then don't be willing to compromise. Make it work and put it together the exact way that you want."
2. Do your research.
Bryan says that one trick that always works for them before they start designing a house is to drive around. "We look at houses that we like. We get 20 or 30 pictures, we'll pull from magazines, and we compile it, make a rough outline of the floor plan. And then give it to the designer and the architect to put together and make all the dimensions work," the handyman says.
3. Build relationships.
According to Sarah, your relationship with your contractor and designers is important because you'll be spending a lot of time with them. "Just like dating, not everybody is right for you," she says.
Bryan adds, "If it goes sideways, it can get very expensive and very messy."
4. Pick your battles.
If you're building your house with your partner or husband, Sarah stresses the importance of open communication. She says she has learned to leave the barn to Bryan, and in turn, her husband leaves the rest of the house to her.
For Bryan, this is a most valuable lesson. "It's pretty simple guys," he says. "Just find yourself a dark, very small corner of the house that you can call your own, and just be happy with that," he jokingly adds.
5. Agree on a budget.
"You're on one budget as a couple," Sarah emphasizes. To avoid blowing the budget on just one aspect of the house, she suggests that you have to make an agreement beforehand as to where you're going to invest your money and which things you're going to scrimp on.
Bryan and Sarah premiered their show's newest season last Sunday, Oct. 11. Entitled "House of Bryan: The Final Straw," it follows the handy duo as they finish the last stages of their dream home.
