Introduction
With all of the home improvement and home design shows on TV, and being stuck in the house during a global pandemic, many people have discovered (or rediscovered) a love of creating a beautiful home. Fortunately, there are many jobs that cover several aspects of the home building/improving/designing process. It’s true that the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly slowed a lot of activity relating to the housing market, but things are expected to pick up again in the future, as people will be relocating more for jobs.
Architecture
If you love drawing and planning, then consider becoming an architect. Architects are responsible for coming up with the design and function of a home before it even exists. They are usually hired by clients with a design concept in mind, and they help to bring that design to life. Architects not only have knowledge of art and design, but also safety regulations, building codes, and any restrictions. They also work closely with other professionals involved in the home building process.
Construction
When it comes to the actual creation of a home, this is where construction workers come in. Construction workers provide all of the manual work when it comes to building a home. They clean and prepare the site for a home or an entire neighborhood of homes, lay the foundation, and create the actual structure of a home, using blueprints of the designs from an architect. They use a variety of tools and equipment, including hand tools, power tools, and heavy machinery. This is a good career path if you enjoy building and constructing.
Interior Design
If decorating a home makes you happy, then look into a career in interior design. Of course, interior designers do a lot more than just decorate a home. They also make sure that all of the space inside of a home is functional, as well as aesthetically pleasing, once construction has been completed. Interior designers also get to choose lighting, paint colors, and other materials when designing a home. Keep in mind that interior design refers to designing the interior structure of a home, while interior decorating refers more to choosing furniture pieces, artwork, plants, etc.
Real Estate
If you want to help others find their dream home, then residential real estate may be the career path for you. Realtors help individuals and families find homes to live in, and they also help real estate investors find homes to invest in. As a realtor, you’ll be able to show a variety of homes to your clients, and help them get approved to buy a home. You’ll also be able to help anyone looking to sell their current home. Understand that all realtors are a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and are real estate agents, while real estate agents aren’t realtors unless they are members of NAR.
Contracting Work
General contractors are also known as project managers who oversee the construction of a home or another type of building. General contractors hire subcontractors to specialize in certain parts of a home or building, such as the plumbing, electricity, or the roof. Contractors are also contacted by people after the home has been planned out, constructed, designed, and bought if they want to make cosmetic changes. Because contracting work usually requires reconstruction of some sort, most states require contractors to hold a license. If you love home renovations and home remodeling, look into getting your contractor license to work in construction.
Conclusion
All of these career paths may also require you to work on nonresidential buildings as well, such as commercial buildings (offices, hotels, apartments, shopping malls) and industrial buildings (warehouses, factories, etc.). Once you get far enough into your field, you may be able to specialize in planning out, building, designing, selling, or remodeling homes. All of these careers require some level of structure, but allow you to be creative as well.
