How to Start Construction in OSRS: A Beginner's Guide to Building Your Dream House

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers a variety of skills to master, and Construction stands out as one of the most rewarding yet expensive ones. Whether you’re dreaming of a maxed-out player-owned house (POH) with teleports, rejuvenation pools, or a gilded altar, starting Construction can feel overwhelming. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to kick off your Construction journey in OSRS, from buying your first house to building your initial furniture. Let’s dive into how to start Construction in OSRS and set you on the path to a fully decked-out POH!

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s talk about why Construction is worth your time and gold. This skill isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a game-changer for efficiency in OSRS. A high-level POH can transform your gameplay, offering perks that save time and boost your progress across other skills and activities.

Key Benefits of Construction

Teleportation Hub: Build portals to key locations like Varrock, Camelot, or even a fairy ring right in your house.
Stat Restoration: The ornate rejuvenation pool restores hitpoints, prayer, and run energy in one click—perfect for PvM or skilling.
Prayer Training: A gilded altar with burners offers one of the fastest ways to train Prayer using bones.
Storage Solutions: Store clue scroll items, armor, and more with features like the costume room or STASH units.
Bragging Rights: A maxed house at level 83+ (with boosts) is a status symbol in the OSRS community.

With these perks in mind, starting Construction early can pay off big time. But how do you begin? Let’s break it down step by step.

Step 1: Getting Your First House

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The foundation of Construction is your player-owned house (POH). You can’t start training until you own one, so this is your first task.

Finding an Estate Agent

To buy a house, visit an Estate Agent. These NPCs are scattered across Gielinor in major cities. Here’s where you can find them:

Varrock: Just east of the palace.
Falador: Between the furnace and the east bank.
Seers’ Village: Northeast of the bank.
East Ardougne: West of the south bank.
Hosidius: South of the Mess in Great Kourend.

For beginners, the Varrock or Falador agents are the most convenient due to their proximity to teleports and banks.

Buying Your Starter House

Approach an Estate Agent and select the option “How can I get a house?” For just 1,000 coins, you’ll purchase your first POH, located in Rimmington by default. This starter house comes with two rooms: a Parlour and a Garden. It’s basic, but it’s all you need to begin training.

Teleporting to Your House

Once you own a house, you’ll want quick access. Here are your options:

Teleport to House Spell: Requires level 40 Magic, 1 Law Rune, 1 Air Rune, and 1 Earth Rune.
House Teleport Tablet: Buy these from the Grand Exchange (GE) for a no-Magic option.
Rimmington Portal: Walk to Rimmington and use the portal (marked with a house icon on the minimap).

For early levels, tablets or walking are the easiest until you hit 40 Magic.

Step 2: Gathering Essential Tools and Materials

With your house secured, you’ll need the right tools and materials to start building. Construction is a resource-heavy skill, so preparation is key.

Must-Have Tools

You’ll need these items in your inventory to construct anything:

Hammer: A basic tool available from any general store or the GE.
Saw: Purchase from the Sawmill Operator northeast of Varrock or the GE.
Watering Can (Optional): Needed for planting in the Garden, available from farming shops.

Core Materials for Beginners

Construction revolves around planks, nails, and other items. Here’s what to grab for your first levels:

Material	Use	How to Get
Planks	Basic furniture (e.g., Crude Wooden Chairs)	Sawmill Operator (100 coins per log) or GE
Steel Nails	Securing early furniture	Sawmill Operator or GE (avoid bronze—too brittle)
Oak Planks	Mid-tier furniture (e.g., Oak Larders)	Sawmill Operator (250 coins per log) or GE

Tip: Stock up on 100-200 planks and 500 steel nails to start. You can un-note them at Phials in Rimmington (5 coins per item) to avoid banking trips.

Step 3: Building Your First Furniture

Now that you’re equipped, it’s time to train. Construction XP comes from building and removing furniture in your POH. Let’s start with the basics.

Entering Building Mode

To build, you need to be in Building Mode. Here’s how:

Right-click the Rimmington portal and select “Enter your house (building mode).”
Or, once inside, go to Options > House Options > Toggle Building Mode ON.

In Building Mode, you’ll see ghostly “hotspots” where furniture can be placed.

Level 1-15: Crude Wooden Chairs and More

Start in the Parlour with these beginner-friendly items:

Crude Wooden Chair (Level 1): 2 Planks, 2 Steel Nails, 58 XP each.
Wooden Bookcase (Level 4): 4 Planks, 4 Steel Nails, 115 XP each.

Method: Build a Crude Wooden Chair, remove it (right-click > Remove), and repeat. You’ll need about 5 chairs to hit level 4, then switch to bookcases until level 15. This takes roughly 20-30 minutes and costs around 10-15k GP.

Level 15-33: Oak Furniture

At level 15, nails become optional with oak planks. Add a Kitchen to your house (5,000 coins, level 5 Construction) and build:

Oak Larder (Level 33): 8 Oak Planks, 480 XP each.

Method: Build and remove Oak Larders repeatedly. You’ll need about 270 oak planks to reach level 33, costing around 70-100k GP depending on GE prices. Use Phials to un-note planks for efficiency.

Step 4: Tips for Efficient Early Training

Construction can be click-intensive and costly, but these tips will smooth out your early levels.

Optimize Your Setup

Use Phials: Stationed near the Rimmington portal, he un-notes planks for 5 coins each—cheaper than a servant early on.
Hotkey Trick: Press “1” to remove furniture instantly after building (works with RuneLite’s Menu Entry Swapper).
Stockpile Supplies: Buy in bulk from the GE to avoid price fluctuations mid-training.

Boosting XP with Quests

Complete the Daddy’s Home miniquest for a free house (if you don’t already have one) and 944 Construction XP, jumping you to level 8 instantly. It’s a great head start!

Managing Costs

Construction is a gold sink, but you can cut costs:

Chop logs yourself and convert them at the Sawmill (e.g., 100 coins per plank vs. 300+ on GE).
Stick to oak planks until level 50+—they’re cheaper than teak or mahogany.

What’s Next After Starting Construction?

Congrats—you’ve started Construction! From level 33, you can keep building Oak Larders (up to 480k XP/hour at level 50) or explore other methods like Mahogany Homes. Here’s a quick roadmap:

Level 33-52: Oak Larders or Mahogany Homes

Stick with Oak Larders for speed or try Mahogany Homes (a minigame) for a slower, cheaper alternative with rewards like the Carpenter’s Outfit.

Level 50+: Unlocking Servants

At level 50, hire a Demon Butler (requires 2 bedrooms) from the Servants’ Guild in East Ardougne. He’ll fetch planks from the bank, boosting your XP rates significantly.

Endgame Goals

Aim for level 83 (boostable to 84 with a +5 stew) to max your house with features like the Occult Altar and Spirit Tree. It’s a long grind, but the rewards are unmatched.

Final Thoughts: Starting Construction in OSRS is all about taking that first step—buying a house, gathering materials, and building your first chair. It’s a skill that grows with you, offering practical benefits and a sense of achievement. So grab your hammer, head to Rimmington, and start building your OSRS legacy today!