OSRS Building a House A Comprehensive Guide

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), building a house is one of the most rewarding and customizable aspects of the game. Your Player-Owned House (POH) serves as a personal hub for training, socializing, and showcasing your achievements. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about constructing and optimizing your POH, from starting out to creating a luxurious mansion, all while keeping costs manageable and efficiency high.

A POH offers numerous benefits, making it a worthwhile investment for both new and veteran players. It’s not just about aesthetics—your house can provide practical advantages that enhance your gameplay.

Key Benefits of a POH

Teleportation Hub: Portals and teleportation devices make traveling across Gielinor faster.
Skill Training: Rooms like the Workshop and Study offer unique training methods.
Utility Features: Altars, lecterns, and storage make your POH a one-stop shop.
Social Space: Host parties, show off rares, or challenge friends in the Combat Room.

Is It Worth the Cost?

While building a POH requires gold and resources, the long-term benefits outweigh the initial investment. For example, an Altar for prayer training or a Portal Nexus can save you countless hours and gold compared to traditional methods.

Getting Started with Your POH

Fast loading 4x4 Poh layout rironscape

Before you can start building, you’ll need to unlock your POH and gather the necessary materials. Here’s how to begin.

Purchasing Your House

To get a POH, visit an Estate Agent in one of these locations: Varrock, Falador, Seers’ Village, or Ardougne. The initial cost is 1,000 coins, which grants you a basic house in Rimmington. You’ll also need to train your Construction skill, as it’s the backbone of house-building.

Construction Skill Requirements

Construction is a buyable skill, meaning it relies heavily on purchasing materials like planks and nails. To start, you’ll need at least Construction level 1, but higher levels unlock better rooms and furniture. Aim for these milestones:

Level 15: Build a Workshop for crafting and repairs.
Level 40: Unlock the Portal Chamber for teleports.
Level 50: Access the Superior Garden for a Spirit Tree or Fairy Ring.

Basic Materials

The core materials for Construction are planks, nails, and coins. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Material	How to Obtain	Cost (Approx.)
Plank	Sawmill (Varrock, Prifddinas)	100-150 gp
Oak Plank	Sawmill or Plank Make spell	400-500 gp
Teak Plank	Sawmill or Miscellania	800-1,000 gp
Mahogany Plank	Sawmill or Hardwood Grove	2,000-2,500 gp
Steel Nails	Smithing or GE	20-50 gp

Pro Tip: Use the Plank Make spell (Lunar Spellbook, level 86 Magic) to convert logs into planks cheaper than the Sawmill.

Planning Your House Layout

A well-designed POH maximizes functionality and minimizes wasted space. Since you’re limited to 33 rooms (at level 99 Construction), planning is crucial.

Choosing a Location

Your house starts in Rimmington, but you can relocate it for 5,000-25,000 coins via the Estate Agent. Popular locations include:

Yanille: Close to a bank and the Magic Guild.
Prifddinas: Ideal for endgame players with access to the Grand Exchange.
Taverley: Convenient for early-game players near the Falador teleport.

Essential Rooms to Build

Focus on these rooms to make your POH versatile:

Portal Chamber (Level 50): Add teleports to Varrock, Lumbridge, and Camelot.
Chapel (Level 45): Build an Altar for Prayer training.
Superior Garden (Level 65): Include a Spirit Tree or Fairy Ring for fast travel.
Study (Level 40): Craft teleport tablets for profit or convenience.
Kitchen (Level 5): A stove for high-level cooking.

Optimizing Space

Arrange rooms in a compact grid to reduce loading times and make navigation easier. For example, place frequently used rooms like the Portal Chamber near the entrance. Use the House Viewer on the OSRS Wiki to plan your layout before building.

Training Construction Efficiently

Construction can be expensive, so optimizing your training method is key to building your dream POH without breaking the bank.

Best Training Methods

Here are the most efficient ways to level Construction:

Crude Wooden Chairs (Level 1-19): Build and remove in the Parlour. Costs ~50k gp.
Oak Larders (Level 33-52): Build in the Kitchen. Costs ~2-3M gp.
Mythical Cape (Level 47-99): Mount and remove in the Quest Hall. Fast but costly (~30M gp to 99).
Mahogany Tables (Level 52-99): Slower but cheaper than Mythical Cape (~20M gp to 99).

Note: Use a Butler (hired from the Estate Agent) to fetch planks, speeding up training significantly.

Money-Saving Tips

To reduce costs:

Manage Miscellania to gather teak logs.
Use the Sawmill Operator’s special log-cutting service for bulk planks.
Train during Double XP events if available.

Advanced POH Features and Customization

Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to make your POH a masterpiece with high-level features and personal touches.

Endgame Rooms

At higher Construction levels, unlock these game-changing rooms:

Portal Nexus (Level 72): A single room with up to 30 teleport destinations.
Achievement Gallery (Level 80): Display rare items like boss jars or capes.
Jewellery Box (Level 91): Store all teleport jewellery in one place.

Decorating Your POH

Personalize your house with themes and furniture:

Themes: Change your house’s style (e.g., Zenevivia’s Dark Stone or Fremennik) via the Estate Agent.
Trophies: Mount boss heads in the Skill Hall or Achievement Gallery.
Aesthetics: Add gardens, aquariums, or costume rooms for flair.

Hosting and Social Features

Your POH can be a social hub. Enable visitors in the House Options menu and add:

Combat Room: For friendly duels.
Banquet Hall: Host feasts with friends.
Games Room: Play games like Jester or Hangman.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Building a POH can be overwhelming, so steer clear of these pitfalls:

Overbuilding Early

Don’t waste gold on unnecessary rooms at low levels. Focus on utility rooms like the Chapel or Workshop before cosmetic ones like the Dining Room.

Ignoring Construction Training

Construction is essential for unlocking better features. Prioritize leveling it to at least 50 before heavily investing in your house.

Poor Layout Planning

A disorganized house slows you down. Use the House Planner tool or sketch your layout to avoid costly rearrangements.

Building a Player-Owned House in OSRS is a journey that combines creativity, strategy, and investment. Whether you’re aiming for a functional teleport hub or a lavish mansion, this guide has you covered. Start small, plan wisely, and soon your POH will be the envy of Gielinor. Happy building!