Most Important Things to Consider When Building a New House

Are you thinking about building a new house?

For many Australians, building their own home is one of their ultimate dreams. However, there are important things to consider when building a house. We’re going to take a look at some of these things and features to consider when building a new home.

1. Establish a budget for home building

Before heading out to choose a plan for your house and a builder, you need to establish how much you can afford to pay for your new house. These costs will include the price for the block of land you want, the associated stamp duty, potential loan settlements, site preparation costs, planning fees, finishing costs (which tend to be in the area of 15-25% of the entire budget), and the building cost.

2. Get a suitable plan in place

Now that you’ve got a rough idea of what you think you can pay for your new home, let’s consider the house plans. You can never get enough help where the house plan is concerned, and tools such as Floorplanner and RoomSketcher will give you a head start to creating potential mock floor plans. In addition, you can get inspiration from picture-based social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram.

3. The right builder makes all the difference

The builder you choose is probably the most important element in this entire deal. The right home builder can make your dream come true and the wrong one can turn your project into a nightmare.

When selecting a new house builder, criteria you need to consider include the builder’s experience, their professional accreditation (a member of the Housing Industry Association/Master Builders), their reputation with previous clients, and also their expertise. Additionally, establish whether you’re buying a land and home package from the builder or are simply engaging them for home building only.

4. Never sign a contract until you’re sure what everything means

This seems obvious but you’ll be surprised at the number of people who sign a contract without reading all the fine print. When engaging in projects of this magnitude, it is imperative that you work with a solicitor so that they can explain everything you don’t understand in layman terms.

Make sure that payment terms, due dates, as well as warranty and insurance details,  are all clear. You don’t want to be taken by surprise by any unexpected costs or discover that some inclusion is not in the agreement. Whatever you’ve agreed upon with your builder should be stated in black and white in your contract.

5. Keep in regular contact with your contractor

With papers signed and the deposit paid, your contractor is likely to get to work on the first phase of homebuilding. It’s important that you keep in touch with your builder on a regular basis. Schedule a time to meet with the project director to ensure that everything is on track and going according to plan. At times, contractors may need to ask your opinion about certain finishings and features. If you’re available to make these decisions it will make their work easier.

Do you want to talk to someone about the new home building? Get in touch with us today