Key Questions that you should be asking when considering building a home
Building a new home is normally an exciting process but can be quite daunting to some. It’s important to ensure you’ve ticked all your boxes before making the decision to sign a contract and build a new home.
We’ve compiled a list of things we thinks are pretty important to check off before making the decision to start your home building process.
What area do I want to live?
This is probably the first and most important question to ask. You can change the colour of a home by repainting but change is not so simple when it comes to location. You need to be sure of the area that you are choosing and you need to be sure that the block you have selected is right for your needs and will suit your family in the years to come. You should consider things such as distance to and from your workplace along with schools, shops and relatives or friends houses that you will be frequently travelling back and forth from during the time you intend to live in the home
What can I afford?
Another very important step in the beginning stages of considering building a home is determining your borrowing capacity or spending ability for those who are paying outright. Finding yourself a reliable and trustworthy mortgage broker can take a lot of stress out of the financial side of building a home. They will be able to help you determine what you can afford when it comes to house and land while ensuring you can maintain living costs to enjoy life. Knowing what you can afford will help you determine what home designs to look at and what sized land you should be looking for.
What builder is right for me?
When determining which builder is right for your it’s important to consider many things that make an overall judgement.
References are a must. Any reputable builder will have great references from previous clients available through their online presence but it certainly doesn’t hurt to ask around for people’s opinions. A reputable builder will be open to sharing feedback from previous experiences and past clients.
Check out builders Display homes to determine the quality of their builds. Follow their socials to see photo’s of previous builds they’ve completed to ensure they’re up to the standard that you are expecting in your new home.
Do they have a good track record for efficiency? There are many horror stories out there at the moment of incomplete homes or homes take more than 12 months to complete. Make sure your builder has an efficient schedule in place and ensure they’re able to prove their efficiency through other builds.
It’s important to ensure that you get along with your prospective builder. You’re going to be spending a lot of time with them over the course of your build and if you have a connection with a certain builder than it’s more likely that they are going to make decisions which will reflect your expectations. If you select a builder that’s on a completely opposite wavelength you might find yourself having some awkward conversations through the build process.
Completing some background checks to ensure licensing and insurances are up to scratch on a prospective builder is crucial. You can search a builder’s license number via the QBCC website to ensure it’s legitimate and up to date. A QBCC licensed operators work is covered up to six years and six months so you can be sure that any issues that may arise in the near future will be covered under the builder’s insurance.
What is the builders lead time?
With the flow on effects from COVID19 and the boost grants from the Government during the height of the pandemic many builders are still facing significant delays between signing contract, getting the build in the ground and finalizing the project. Some builders are still experiencing delays of up to 12 months from signing contract to starting a build. Ensure that when you approach a builder that their build time meets your expectation.
What things am I willing to compromise on and what are my absolutes?
There is generally always some push and shove during the design process of a new home. Whilst it’s important to always keep an open mind during the design process it’s also just as important to ensure you have a list for your must-haves in your new home. The design process is one of the most difficult parts of building a home and many a heartbreak can be had when you don’t manage to communicate to the design team the things you aren’t willing to move on when it comes to your new home. Make sure you have a list of must-haves for your new home before you reach the design process.
Ensuring you are well prepared and equipped with the right knowledge before reaching contract stage wit your builder is incredibly important. Whilst there are many more bases you need to cover, asking yourself these few questions will set you up for a successful home building journey. Contact our sales team and we can let you know more about us!
