How to choose a builder for your new home
Choosing a builder is one of the biggest decisions in the home-building process, as they are responsible for creating the house your family will live in for years to come.
Builders can be roughly divided into two categories. Volume or project home builders are large companies that may construct hundreds of homes per year from a set catalogue of designs.
Custom builders are usually smaller companies that build homes specifically designed for the client, and might only complete a handful of projects in the same period.
The price of a new home rarely includes landscaping.
Should you choose a volume or custom builder?
Volume builders offer significant savings over custom builders by standardising designs and maximising efficiency with materials and trades. For most people the decision between volume and custom comes down to price.
Display homes often feature optional extras not included in the base price. Buyers usually choose from a set range of fixtures and finishes, and there may be limitations on floor-plan modifications.
Volume builders may also offer house and land packages to buyers who don’t already own a block of land, which streamlines the process but limits buyers to specific suburbs, usually on the outskirts of major cities or in regional areas.
Where to find a builder
Most customers of volume builders choose their home in a display village, gravitating towards names they know. Many buyers get referred to a company by friends who had positive experiences building with them, while.
Architects can also help connect clients with builders. Consulting with an architect before looking for a builder can result in a fairer price. And if you get independent plans done, you can tender it out to multiple builders and they’re quoting off certified plans.
How do you make an informed choice?
Buyers should be wary when inspecting display homes, which often feature optional extras that aren’t included in the base price, particularly expensive landscaping.
The reality of what you get is far removed from what you see in a lot of cases.
Master Builders Association suggest shopping around. And before committing to a build contract, get at least three quotes from registered builders and understand what your budget will buy you.
While you can browse the work of volume builders in person, this can be trickier with smaller companies. Builders who rely on recommendations may not invest heavily in marketing, so a lack of online presence is common and shouldn’t necessarily be deal breaker.
In these cases, a builder’s credentials can be checked on the website of the master builders association in each state. Be sure to ask for references and examples of their previous work.
It’s worth talking to a builder’s previous customers, and even arranging a walk-through of a home in progress or immediately after completion. An ordinary builder leaves a lot of bits and bobs on completion.
Choosing a builder, you get along with is also important, as is making sure their communication style matches the level of involvement you expect to have throughout the project.
Decide on what you want to achieve from the start and ensure everything is in place to prevent unforeseen, costly amendments and confusion later on.
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This article via Mortgage Business does not constitute advice; readers should seek independent and personalised counsel from a trusted adviser that specialises in property, a tax accountant and property design specialist.