When you’ve made the decision to build a new home, one of the key decisions to make is what builder you will choose to partner with. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve put together our top 6 tips for how to choose a builder for your new home.
1. WORD OF MOUTH
The best place to start is asking friends & family who have built a new home and ask bucket loads of questions. There’s nothing better than hearing from people you trust about their experiences with builders.
What’s even better is being able to visit the finished home of your friend or family member who has completed their building process. Take your time to assess the quality of their finished home & see which inclusions you would also like when it comes to choosing a builder for your new home.
A great way to get recommendations is through Facebook Groups where people share their builder experiences. You’ll find stories similar to yours and get answers to your questions – just be sure to verify reviews (more on that below) before taking them at face value.
2. CHECK REVIEWS
If you don’t have family or friends who have built a new home before, never fear! That’s where the Product Review website can come in handy. It has loads of builders in your area listed, and all clients reviewing their services must be verified. This means they must prove they’ve actually built a home with that particular builder. #score!
If you want to be happy with both the build process AND the end result, choose a builder with a 5-star rating. Oh, and hot tip…Product Review also requests reviewers to specify what part of the build process they are up to when giving their review: pre-construction, mid-construction or post-construction. It’s a good idea to focus on the post-construction reviews as these people have not only gone through the whole build process but moved into their home and are happy with the end result!
3. VISIT DISPLAY HOMES
Once you have narrowed down your list of reputable builders through your own personal research and Product Review, it is now time to get out and check out the quality of the builder firsthand. That is why display homes are the bee’s knees, you get to see exactly the workmanship your builder is capable of. Not all builders are equal and not all display homes are equal so pay close attention.
Remember not to get too distracted by the beautiful styling and landscaping when walking through a display home, because that’s not what you’re buying. Two builders with display homes right next door to each other can have very different interior design and styling in each home. Make sure you don’t get so caught up in the style of the home you like that you overlook the quality of the finishes & fixtures, which is what really matters when you choose a builder for your new home.
4. COMPARE APPLES WITH APPLES
We all want to get the best deal we can when we are buying a home. It’s only natural. If you are getting multiple quotes from builders for a similar size home and you notice a big price difference, don’t assume your quote is covering the exact same thing. The problem is that some builders don’t factor in ALL the associated costs with building your new home.
There are even home builders who don’t inspect your site before providing a tender price #yikes. Make sure your builder provides a fixed price tender, including geotechnical assessment to cover all site costs and comply with Australian standards. This ensures no surprises, like extra expenses for sloping land, cuts, fills, retaining walls, or access issues.
This type of approach will avoid heartache and disappointment down the track and possibly thousands of extra dollars in costs. There would be nothing worse than to sign up with a builder based on a low price, only to find there are thousands of dollars to be added to the price once you start construction. Very often it is too late to pull out of an arrangement with a builder and all the excitement of a brand new home for your family evaporates! It means you have fallen for the ‘Home Builders Price Hike Trap’. #ouch
5. INCLUSIONS
All builders’ standard inclusions are a little different, so it’s a great idea to find out what inclusion packages they have on offer when you choose a builder for your new home and make sure you’re happy with it. Do you want a driveway? Guess what? Not all builders include it as standard #saywhattt?! Do your checks to avoid disappointment.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with upgrading, in fact if you’re creating your Dream Home, we definitely recommend spoiling yourself and upgrading features you love. It’s your Dream Home after all and you want it to be both beautiful AND practical to live in #treatyourself. The key here is to make sure you are happy with the standard inclusions and that all your necessities are included upfront!
6. WINNERS ARE GRINNERS
Still not sure who to trust to build your new home? What better way to find peace of mind than choosing an award-winning builder! In Australia, the leading Home Building Industry bodies are the MBA (Master Builders Association) and the HIA (Housing Industry Association). Their awards are released annually and are a great way of finding reputable builders in your area, who have been independently assessed by the HIA or MBA.
Sydney friends looking for a builder? Check out Better Built Homes. They have a wide range of affordable, modern home designs with luxury inclusions we know you’ll love.
7. CHECK BUILDER LICENSES
Want some extra security when you’re on the hunt for a builder? One thing that can be overlooked is licenses. It’s so important to check your builder’s license! This simple step ensures they’re qualified and trustworthy, saving you headaches down the line. Imagine the peace of mind knowing your investment is in safe hands. You can easily verify a builder’s credentials online through Service NSW.
Even after all the checks, we all have concerns that pop up when undertaking this new home build journey, read more in our blog Your Top 7 Concerns Covered from earlier this year!
