‘8 Questions you should ask when choosing your builder’

Building a new home is a very serious decision and will most likely be one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your lifetime, so it’s vital to be as educated as possible about the aspects of new home construction. With so many builders of new homes in Perth and South-West of WA, you need to do your homework to ensure your home builder is reputable and has a proven track record.

1) Is the builder well established?

You need to find out when the builder was established. How many homes have they built? Are they going to be around for the long-haul? An established builder has extensive buying power, resources and the know-how to provide its customers with great quality, service and value for money.

2) Will I get value for money, not only in quality inclusions and size but quality in construction?

When assessing value for money with a builder, there are four main components to consider:

1. Size of the home

2. Specification/inclusions

3. Quality of construction

4. Service.

From a customers’ point of view, the builder needs to place equally high importance on all four areas. If there is a downfall in one area, this will ultimately affect your overall building experience (and your dream home!)

3) Will the builder give me suggestions or guidance or just tell me what I want to hear?

Building your new home should be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Your Sales Consultant should really listen to your needs and help you create a design that will suit your lifestyle. Is your Sales Consultant HIA accredited? Are they trained and will they provide guidance / advice on;

4) How will the builder deal with the Pre-start process (choosing the right fittings, fixtures and colours)?

Does the builder have a showroom where you can view all the products in one place or are you required to drive from supplier to supplier to make your selections? Is the pre-start staff able to assist with colour selections and provide the best guidance on fixtures and fittings?

5) What is the build time?

If you are building a single storey home, you need to be aware that the entire process will take about 56 weeks in total. Don’t be fooled by builders who promise a quick build time just to get you through the door! Ask the builder what was their average construction time over the past 12 months.

The build process involves 2 phases: Pre-construction and Construction. The Pre-construction phase (drawing plans, contracts, finance, building license, planning approval) takes approx 26 weeks. Construction (building of the home) takes approx 28 weeks from the concrete slab being poured.

6) What exactly is included in the price of the home?

Speak with the Sales Consultant. They should advise you of what items are not included in the price of the home. As an industry standard, items such as floor coverings, window furnishings, fridges, microwaves, dishwashers, electrical items, audio visual items, decorative items and landscaping are not included. Visit Display Homes and thoroughly check the specifications to see what is included in your home (and the quality of these fixtures and finishings)

Also, check to see whether the builder is running any promotions.

7) What steps does the builder take to build a quality home?

The builders’ quality can be seen in their display homes. Quality can be seen through the tradespeople the builder chooses, the materials used and the fittings they install. Quality products include double clay brick construction, termimesh stainless-steel termite protection (in lieu of chemical spray) and energy efficient hot water.

8) Is there someone I can contact if I have any concerns?

Does the builder have any policies / procedures for dealing with issues that may arise?