The top 5 questions every first homebuyer should ask their builder
Are you a first home buyer, investor or downsizer looking to build?
Then you’re probably busily touring the display home circuit, searching for the perfect house and land package – and the perfect builder.
‘It’s important that you do you research online, do your due diligence and remember reputation is everything in this market,’ says Homebuyers Centre New Homes Consultant, Ellen Nurse.
Ellen Nurse, Homebuyers Centre New Homes Consultant.
‘Don’t pick your builder by design or price. Pick a builder on reputation, experience and quality.’
Ellen recently joined Jessica Ricci, host of podcast The Property Playbook, to explore some of the most important enquiries you can make when vetting a prospective builder.
Here’s five of the key takeaways from the podcast interview:
1. What does your build price include?
The worst kinds of surprises are definitely those that hit your wallet! While some builders may quote you a super-affordable price, it often won’t include key elements that make a house a home.
‘Make sure your floor coverings and your driveway are included in the fixed price, as they are realistically what you need to move in,’ suggests Ellen. ‘The earlier you can find out about these costs, the better. It will give you peace of mind knowing you’ve included everything you need to and it works with your finance.’
Other inclusions you should ask your builder about include:
- Site works
- Estate requirements – ‘For example, some estates require all homes to have high ceilings, so these need to be accounted for in your contract,’ explains Ellen.
- Bushfire provisions
In most builds, fencing and landscaping aren’t included, unless you’ve selected a turnkey package. So, make sure you put some pennies aside to complete these post-handover.
2. Do you offer fixed pricing?
Once you’ve received a final figure for your build, you want to know it’s not going to change. So, ask your builder if they offer fixed or variable pricing. With an upfront, fixed figure, it doesn’t matter if the cost of materials or labour go up – your build price stays the same! With a variable price, you may be asked to absorb the difference.
‘Always read the fine print,’ says Ellen
‘At Homebuyers Centre we offer our customers fixed upfront pricing, so you know what you’re going to pay from the start, before outlaying a deposit or any other costs’.
3. Do you offer a professional site assessment?
Whether you already have a block of land or you’re looking to purchase a house and land package, your lot matters. Ask your builder if they have an expert team who can inspect your block upfront and provide a building solution that fits.
‘There’s a lot of variables when it comes to a block. We check your fill and fall, all your levels and the engineering reports, to make sure it’s a safe block to build on and we can build the design you’re looking at,’ explains Ellen.
Your builder will also need to check for any retaining walls, which dictate the size of house you can build, as well as any easements. ‘Orientation is another important factor – if you want a sunny backyard, you’ll need a north facing rear,’ adds Ellen. ‘The Homebuyers Centre team are all expertly trained to guide their customers on the best home design to suit the block of land’.
4. Do you offer more affordable building options?
Is a freestanding home out of your budget? Ask your builder if they offer more affordable building options, such as townhomes.
‘We understand that affordability is the biggest barrier at the moment. Our townhomes can be a great alternative for those with a smaller budget,’ says Ellen.
Townhomes are a great product that deceivingly offer a lot of space and they’re also often located in the best area in the land estate.
5. Can I personalise my new home?
Ask your builder how much flexibility they offer to personalise your floorplan.
‘At Homebuyers Centre, we offer over 42 different floorplans variations with four to five design options for each,’ says Ellen. ‘That’s over 200 options!’
Homebuyers Centre also boasts the Colour Studio by Alisa & Lisandra. ‘Currently, we have six colour schemes that have been expertly crafted by Alisa and Lisandra, with the flexibility to customise your home within each colour scheme,’ says Ellen.
‘These schemes are also used in our display homes. So, what you are walking through is what you can actually achieve in your own home.’
Building a house is one of the most significant investments you’ll make in your life, so it pays to get it right.
Get more tips and tricks for building your first home by listening to the full podcast episode.