What You Need To Know About Building Your First Home
Pop the cork - you’ve decided to build your first home. Congratulations!
But wait - let’s back up a little before the festivities really get under way. It’s great news that you’ve decided to build a new home but there are some things that are useful to know before you sign on any dotted line.
Price
It’s always a good idea to talk to a reputable home builder to establish just what costs are involved in building a new home. Compare costs for similar types of homes among various home builders so that you get a thorough understanding of pricing - and importantly, of what is included in the ‘package deal’ and what is excluded.
It’s always best to leave a cushion between what you can afford and what you will be paying for your new house so that you have a fall-back position if there are unexpected costs, increases in the price of building materials, changes to specifications, legal compliance costs and so on. You may also qualify for certain concessions and government grants, so it’s worth taking advantage of those if you can.
Time
There’s a significant time difference between buying an existing home and building a new one. Fact is, building a home does take time and it’s important to factor that in to your budget planning and your lifestyle planning. For example, if you’re thinking of starting a family or plan to have visitors to stay for any length of time, you would probably want to make sure that your timing fits into that of the home builders. Some home builders do offer fixed price contracts with guaranteed build times, but there may be unexpected problems such as weather-related delays, supply issues, delays in council approvals and so on which can play havoc with even the best-laid plans.
Plan - and plan again
Building your first home is very exciting (and sometimes a little daunting) - and it’s really important to put in the effort up front to make sure you’ve dotted all the ‘i’s’ and crossed all the ‘t’s’ before the actual building starts. Be meticulous in your planning - and that includes everything from the location of power points and light switches and the proximity of your kettle to your cups to where you’ll hang your laundry if it’s raining outside or installing a tap on your balcony so you can clean it or water your pot plants. It may seem like a huge effort to finalise all the details upfront - but it will save you time, angst and of course, money, in the long run.
Read the fine-print
Make sure you read the fine-print of the building contract and understand all the implications upfront, because deviations can add up. Even something as simple as changing your mind about a tap or a door handle can attract penalties, so check with your home builder about the terms of the contract before you start.
The very best advice that anyone can give you if you’re building your first home is to do as much preparation in advance as possible (however impatient you are to get going!) and don’t leave anything to chance. A professional home builder with a proven reputation will be your best friend when it comes to fulfilling your dream, so choose wisely.
A company like Ross North home builders in Perth has helped thousands of first-time home builders to fulfil their dreams, and over the past 40 years, they have garnered multiple industry awards for outstanding design and excellence in construction right through to recognition for their stylish kitchens and bathrooms. If you’re looking to build your first home in Perth, it’s well worth having a chat to a friendly professional at Ross North Homes on 08 9431 8150 or visit their website for a look at their extensive range of quality display homes. You’re bound to find one there that suits your needs and your budget. Happy building!
But wait - let’s back up a little before the festivities really get under way. It’s great news that you’ve decided to build a new home but there are some things that are useful to know before you sign on any dotted line.
Price
It’s always a good idea to talk to a reputable home builder to establish just what costs are involved in building a new home. Compare costs for similar types of homes among various home builders so that you get a thorough understanding of pricing - and importantly, of what is included in the ‘package deal’ and what is excluded.
It’s always best to leave a cushion between what you can afford and what you will be paying for your new house so that you have a fall-back position if there are unexpected costs, increases in the price of building materials, changes to specifications, legal compliance costs and so on. You may also qualify for certain concessions and government grants, so it’s worth taking advantage of those if you can.
Time
There’s a significant time difference between buying an existing home and building a new one. Fact is, building a home does take time and it’s important to factor that in to your budget planning and your lifestyle planning. For example, if you’re thinking of starting a family or plan to have visitors to stay for any length of time, you would probably want to make sure that your timing fits into that of the home builders. Some home builders do offer fixed price contracts with guaranteed build times, but there may be unexpected problems such as weather-related delays, supply issues, delays in council approvals and so on which can play havoc with even the best-laid plans.
Plan - and plan again
Building your first home is very exciting (and sometimes a little daunting) - and it’s really important to put in the effort up front to make sure you’ve dotted all the ‘i’s’ and crossed all the ‘t’s’ before the actual building starts. Be meticulous in your planning - and that includes everything from the location of power points and light switches and the proximity of your kettle to your cups to where you’ll hang your laundry if it’s raining outside or installing a tap on your balcony so you can clean it or water your pot plants. It may seem like a huge effort to finalise all the details upfront - but it will save you time, angst and of course, money, in the long run.
Read the fine-print
Make sure you read the fine-print of the building contract and understand all the implications upfront, because deviations can add up. Even something as simple as changing your mind about a tap or a door handle can attract penalties, so check with your home builder about the terms of the contract before you start.
The very best advice that anyone can give you if you’re building your first home is to do as much preparation in advance as possible (however impatient you are to get going!) and don’t leave anything to chance. A professional home builder with a proven reputation will be your best friend when it comes to fulfilling your dream, so choose wisely.
A company like Ross North home builders in Perth has helped thousands of first-time home builders to fulfil their dreams, and over the past 40 years, they have garnered multiple industry awards for outstanding design and excellence in construction right through to recognition for their stylish kitchens and bathrooms. If you’re looking to build your first home in Perth, it’s well worth having a chat to a friendly professional at Ross North Homes on 08 9431 8150 or visit their website for a look at their extensive range of quality display homes. You’re bound to find one there that suits your needs and your budget. Happy building!