I won't be able to help you on recommendations for Brisbane, i can however put my 2 cents in on narrowing down a good builder, especially for custom homes. The first good thing if you're getting a custom home built is you get to pick the budget, customisation the material quality and more. I'd say the first thing is you want a trustworthy company, so looking at their reviews and feedback is always good, plus it's something you can do yourself. Another point to take in consideration is how they communicate, is it clear and streamlined ? you want to make sure there's no information they're hiding from you, so make sure you ask as many questions as you can so that you get the whole picture. A good reputable company will give it to you straight. They should be your only point of communication, if they're telling you to talk to their architects and all that then there's your first red flag. You're essentially paying them to do the job, you shouldn't have to do it for them. You tell the builder what you want, then they separate things into tasks, and delegate it to the right sector, so there's less room for error. Another good sign that you're in the right hands is how many custom homes they've built. You always want to go for a well known company as they will have good connections with suppliers, which means they will most likely be able to get what you need for a discounted price as they would buy things in bulk if they build plenty of houses, which means savings for you. A reputable custom home building company will have access to good subcontractors in your area, so there should be no messing around and time wasted on that matter, which will also help on the time management of the project. In your case you already have a block of land but otherwise a good custom builder would also help you narrow down a location for your budget if you're unsure, and then they'd determine the good and the bad of the desired location. Once all of that is done, they would then get all of the permits sorted to make sure it's all done legally and the whole project flows. One other thing, a good builder knows what they have inventory-wise. they should never go on and then tell you half way through that they ran out of something or that they thought they had it. Once the project is completed, they should give you a tour and not just hand you the keys and call it a day! As i said, they have to be a well established company, because with that comes experience. The above is just some of the key points, but hopefully this article will help the next person!

Hi Azzopardi As previously stated, it's all about your contract.... and the events subsequent. Firstly, I would suggest you post an example ie the details of an item that is being changed that you are unhappy about the most, including the original item specified and the item that is now being installed, together with the background on how that change came about. We can then perhaps give you some advice on that. Also, what type of contract is it? Is it a fixed price / design and construct / cost plus? Thirdly, I suggest you start reading your contract. In it you will find a couple of items you need to look for specifically... They are; 1. Variations - there is a set process whereby any changes to the contract need to follow a methodology. The builder needs some form of approval from you to make changes and it is detailed in this part of the contract. Equally, if you have made changes to the works you have asked your builder to perform then you need to follow the process ie in writing. Have you been having site meetings / progress discussions with your builder? 2. Disputes - there are often disagreements during the building process particularly where one persons recollection of events are different to others. That is why it pays to do everything in writing. That said, there is a mechanism in the contract telling you what to do and how to resolve a dispute with your builder including the use of an independent arbitrator etc. If you follow the steps and put it in writing you will soon find out why the changes are made. Cheers

Going in as an owner builder is a false economy. It takes a builder years to develop the relationships with the right subtrades to ensure the project is built to budget and on time. I can fully understand that you are concerned with cost blowouts, so i will let you in on a little secret to help you avoid this trap. Find a builder who charges for quotes. I know this sounds counter intuitive, but here is the upswing. A builder who charges for quotes is legally obliged to give you an accurate quote, will be less likely to lowball you on PS and PC items, and will take the time to audit your plans to ensure there are no issues. Ask in advance to see a sample of their quotes - it should include a full list of inclusions, BoQ Exclusions, and timeline or Gantt chart as min. There are many brilliant builders in Australia offering this service, and i can recommend a number of them in every state in Australia who will give you exemplary service. good luck!

A "fixed price contract" does not mean that it is "fixed". There will be variation clauses all the way through it, as there are always aspects of a construction project that can involve adjustment of price. The thing is, a bank these days (typically) will only lend on fixed price contracts. "Cost plus" contracts are a thing of the past unless it's possibly a self financed scenario and the owner is willing to roll a project in that manner......I digress.... Define "not much of an online presence"......the proof is in the pudding.....online presence varies from business to business. I don't have a big online presence, yet I'm constantly busy. People who need my services seem to find me.. but I'm also small scale and rely almost completely on word of mouth or direct referral. In fact I prefer it that way. There are other operators who play a far bigger game in regards to marketing. The funny thing is that sometimes I get jobs that involves fixing up their work.....There are builders I trust and regularly work with who are similar in this regard - that is relatively small scaled - they deliver "million dollar homes" just as well (or possibly better) as the competition larger company who has the big website, billboards and big insta following.....so "bigger" is not always "better"....there's is a lot of marketing noise and fluff out there that confuses and misguides the public....again I digress (sorry!)... It ultimately depends on what you're after. After years in this business I can tell you it comes down to two things. 1. Trust 2. Communication. It's all about people. Also learn to trust your instinct. Builders can also have the gift of the gab and capacity to influence and say what (green/inexperienced) owners want to hear. You have to have to develop some degree of a BS radar when dealing with the construction industry.....If you're not sure, that's OK, and you need to work out if it's something not quite right with the builders you're trying to choose between, or whether your hamstrung in your own mind. Remember also, there is no "perfect" option. there will be pro's & cons in different ways to each option. The trick is to find the best match for what you need, both in (a) the build product and (b) the experience of negotiating the construction process. Some builders have strengths more or less in different areas.,,, Ok so they all can deliver an impressive build / end result. That's actually not that impressive, rather that's kinda expected. Given they've proven they can building a house well, I'd be then focusing on a) personality of the builder and how you believe you can get along / communicate with them and (b) get some back up referral from the builder previous clients. The "display home" willingly tell you so much, however a past client will be able to put more context around the options in regards to the experience. Remember too it's horses for courses and some builders are better matched to specific clients simply due to personality. You need to work out exactly what you wanting in a builder as much as them showing you what they do and how they work. It's a two way street....Ask them questions like "did anything go wrong?" and if so "how was this resolved?". The true test of a builder is how they handle things and manage responsibility when working through and negotiating the inevitable issues that crop up in the course of a construction project. Hope this helps a bit Best of luck PD :) www.pauldistefanodesign.com