Our Pre-start Tips

I'd like to start this page by saying that we are by no means experts in this building caper, but we have learnt a few things that might save some others a bit of time, effort, money and heartache;

  •  Unregistered Subdivisions - will ALWAYS take longer to title than the sales office quotes you.
  • Display Homes - are lovely, but mostly because they've been upgraded with at least $100K of extras.  Unless you're prepared to upgrade, your house aint gunna look like the display!
  • Inclusions - vary greatly between builders, and hidden extras mount up very quickly.  Compare apples with apples.
  • Ask Questions - on forums, of friends who have built, but mostly of your builder.  Find out what alterations and options other people have taken on your house in the past.
  • Selections - Carry your colour scheme from outside, in. Choose from the most limited range first & then progress to items with most options, usually paint.  And never leave your home without your samples on board!
  • Upgrades - Include things that are structural and can't be easily changed later, eg. celing height, eaves, window & door placement, built in fireplace, alfresco under roofline.
  • Plans - Read them carefully as not everything discussed at sales makes its way onto the plans.
  • Records - Document EVERYTHING and follow up discussions with emails to clarify, prompt action and leave a trail.
  • Valuations - despite what your land could sell for & your building actually costs, banks base the value on comparative sales in your suburb.  Tough if you're in a new area!
  • Finance - Approvals only last for 6 months, so if your land is delayed, you'll have to re-apply.  P.S. Get your finances sorted out early & don't change jobs until your loan contract is signed!
That's our top 10.  I'm sure we'll have more to add as we progress through the build.
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...