• Are there any covenants that need to be adhered to e.g. what’s the minimum house size to built, what types of materials are to be used, are noise reduction products required etc as this may have a bearing on costs;
• Information of the ground/area surrounding your land – unfortunately Builders are unable to foresee what lies under the ground and generally do not cover rock excavation etc in their contract price therefore, additional costs will be charged at the time of excavation – as a suggestion you may wish talk to neighbours who have built before you and see what they encountered, always helpful to know whether the budget will need to allow for these costs;
• What type of block are you looking at – small lot, sloping, how much fall (will it need retaining walls) as these all can incur additional costs and if you are unaware of these costs it can put a strain on your end budget and which may compromise your home design;

Also be aware of Council Zonings e.g. you may have a large parcel of land however you can only build within a certain area and position

• Evaluate their credibility – you may wish to:-
  • Check with the QBCC (Qld Building and Construction Commission) for any licencsing issues ie license current or if they are suspended or have had any complaints
  • Speak to someone who has built with the Builder before
  • Look at a house recently built by them to see the quality and the workmanship
• Consider a Builder who is a member of the Master Builders Association or HIA as they will adhere to the Building Industry standards
• Secure a fixed Price Contract and know exactly what is included:-
  • To avoid any hidden charges make sure that all of your requirements have been covered in the initial contract price – this way the only extra charges that will be applicable will relate to any changes or requests made by you, allowing you to keep control of your budget at all times
  • Watch for Soil Classifications – a lot of builders will only include a certain type of soil in their initial contract price however costs can escalate considerably if the soil report results are worst than first thought
• Specifications – go through the specifications thoroughly and make sure you know what items have been included:-
  • Selections choices – ask if you are able to choose between a few different products or is the builder only offering the one range that they have selected e.g. one tile/carpet in say 3 different colours, one type of oven and tapware etc
  • Make sure the appliances, fixtures and fittings being used by the Builder are brands that are well known within the Industry, are of good quality and have parts readily availabe  – you don’t want any overseas imports that don’t comply with Australian Standards, come with no warranties or no repair services for parts or labour are availabe
  • Secure a guaranteed start date and finish date – know how you are situated within the builders schedule – you want to know that the Builder is committed to you
• Find a Builder that is flexible –are you able to have your say in what is included and what changes can be made

• Walk through display homes, drive through new housing estates (– as a suggestion you could even knock on someone’s door and ask them what colours they have used on the outside of their house), tear out magazine pictures, look at home brochures etc anything that may give you inspiration for design and colour ideas to help you create your new home. You may even consider engaging a Colour Consultant to help you create the look you are wanting. However, remember this is YOUR new home so only include things that you love and want to live with .... just don’t include things because they are trendy at that moment
• Consider your lifestyle and family needs when designing your new home e.g. how many bedrooms are required, location of children bedrooms to the parents, car spaces, entertaining requirements, children’s requirements
• Finishes, appliances and tapware – sometimes home owners like to purchase their own products (if your Builder allows it) to save a few dollars however they should be aware of the following:
  • That the tapware has the Wels approval To view a glossary of terms click here.
  • That appliances purchased in clearance stores may not have a warranty or the warranty issued may run out before the product has been used.
  • That purchases from overseas may not be wired for the correct voltage in accordance with Australian requirements and again no warranty or repair services may be available here in Australia.
  • That the type of floor tiles being selected may incur additional laying or finishing costs – if you are considering the larger size tiles of 600 x 600 and up or perhaps rectified tiles, travertine, feature tiles etc we suggest you ask your Builder prior to you confirming your selection.