Building a home is one the biggest life decisions you’ll ever make. While it’s an exciting time, it can also be very daunting as it can be difficult a Melbourne home builder that aligns with your goals and expectations. Fortunately, there are a few questions that you can ask prospective builders to help you find one that you can trust to bring your dream home to life. Read on to find out what these questions are.
Are You A Registered Builder? And Are You Insured?
To perform any domestic building work over $10,000, a builder must be appropriately licenced and registered with the VBA. They must also be insured. Unlicensed builders could cause problems down the track. If you want to confirm that they are registered, talk to the VBA or Master Builders of Australia. Being licenced and insured are the absolute basic requirements needed to build and will give you the peace-of-mind that your are using a reputable company.
Can I See Examples Of Homes You Have Built?
One of the best ways to confirm that a builder can create the type of home you desire to the level that you expect is by seeing examples of their work. If they do not have a display home, ask if they can show you some of the past homes they have built. Walking through past projects allows you to assess the level of quality and attention to detail that the builder upholds.
What Inclusions Are Standard?
Standard inclusions vary from builder to builder. What one offers as standard may be an upgrade by another. It’s important to understand which brands, styles, and designs of fixtures, fittings, and finishes are included in the base price, and what can be upgraded at an extra cost. Things to look out for include double glazing, stone benchtops, ceiling heights, soft closing cupboards, and window furnishings.
What Upgrades Do You Offer?
This will help you quickly identify what you need vs what you want. It’s important that your builder is transparent about their costs so you can budget for any additional selections. Most home builders will have a basic builders range of fixtures and fittings but offer nicer looking or higher-quality options for a fee. Work out the areas where basic versions will suffice, and other areas where you might want to spend more for a high-end finish. Read this article about what upgrades increase home value?
Who Are Your Supplies and Contractor?
Using reputable brands and tradespeople will help to ensure your builder delivers a high-quality home. Ask about kitchen appliances, tapware, cabinetry, flooring, benchtops, insulation, windows, and doors.
Are Your Prices Fixed?
There’s many builders in Melbourne who offer a quote that isn’t necessarily fixed. The last thing you want is to be surprised with additional costs at the end. Depending on what these costs are, it could mean that you need to come up with thousands in extra funds to finish the build. Make sure the builder you choose is transparent about their pricing before you sign the contract. Read the fine print, and make sure ask if there’s any factors that could lead to price increases.
What Happens If I Want To Make Changes After I Sign?
Building your dream home isn’t easy, and often it’s hard to visualise how it will all come together. The contract you sign with your builder should provide some flexibility in the event you change your mind on certain home elements. After all, it’s better or make the changes before the construction has been completed to ensure you don’t need to change things later. A great builder will provide a fair variations contract to ensure you can get the home you want without excessive costs, even if you change your mind on particular things.
Can I Hire External Building Inspectors?
When you choose a building company to create your home, you are trusting them to meet industry standards and construct a home that is of the highest quality. To ensure your home meets these standards, building inspections along the way are critical. A builder that will allow and encourage you to engage with external building inspectors is confident in their quality.
What Kind Of Warranty Do You Provide?
The law requires all builders to provide warranties on all building works they perform. These are statutory warranties, and they must be included in your contract. Statutory warranties last for 10 years from the date of practical completion, and even if the property is sold, the new owners will receive the benefit of the warranties until the end of the 10-year period. A good builder will provide the required warranty and may even offer a longer structural warranty for your peace of mind.
What Is Included In My Contract?
Be sure to confirm exactly what is and isn’t included in your contract, or you may face significant unexpected costs. If you want to be absolutely certain that you will walk through the door into a completely finished home, you should ask for a ‘turnkey package’. This typically includes everything from fencing and floor coverings to driveway concreting and more. Even if your contract says a turn key package, make sure you ask if there is anything that isn’t included so you can budget for it.
As one of Melbourne’s leading new home builders, Metronest Homes take the time to listen to you to create bespoke designs that suit your lifestyle, using the highest quality materials so that your dream home lasts a lifetime. To start the process of building your new home, contact us online or call our friendly team today.
