There’s a common misconception that all builders are the same, but what if we told you that’s not the case. When you’re looking for a builder to help bring your dream of home ownership to life, we believe it’s important to ask the right people the right questions.
To help you make the best informed decision when you’re looking to find your right fit, we’ve put together a list of what you should be looking out for and what questions you should be asking your builder when you’re looking to make your first home happen.
Experience and Reputation
1. How many years have you been in operation for?
It’s important to know that your builder, who you’re putting your trust in to build your new home has experienced the ups and downs of our fast paced industry.
2. Do you offer finance options? If yes, are they an award-winning and reputable company?
Having access to a range of finance options ensures that you have found the right product for you and haven’t been provided with a one size fits all solution. Our in-house partners at Resolve Finance can help you find the right finance solution for you.
3. How do your customers feel about their building journey? Can I see any current reviews?
Check out what their customers have to say about their building experience. Check out their Google Review and Product Reviews for a little insight into what it’s like to build with them.
Your home building journey
4. Does the builder do a shire and developer compliance check up before they go to site? These checks should be done up-front to avoid further costs down the track.
5. Do you have fixed siteworks?
These could put your budget at risk if a builder underestimates the cost of siteworks. Fixed cost for siteworks means there are no surprises.
6. I’m in love with the finishes in this display home. Do these come standard?
It’s important to remember that builders will sometimes spec up their display homes. But these will often be an upgrade for your new home and add extra costs to your build.
7. I really like my home design but want to make a small change to the floorplan. Will you let me know upfront if that will cost extra?
8. What is Prestart, and how much should I budget for this? How much does the average homebuyer spend so I can budget for my Colour Selection Meeting.
Prestart is your appointment where you will meet with a selections consultant and choose everything from your internal and external colours to your tapware. If you’ve got a specific style in mind, make sure to budget accordingly.
But if that all sounds like it’s a bit too much, you can always choose HBC Go, where you’ll pick from 6 expertly curated interior schemes and just like that all of the hard work is done. Check our HBC Go here.
9. How long is the average pre-construction and construction stage? How does this compare to other builders? It’s worth checking if there’s anything they can do to reduce the pre-construction time frame.
10. Do you use reputable brands? Are they designed to withstand the Australian climate?
We’re proud to partner with brands like Beaumont Tiles, Colorbond and Jason Windows, just to name a few, as they know what it takes to build homes to withstand the Aussie sun.
11. Are you in control of your supply chain?
We sure are. With sister companies in Concretus, Boeing Plumbing and Ceiling Solutions, you’re in safe hands when it comes to building your new home.
12. What is your relationship like with your trades? A good relationship means there could be less delays during construction.
The ABN Group have a large subcontactor and apprentice program, so trades are never too far away.
13. What are your warranties and after care services like? Understanding what a builders after care service is like will help you know what service you will get after your new home is complete.
We know that building a home is often a life long commitment, so we’re proud that our promise to you includes a dedicated aftercare team in Home Assist and a 25 year structural warranty. You can check out our promise to you here.
14. What is BAL? Do I need to consider this in the cost of my home?
BAL stands for Bushfire Attack Level, this will vary depending on what level of risk your home could be at in the event of a bushfire. Your New Home Consultant can tell you what level of BAL your block is rated at and what that means for you and your home.
15. Will a mortgage broker help me find the best home loan? Can you suggest any reputable mortgage brokers?
We certainly can. Our in-house construction specialist partners at Resolve Finance are the best in the biz. They’re the ones who can help you find the right finance solution for you.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our guide! We’ve got plenty more tips and tricks to come, so make sure to keep an eye on your inbox. if you’re on the hunt for more first homebuyer info, make sure to head to our blog.
Visit our display homes
We hope our guide has given you some handy hints to help make your first home happen. Are you ready to explore our display homes? Stop by and say hi to the team. Our display homes are open Wednesday 2-5pm, Saturday & Sunday 12-5pm and Public Holidays 12-5pm.
Quality Brands and Inclusions
Every Homebuyers Centre home is built with quality brands and inclusions from suppliers that we trust will make your home the best it can be. Whether it’s your first or your 5th, you can trust that your home is being built with brands that you can trust.
Visit Home Collective
Thinking about building but don’t know where to begin? Start here, at our place, Home Collective.
Our beautiful display centre has everything you need, all in the heart of Leederville. Get inspired with interior design experts, home design experts, finance experts and land experts to guide you through your whole building journey.
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