Step by Step Guide to Building Your New Home.Step by Step Guide to Building Your New Home.
Building a new home is an involved process, with many moving parts. So, we have created a step-by-step guide to help you know what to expect as you enter your new home building journey.
Pre-construction phase
There's a lot of work to do before your builder starts building! It’s important to make sure everything is in place before construction begins – your builder will ensure your home is just right for you and your family, including number of rooms, layout, room sizes. Construction will only take place based on the approved plans. This will ensure your build happens on time, within budget, and completed to a high standard.
1. CONTRACT SIGNING & DEPOSIT
This is an exciting time! You have decided on your builder and your home design, now it's time to sign the build contract. Your builder will take you through the contract step by step and explain how to pay your deposit. You're on your way!
2. PLANS, FOOTING REPORTS AND COUNCIL APPROVALS
The final plans for your home are prepared while the builder's engineers prepare a construction footing report, which will basically decide how the land will be prepared for the build of your new home. Once plans are received, the engineer will finalise the construction footing report, based on the final plans.
Your builder will then lodge your application to Council to obtain relevant approvals and begin the process of costing your site works and footings.
3. FINALISING MATERIALS AND COLOURS
Once you’ve received your final plans, you will work with your builder to select the finishes for your home. Make sure you enter this process with a good idea of what you want. A handy tip is to start a Pinterest board and collect images of rooms that excite you. Look for colours, textures and materials that suit your taste. For many people, this is the most exciting part of the pre-construction phase. Enjoy it!
4. APPROVALS AND LAND OWNERSHIP
You’ll need to supply formal financial approval from your lender along with formal proof of land ownership.
While finance pre-approval will give you an initial budget to work within, applying for and obtaining formal financial approval from your lender is best done after you have finalised all relevant costings – site works, footings and the finishes you’ve chosen.
For proof of land ownership, either a letter of settlement or a land title showing the property address with you as owner can be submitted.
Around this time, your builder will receive approvals from the Council and associated authorities.
5. SIGN OFF
Now that you’re happy with your final plans, site plan and finishes, your builder will perform a final check over all contract documents and prepare construction files.
Once everything is checked off and signed, your builder will issue you with an approximate start date, place orders for building materials and construction of your home can begin!
Construction phase
Your builder will assign your home a Site Supervisor and Construction Manager, who will oversee your home build. The site supervisor will manage the trades, the timeline and oversee the quality of the build from start to finish. The following five phases provide an overview of a traditional build.
1. FOOTINGS
Your concrete slab is poured. The slab needs to rest for a period of time to ensure it's set and ready to build on.
2. FRAME
This is when you start to see your home come out of the ground! The builder's carpenter will put the frames up.
3. BRICKWORK
Brickwork, windows and the roof are added.
4. FIXING
Your new home will now enter 'lock-up' phase! Doors, walls, interior and exterior details and completed, including joinery and architraves.
5. COMPLETION AND HANDOVER
This is where you really see your house become a 'home'! The finishing touches are completed - tiling, plumbing, lighting, painting and flooring. You'll then do a 'walk-through' with your builder to make sure you're happy with everything... then it's time to book your removalists! Your builder will advise the handover date and that's when you will finally get your keys.
Warranty
As your new home becomes occupied, it’s very common for some minor issues to need attention. Your builder will give you the opportunity to report any concerns in the first three months after handover.
The builders will provide you with a Structural Guarantee as required by law, so you can rest assured that your new investment will be protected even longer.