1) When choosing a block of land to buy, make sure you are aware of council regulations and the LEP & DCP. we have had issues with trees, setbacks and floor space ratio.
2) When the home builder conducts the site survey, make sure they confirm with you any potential issues that might come about when in council. Don’t get caught out having to go back and resubmit plans because the site survey wasn’t thorough enough in the first place. It will also help your budget!!
3) Don’t be afraid to negotiate the contract tender and the contract itself. If you don’t ask you don’t get.
4) You really do need to be prepared to project manage the whole build, but in particular the lead up to council or CDC approval. Keep the pressure on, every day costs you money.
5) Learn and listen from others. Get into the home forum blog sites and type in your builders name. It is amazing how many people are blogging through the same process as you and ideas can be fast and flowing.
6) Builders for some reason don’t like to give you an audit update on the cost of building. After asking this is still not forthcoming. A reconciliation at the end is all they offer. To my mind, this is not good enough.
7) Stay on top of your build. You need to project manage them as well. If you are being told that they are running behind you need to put it in writing and get them to respond. Don’t be afraid to remind them of their contractual requirements, they will. Something I didn’t think we would need to do.
8) Look at getting your own independent surveyor. Whilst the home builder will have their own, always good for you to do the same. We obtained three quotes once we established who Clarendon were using and went with Houspect. http://houspect.com.au/
9) Push the builder for reconciliations. If they don’t give them to you along the way, you need to push. You can get caught out. Make sure you always borrow more than you need so if the final invoice blows out you are prepared.
10) Access the property whenever you can and use the blue tape to identify any marks or issues you see along the way. This helps at final inspection and more sets of eyes are better than one.
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