Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Mar 01, 2013 9:50 pm Hi there. We are new to the home building game and would like some advice. We will receive the title for our land in a few months and in the mean time we are eager to become as well educated as possible. We are building in a brand new estate called Haynes in Armadale, Perth. The house we want to build is called The View with Red Ink Homes (http://www.redinkhomes.com.au/downloads/floorplans/promohomes/view.pdf). We have not signed a contract with the builder yet. Our question is what top 5 things would you raise with your builder prior to signing on the dotted line? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give us to help us on our journey! Re: Top 5 things to raise with builder before signing? 2Mar 02, 2013 11:05 am Additional cost of variations to the plan to suit your needs ( for example extra doors and walls if you don't like open plan. Additional cost of any external appearance upgrades - Different bricks, roofing, render. Cost of electrical upgrades - most builders provide about 50% of the power points you actually need See http://www.anewhouse.com.au/?p=1133 Cost of kitchen and Bathroom upgrades - You may have to pay tens of thousands to get the fittings you see in the display house. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Top 5 things to raise with builder before signing? 3Mar 02, 2013 12:24 pm Also there is a thread on here that is things people forgot. It will give you about 50 questions to ask the builder about! Re: Top 5 things to raise with builder before signing? 4Mar 02, 2013 2:37 pm As above, check out the thread of "things you forget" it has a great list, it is a much longer list than 5, but everyone point is valid and should not be overlooked. building you house is going to take time, and you need to go over every point! then over it again, and maybe again one last time. You are much better off, taking the time and planning it now as oposed to fixing/changing it later! Re: Top 5 things to raise with builder before signing? 5Mar 02, 2013 11:18 pm Make sure the contract doesnt have a front-loaded payment schedule. Ours did, and ground to a halt once it was at lock up and the builder had most of our money. You need a little leverage to ensure they stay on the job. I'd also make sure the liquidated damages reflects what it costs you for them to take too long. Re: Top 5 things to raise with builder before signing? 6Mar 05, 2013 11:37 am Thanks everyone for replying. I think we found the thread you were talking about (Things people forgot). We are working our way through it and finding the advice on there extremely helpful so far Re: Top 5 things to raise with builder before signing? 7Mar 21, 2013 3:46 pm We are at the same point as you - trying to get it as right as possible before signing and being at the mercy of a builder. So far, I think the big dollar items we'll be discussing are extra windows, changing pantry to walk in, installation of Air con/heating system, lighting and power points. http://www.housebythewater.wordpress.com From blank block to new home in Mandurah, Western Australia. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65564 ok thanks - yes was wondering if that should have been listed as Option Three! 2 7742 i had the my concreters concrete right up to the fence. I have pits all along my path, so the water tends to drain away from the house and into the pits. There's only one… 7 12773 Ardo That is so funny! I wonder how many people know who Larry Haun is these days. I have a couple of young guys we call Mo 1 & Mo 2 who run a crew of 6 boys and… 9 15518 |