Signing a building contract is one of the biggest commitments you’ll ever make. So before you lock yourself in, you need to make sure you’re 100% satisfied with your builder. It’s true that not all builders are equal, meaning there are many important factors you may not have considered that can make or break your home building experience (and bank balance).
Take this moment to confirm why the builder you have chosen is right for you.
Here are 10 questions you need to ask them.
If they have nothing to hide, they’ll happily provide all the answers, and you can sign the dotted line confident you’re putting this massive investment in the right hands.
1. ARE YOU A REGISTERED BUILDER AND ARE YOU INSURED?
If you ask only one question, make it this. Do NOT proceed to sign the contract until you have confirmed these details. They are the absolute basic requirements required to build and will give you emotional and financial peace-of-mind.
2. HOW WILL I BE KEPT INFORMED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING PROCESS?
It’s imperative that you’re kept in the loop along the homebuilding journey. The best builders will be excellent communicators, making sure you know about all the changes occurring onsite as they happen. Don’t be afraid to ask for the direct contact numbers of the person who is managing your site –you should have access to this person when you need them, as well as a client liaison. At Webb & Brown-Neaves, you get direct access to both your Site Manager and Client Liaison Manager and you’ll receive a fortnightly phone call from your Site Manager with updates on everything happening onsite.
.
3. HOW WILL THE QUALITY OF MY HOME’S CONSTRUCTION BE MANAGED?
Quality control during construction is pivotal to delivering premium craftsmanship, finishes and durability. While it’s true that most builders have a dedicated site supervisor, it’s important to know what their credentials are and how involved they will be in your build. At Webb & Brown-Neaves, we only employ site managers with a high level of experience in site management (many of whom are registered builders themselves). What’s more, the number of jobs we allocate to each of our site managers is well under the industry average, ensuring that your home’s construction gets the attention it deserves.
4. CAN WE SEE EXAMPLES OF YOUR PREVIOUS PROJECTS?
Talk is cheap – if you want to confirm that a builder’s principles translate into reality, you need to see and feel it in person. Walking through past projects will allow you to compare the level of quality and attention to detail that the builder upholds. If the home is older, there may also be signs of wear and tear that indicate the home’s durability. Webb & Brown-Neaves has five display homes currently open (with three more to come in early 2016), which are all located within 20km of the CBD for convenient access.
5. WHAT KIND OF CONTRACTS DO YOU UTILISE?
Be careful of ‘cost plus’ contracts, as they are a gamble. Ultimately, they carry no limit on what you could end up paying, and can drag out construction time longer than expected. Webb & Brown-Neaves uses ‘fixed price’ contracts created by the HIA – an independent Australian body that ensures both the customer and builder get a fair deal with fair terms.