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You have a dream of how you would like your home to look. Before your housing dream can become a reality, you need good documentation to portray the overall characteristics, too effectively “tell your story”. Without this building documentation, those involved in the design and construction of your new home will be unable and unclear to appreciate what you are trying to achieve. It is essential to have your building documentation detailed early in the process to ensure your new home is developed smoothly and according to plan. This documentation will also allow you to smoothly negotiate the complex web of building and development permits ensuring a stress free building experience.

When you decide on building a new home or conducting renovations to your existing home one of the first points of contact is a reputable builder and / or architect within your locality. These contacts will provide you with the assistance needed to make sure all of the documentation is completed thoroughly and professionally. By having someone reputable to assist with the documentation, you can be assured that the documentation will be prepared to a standard that will prevent:

• Building Delays
• Inaccurate Pricing
• Building Disputes
• Additional Work Being Required

Many people are unaware of the documentation that is required for a new home to be constructed and your story told. However the main documents, which will require detailed attention, are:

• Plans / Drawings – These documents will contain detailed graphics of how and where the construction will take place. They will also detail the result of how the new home will look.
• Reports – A series of reports are required, which identify decisions and the data that is required for the decisions that have been made.
• Building Certificates – Building Certificates show that the design and specifications of the new home meet all required standards.
• Specifications – The specifications will detail the required quality, detail of workmanship and the quality of materials to be used in the development.

As you could appreciate, this documentation is best left to the skills of a qualified professional who will be able to offer you the advice needed to make sure that the documentation is completed in a clear and concise fashion. There are also legal requirements when it comes to building documentation that is one of the main reasons that you should leave the documentation to a qualified professional. A reputable builder in your location will be aware of all the requirements of planning authorities and also building and plumbing permit authorities allowing you the peace of mind that nothing will be left to chance.

Good building documentation is essential for the start up, process and completion of a great new home or home renovation. The use of a reputable people in ensuring your building documentation is all in order will ensure that your building process becomes so much easier. When deciding upon a builder for unique building needs, make sure your choice reflects the builders ability to assist you through the building documentation stage. Reputable builders realise that good documentation is equally as important as good craftsmanship and the quality of your building design will be reflected in the building documentation skills of your builder.

Good communication in the form of effective documents will be the best investment you can make, for your peace of mind and that of the people you deal with.

The Importance of Good Documentation = Great Job (30 KB)

It is the desire of current and potential home owners to persue the ideal of building a "dream home". After years of living in a house designed by other people, homeowners want to have their own ideas developed so that they can have the lifestyle that they wish for. So begs the question, “How can I build a dream home with confidence?”

There are many options available to the home owner and by talking to a competent builder ideas can be discussed and options developed.

Some of the initial questions that need to be answered are:

• Am I going to renovate
• Can I buy a block of land where I want to live
• If I can buy land, will it be big enough and in the right area
• What is the cost of pulling down and disposing of an old house on a desirable block of land
• What do I want to build
• What type of materials should I use
• What type of building would have good resale value
• Will my ideas be approved by council
• How much area do I want outside
• Do I want a pool
• Do I want a high maintenance garden

How do you find a trustworthy builder?

The experience of a builder who has been in the industry for many years is invaluable in deciding what, how and when to build a new home.

An absolute must is to use a builder who is a Registered Master Builder and a member of the Housing Industry Authority. When a builder who does not have these credentials is used, the home owner will have very little comeback should anything go wrong. If you want to build with confidence it is a good idea to eliminate any possible situations where you are not covered.

What is the builder going to be able to help you with?

Once a project is being started there will be many regulations to deal with and a myriad of decisions to make.

A qualified builder can help you through the maze of decisions that you will face. They can take you step-by-step through the process of building your dream home.

Here is a list of processes that you can do on your own, in conjunction with your builder or totally hand over to the builder:

• Budgeting
• Finance
• Council and other agency approvals
• Land selection
• Overall concept design
• Materials choice
• Plans creation
• Fittings selection
• Colour schemes
• Interior design
• Landscaping

By co-ordinating all these actions with an experienced builder you are eliminating the possibilities of mistakes. Mistakes that can sometimes cost thousands of dollars.

Building is an expensive business, so it pays to take all precautions possible when planning to build a new home. Taking the right steps to finding a good builder will allow you to build a dream home with confidence.

How To Build A Dream Home With Confidence (29 KB)

When selecting a builder, there are two important words to remember - Reputation and Experience. Your choice of builder will be one of the most important choices that you will ever make and will mean the difference between a great building experience and an experience which will leave you stressed; emotionally, physically and financially. For those who are looking for a builder for a brand new home, renovations or for a complete rebuild it is important to start considering your choice of builder early in your planning stage.

But why do you need to start selecting a builder early in the process I hear you say; simply because a quality builder will be able to assist in many of the complex decisions you will need to make. By having your builder assist you with problems such as site conditions and the construction design building issues which can easily exceed your budget can be contained. A quality builder will assist you with your decisions so that you can ensure that your construction project will remain within your unique budgetary needs.

The main decision that you are left with is which builder will make your dreams become a reality. This is a decision that you want to make after considering the builders Reputation, Experience, Competence, and Professionalism. Essentially when selecting a builder you want to consider the following criteria:

Reputation – Does the builder have a good reputation with an uninterrupted client list? Generally, a builder who operates in a specific geographical location will have gained a good reputation for providing quality-building services. I recommend that you ask for a client list so that you can contact past clients and gauge their response to your questions. A builder with integrity will include the good and the not-so-good so you get to see a “warts and all” view, just remember that we all have our own perception about an event!

Local Knowledge – When selecting a builder look for one who has extensive building experience in the area of your construction project. This will ensure that your builder will have local knowledge of Council Regulations, building trends, site-specific conditions and most importantly know exactly what can and cannot be constructed in the local area.

Construction Type – You need to select a builder who is experienced in the construction type you are seeking. Look for a builder with extensive building experience in providing constructions in your price range and the style you are looking for.

Financial Stability – As with any business some builders lack the financial stability to provide you with a quality construction. You need to be sure that your builder has a strong financial reputation and the ability to take your construction from inception right through to completion without any financial hiccups occurring throughout the process.

Compatibility - You are going to be spending a lot of time with your builder so make sure when you go through the process of selecting a builder you make sure that you are both compatible. By selecting a builder who is easy to communicate with, personable and professional you can be assured that many stresses will be relieved during the construction process.

There is a lot to consider when selecting a builder, but the most important thing to consider is whether the builder can provide you with exactly what you want. Don’t be rushed into a choice with a pushy builder make sure that you feel comfortable with the builder you select. Selecting a builder is a very important decision and you have to be sure that your choice will result in your dreams becoming a reality without any surprise expenses.

As a final note, I strongly recommend that consideration be given to viewing the “event” as a team process, the building process can and does throw up some interesting questions, particularly when working with existing structures and work “in the ground”. Much more can be achieved by approaching a building project from the mindset of “team”.

Selecting a Builder (26 KB)

Whether you need a builder for a new home, renovations, extension or complete refurbishment, you need to be sure that the builder you select will be able to achieve a stunning home, on time, on budget and create great relationships for all the stakeholders.

It is estimated that Australians will spend about 65% of their lives inside their homes so there is enormous value in taking the time to make sure that the builder you choose can ensure your vision becomes a reality.

Before you sign a contract, make sure you get answers to the questions that will identify the builder who is most suited to your needs.

There are many important issues to consider; logistics, costs, site selection, and ongoing customer service being just a few. The following is a suggested list of questions to ask your potential builders -

1. Can you explain your business structure, how does it benefit our job?
2. How much work do you currently have on, when will it complete?
3. What other work do you have to start, how will that impact on our project?
4. What is the expected duration of construction?
5. Do you have any recommendations to improve or speed up the job
6. Can you provide a program (bar chart is visually good!)
7. What is included in your submission?
8. What elements should I take particular note of.
9. What work is not included in the submission, why not?
10. Are their any hidden or extra costs that may come about?
11. Do you have plans and pictures of previous work done?
12. Can you provide a list of your most recent clients, can we speak with them?
13. What are the standard features and what will cost me more?
14. What warranties and guarantees will you / the manufacturer offer to me?
15. Does any work conducted by sub contractors void any warranties or guarantees?
16. How do your prices compare with other builders and why?
17. How long have you been in the industry?
18. What experience do you have?
19. Will I be able to access the home during the building process?
20. Site meetings – When / where?
21. What professional memberships and registrations do you hold
22. Are you insured and to what level, can you provide a Currency Certificate for each?
23. Can I be sure that all construction you carry out will be fully compliant with all laws and regulations?
24. What responsibility do you take if something is found to not to compliant?
25. What is the “defect liability period”, how long and what is covered?
26. Have you done any other work in this area? If so where?
27. Have you ever filed for bankruptcy?
28. If I have any questions during the building process, who should I contact?
29. What hours are you available, how do I contact you?
30. Do you have a dedicated customer service policy before, during, and after the construction-taking place?

Although this is not an exhaustive list, it will make sure that you are on the right in building your confidence to proceed. The domestic building process is complex to execute and the value you should be looking for is one of “support” from your partner (builder) in this project.

Remember, be inquisitive and ask questions, my important recommendation for you, is that you look to make and be part of a team, this mindset encourages a united approach to start and finish the project where everyone partakes and is a winner.

Questions to Ask Your Builder (Before You Sign Anything) (23 KB)