6 Crucial Questions You Must Ask Before Building Your Property (#6 will save you $10,000s)
Before you begin building your property there are crucial questions you must ask. Over the years we’ve noticed that these can be narrowed down into 6 questions which will help save you time and money on your building journey.
How do I start?
At the beginning, contact an Architect or Draftsmen to get those great ideas down on paper and work through all of the planning processes. If Structural works are required, then the architect or draftsmen will also seek an Engineer to design the structural plans of the building. For Design and Pricing accuracy, your Builder should be selected after this is complete!
How do I choose a Builder?
Find 2-3 Builders and narrow down a shortlist to contact. You’ll need 2-3 comparable quotes and to hear what advice that have to offer that is specific to your site.
When shortlisting builders remember that background ABN checks are essential as well as asking for references.
When it comes to comparing tender quotes, make sure that all information and allowances are shared to achieve an even playing field. This can be done through sharing material finishes and sharing extra allowances for services like A/C, Electrical etc. For an accurate comparison among builders, all quotes need to reflect the same allowances .What building approvals/permits do I require?
Subject to the location of the site, some councils may require a Town Planning Permit. This process will ensure the proposed envelope of the building does not exceed the overall look of the street/zoning area. After this is complete, you will need to obtain a Building Permit. If there are no Council requirements for a Town planning permit then you can skip straight to the Building Permit. To start this process you will have to contact a Building Surveyor. They will review all documentation to ensure that all regulations are met before approving to start the build.
How long will this entire process take?
All of the above will depend on the complexity of requirements during the design process or the complexity of the build.
A rough sequential timeline is listed below:Design Stage
Pre-design = Between 0-6 months
Planning Permit = 6 months-18 months
Building Permit = 0-4 months
Construction Stage
Internal Fitout = Up to 4 months
Extension = 6 - 9 months
New Build = 12 – 18 months
Should I allow for any Additional fees?
Definitely. Service authority fees like Gas, Water, Sewer, Power, NBN will need to be considered as they need to be incorporated or upgraded depending on what’s required from the project at hand. These allowances should be catered for at the beginning of the project and discussed openly with your builder. There also may be Client or Builder Variations. The Client may requests things like an additional Basin to the Bathroom and the Builder may run in structural issues that aren’t shown on the plans. There should be a contingency allowance for both Authority Services and Variations.
What can I get for my budget?
Before this entire process begins, be upfront with your budget! Heres why...
The mentality of ‘keeping cards close to your chest’ will not save you time and most certainly could waste you $10,000s!
The entire design process must fit the brief and the budget at the same time. If the budget isn’t met after quotes are obtained from Builders, then all parties need to discuss alternative materials and methods to reduce costs without hindering the overall design intent. This has happened more than once and unfortunately some jobs were never given the green light as the cost to build was higher than the original budget. That’s why we recommend to select your Builder during step #1 and be open with your budget.
You wouldn’t walk into a car dealership to buy a Rolls Royce if you only have the budget of a Toyota, the same applies for your property.
If you’ve found this article useful (which is for free!) imagine what we could do as your Builders!
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