Building your first home is such an exciting experience. While you may have a clear idea about the size or design of home you want, there are plenty of other things you won’t yet have answers for.
From construction materials to arranging finance, there is a lot to know before you begin the building process. That’s where we come in. To help you enjoy a hassle-free building experience, we’ve put together our 5 top tips for first home builders.
1. Research home builders
So, what should you be looking for in a home builder? The best way to whittle down your list of builders is to chat with them one on one. See how many tick the boxes and how many fall short. You’ll want to choose a builder that:
- Is customer focused
- Has an excellent reputation
- Has been recognised and awarded by the industry body
- Acts with honesty and integrity
- Designs and builds homes above industry standard
Look at what bonus inclusions come with the home and which ones you’ll actually be paying for. Plus, don’t be afraid to ask questions. A good home builder will work with you to build the home you want. It’s much better to speak up earlier than later – by then it may be too late to change anything.
2. Arrange your finance
It may not be the most exciting part of the building process but it’s important to work out your budget before you look at building. Talking to a finance company that specialises in construction home loans, like InReach Finance, is a great place to start. They’ll help you choose the best lender and interest rate and explain how much you’ll need to borrow to cover all aspects of the building process. They’ll also walk you through your installment payments. Remember, when you build a home, you don’t pay everything in one hit, instead you pay installments over the course of the build.
As a first home builder, you could also take advantage of the First Home Owners Grant (FHOG). Currently, the grant offers eligible first home builders $10,000 towards building a home. If you’re a couple building a home together, remember only one grant is payable. It’s best to talk to the finance experts to check how much money you can access.
3. Be flexible about location
Finding the perfect block of land comes down to flexibility. If you’re set on one suburb only, then you’ll find the choice of blocks very restricted. It’s best to broaden your search and include surrounding suburbs. Whether you choose north, south, east or west, the bigger the area the more chance you’ll have to secure a block. You need to remember, it’s not just about finding any block, you’ll want to find a block that can fit your dream home. We’ll talk more about that later.
Also, to save yourself running all over Perth looking for land, make sure you check out the Residential Land Locator. All you have to do is register your details and the land locator will find the right size and shape block in the area you want to live. The Residential Land Locator can also help you understand Building Codes which determine what type of house can be built on what type of block.
4. Consider a house and land package
As we mentioned, it’s important that your block of land is the right shape to fit your home. Choosing a house and land package solves this problem. Your builder will look at the width, length and orientation of the block to ensure your home fits the block and gets the most natural sunlight and warmth when needed.
Buying the house and land together is also easier to arrange financially. Rather than applying for multiple loans with separate lenders, you have one easy-to-manage loan with one lender.
5. Stay calm
Building your first home is a learning experience. If you’ve chosen the right builder, you should be able to remain calm and trust them to do their job. There may be hiccups along the way, but it’ll be nothing that can’t be resolved.
If you’re considering building your first home and want a trusted company to help you through the process, talk to Blueprint Homes. Blueprint Homes is WA’s most awarded builder for customer service, receiving awards from both the HIA and MBA.
Ready to build your dream home? Contact Blueprint Homes today.
