You’ve been up and down streets looking at multiple display homes – you like the ensuite bathroom in one but prefer the open plan living area of the other. You’re not alone.
Building the home of your dreams isn’t always straightforward – you need a builder who is both flexible with their design, and willing to listen to your ideas. So, how do you find a custom home builder in Perth that can do all of this without breaking your budget?
Let’s take a look at the ins and outs of custom home building and discover how to get the home you want.
If you’ve already done some research, you’ll know the difference between a custom and project build. According to domain.com.au, custom home builders are ‘usually smaller companies that build homes specifically designed for the client.’ With project builders, ‘buyers choose from a set range of fixtures and finishes and are allowed limited floor plan modifications.’
Then you have a company like Blueprint Homes who sits somewhere in the middle. Yes, you can select an existing plan and build it exactly as it is, or you can adjust the plans – move rooms, expand areas and adjust heights to suit your lifestyle.
Whether you’re building your first or fifth home, you’re making a substantial investment, so consider these important points before you make a decision.
Communication
It’s vital that your builder is on the same wavelength as you. This means plenty of communication to stop any potential issues slipping through the cracks. You should feel comfortable to raise issues and have them investigated straight away. Don’t accept lengthy delays in communication or people discounting your questions by saying, ‘that’s just the way things are done.’
Many people who choose a custom home builder end up forming a strong friendship. It may be because they are like-minded and share similar tastes in design and decor, or it may stem even deeper. Walking into your newly built dream home is an emotional experience, and to have shared that journey with someone creates a special bond.
Be realistic
You’re designing a home, but you also need to consider potential resale. While you may be happy with an extra small backyard, ask whether it will be an issue if you decide to sell? You need to be realistic and listen to your builder’s expert opinion. In other words, choose a builder that provides a good sounding board for your ideas, but doesn’t say yes to your every desire.
Quality
This home may very well be your forever home, so it’s no time to be cutting corners or compromising on quality. You’ll need to think about long-term approaches to things like energy efficiency or fixtures and fittings. It all plays a part in the overall quality of the build and long-term savings. A good builder should recommend the necessary changes needed, not wait for you to ask. After all, you’re not a builder, you’re not expected to know what minor changes are going to be beneficial and what will be a flawed decision.
Do your homework
You’ll speak to several builders, some will instantly give you a good feeling and others not so much. While it’s important to listen to your gut instinct, don’t base your entire decision on it.
Instead, come armed with a list of questions. Remember, that you’re interviewing them, not the other way around. You need to clearly articulate what it is that you want in your new home.
Make sure you discuss things like lifestyle, or planned lifestyle. Do you love entertaining? Do you plan to start a family? Do you prefer spending more time outdoors than in?
Visit trusted review sites and see what genuine buyers are saying about your building company. I know it can be hard to distinguish between what is a real review and when someone is trying to badmouth a competitor. It’s probably best to weigh up the overall number of reviews and make a judgement.
Hopefully, this will help you make a more informed decision about who to choose when building a custom home. Talk to Blueprint Homes today about customising your build.
