With so many Perth builders vying for your attention, it can be difficult to separate the best from the rest. Some builders try to do everything from single storey to double storey homes to renovations. Others choose to specialise in one area and make sure they’re the best at what they do.
There’s a lot to consider when building a home and much of your initial research will focus on the look of the house – exterior, interior, size of the kitchen, living areas and bedrooms. However, it’s often the things you don’t see that really make a difference. These can include the choice of building materials, quality of bonus inclusions and spending extra time preparing the foundations.
Remember, value doesn’t just relate to the upfront dollar figure. You must also consider your time spent dealing with your builder, how stressful/easy the building process is and potential long-term maintenance issues.
So, how do you ensure you are getting value for money from your builder? Here’s a quick checklist to get you started.
Materials used by your home builder
While we can’t cover all the materials used to build a home, there are a few essentials that will make a big difference to the longevity of your home. Remember, when you think value, think long term.
Bricks
In Perth, new homes are built using double-brick construction (something not seen in the Eastern States) which creates acoustic and thermal stability. While double brick may be the standard in WA, some builders like to go above and beyond choosing bricks that add even more strength and stability. Verticore bricks used by Blueprint Homes are normally reserved for double storey homes, however, Blueprint uses them as standard in their single storey homes. Being a bigger brick means a higher penetration of mortar and ultimately less movement and less cracking. For the homeowner that results in less maintenance.
The Concrete Slab
If you do everything right from the start, the rest of your build will run smoothly – that means taking a few extra precautions when laying the slab. At Blueprint Homes, termite spraying is carried out in three stages – before the slab is poured, before the hardstand in the garage is poured and before the pavers are laid outside. The slab edge is also sealed. This waterproofing membrane prevents any risk of rising damp to the lower portions of the cavity walls. Also, to prevent any cave-ins from excess water, you’ll need to make sure your builder has installed high quality soak wells around the property. Make sure they are the concrete variety, not the cheap plastic ones.
Roof/Ceiling
While it’s one of the most important parts of the home, people don’t tend to question how their roofs or ceilings are built. Like bricks, there is an industry standard for ceiling joists (the horizontal beams that your ceiling is fixed to). While the industry standard is 600cm, Blueprint Homes ensure that all the main living areas have ceiling joists 450cm apart. This results in a straighter ceiling with less chance of sagging over time…. and again, less maintenance for you the homeowner.
What’s included in the price of your home?
If you’re comparing house prices, make sure you consider everything that’s included in the price. Bonus inclusions can vary greatly from builder to builder, not to mention the quality of those inclusions. If we take Blueprint Homes Infinity Range as an example, you’ll get all these items included in the price:
- Gourmet or luxury kitchen
- Scullery
- Air conditioning
- High ceilings
- Stone benchtops
- LED lighting
- European inspired fittings
- Loop pile carpets
- Porcelain floor tiles
- Vertical blinds
As you can see, choosing a home that comes with a large range of quality inclusions means you’ve got less to do before you move in and more money in your pocket.
Remember, when you’re searching for Perth’s best value home builder, do your research and find out who goes the extra mile to deliver those extras that add up to real value. Also, take some time to read the product reviews and see what real customers think. If you want advice from the industry experts, take a look at the Master Builders and HIA awards and see who they consider to be the best value builders.
There’s plenty to consider before you build, so if you want a builder who can talk you through the process and be with you every step of the way, contact Blueprint Homes.
