There are plenty of qualified and effective builders who not only hold to their promises but surpass many with their attention to detail and craftsmanship. With this in mind, we know that those seeking to renovate their home may be hesitant to get started. But with the right guidelines and questions, you should be able to find a home builder well suited to your job.
Think of your potential builders as interviewees for the job of building your home. They will need to be able to put forward their case as to why they’re the best person for the job. Here are four things you should always ask your home builder about before hiring one:
Open and Transparent Communication
Be sure to ask any prospective builder about how they will facilitate open and transparent communications with you regarding all matters pertaining to your home, from the materials they source to how to contact them throughout the building process. It’s important to affirm that clear, prompt, and open communications are a priority. There is not much as detrimental to the working environment than a builder you can’t get in contact with at crucial stages of a build. And the clearer the communication, the less likely there’ll be problems in the future.
Building Guarantees/Warranties
A great way of achieving the previous note as well as protecting your investment in future is by asking your builder to fulfill their guarantees and warranties according to the warranties laid out in the Domestic Building Contracts Act 1995 as well as the consumer guarantees affirmed in the Australian Consumer Law. It’s also crucial that you are familiar with them too. Be sure to ask them for any other guarantees and warranties that their company espouses and consider if these are enough to encourage you to work with them.
If they have a website, it also might be worth perusing it for an overview of their guarantees. There might be time dependent deals or specific guarantees listed you won’t find anywhere else.
Project and Payment Timelines
Absolutely crucial amongst guarantees and warranties are the contractual agreements about the project at hand, as well as payment timelines that buyers will need to adhere to. It is important for both parties to come to reasonable agreement on these issues so that both are fully aware of what they are getting into and can manage expectations in a healthy way, which wraps back around to the necessity of good communication. Here are also some other things to look for in a building contract.
Builders License
Building Licenses are absolutely crucial in ensuring not only that your potential builder is qualified but that the contractors who work on your home site are also protected and well cared for once your home begins construction. Ensure any builder you choose has a current Builders License.
Be sure to also consider your budget!
It’s important to be honest and upfront with your builder regarding your budget. Be clear about the maximum range of costs you can fulfill in order for them to select the best options to help you achieve your goal or provide alternatives where practical.
What Family Home Designers and Builders can do for you
If you’re wondering who to select as your builder of choice or whether renovating a new home is a better option for you, get in touch with our team today for a chat or call us on 9417 5777. Not only can we guide you on the approvals you’ll need to get prior to getting started but we’ll help you make your dream home a reality.
