Buying your first home?
Buying a new build property as your first home has many advantages over existing dwellings. Learn all the benefits and get tips to help you decide on your first property by downloading our comprehensive guide for first home buyers.
You know how excited people get in ‘unboxing’ videos? Well, multiply that feeling by 100 and you’re halfway there to experiencing the thrill of owning a brand new home. Everywhere you look, everything is fresh and new. You get to stamp your style on your home, from day one. And because everything is out-of-the-box new, you can save on maintenance; if you do encounter an issue, it’s likely to be under warranty.
Sure, there are a few more stages to go through than buying an existing property. However, like planning for a holiday, the anticipation is part of the enjoyment. Knowing the steps to building a house will ensure you get the most out of your build and that it comes in on budget.
Step 1: Pick the perfect block
With your budget in hand, our Cedar Woods team can help you secure a perfect block that suits your needs. The size is straight forward being the area you have to build and live within but things like the frontage become important if you fancy a three-car garage or need room to park a boat or caravan.
If real estate is about location, location, location, choosing your block is about orientation, orientation, orientation. Ideally, you want your longest boundary to face north and your home design to take full advantage of the aspect. This will ensure your home is flooded with natural light and can utilise passive solar heating, reducing energy consumption.
If that isn’t an option, another tip is to make sure your home design positions the rooms you use most during the day (think living/dining/kitchen) to enjoy as much natural light as possible. West-facing rooms will take the brunt of the afternoon sun in summer, so this aspect is better for rooms that aren’t used during the day, like bedrooms or the garage.
Opting for a house and land package makes it easy to get it right as the design will have been selected to match the block’s orientation.
Step 2: Find a builder you can trust
How do you pick a builder when there are so many to choose from? Online reviews and testimonials are a good place to start. You can also have a look at past winners of the HIA and MBA building awards, which recognise quality and craftsmanship. When you go through display homes, don’t be swayed by the styling. Take the time to really examine the workmanship – check the plastering, painting and tiling. You’re looking for an experienced builder, with the systems and trades in place to ensure your home is delivered in a timely manner.
Step 3: Finalising your home design
This is the really exciting part! Just be aware that every variation you make to your home design is likely to impact the cost and potentially build time. Also, it’s very important to understand what is included – and what isn’t. From here you can hand pick which additions you love and are worth the little bit extra and which you’re happy to compromise on or maybe add yourself at a later date.
Step 4: Prestart
This is the stage Pinterest boards are made of. It’s where you get to inject your personality into your home through your choice of colour schemes, materials, fixtures and fittings. Many companies will have an interior designer to help you with your selections. It is also the ‘speak now or forever hold your peace’ part of the process. We’d recommend starting to think about what style you’d like sooner rather than later in preparation for making the final decisions at prestart.
Step 5: Building begins
It’s time to start flooding your Instagram stories with pics of your home rising out of the ground. Your home will be built in stages – the first thing to go down is the slab, the concrete pad your home sits on. Once it is cured, the structural walls and roof trusses will go up. Then it’s time for the internal walls, insulation and roof cover. You will have a number of progress payments as each stage is completed.
Step 6: Lock up
Your home is now able to be secured – which is just as well, as it won’t be long until all the exciting things like cabinetry, benchtops and tapware go in. This is the stage when rough internal brick walls turn into smooth plastered walls.
Step 7: Finishing trades
There’s not long to go now. Your home will be full of trades as your bathrooms, kitchen and walk-in robes are all finished off. The electrician will be there too, doing a final fit-off.
Step 8: Practical completion
Start planning the housewarming party – your home is now complete. Legally, practical completion means the builder has completed all the works in the contract. However, there may be some small things they’ve missed. During an onsite inspection, both you and the builder will go through your home with a fine tooth comb to spot any defects or omissions, which will be listed in the Certificate of Practical Completion. The builder will then need to rectify these. If you'd like to be extra safe, consider hiring a building consultant to do an independent inspection.
Step 9: Handover
It’s time to pop the Champagne! Once you make your final payment, the builder will handover the keys so you can move in. Keep a list of any defects you notice after you move in – your home should be covered by a defects warranty period and your builder will need to come back and rectify them.
More handy things to know
With the Perth rental market amongst the most competitive in the world, and house prices on an upwards trajectory, there’s plenty of incentive to build your own home. Reading our guide to Building Your First Home is a great next step to understanding the process. Download your free copy now.
