 |
Bendigo
Real Estate |
|
 SEARCH
HERE NOW!
Buying,
Renting, Leasing.
|
 |
Browse
Agent Listings |
|
|
|
Choosing
your home and builder |
If you're planning on buying a pre-planned home, visiting the villages and display homes set up by building companies will give you first-hand knowledge of the designs on offer
Visiting a display village
If you're planning on buying a pre-planned home, a house and land package or a project home, display homes and villages offer a wonderful opportunity to help you decide on what's best for your family. A wide range of construction styles, levels of affordability and design concepts are generally on show.
To find a display village in your local area, visit our display home directory listings.
When you are at the display village, try not to let colours and furnishings influence your overall choice. Instead, focus on practical aspects such as the size of the bedrooms or the functionality of the kitchen. Also, get a feel for the flow of the house.
As you walk through the homes, write down your likes and dislikes and any specific features that will help you decide on the right plan. This will help you compare between the different houses. You can make notes on a copy of the floor plan if one is available.
 Choosing your builder
If you fall in love with a particular design, deciding which builder to use becomes an easy choice. Floor plans are copyrighted, so if you have your heart set on one type of house the decision is made for you. However, you always need to check the builder's credentials.
You may find several builders with a design that suits you. In this case:
- Make a shortlist of the builders whose designs fulfil your wants and needs. Ensure they are properly licensed if this is a requirement in your state. Also, check their contract works, public liability and home warranty insurance documents.
- In addition to these legal issues, you should check each builder's reputation. Ask to see examples of their work and obtain the contact details of previous clients. Was the work up to scratch? Was it completed on time? Was the builder easy to work with? Communication problems can lead to nasty situations.
- Narrow the list down to three builders and obtain a written quote from each of them. Make sure that they are quoting on exactly the same costs. Most builders will provide you with a list of inclusions, but it is the exclusions that will add to the overall price of your home. So make sure you know exactly what is included.
- Prioritise the builders by studying the features, finishes and overall quality of their work and products. Check the brands of all fittings, tiles and appliances that they will be using.
If you find a display home that falls just short of your requirements, it is worth asking the builder if they will be able to alter the standard design to suit your specific needs. The practicality and cost of this varies from builder to builder. Structural alterations, such as widening the home, are the most expensive. Changing fittings and features can be quite cheap.
If you can't find a pre-designed home that suits you or if you have very specific building requirements, smaller boutique builders specialise in one-off constructions. Some larger home builders will also build plans from scratch.
| Bendigo Business Directory - USEFUL
SERVICES
|
|
|
|
|
|
