If a stock-standard off-the-plan home just won’t cut it, a custom home build is the only option—but when the time comes to choose your builder, what should you be looking for?
To help you sort the good from the not-so-good, here are a few things to consider when making that all-important decision.
What Style of Homes do They Normally Work On?
If they’re a custom builder they should be able to handle any type of build, right? Not necessarily.
While every custom builder should have solid construction skills and a decent amount of experience under their belt, you need to ensure the style of their work is compatible with your ideas.
For example, custom home builders that typically work on brand new contemporary builds are unlikely to have the skills required to complete a heritage restoration and extension project.
Most builders showcase a few examples of previous projects they’ve completed on their website, which should give you a good indication of how well suited they are to your project.
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Do They Provide a Design-and-build Service?
Unless you have a specific architect in mind or have already developed your plans, it could help to look for a custom home builder that can provide an end-to-end service, helping you through every stage from the initial design concept, right through to construction.
This ensures you’ll have a single point of contact, and will also provide added synergies between the design and construction teams.
How Involved Will You Need to Be?
Do you have the skills to project manage your custom build?
Most quality builders like these custom home builders Melbourne have a skilled and experienced site and project managers that will coordinate the entire project on your behalf.
However, some builders may expect you to assume a more hands-on role, taking care of project management responsibilities.
It’s important to discuss roles and responsibilities with your builder to ensure you’re happy with the level of involvement required.
How Much Are They Quoting?
Price is always a key consideration when choosing a custom builder, but keep in mind that the cheapest quote rarely represents the best value.
You usually do get what you pay for—while an affordable price tag is no doubt appealing, you may find that the builder cuts corners, use low-quality materials, or takes longer to complete the build.
To ensure you’re comparing apples with apples, make sure that each quote is transparent and itemised so you can see exactly where your money will go, and get them to commit to firm construction time frames including any penalties they will incur if the project goes beyond the stated time frame.
How Well do They Communicate?
Communication is key when building a custom home. Unlike building with a volume builder where you’re purchasing a standardised off-the-plan home, building custom is more involved.
You’ll have significantly more input into almost every aspect of the home, but if you don’t feel that you can communicate on the same wavelength as your builder, you’re likely to encounter a few hiccups along the way.
When meeting with prospective builders, come armed with a few tricky questions to see how they handle them. If you’re happy with how they respond and think you’ll be able to collaborate with them easily, it could be a great match!
