When you decide to build your next home, rather than buy it, there’s one thing you simply have to get right: choosing the builder.
Picking the right builder has the potential to make or break the entire experience for you, so it’s something you don’t want to rush.
Chris Paxino from Pax Project Management says choosing your builder should come down to a number of factors that you should take the time to explore properly.
It’s well worth taking the time to find the right builder. Picture: Getty
Check their folio
You’ve no doubt got some idea about the type and style of home you’re hoping to build, so it’s important to find a builder whose skills best align with your plans.
Paxino says this part of the process is usually easy, as most builders will have their projects displayed on their websites, or they will be able to provide you with a catalogue of homes they’ve built previously.
“Look at what their past projects are and try to find multiple examples of houses that are very similar to what you want to do,” he says.
“For example, if you’re looking to build a contemporary home, you wouldn’t go for a builder if they mainly do French provincial-style homes, and vice versa.”
Find or ask for references
Some of the best information to assist you in selecting your builder can be gleaned by speaking to people who’ve dealt with them before.
“You might be skeptical about who they’re going suggest – whether it’s their brother or someone they know,” Paxino says.
“But ask for a couple of references, and ideally in different categories. For example, you might ask for an architect who’s dealt with them as well as a client.
“Even if one of their homes was in construction, I’d go in and talk to the tradies on-site and see if they thought the site was well-run and how it was working.”
Ask for a couple of references, ideally in different categories to get a broad picture. Picture: Getty
Go the extra mile
You’re going to be paying your builder hundreds of thousands – possibly millions – of dollars to construct your home, so a few hours spent doing some extra reconnaissance will be more than worth your while.
There’s nothing to stop you knocking on the door of people whose homes have been built by your prospective builder and asking for their opinion. There’s every chance this will be the best and most honest information you’ll receive.
“I would imagine most people would probably be open to having that conversation,” Paxino says.
“They’ve either had a really good experience with the builder and they want to shout it from the rooftops, or the complete opposite: they hated it and they want to ward you off.”
As well as asking about the overall experience, the quality of the build, how long it took and issues that arose, ask about the follow-up service. Were post-build problems dealt with adequately and in a timely way?
Let’s talk costs
There’s no point in gathering building quotes first, Paxino says, because many of the builders may not be appropriate for your project.
So do your research first, narrow the field, and only then start asking for prices from the builders who’ve made your cut. And remember: cheapest isn’t always best.
What’s the timeframe?
Anyone who’s had a renovation done or a house built knows that 99% of the time the project will take longer than anticipated.
So getting the most accurate timeframe possible from your shortlist of builders should be a key factor in determining who gets the job.
Paxino says you need to know how long they anticipate the project will take, as well as when they’ll be able to start, as every delay will cost you money.
“Most people will be paying rent somewhere, or paying another mortgage until the new house is finished, so you’ve got to factor in extra months of costs if one builder is saying it’s going to take longer. Or maybe they’re waiting until another house they’re building is finished before they can move onto yours,” he says.
“That should come into play, because your holding costs could add up to tens of thousands of dollars.”
Check the vibe
Your relationship with your builder is critical, considering you’ll be dealing with them dozens of times over many months, so take note of how they communicate with you during those initial exchanges.
“You want to have a good rapport with the people you’re dealing with,” Paxino says.
“The people you’re dealing with at the start are usually the bosses, but the people you deal with day-to-day may not be the bosses.”
When I’m picking a builder I’ll ask them to tell me who they’re proposing to put on the project. You might ask, ‘Who’s going to be my direct contact person?’, or ‘Who’s going to be the site manager I’m going to deal with?’. It will be helpful if you can get that level of detail.”
