When you decide to build your next home, rather than buy it, there\u2019s one thing you simply have to get right: choosing the builder.<\/strong><\/p>\n Picking the right builder has the potential to make or break the entire experience for you, so it\u2019s something you don\u2019t want to rush.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n It\u2019s well worth taking the time to find the right builder. Picture: Getty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n You\u2019ve no doubt got some idea about the type and style of home you\u2019re hoping to build, so it\u2019s important to find a builder whose skills best align with your plans.<\/p>\n 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\u2019ve built previously.<\/p>\n \u201cLook at what their past projects are and try to find multiple examples of houses<\/a> that are very similar to what you want to do,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cFor example, if you\u2019re looking to build a contemporary home, you wouldn\u2019t go for a builder if they mainly do French provincial-style homes, and vice versa.\u201d<\/p>\n Some of the best information to assist you in selecting your builder can be gleaned by speaking to people who\u2019ve dealt with them before.<\/p>\n \u201cYou might be skeptical about who they\u2019re going suggest \u2013 whether it\u2019s their brother or someone they know,\u201d Paxino says.<\/p>\n \u201cBut ask for a couple of references, and ideally in different categories. For example, you might ask for an architect who\u2019s dealt with them as well as a client.<\/p>\n \u201cEven if one of their homes was in construction, I\u2019d go in and talk to the tradies on-site and see if they thought the site was well-run and how it was working.\u201d<\/p>\n Ask for a couple of references, ideally in different categories to get a broad picture. Picture: Getty<\/p>\n<\/div>\n You\u2019re going to be paying your builder hundreds of thousands \u2013 possibly millions \u2013 of dollars to construct your home, so a few hours spent doing some extra reconnaissance will be more than worth your while.<\/p>\n There\u2019s 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\u2019s every chance this will be the best and most honest information you\u2019ll receive.<\/p>\n \u201cI would imagine most people would probably be open to having that conversation,\u201d Paxino says.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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?<\/p>\n There\u2019s no point in gathering building quotes first, Paxino says, because many of the builders may not be appropriate for your project.<\/p>\n So do your research first, narrow the field, and only then start asking for prices from the builders who\u2019ve made your cut. And remember: cheapest isn\u2019t always best.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Anyone who\u2019s had a renovation done or a house built knows that 99% of the time the project will take longer than anticipated.<\/p>\n So getting the most accurate timeframe possible from your shortlist of builders should be a key factor in determining who gets the job.<\/p>\n Paxino says you need to know how long they anticipate the project will take, as well as when they\u2019ll be able to start, as every delay will cost you money.<\/p>\n \u201cMost people will be paying rent somewhere, or paying another mortgage<\/a> until the new house is finished, so you\u2019ve got to factor in extra months of costs if one builder is saying it\u2019s going to take longer. Or maybe they\u2019re waiting until another house they\u2019re building is finished before they can move onto yours,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cThat should come into play, because your holding costs could add up to tens of thousands of dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n Your relationship with your builder is critical, considering you\u2019ll be dealing with them dozens of times over many months, so take note of how they communicate with you during those initial exchanges.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want to have a good rapport with the people you\u2019re dealing with,\u201d Paxino says.<\/p>\n \u201cThe people you\u2019re dealing with at the start are usually the bosses, but the people you deal with day-to-day may not be the bosses.\u201d<\/p>\n When I\u2019m picking a builder I\u2019ll ask them to tell me who they\u2019re proposing to put on the project. You might ask, \u2018Who\u2019s going to be my direct contact person?\u2019, or \u2018Who\u2019s going to be the site manager I\u2019m going to deal with?\u2019. It will be helpful if you can get that level of detail.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n <\/p><\/div>\n Realestate au <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"finding](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/21234754\/finding-a-builder_2000x1500.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nCheck their folio<\/h2>\n
Find or ask for references<\/h2>\n
![\"checking](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/21234746\/checking-references_2000x1500.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nGo the extra mile<\/h2>\n
Let\u2019s talk costs<\/h2>\n
What\u2019s the timeframe?<\/h2>\n
Check the vibe<\/h2>\n