How to build the best home for your budget – Design and build

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Building your home

Building a home is a project and a journey, not just a destination. As a client working with a building company it’s important to create a scope
for your project before you start building.  First of all, it’s time to decide if building is right for you.  It’s important to understand that although a build may take 18 – 30 weeks depending on size and design, there are many decisions that must be made before the construction begins. A large part of the journey is the development phase which includes, the planning, design, pricing, survey and consenting stages. This development phase can often take as long as the construction itself.  Like any good project you need to have a plan, and that starts with great preparation.

The key steps in your preparation phase are defined as:

  • Organising your finances
  • Determine your budget
  • Define your needs for your home

PREPARATION PHASE

THE BANK

Talk to your financing partner (this will usually be the bank) and find someone (e.g. a mobile mortgage manager) that understands construction in the
area you are building in. They will be able to advise the funding for construction, the contracts and the payment program best suited to you. *Handy hint. Turn Key packages like a 10% deposit and pay at completion often have a higher cost to build the same house on a progress payment program. Turnkey packages often have a large amount of interest costs in them that can add items of thousands to your mortgage.

BUDGET

Knowing your budget is the most important step in your project. Define your budget with your financer – how much are you able to put towards purchasing the land, and building the house. Be prepared to share your budget with your builder, so they can work with you on how to deliver the best value for your vision.

DEFINE YOUR NEEDS

Create a list of must haves for your future home, ask your self a lot of questions like:

  • Do you want Three bedrooms or Four?
  • Two lounges,
  • a kitchen with a scullery,
  • Three bathrooms,
  • Do you have kids?
  • Will you work out from home, maybe add a home gym?
  • Will you be working from home? Need an office or a nook?
  • Do you enjoy hosting your friends for dinners?
  • Will you be living in this home, or renting it out?

Define the MUST HAVES with your building partner in the early stages of building. This will help for a smooth and efficient process when you start building.

CREATE A WANTS LIST

Much like defining your NEEDS, it is also important to define your WANTS. Your wants will often be design and specification features, like a tiled bathroom, stone bench tops, solar power, or ducted air conditioning. Some of these items could be features that you are willing to sacrifice if they don’t fit into your budget.

FIND A BUILDING PARTNER

Each builder has a different approach to building a home, and with this comes varying costs. Choosing a builder can be a daunting task, take the time to research local builders and find the right fit for you and your family. This is a long relationship you are about to enter into, it’s worth taking the time to find the perfect match!

VISIT A SHOWHOME

Shop around and visit show homes, this is a great opportunity to look at their building quality and specifications. Take the time to talk to their team, how do they treat you when you walk in the door? Use this time to gain a better understanding about how they work.

 

NEXT STEPS ON YOUR JOURNEY

DETERMINE THE PRICE OF YOUR BUILD

Before signing a contract, it is important that you have decided and specified everything you want in your home so that you have the right price for your build. Ensure your builder is using up to date prices from their suppliers to minimise price escalations for you. Remember, it is impossible to price a build if you haven’t decided on what you want.

PER SQUARE METRES PRICES 

It is an industry fallacy, that builders have a per square metre rate. A per square metre rate only exists as a calculation that is relates to an individual project. A per square meter rate is based on a number of key elements such as the costs incurred for:

  • The build and excavation on your section
  • The type of foundation required for your section (not all soils are at the same)
  • The design of the home – the roof style, height of walls, structural engineering
  • The size of the floor plan

A GOOD BUILDER WILL NOT JUST BUILD YOUR HOME

They will also:

  • Listen to you and understand your hierarchy of needs and wants
  • Have good communication and be transparent with you
  • Will take the time to sit down and take you through the whole contract.
  • Be experienced locally, they have a local knowledge and great community network to rely on.
  • Help you to deliver the best home for your budget
  • Share and track a contingency with you, and not mark up price escalations (ideally these price rises can be cushioned in your contingency budget – so you don’t have to arrange additional finance), anything unspent can be taken off the balance of your final bill.
  • Be a registered Master Builder – which demonstrates they have a quality and reputation to up hold, but also provides insurance for your build, including a 10 year workmanship guarantee and use of reputable products with good support from their suppliers.
  • Use project management software to manage your build and communicate with you once construction begins.

0508 EVERY STEP (383 7978)
myhouse@cambridgehomes.co.nz

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