Top 10 Things You Need To Ask Your Home Builder Before You Sign That Contract

Getting to the final stage where you put pen to paper and sign the contract does take time and effort - but it’s worth it, and you’ll find that the more you put in upfront, the easier the building process will be.

Here are 10 things you should ask your home builder before you sign on the dotted line.

1. Can I physically look around some previous homes that you have built and can I talk to some of your previous customers?

Getting first-hand feedback from people who’ve been down the building route with your potential home builder is infinitely preferable to reading a written testimonial on a website. What’s more, the difference between actually seeing the quality of the construction, the materials and the finishes as opposed to paging through a glossy brochure is chalk and cheese. Word of mouth recommendations are best, so base your judgement on reality - not theory.

2.Is the cost fixed? What is and isn’t included in the price?

It’s important to ascertain exactly what is included in the cost and what’s extra. Additional costs may include things like site surveying, soil testing, asbestos removal, site preparation, removal of vegetation or trees and so on. Some home builders may include bonus extras like air conditioning, granite bench tops and so on, but to save any issues down the track, it’s vital to clarify all inclusions exclusions upfront and in writing.

3.What long will construction take and what happens if there are delays?

You should always get a firm (written) commitment from the home builders on a completion date as well as a progress timetable before signing the contract. You also need to understand your rights if the project runs over time.

4.What is your payment schedule?

You should understand what deposit is required and how progress payments will be structured so that you can budget accordingly.

5.What will my lines of communication be?

Open, honest and clear communications between all parties involved should be the ultimate goal and you should establish upfront who your main point of contact will be. It’s essential that you feel that you are involved in the process, that your views will be heard and that you have ready and easy access to key people at the home building company.

6.What if I want to make changes once I have signed the contract?

Variations to a building contract can come at a cost - and this can be an unexpected and sometimes unpleasant surprise - so make sure you understand what flexibility you have when it comes to making changes. Changes are inevitable and it could be something as small as changing the height of a light switch to a large scale variation like adding a window or increasing the size of a room, so it’s important to know what penalties you could incur.

7.Are you licensed and affiliated to recognised industry bodies, and are all your sub-contractors qualified and experienced?

Membership of industry bodies such as the Master Builders’ Association and the HIA is essential - and the home builder should also be able to guarantee that they only use tradespeople who have the requisite qualifications. You should ask to see a copy of the builder’s licence.

8.What insurances do you have?

Remember, if you are providing your own fittings or fixtures (such as appliances or light fittings), you should check whether they are covered by the home builder’s insurance or whether you need to arrange your own. You should also check what insurance the home builder provides on the actual site during construction.

9.What guarantees and warranties do you provide?

A quality home builder will fully guarantee their workmanship and commit to fixing any snags after the home has been completed.

10.How long have you been in the home building business?

There’s no substitute for experience and it is a wise move to choose a home builder that has an established reputation and a proven track record of happy customers and quality construction. If they’ve been in the business for decades, have built thousands of homes and have garnered multiple awards, then you should be in very safe hands.

Having asked your home builder some tough questions, it’s also worth asking yourself some questions before you sign the contract. How knowledgeable does the builder seem? How flexible and accommodating are they? Do you have a good rapport with them? Have they answered all your questions satisfactorily? Do you feel like they are trustworthy and have your best interests at heart? Building a home is a long-term and significant commitment, so you must ask yourself if this is a relationship that you see going the distance.

If you’re looking for home builders in Perth who will confidently answer all of these questions (plus any more you may have), look no further than Ross North Homes. With 40 years’ of experience and over 10 000 homes to their credit, they are one of Perth’s favourite and most awarded home builders. Find out more by visiting their website, www.rossnorthhomes.com.au or call their sales office on 08 9431 8150.