New Home Build Advice: Questions Every Owner Should Ask

Building your own new home can be a challenging and overwhelming experience. This new home build advice answers the questions many owners don’t like asking: how builders arrive at their price, what a new build really costs, how to save money and who you’ll deal with along the way. The aim is simple: help you build your new home with confidence.

New home build advice on pricing

How do most home builders come up with their price?

In theory, the cost of labour and materials, plus the overheads of running the business, determines the price. The higher a builder’s overheads, the more likely your quoted price will be higher than you first expected. Competition, supply and demand also fluctuate all the time and filter through into pricing. Another factor is the time and effort a builder expects to spend with you before reaching a formal building agreement.

How much does a new build cost?

The cost depends on many variables, including land constraints, the size of home and the level of inclusions you want. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to costing. At Bluewood Homes, every home starts from our On the House Inclusions, with clear itemised pricing built up to meet your budget rather than bundled packages with confusing upgrade costs. Our guide to the cost to build a custom home explains what shapes the number.

New home build advice for keeping costs down

Some easy ways to keep costs down include:

• Buy your own land before choosing a builder, rather than a house and land package that can bundle costs together.
• Choose conventional fixtures and fittings to keep a lid on costs.
• Settle your home design before you sign. Changes later cost money and can prolong approvals. Rule of thumb: decide before you sign.
• Consider managing some items yourself. Floor coverings, retaining walls, fencing, driveways, pools and landscaping done outside the building agreement can save money, though they add time after handover.
• Ask any builder you’re considering to itemise their pricing, including anything bundled into a package, so you can see exactly what you’re paying for.

What’s the most expensive type of new home build?

Custom and architect-designed homes generally cost more because of the time and people involved, and one-off pricing can’t match volume pricing. Top-of-range fixtures and fittings can also add quickly to your build cost. The upside is a home designed around your block and the way you live.

New home build advice on your project team

Who else should be in your project team?

At the start, a solicitor or conveyancer makes sure your land contract is properly reviewed. Before the build, many owners work with flooring specialists to choose tiles, timber or carpet and set their colour scheme. After handover, owners often engage fencing contractors, concreters (if the driveway is outside the contract) and landscapers to finish their garden.

Who do you deal with during the build?

With larger builders, you’re often handed from a sales team to a customer service officer and then to a site supervisor. At Bluewood Homes, you deal with one small, experienced team from your first meeting through to handover.

What warranties do you get?

All new home builds in Queensland are covered by statutory warranty: 12 months for non-structural defects and 6 years and 6 months for structural defects. The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) produces a guide to what counts as a defect.

Why build with Bluewood Homes?

There are many builders across the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Since 2004, we’ve focused on personal service and delivering a quality home, so our clients look back on their build knowing they made the right choice.

• We build across the Gold Coast, Logan and selected Brisbane suburbs.
• We build single and double storey homes, knockdown rebuilds, dual living homes and duplexes.
• Every home is Built To Requirement™, designed around your block and requirements.
• We understand every block is different, including sloping, narrow and flood-affected sites.

The best new home build advice we can give is to understand your costs before you commit. Start with our complimentary Core Feasibility Assessment.