Tips and Hints for Your New Construction Project

Tips and Hints for Your New Construction Project

If you’ve never worked in the building trade or had a property built a new construction project is certainly one of those times when you can use some helpful tips and hints to make the project run as smoothly as possible. Be prepared for snags, delays and setbacks, and always expect the unexpected.

Good advice from time to time never goes astray, so take advantage of government support where possible. The NSW Fair Trading for example offers a wealth of information on the construction process through their website, and the NSW Government funds a building advocacy service run by the Macquarie Legal Service, take a look it’s well worth it.

Be prepared for Variations

One of the biggest issues faced when building your own home is variations so make certain that you only work with fully licensed, professional builders. Say for example, the bathroom layout is not carefully considered before the plumber’s ‘rough-in’, which can happen early in a project, waterproofed wall lining, waterproofed floor lining or even structural elements may have to be pulled out or rearranged to provide access to the pipes or other components that need to be moved and that’s expensive. Leaving elements unplanned while the building starts, with the idea you can work it out as you go, can lead to the need for changes to be made during construction, which is the most expensive time to make them. Volume builders often advertise a “total package price”, but this includes standard inclusions only. If buyers choose to upgrade, costs rise. House and land packages sometimes don’t include extras like landscaping, driveways and fencing either, which can quickly add up.

Where most home owners come unstuck is with their budgets and affordability. All those renovation shows and magazines usually have a very unrealistic idea of what they can afford. What you can really afford is what you should be asking yourself before the start of the project and divide this cost by the floor area of your new home plus don’t forget to include costs for landscaping and driveways. Your budget also needs to include council fees, engineering plans, design drawings and any other consultant fees.

When choosing a professional building inspector to conduct new building inspections, there are several questions you should always ask before deciding on the right company for your project. Protect your investment and yourself by asking:

• Is the Building Inspector that will be performing the inspections an actual Licensed Builder?
• Do they carry full Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance coverage?
• How many years’ experience does the building inspector overseeing my home construction project to have?
• Will your inspector review and explain reports with me during the process?
• Can I use the building inspection reports they provide in the event of a dispute?

Make sure you decide on an experienced professional building inspection company like Australian Property Building Inspections before your construction begins to learn more about how new building inspections protect your interests.