Choosing The Right Custom Home Builder
How to choose the right custom home builder for your dream home
Your brand new custom home is not only a significant investment, it’s the place you’re going to center your life around for the next chapter of your life. The decision of who designs and builds your dream home is important to get right.
A lot of the similar principles apply when you’re looking for a multi-unit development builder (view these in our previous article here.) but with some distinct differences.
To find the perfect custom home builder for your project, you’ll have to do some research. A good palce to start is the Consumer Affairs Victoria website that has some great and helpful information, click here to visit. Your custom home builder has an obligation to refer you to this website before commencing a building project or signing a building contract.
After viewing information on the site above, you’ll start some research on specific builders. Your perfect custom home builder will:
Be registered and insured
Ensure your builder is registered and has the appropriate levels of insurance in place. See our FREE PDF ‘A Step by Step Guide to Multi-Unit Development’ for information on Insurance requirements. In Victoria, you can also look up the Practitioner Disciplinary Register on the Victorian Building Authority website.
A builder that is also a member of an association such as the Master Builder Association of Victoria (State specific) will give you further peace of mind that they have quality and reputation front of mind.
Have excellent communication skills
Bringing the vision of your custom home to life will rely on excellent communication. A quality design and construct team will ask you questions, listen to your answers, and prompt you on your needs and wants for your dream home. The right team will value and encourage open communication, and will be able to answer all of your queries.
You can also ask to speak with the people you’ll be dealing with on a day to day basis throughout your custom home build. That is, your project manager or site manager, and not just the sales team. If your builder (or site manager) doesn’t take the time to communicate well at the commencement of the project, they’re unlikely to improve during the build process.
At delcon our directors Daniel and the delcon team are the people you’ll speak with from first phone call, until we hand over the keys. Our directors are hands-on and look after every aspect of our Melbourne clients’ custom home builds..
Have a relevant portfolio
Your design and construct team should be specialised in designing and building quality custom homes. Your builder should have a portfolio that matches your vision, and have experience dealing with the type of materials you’re looking to use. For example, it’s probably best not to choose a builder with a very traditional portfolio if you’re looking to build a more modern design.
Have excellent referrals
Current and past clients are the perfect people to provide an honest referral. Whether their custom home build was a fantastic experience, or a painful one, most people are very happy to spread the word.
Your builder may also be willing to show you around a custom home build that’s in progress. If you get this chance, try and speak to subcontractors on site to get an idea of how the build is going. A tradesman’s experienced insight can be invaluable.
Probably not be the cheapest quote
You’ll ask for a quote from the builders who match your criteria and communicate well. Aim to get a few quotes. Note that quotes in the middle are likely to be the accurate price, and that cheaper quotes may be missing certain inclusions. Read quotes and contracts properly before you decide to ensure you’re comparing like with like.
Have a complete design and construct service (turn-key)
A quality design and construct team will be able to manage the entire building design and build process for you. A Turn-Key service is the holistic solution. This includes the complete package of a bespoke building design, planning permit applications, design revisions if required by council, a planning permit, building engineering, a building permit, and full construction management. You’ll find that when your builder is across every element from design to completion, everything runs more smoothly. The end result is a stress free build and a custom home that is both functional and beautiful.
Build the future you dream of.
To speak with our design and construct team about your new custom home in Melbourne, give delcon a call today on 1800 335 266.