THE BUILT RIGHT PROCESS…

2. Site Visit

Our next step would be to meet at your proposed building site.  As you can no doubt understand, no two building sites are ever the same.  There are so many things which can vary, both seen and those hidden from view.  At this meeting, we will discuss details such as orientation and siting, we will identify the required service connection points, and we will discuss the functional aspects of your home.

What it Costs:              $197          Value: $450

What We Will Do:

• Schedule a suitable site meeting.
• Meet on-site and discuss the functional aspects of your block, including house siting, service connections, energy efficiency and bushfire rating advice.
• Provide advice regarding budget and design options to meet that criteria.
• Discuss façade styling options for concept design.

What You Need to Do:

• Have any information that you have regarding your home available and be ready to discuss honestly your expectations

3. Site Contour Survey

A site contour survey is an essential next step to the process.  Without the information gathered by the surveyor we don’t know if the design ideas we have discussed will work or not.  For example, how will stormwater be controlled onsite?  Is it possible to have it released to the kerb or do we need to store and dissipate it onsite?  Will the garage fit beneath the house into the side of the hill? Can we capture the desired view from the living area?  This information is something that will be required in order to lodge for building approval, so let’s get it know and make better informed decisions from the start.

What it Costs:              $495          Value: $ 700-1000

What We Will Do:

• Organise and pay for Surveyor to carry out site survey.
• Liaise with you for access to site.
• Provide you with a copy of all provided plans from the surveyor (as they belong to you)
• Update our building file for future design work purposes.

What You Need to Do:

• Allow access to your property for surveyor.

4 Concept Designs

This is the stage where we begin putting your ideas onto paper (well computer file) Here we will compile all the information we have discussed along with our 19 years of experience to come up with a design concept for your home.  At this stage, we include a floor plan, elevations and a 3D render so you can really see what your home will look like.  We will also include 2 rounds of revisions for free, to make sure that you are happy with the design.

What it Costs:              $1475                 Value: $ 2500-5000

What We Will Do:

• We will discuss with you an extensive design checklist to make sure we cover off on the functional and aesthetic aspects of your new home.
• We will make sure that the siting works best to capture any natural light and views.
• We will draw a floor plan, basic site plan, elevations and 3D render for your perusal.  We also then include 2 rounds of changes or adjustments for free.

What You Need to Do:

• Be available to discuss your design ideas, perhaps sketches you have made or floor plans you like. (Pinterest is a great source for ideas)
• Give feedback on initial design and communicate clearly changes you would like made.

5. Initial Estimates

An initial estimate will be performed on your approved concept plans to confirm that we are in the budget “ball park”.  This will obviously be an estimate only, as crucial details regarding the building sites foundations have not been gathered at this time.  We will endeavour to estimate these costs along with fittings to match your anticipated inclusion level.

What it Costs:              $0
Value:                            $ Priceless

What We Will Do:

• Using our extensive experience we will estimate what we believe the required foundations will be and work an estimate from this experience.
• We will also price the fittings for the house based upon information we have discussed with you previously regarding your wants and needs.
• We will meet with you to discuss the estimate and agree on a path forward.

What You Need to Do:

• Be available to meet with us when the estimate has been completed to discuss how it fits with your desired outcome.
• Talk to your bank and seek pre-approval for an appropriate amount to fulfil the expected contract sum.

6 Preliminary Building Agreement

At this point we will present to you a Preliminary Building Agreement.  This is a contractual document where you engage us to perform the following to advance, your project towards construction.

What it Costs:              $2,997 for a building contract <$300,000

                                          $4,495 for a building contract >$300,000

These fees form part of the initial estimate costs and are deducted from the Building Contract.

What We Will Do:

• We will conduct a soil test and provide the associated report for your proposed building site.
• Based upon this soil test we will engage an engineer to perform a foundation design for your home.
• We will have a Building Energy Rating (BERS) report completed for building approval.
• We will spend a day with you visiting suppliers to carry out the selection of each and every item you would like included in your home, from carpet to cabinets and everything in between.
• We will convey all the project information to our team of tradesman for them to provide a quotation for your home to perform their individual expertise.
• We will collate all of this pricing, selection information and engineering detail into a comprehensive specification and fixed price quotation.
• We will provide you with access to your very own project space on our on-line client portal,  From this point forward this is where we will communicate regarding your home as the communication is all kept in the one place organised by topic or schedule item, including our communication with suppliers and contractors.

What You Need to Do:

• Be available to carry out the selection of all items for your house.
• Provide access for the soil test contractor to your property.

7. Fixed Price Quotation and Proposal

Having collected all the information together, we will carry out a true fixed price quotation for your home.  This quotation will be presented to you along with what will be one of the most comprehensive specifications, schedule and documentation you will have ever seen from any builder.  It is only through this information that you can see exactly what your house will be, including all your personal selections, documented so you can have the confidence that you will get the house you have dreamed of.

What it Costs:              $0              Value: Priceless

What We Will Do:      

• Collate all the gathered information into a proposal to build a home that will be exclusive to you.

What You Need to Do:

• Be available to review the quotation and proposal.

8. Contracts

Once we have agreed on the proposal the next step is to draw up and sign the building contracts.  At this juncture, your dreams are becoming a legal reality.

What it Costs:              Dependant on quote/contract. Usually 5% of the contract value less Preliminary Building Agreement amount.

What We Will Do:  

• We will draw up a Master Builders Standard Building Contract for both parties to sign.
• Have full construction drawings completed.

What You Need to Do:

• Take your contractual documents to the bank and have the financed approved for the build.
• Provide us with a copy of your loan approval to satisfy the contract.

9. Building Process

Now your dreams become a physical reality.  Once the proof of finance is obtained, we will lodge your plans and engineering for Building Approval with the Building Certifier.  Upon receiving approval we will begin the construction of your new home.

Throughout the process we will hold regular meeting with you onsite to check progress and confirm details.

What it Costs:              Remainder of the building contract.

What We Will Do:    

• Build your new home.
• Conduct regular onsite meetings to discuss the build.
• Communicate with you as clearly as possible to make the experience as enjoyable as it can be.

What You Need to Do:

• Provide access to your land for building work to commence.
• Communicate as openly as possible with us, and use your online portal login to keep up-to-date with everything that is happening.
• Submit invoices for payment to the lender in a timely manner.
• Enjoy the process.

10. Warranty

So, you now have taken possession of your new home.  But there is an issue with the Hot Water System.  What do you do?  Don’t worry, we are available to perform any rectification to faulty products or workmanship.  Just log the details through your client portal and we will be in contact with you to have the repairs carried out.

What it Costs:              Nothing
Value:                           Priceless

What We Will Do:   

• Upon receiving your warranty information we will provide communication with you inside the first 24 hours to let you know that we are onto the issue.
• We will assess the problem to determine the likely cause and advise you of our intended path forward to see the issue resolved.
• Follow through with the suppliers/contractors involved in the rectification works to see the items handle in a timely fashion.

What You Need to Do:

• Log your issues in the warranty section of your project space on the on-line portal.  Attach photos and as much detail about the issue as you can.