Building a brand new house is perhaps your dream come true. You are no doubt, very excited to begin the design process that will give shape to your dream. However, trying to design your house on your own without the help of a custom home builder is not a very good idea. This is because a professional builder in Perth, WA has the experience as well as the expertise to help you immensely with the design process and identify all the problem areas that you may overlook.
However, choosing the right builder for your home can be a demanding process. You need to check out a lot of things before deciding, and people make many mistakes while doing it. To help you in your selection process, we have come up with a list of 5 mistakes that you should avoid while hiring a custom home builder.
1) Assuming That the Lowest Quote Is the Best Quote
If you decide to judge your builder’s value based solely on the price factor, then you are in for some major disappointment. This is because when a builder offers you the lowest quote, they tend to cut corners to make their initial offer seem very attractive to you. To lower the quotation, they might use inferior quality materials or hire labor that does not possess the skills required for the job.
They might also cut corners in the building process to expedite the estimated delivery time. Another aspect of a cheap quote is that it might contain hidden costs, like land registration fees, flooring and modification costs, soil testing, etc. If you choose to hire an experienced builder in Perth, WA, they will be transparent, honest, and upfront about the total project price and the associated expenses.
2) Failing To Check Licenses, Credentials, Testimonials, Reviews, and Awards
Before selecting a custom home builder, you must check out their license and all other credentials. Also, make it a point to look into their testimonials and reviews. Surely, their website will contain nothing but glowing reviews. However, you must dig deeper to find out all the unsavory details, if any. Try to find them on social media platforms, where they have little control over the reviews posted.
Owing to the lack of control on these platforms, you are more likely to find honest feedback from people who have dealt with that builder before. However, remember that some of the reviews might be biased, and hence, it’s best to take their assessment with a grain of salt. Finally, if you are searching for an expert home builder, see if they have won any awards.
3) Not Paying Attention to the Written Paperwork
A common mistake made by many people while choosing their home builder is agreeing to commence their home building project without any written paperwork. Such informal agreements can be very dangerous for a myriad of reasons. Firstly, without any formal written agreement to protect the client’s interest, they will be open to all sorts of risks associated with any building project.
Secondly, the client will have no financial protection against delays or abandonment of the project. There will be no insurance coverage as well to protect the client in case of property damage. That is why it’s in your best interest that you get the contract you receive from your builder reviewed by a lawyer who has considerable experience in the construction industry. You can also draft a brand new agreement as per your specifications and have it signed by your builder.
4) Disregarding the Importance of Deciding On Fixed Fees
When you sign an agreement with your builder, you must make sure that the price you agreed to pay on paper is the same amount you eventually end up paying. This is because some builders try to squeeze more money out of their clients by unfair means. For instance, they might include certain terms like ‘prime cost’ and ‘provisional sums’ in their contract. These terms essentially mean that the supply of materials is not fully included in details at the time of writing.
Hence, an estimated amount is drawn up to cover their cost. This still makes sense during the initial planning stage because it is not possible to know the exact cost of each item at that time. However, some builders use these terms to justify buying expensive supplies that might leave you financially drained. To avoid that, learn to negotiate on a more realistic price range that will suit your needs.
5) Missing Out On Inspecting the Building Properly
When you are building a custom home for yourself, you always run the risk of having building defects. You can end up with defects corresponding to the structural integrity, carpentry, use of building materials, overall craftsmanship, etc. If you have rotten luck, your home might even be infested with all kinds of pests.
That is why to avoid such defects, you must have your property inspected thoroughly by a licensed building inspection company. That way, you will be 100% sure that your house is in top condition. If any of these defects are found in your property, and your project is protected by a workmanship guarantee, your builder will be obligated to fix these issues without any extra cost to you.
Conclusion
The quality of your home depends entirely on the quality of your relationship with your builder. The better will be the understanding, the higher will be the quality of your house. The more open you will be to your builder, the closer will be your home to your dream. That is why you must avoid making the mistakes mentioned above while choosing your home builder, as their processes, commitment, and communication style can have a greater impact on your home, more so than the design itself.
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Want to steer clear of these common mistakes while choosing your custom home builder? Look no further than O. J. Building for the best home-building experiences in all of Perth, W.A. Contact us now at info@ojbuildingwa.com.au.