When you’re thinking of building but not sure ‘where to start’, we’ve put together a brief outline of the process you are likely to expect. It goes something like below;

• Clarify your needs and exciting ideas

• Decide the level of finish and preferred fittings

• Choose 7 Star or a higher standard

• Establish a realistic budget if you can (we can help with this)

• Consider your preferred build period

• Talk to your neighbours if they live close

• From here, find a builder & designer team, like Built for living, and have your concept sketches drawn together with a feasibility price range based on your input. We charge a small fee at this stage which is designed to guide and remove any price shock later.

• If this suits your budget, then its time to get serious and begin a more detailed preparation of all the design and construction requirements, specialists reports and associated costings, making sure you’re aligned with your budget. We do this with a preliminary agreement, and in a collaborative way with all involved. This is to make sure your project stays on track towards getting built. Be patient, designing, preparing and obtaining building approval, with all the fee’s back and forth, can be a lengthy process.

• Final building approval will require you sign a contract with your builder who will then arrange a compulsory home warranty insurance certificate and forward this to council or your certifier for sign off. No work can start before then.

• Pay your builder the deposit - 10% in NSW, and the start date is booked

• Neighbours notified and work begins

• When renovating, consider the need for possible alternative accommodation

If you want to find out how we can best assist you with your project, give Kathy a call 0413 126 238 for a free project appraisal.