​Many contractors have display homes which you can visit. The contractor offers to build the same house wherever you want it at an advertised price. Many contractors also offer standard home designs which you can select and have them build at their advertised price. While others offer a kit home, which you can purchase and erect on your property. This all sounds like a great idea, you know what you are getting and the price! But is that the case?

As with any contractor it’s important to understand the contractor’s reputation and their reliability. In many cases owners fall in love with a particular home design which is within their budget. Sometimes it's not even the overall layout that they like but specific features of the house. It seems an easy process then to sign a contract and get your new home construction underway. Little thought has been given as to who the contractor is, and whether you’ll be getting the advertised product, at the price you envisaged and within the time-frame required. It’s important to choose your contractor wisely (see my article later on selecting the contractor and questions to ask your contractor) and not become solely focused on a particular product. 
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​When selecting a display home or standard plan you must consider the following:

• Will the house meet your local and housing estate rules and permit conditions?
• Understand why you like the house. Ensure that the layout of the home really does suit your needs and those of your family. Don't rush into accepting a house because you like some of the features. Indeed, perhaps even some of these features won't be replicated when the house is built on your property - or perhaps only at an extra cost.
• Is the price really the final price? What provisional sums and prime cost allowances are in the price (I'll discuss this in a future article)? The display home may have more expensive finishes and fittings than the contractor’s advertised price allows. To get the same quality fittings and finishes could add considerably to the final price. Items to consider include:
  • The type of light fixtures.
  • Bathroom fixtures, including bathtubs, basins, toilets, towel rails, toilet roll dispensers, shelving and tap fittings.
  • Counter tops in kitchens.
  • Kitchen cabinetry, including how many, doors, handles and finishes.
  • Windows, including if insect screens, double glazing, tinting, etc, are included.
  • Appliances, including the make and size.
  • Air-conditioning, including the size, make and efficiency. For ducted air-conditioning consider the type and location of air grilles.
  • Wardrobe, including the material, the number of shelves and drawers and whether cupboards have doors (if required).
  • Doors, including the kind of locks and handles, the type and quality of door and the frame. Some front doors can cost several thousand dollars so don’t automatically assume that the door you see on the display home is the one that you’ll get installed in your house.
  • Garages, including the internal finishes and the type of door, it’s material and whether it’s automated.
  • The extent of wall tiles in bathrooms and kitchens.
  • The type of vanity slab in the bathroom.
  • Bathroom cabinetry.
  • The number of electrical outlets.
  • The type of floor finishes, including the quality of carpets.
  • The type of skirtings.
  • The type of cornices.
  • Patio, including floor finish and roof covering.
  • The type of shower door and enclosure.
  • The type of tiles.
• What’s included and excluded in the price? There could be additional costs for site clearing and levelling, connecting utilities, approval by the authorities, landscaping and even for the foundations.
• Will the house plan actually fit onto your property? Indeed is it actually suitable for your block considering the property slope, shape, size, orientation, access and the neighbours?
• Is the house design and materials suitable for your climate?
• Is the contractor reliable? Will they deliver a quality home? Will they complete the house in the time they said they would?

Of course selecting a house from a standard plan does have it's advantages. It can save design fees. In some cases the plans are already approved for that area so it could speed up approvals - meaning construction can start sooner. Often builders have optimised the house designs so they are cheaper to build than other designs.
But it's always important to understand what you are getting and that there aren't hidden costs and unpleasant surprises. Importantly, always ensure that you are employing a reputable contractor and that the home design is really what you want.

​I'll discuss many of these points in more detail in later articles. But of course they are all in in my new book 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses: Volume 1 Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home' which also contains lots of valuable information to save you money and ensure that your home build or renovation project is a success. Click on the image to read a preview on Amazon. The book is available in paper or ebook form from Amazon and other online stores, or ask your local bookstore to order a copy for you.

An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 2 is packed with advice and tips for a successful project.

Building or renovating a house should be exciting, it will be challenging, but it will end successfully if planned correctly. Building a home is going to be one of the largest investments you make – both emotionally and financially, so it’s important to get it right.

The process of building or renovating a house starts at the beginning where you decide what you want, where you want it, when you need it, how much you can afford and how you’re going to manage and construct the work. This practical book takes you through the what, when and where process. Learn what to look for when choosing your ideal property, know what you should consider when renovating an existing house, understand important design considerations for your dream home, and view simple suggestions that could transform an existing home at a modest cost.

​Don't buy land that you will later regret. Don't believe your real estate agent. Learn what to look for and the questions you should ask.

​Understand design concepts. Learn what questions to ask your architect. Don't accept a house design which you regret later. A design which missed critical essential items. A design which should have been better.

​Don't embark on a costly home renovation project which might not yield the desired results. Don't find that costs on your renovation or remodelling project have skyrocketed. Know what questions you should be asking before starting your renovation project. Learn how to avoid unpleasant surprises and mistakes.

You're ready to start building or renovating your house and you decide to get a building contractor to construct all of the work or parts of the project. Getting the wrong contractor could be disastrous, but equally, not providing the contractor all the information could mean that you receive variation claims during construction for the extras the contractor wasn't aware of, which will make your home build or renovation project more expensive and possibly result in lengthy legal disputes.
But also when you receive prices from building contractors you need to carefully check them (a process which we will look at in more detail in a future article) because not all prices are what they seem. 
The steps to finding and appointing a building contractor.

• Ensure that you’re clear about what you want the contractor to construct. If you already have drawings then these will form the basis of the contractor’s price. Maybe you only want the contractor to do portions of the work because you'll do some of the work or you'll appoint other contractors. Know what materials you'll supply.
• Make a list of all your requirements, as well as any restrictions which could hinder or limit the contractor’s work. For instance, are there particular working hours or maybe the estate has rules for contractors. When contractors know these restrictions they can include them in their price. Surprises during construction will allow the contractor to submit a variation claim and you'll probably have to pay them additional monies if they can prove that they couldn't have known about the restrictions or requirements which are now delaying them or causing them additional costs.
• Preferably, know what form of contract you want to use and what contract terms and conditions you will consider. I will discuss contracts later.
• Find suitable contractors – I discuss this in a future article.
• Investigate these contractors to see that they are a match for you and your project, that they have the capabilities to execute the project and that they want to do the work. Do they have the people and financial stability to build your house?
• Provide them written instructions of what they should price and the restrictions on the project.
• Provide them as much information as possible. This could include drawings of the new work, drawing of existing structures, estate rules, contact details, specific concerns, and preferably the contract document to be used.
• Walk the contractor around the project site so that they’re familiar with the working conditions.
• Give all contractors the same information so that you’re able to easily compare their prices.
• When the prices are received carefully adjudicate the prices – I'll discuss this in a future article.
• If there’s anything unclear with the price, or the price doesn’t include items it should, then send questions in writing to the contractor. Carefully evaluate the answers and adjust the price (or your additional costs) if necessary.
• Once you’ve chosen the contractor issue them with a contract document for them to sign. You and the contractor should each keep a copy.
• Once you’ve appointed the contractor it’s good practice to notify the other contractors that they weren’t successful.

​I'll discuss many of these points in more detail in later articles. But of course they are all in in my new book 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses: Volume 1 Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home' which also contains lots of valuable information to save you money and ensure that your home build or renovation project is a success. Click on the image below to read a preview on Amazon. The book is available in paper or ebook form from Amazon and other online stores, or ask your local bookstore to order a copy for you.

Do you want to renovate your existing home or build a new house but don’t know where to start? This book has valuable tips and advice to help you. Learn what to check when employing contractors to ensure your builder delivers your new home on time, with minimal fuss and without hidden extra costs that blow your budget. Know what to look for to avoid shoddy work. Understand your rights and obligations. Ensure your building and renovation project is a success.

Building or renovating a house should be exciting. You can make it a success, whether you do everything yourself, outsource some of the work to experts, or leave everything to the experts. But even experts need to be managed – and of course, make sure that they really are experts! How much you do and how much work you leave to experts will depend on your expertise, confidence, means and time.

In this practical book filled with invaluable information learn who the various parties are in a home building project, discover different ways you could manage your building project, appreciate what to consider when renovating your house, understand common construction practices, know what to look for when selecting your contractor, learn how to manage your contractor and complete your building project successfully. Know your rights and obligations, avoid common construction problems, learn about construction contractual and financial issues, and understand the traps and pitfalls you should avoid.

Armed with this knowledge your home construction project will be a success. Good luck. ​

​This book replaces the author’s book ‘Build and Renovating Your Home With Your Eyes Wide Open’