A First Homebuyers Guide To Building Your First Home
So you're ready to take the first step in building your dream home. Yes, it is totally normal to feel overwhelmed about where to start! We're not going to lie, building your first home can be one of the most emotionally and financially stressful times of your life. But do your research beforehand, and you can be assured it will be one of the most rewarding things you ever do. So here's a few tips to get you started.
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1. Keep A Mood Board
Think about what you would like your ideal house to look like, from the exterior to the layout and the interior fixtures. Will it have a decent sized backyard, or is a courtyard enough for you? The best way to go is to keep track of design ideas that inspire you, or images of houses that you love the look of. Start a Pinterest board of everything you come across and look back at it for reference each step of the way.
2. Work Out Your Finances
In the early stages of planning to build your home, you will need to find out what you can borrow. Speak to a home lender at your preferred bank or track down a trusted mortgage broker to weigh up your options, before moving forward to the pre-approval stage. Be sure to factor in extra costs such as stamp duty, settlement agent fees or home lenders insurance. If you are a first homebuyer you can also apply for the first homeowners grant, which adds a little cash back into your pocket.
3. Choose Your Block
Here’s the most crucial part of the process. Have a good long think about where you would ideally like to live. It may be somewhere close to family, or not too far from where you work. Bigger things to consider in the long run is if your new neighbourhood is in close proximity to shops, schools and parks, as these factors also contribute to the value of the home once completed. Once you’ve chosen a location you like, go and have a chat to a land sales agent and find out what amenities the area will be kitted out with. You should also find out if the developer is reputable and will stay true to their promises. Do some research on their past developments to get an idea.
4. Find The Right Builder
So you’ve secured the perfect block of land in your new neighbourhood, now here comes the fun part. Flick through the weekend newspaper and pick out some big name builders that suit your price range and preferred style of your new home. Schedule some display home viewings and be ready to ask the sales reps the essential questions. Will they be able to accommodate the shape and size of your block? What is the timeframe of a new build? Be sure to find out a bit more about the track record of the company and read any past client reviews before proceeding.
5. Decide On A Floorplan
Consider your lifestyle and the type of home design that suits it best. Is there a bigger family in your future, or do you need a home office? Also, think about the direction your home is facing. If the master bedroom window is facing east, you'll get bright morning sun, so it will be more difficult to sleep in. Or if you are near a busy road, you definitely don't want the bedrooms too close to the traffic.
4. Find The Right Builder
So you’ve secured the perfect block of land in your new neighbourhood, now here comes the fun part. Flick through the weekend newspaper and pick out some big name builders that suit your price range and preferred style of your new home. Schedule some display home viewings and be ready to ask the sales reps the essential questions. Will they be able to accommodate the shape and size of your block? What is the timeframe of a new build? Be sure to find out a bit more about the track record of the company and read any past client reviews before proceeding.
5. Decide On A Floorplan
Consider your lifestyle and the type of home design that suits it best. Is there a bigger family in your future, or do you need a home office? Also, think about the direction your home is facing. If the master bedroom window is facing east, you'll get bright morning sun, so it will be more difficult to sleep in. Or if you are near a busy road, you definitely don't want the bedrooms too close to the traffic.