Choosing a home builder for your Melbourne property—an essential guide
Knowing how to pick a builder for your new home or to renovate your Melbourne property is critical. Your decision will impact property value, finances and your quality of life. To help you out, we’ve partnered with our friends at Spacemaker Home Extensions to prepare this handy guide to the most important things to look out for when choosing a home builder.
Industry achievements
Has your prospective builder won any awards? An excellent custom home builder usually has multiple industry awards, because the winning home builder projects follow strict criteria and meet high standards. Imagine the innovation and craftsmanship required to become an award-winning home builder responsible for some of the best customised, on-budget renovations in Melbourne. Now, picture the builder applying that expertise to your home improvement project—you can expect a proven track record of excellence to translate into a superior result.
Building specialists
Many builders have a specialist niche. Look at it like choosing a healthcare professional—you wouldn’t head to an optometrist for a heart problem, so avoid choosing a home builder who’s not a good fit for your specific building project. For example, if you need a personalised solution to build in a heritage overlay zone in Melbourne, look for a builder specialising in this type of work. If your block is small but you need extra space, find a builder with expertise in second storey additions.
Budgets for home builder projects
Before requesting a quote, work out your ballpark budget and find out more about the types of projects that your potential building partners work on. Are they luxury or heritage-listed properties that require a custom home builder like Spacemaker, or budget-friendly extensions for first-time homeowners? Knowing which category your project fits into makes it easier for a prospective builder to confirm what they can accomplish within your budget. On the other hand, comparing your home improvement goal and budget to a builder’s previous work can help you decide whether to even consult them for a quote.
Proven track record
Financial Stability
Signature building features
Property location
Where is your home located? A Melbourne-based custom home builder who’s familiar with the area, its climate and specific building regulations may be better suited to help you than one who works on a national scale. This works in your favour because a local builder understands the strict council regulations, planning permits and common challenges that apply in your suburb and has the area-specific knowledge and experience to resolve problems easily.
Industry relationships
Clear communication
Written contract
Your building contract should include a detailed project description, budget and timeframes. Before work commences, clarify anything you are unsure about in the contract. Before getting started, a reliable builder will talk through the terms of the contract and work process from start to finish to ensure that you know what to expect.
Inclusions and upgrades
Check what your builder includes as standard in their work process, such as a site inspection and design consultation. Anything non-standard is usually an upgrade, so think about additional features that you want for your dream home before contacting builders. For example, blinds and curtains can be integrated into your new home design when you work with a custom home builder like Spacemaker Home Extensions. We always recommend that window furnishing design, manufacturing and installation requirements are discussed and agreed to as part of your build or renovation project plan, rather than at the end of the process.
Add a window furnishings consultant to your building team
While blinds and curtains set the mood of your home, they are often neglected in the building design phase. Window furnishings also affect home security, air circulation, natural light and outdoor entertaining. Do you want to brighten your home with large windows and high ceilings, or wake up to natural light with motorised blinds that open automatically in the morning on a timer? These features, and others such as recessed pelmets and wiring, have structural requirements, so consulting a window furnishing expert during the planning phase saves time, money and design hassles in the long run.
Entrust your new build or custom renovation project to a team of experts
Are you looking for a credible home builder with more than five decades of experience in custom home renovations, extensions and new home builds across Melbourne? Spacemaker Home Extensions is a multi-award-winning builder with a proven track record of delivering high-quality homes across the city. Their skills and expertise, combined with our experience in custom blind and curtain consultations will help make your dream home a reality. Contact Spacemaker to discuss your next project, or call us for window and door furnishing design recommendations to add to your building plan.
