Buying your first home can be daunting enough without the added stress of hidden costs of building that can crop up anywhere along the way, from something as simple as soil testing right up to what’s actually included in your house. We deal with so many first home buyers that have come to us from different builders after being told their house and land build was fixed price, only to have extra costs added on along the way.
Many builders will say they are fixed price, but here are are the top 3 hidden costs of building to avoid:
1. Site preparation costs
The reality of building a new home is that your land may not be perfect for the home you want to build. This is probably one of the most common and exasperating components that leads to cost blow outs and budget stress. Those who choose to buy a block of vacant land first, tend to run the gauntlet, not really understanding what they’re buying at the time and unfortunately finding out the challenges to build on the site later.
Below are some of the critical items that may impact costs to prepare the vacant land ready for a home’s construction:
- Soil testing and soil type
- Slab and foundation construction to suit soil conditions
- Retaining walls
- Earthworks to create a level building platform for your home
- Removal of trees and vegetation
- Excavation of rock
- Accessibility and site access
- Location of underground services
2. Acoustics, bushfire and wind loading
The location of your vacant land lot and the surrounding environment both man-made and natural, can have significant impacts on the cost of your new home. Building a home near bushland, in exposed areas and/or in close proximity to main roads can lead to major design and material variations to your build cost, equating to further cost blow outs and budget stress.
These are just a few of the issues that can add costs to your build, often with no real tangible benefit to you as the home owner:
- Wind loading upgrades
- Bush fire compliance
- Acoustic compliance
3. Exclusions and inclusions
An enjoyable build process starts by knowing exactly what you’re getting, right from day one. It’s important to read the fine print of your build contract.
The below might sound like standard inclusions but some builders can charge extra for, or provide an allowance that does not cover the cost completely of what you may need for your home:
- Driveway
- Landscaping to front and rear
- Letter box and clothesline
- Boundary fencing and retaining where appropriate
- All site costs
- Floor coverings
- Dishwasher
- Flyscreens
- Light fittings
- Blinds and much more
At Urbane Homes we take all the complications out of building a new home by providing you with certainty on price, build-time and inclusions. Our philosophy is simple; everything is included, and all the prices are fixed from the very beginning ensuring no nasty surprises. This means no hidden costs of building.