So, you’ve decided to build a new home. Congratulations, this is a very exciting time but it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the choices you need to make. Our experts at Natura have been building luxury custom-designed homes for many years so here’s our advice on where to begin.

The best starting point is to think about your budget. Be realistic because working out an accurate budget is an important part of knowing what you can afford and making sure the costs don’t blow out unexpectedly. Check out your borrowing capacity and set a limit on what you are confident you can repay.

Now, think about what’s really important. For example, if you’re a large family you may need extra bedrooms or a larger family space. Make a wish list divided into ‘must haves’ and areas on which you’re prepared to compromise. Don’t hesitate to involve your builder at this stage as they can provide specialist advice on whether these items are realistic based on your planned budget. They can also make informed suggestions about where you can splurge, or save.

Think about what you need from a builder. Unless you’re a professional builder or renovator, you’ll want someone who is professional, trustworthy and fully-qualified. So, ask about the builders licence and relevant insurances, drive past homes the builder has completed, and ask for referrals. Consider if the builder has specific experience in building the type of home you are planning and if they have a particular area of expertise that will assist in the smooth running of the project.

Once the build is started, you’ll want a builder with whom you can be in constant contact so ask about ways to maintain communication. Today’s technology allows for face-to-face and electronic communication and many savvy builders offer an on-line interface where customers can track individual jobs. If your builder is hard to contact at this early stage of the process, you can be pretty sure they’ll be difficult to contact during the build.

Once you’ve found a builder with whom you feel comfortable and confident it’s time to ask them for a quote. It’s sometimes hard to compare quotes because different builders will put together quotes in different ways but ensure all quotes specify, in writing, exactly what is included. Specifically ask about what is not included in the quote – items such as temporary fencing and rubbish removal can sometimes be left out in order to make the price look more inviting.

Last, but certainly not least, ask about the handover and orientation process – and how many maintenance inspections are included. The answers to these questions will give you a very good idea about how much planning has gone into the end of the process. At Natura, we have a long list of satisfied customers and we pride ourselves on our attention to detail and level of individual service offered to every client. Let’s have a coffee and discuss your needs.