There’s nothing like having a home that’s built just for you. A low-maintenance property with the latest modern inclusions that’s less expensive to run and comfortable to live in. But where do you start when you’re ready to make this dream a reality?
This comprehensive guide to building a house is a great place to begin. By arming yourself with the ins and outs of the home-building process, you can make the process less stressful and more affordable.
Where to Start When Building a Home
There are five main stages to building a house, with most of the homeowner’s input occurring during the first stage, planning and design.
1. Planning and design
Before construction begins, you’ll need to secure a block of land, choose a trusted builder, and finalise your floor plan.
Find the perfect block of land
Building a house starts with finding the right location. Consider your lifestyle and proximity to amenities when looking for a block of land and don’t limit your search to empty blocks in new suburbs. A knockdown rebuild can be a cost-effective way to get your dream home in an established suburb.
Other factors to consider include the ease of site access, whether sloping or flat, and local zoning regulations.
Select a reputable builder
When choosing a builder, keep in mind that some are custom home builders who create homes with unique floorplans, while project home builders have their own plans for you to choose from.
Do as much research on your builder as possible to ensure they are the right fit for you. A local builder will have established connections with local suppliers and subcontractors, which can make the home-building process faster and easier.
Design your home
From the floor plan to the roof style and exterior finishes, right down to the colour of your garage door—there is a lot to consider when designing your own home.
Vision Homes is a custom home builder, but we also want to make building a house as easy as possible. Therefore, we offer a large range of fully customisable house plans to suit every budget. There’s no limit on structural and non-structural changes, so you can design a home that truly suits your needs.
Once you pick your home design, your builder will formalise a building tender and present you with a contract to sign.
2. Permits and Pre-Construction
After refining your design, the next step in your new build is to obtain the necessary approvals and building permits. Your builder should be able to do all of this work for you, navigating building codes and dealing with a certifier or local authorities to obtain a construction certificate.
It’s also at this stage of the build that all of the materials needed for your home will be ordered from suppliers. Soil testing, site surveys and engineering reports will also be conducted ready for breaking ground.
3. Site Prep
Before construction starts, the site must be prepared to ensure a stable foundation. This includes cleaning the land of trees, excavation and grading to create a level house pad, installing temporary fencing and surveying in preparation for foundation work to begin.
Your builder will also make preparations for plumbing pipes and sewer lines and connection to other essential services like electricity, gas and telecommunications.
4. The Building Process
Your builder will complete much of the construction work, but some specialised tradespeople will be required to ensure a high-quality finish.
Base
The base stage of construction begins with footings or a concrete slab as the foundation of your home.
Framing
Next, the structure will begin to take shape, with exterior wall frames, internal framing and roof trusses put in place.
External linings
The roof goes on, windows are positioned and exterior finishes like cladding or brickwork are completed. Plumbing and electrical are also positioned at this stage.
Fixing
At the fixing stage, plasterboard is fitted to the interior walls, followed by skirting and architraves, staircases go in, doors and kitchens are installed and wet areas like bathrooms are tiled.
Practical completion
Finally, the last of the cabinetry is fitted, flooring is installed, electrical and plumbing installation are completed and the home is painted.
5. Final Inspection and Handover
A final inspection is where you walk through the home with your builder to discuss any issues and make sure you are happy with how it has been completed. This way, any minor problems you identify can be rectified before you are officially handed the keys to the property.
Make Building the Home of Your Dreams a Breeze
Most of the hard work of building a house begins before the ground is even broken, during the planning and design phase. Get this step right and building your dream home will be a breeze.
Vision Homes can help make the process of building a home in Newcastle or the Hunter Valley easy and affordable. As a local builder, we’re committed to delivering high-quality homes by offering what other building companies don’t, like luxury inclusions as standard. From termite-protected H2 framing and roof trusses to our 3-coat paint finishes, we’ve thought of everything.
Ready to bring your dream home to life? Vision Homes is here to make it happen with custom designs, premium inclusions, and expert local knowledge. Call us today at (02) 4934 6666 or visit our website for inspiration!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of builders?
Builders are generally custom home builders or project home builders. At Vision Homes, we are both. We can build your home from your own plans or you can customise ours to your liking.
How can you save money when building a house?
You can save money when building a house by carefully choosing standard inclusions, planning for energy-efficient designs, and selecting a builder who offers transparency on costs.
What is the best home-building checklist?
We’re glad you asked! We’ve created an Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Home in Newcastle which you can read here.