Building a home the development chain
building a project home
Select a site
designing your own home
Arrange nancing Legal searches
Pre-purchase advice (Builder)
Soil test
Pre-purchase advice (Architect / Building Designer)
Buy block of land
Select project home design Check BSA licence
Develop Brief: Budget Number of bedrooms and bathrooms Kitchen Laundry Living space Home ofce / study Existing vegetation Personal needs Personal preferences Outdoor living Future needs
Select Architect or Building Designer Check BSA licence of Building Designer
Initial design
Check design against brief
Check design against brief
Design development
Preliminary costing from builder Select builder (check BSA licence) Final drawings Specication Draft building contract
Using one-off or modifying standard design
Using standard design
Final price from builder
Draw up contract with builder to complete work A solicitor must review contract
BEWARE! Changing your mind after signing the contract can be very expensive. These changes are called variations
Client check all terms / conditions / specications (inclusions / exclusions): Materials and nishes Painting colour scheme Floor coverings External paint and paving Clothesline Letter box Landscaping / retainer walls / lawns / watering Earthworks Fencing Pergola Towel rails White goods Telephone / electrical points connection Fans Light tting and type Rangehood and extraction fan Flow restriction devices / shower Rainwater tanks Greywater recycling Identifying dispute resolution process Termite treatment Contract duration (number of weeks) Driveway and cross-over External taps Locks Quality of ttings and xtures Completion dates and damages Insurance Type of water heater
Legend
Client (You!) Builder Architect / Building Designer Essential Non-essential BSA* BCA** Building Services Authority Building Code of Australia
Architect / Building Designer gets building approval (local council or private certier) Arrange nance approval
Sign contract with builder Building approval by builder, architect or designer (local council or private certier)
Common payment schedule: Frame / walls Lock-up Fit-out Note: nancial institution inspections are not for quality of work, just percentage of work complete.
Building starts: Inspections for BCA and local council compliance Inspections for nancier (progress payment) Inspection by client (need builder consent to visit site) Final inspections: BCA** / council Financial institution Client defects list agree Connect domestic electricity supply
Optional contract administration
Optional quality assurance inspections
Refer unresolved disputes to BSA*
Handover inspection
Optional advice on handover inspection from Architect / Designer
Handover
Insure house and contents
Move in
Designing for Sustainable Living