15 Questions To Ask Your Builder Before Signing a Contract

When deciding to build a home, there are many questions you should ask before you sign your contract. Whether it is your first home, or your retirement dream home, asking the right questions before you get started will save you time, frustration, and money.

6 Builder Specific Questions

Requesting information about your builder is similar to asking a potential employee questions during an interview. You want to know you are choosing the right builder; one who is honest, one who has done quality work in the past, and one who will gladly show you a portfolio of past work.

1 - Are you a licensed builder/what is your licence number?
2 - Do you have home indemnity insurance?
3 - Do you have display homes or examples of homes you have previously built that we can see?
4 - Can you provide me with references?
5 - What is your standard turnaround time when it comes to communication?
6 - How many homes do you currently have under construction and how many will you be working on during the same scheduled period as mine?

Swanbuild is a licensed builder with experience in the design and construction of custom homes since 1975. Our display homes in Swan Hill and Bendigo are available for viewing Monday - Friday and you can even schedule a tour of our factory to see how our homes are built. At every stage of the process you will have a dedicated contact whom you can get in touch with directly at any time for an unsurpassed level of service.

6 Timeline Questions

Once you are happy with the credibility of your builder, it’s time to ask questions regarding the timeline of your build. If you have expectations surrounding your move-in date, it’s best to let the builder know now so you can discuss and agree on a timeframe. Remember to record key milestone dates so you can keep track of the progress along the way.  

1 - When will you be able to start my home?
2 - Who will submit plans and request permits from my council and when?
3 - How long will construction take?
4 - When will I need to make final decisions on items such as paint, trim, and cabinets?
5 - When will I have access to my home during the building process?
6 - What is the latest date to make changes to my floor plan?

When building a home with Swanbuild, you’ll be provided with a detailed overview of timing and our simple online system, Buildertrend, lets you track the progress of your project . We can also take care of all plan and permit submissions to council so the entire process is as seamless as possible. And one of the major benefits of modular building is the significantly reduced timeframe – your home could be ready in 6-9 months  from the beginning of the build to handing over your keys.   

3 Warranty Questions

Warranty questions are of vital importance. You don't want to move into your new home and find that the things you assumed would be under warranty are in fact not covered. Request all warranty and maintenance information in writing and keep it in a safe place.

1 - How long is the building maintenance period?
2 - Who are the appliance warranties through?
3 - Will you be making repairs or sending a third-party?

All Swanbuild homes come with our construction quality assurance as well as a 10 year structural warranty. In addition to this, we provide a 6 month quality assurance maintenance check which covers any minor adjustments that may be required as your home settles in place. If there’s a problem, we’ll fix it at no extra charge so you can breathe easy knowing you’re covered.

With these questions in hand, you are ready to sit down with your builder and finalise the contract once you feel comfortable that they are the right fit. Remember, building a home is a financial and emotional journey, so spending the time to find the right builder is a key step in making your journey as stress-free as possible.