Knowing what costs to expect is key to keeping home building stress to a minimum. Some are obvious right from the start, but there are many hidden costs when building a house that if you’re unprepared, can be a great source of frustration and confusion. When obtaining and evaluating quotes for your new home, it’s important to understand that a lower cost per square metre may be due to hidden extras such as site and administration fees. Cost variations between builders can also often be due to a difference in the standard of inclusions.
To help you choose the right builder and avoid a building budget blowout, we’ve compiled a list of the 5 common expenses that often catch home builders by surprise.
1. Site Preparation
Before building can commence, the soil and slope of your home site must be assessed to determine excavation requirements and building difficulty. Rocky soil or a steep slope can add considerable expense, so ask your builder to explain the cost implications of any special preparation required and ensure this is included in your initial quote.
Swanbuild policy: Site inspections and soil test reports are included as part of our comprehensive Plans and Approvals Pack, so you can have complete peace of mind that you won’t have to pay any additional fees over and above your design build specifications.
2. Permit Applications and Approvals
There are numerous forms and formalities involved in home construction, including submitting building plans and drawings to your local council. Knowing what’s required and the time for completion will help keep your building project on track, so ask your builder to explain what’s needed and why, along with what it will cost.
Swanbuild policy: We’ll save you time and stress by lodging your plans with council and tracking the approval on your behalf. While there will be council fees to obtain the building permit, we’ll secure a fixed price before lodgment so you’re aware of the costs upfront.
3. Service connections
The fees associated with connecting everyday services such as gas, water, electricity, sewerage, telephone and fire control are generally not included in building costs, so get in touch with local utility companies to obtain quotes and arrange connections to ensure everything is up and running when you move in to your new home.
Swanbuild policy: Our team can organise connection to services on your behalf if required. Ask us about what is involved and we can provide an overview of costs upfront.
4. Fixtures, Fittings and Finishes
One of the most common areas of discrepancy between builders is the inclusion and standard of fixtures, fittings and finishes. Sometimes, an item you think is standard might not be part of your agreement, so check with your builder to ensure there are no surprises.
The range of finishes available will vary depending on the builder you choose. Your choices might also impact significantly on overall cost, so ask your builder to explain what is standard and those items which might be omitted or incur a ‘premium’.
Swanbuild Policy: All Swanbuild homes offer an extensive range of options when it comes to tiling, painting, internal and external doors, curtains, light fittings, floor coverings and carpet - so you’re free to design your dream home without worrying about hidden costs.
5. Kitchen Inclusions
The kitchen is frequently a focal point of the family home. It can also be one of the most costly. If you’re comparing builders, pay particularly close attention to the lists of inclusions. As one of the most highly utilised rooms in your home, you want to be certain it functions exactly as you expect.
Cost can quickly escalate depending on your choice of finishes and appliances, so again, ask your builder to clearly explain what is standard.
Swanbuild policy: Our kitchens offer a host of inclusions to suit every taste and culinary need. Your cooktop, oven, range hood, cabinetry, shelving and sink are all included in the cost of your home so there will be no unwanted surprises.
Building a new home is exciting, but the prospect of unexpected costs can also make it daunting. Because many of the costs associated with home construction are included in our standard pricing, choosing a Swanbuild prefabricated home can greatly reduce or eliminate many of the hidden costs of building a house - so you can concentrate on designing the home of your dreams!