After visiting many display homes and talking to several building sales representatives a common theme has become evident. Hidden costs are not being sufficiently disclosed and only come to light after the plans are drawn, with the final costs detailed at the builder's prestart meeting. If you are on a tight budget, these extra costs could create a problem!

1) "I thought that was included in the price!"
What you see is not always what you get . Many display features are not included in the quoted price and extreme care must be taken to match the specification with the correct plan and price.

2) "Why wasn't I told?"
Extra costs, specially Council requirements, can be included at a later date. But due to the number of times a builder gets building licences, these extra cost should be well known as most are a standard condition and a standard amount.

3) When changes are made to the builder's standard plan, you must be able to interpret these changes when they are shown on your plans and detailed in your specifications. Having signed off on your new plans and specifications, you will have no come back on the builder, should the changes not turn out the way you wanted. Unless you are totally conversant with building drawings and specifications you will be unable to really know what you will finally get!

It is not always the builder's fault, as you may not have clearly explained what you wanted - the builder may have done exactly what he thought you meant. To get things changed the way you really wanted them will probably cost the builder, who will be well within his rights to recharge you. It is obviously best to get it right up front.

Parts of some Letters to the Editor from various newspapers

"HOUSE BUYERS SHOULD BEWARE"
"If you, like me, are naïve on these areas you will be just ripe for the picking, by those sales representatives who are not so honest"

"FIRST HOME BUYERS SHOULD CHOOSE LAND CAREFULLY"
"First home buyers generally wanted to buy or build a home which would increase in value in the coming years so they can build up enough equity to buy a larger second home in the future."

"BUILDERS GET BULLYBOY TAG"
"Complaints to the Builders Registration Board and the Building Disputes Committee are only the tip of the iceberg, according to Home Owners Action Group."

"BUILDER GRIPES DELAYED, SAYS REGISTRAR"
"The Builders Registration Board's financial situation had been so critical that some complaints could not be heard for more than a year, registrar Nigel Lilley said yesterday"

"BUILDER BLAMED AS CRACKS CONTINUE"
"A family left their Bullsbrook home for five and a half months while their builder tried unsuccessfully to repair major cracks in the house, the Gunning enquiry was told."

In Western Australia, some useful information is published by The Builders' Registration Board in an Annual Report. The report shows a 36% increase in the number of complaints received by the Disputes Tribunal over the last 2 years and it states that this trend is expected to continue. (According to The Home Owners Action Group, as quoted above, this is only the tip of the iceberg). The Tribunal also states that for building contracts over $200,000, (now $500,000) which are not covered by the Home Building Contracts Act 1991, (and not within the Tribunals jurisdiction) the figures could have been a lot higher.

Assistance from The Building Process, with all the necessary experience, will give you the confidence to proceed with your dream of building a new home.

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