Building a New House Checklist

Nothing evokes the level of excitement and stress quite like building a new home. With so many different factors and steps to consider in your home build, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. By using our new house checklist, you can rest assured that each step of the process will be covered, giving you much-needed peace of mind. From design choices to budget to finding a block of land, our checklist will streamline these major decisions so you can focus on delivering your dream home.

New House Checklist

With many steps in the building process, the following checklist will assist you in keeping track of what to do:

1. Preliminary budget

The very first step in your checklist will be to consider your budget. Building a realistic budget for your construction will be important to ensure you can achieve all of your goals. It doesn’t matter how big your project is; it could be as minor as a simple renovation. You must nail all aspects of your budget. Below are the most important aspects, including:

• Land Price – The cost of the land itself will vary depending on your location and size.
• Utility Fees – Connecting to utilities (electricity, water, gas) will add to the total cost.
• Planning Fees – Dependent on the scale and complexity of your project, planning fees are typically paid to your local council.
• Construction and Finishing Costs – All expenses associated with constructing your home and making it habitable, including flooring, appliances, and painting.
• Stamp Duty – The fee you pay to the government when purchasing land or property.
• Legal Fees – Consider your legal representation throughout the building process
• Loan Settlement Costs – If you’re going to finance the build, it’s important to factor in the fees for the lender and any settlement costs.
• Contingency & Buffer Budget – Crucial to add a buffer to your budget, typically 5-10% of your total, for unexpected costs.

2. Find a block of land

Ensure you do as much research as you can when selecting which block of land to purchase. Consider everything from your distance to work or the available transportation links to get your children to school. Your chosen suburb’s proximity to shops, its character, noise level, or future development are all important factors to unpack. Consider the environmental aspects of your chosen plot of land. Does your land slope in a particular direction? Would you choose land that provides good drainage, or are you at risk of bushfire?

Also consider your orientation to the sun. Under Australia’s National Construction Code (NCC), new domestic dwellings must reach a minimum energy rating of 7 stars. A higher star rating means your house is more energy efficient with lower energy consumption. Your property’s orientation to the sun plays a key role in achieving this rating, because the amount of sun you receive directly impacts heating, cooling and overall energy usage. Typically, houses that face north will be best for reaching 7 stars in Australia, receiving the sun for the longest period during winter, and benefit from roof shading in summer.

3. Choose a builder

Arguably, the most important decision of the entire process is your choice of builder. It’s vitally important to do enough research and to never accept your first choice without weighing up the different options available. Choosing an experienced and accomplished builder not only streamlines your construction but ensures you’re best-placed to accomplish your dream build. If you’re having trouble making the right choice, follow these three tips:

• Review the builder’s previous work, and consider how it aligns with your objectives.
• Check for reviews from previous clients and their experiences with the builder.
• Understand their pricing – compare with other builders.

4. Organise finances

Organising your finances is a great way to ensure your new build runs smoothly to avoid added stress. Home building can be unpredictable, so having your finances aligned with your budget can help to avoid delays. We encourage anyone looking to build a new home to consult with their mortgage broker or financial advisor before starting the process to ensure everything is in order.

5. Research building plans and permits

All proposed builds must have a building permit prior to beginning construction. This permit is your official license to build, which has been approved by a private or municipal surveyor who ensures your plans comply with regulations. Depending upon your build, you may also need a planning permit. Each council will have different requirements for new builds based on your property’s location and specific zoning regulations. Contact your local council to determine if a planning permit is necessary and for detailed information on zoning requirements.

6. Choose house specifications

Regardless of the size of your construction, you will need to consider your house specifications. Certainly, you must adhere to specific building requirements, but this is also the period in which you can personalise your build how you want it. At this stage, the basic decisions to make are: the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, living space size, garage or outdoor areas, and floor plan. This will also be the section of your checklist where you can decide between a single and multi-storey home design. This section of your checklist will heavily depend on your preferences and lifestyle, and how you want your new home to reflect that.

7. House design

Once you’ve settled on basic house specifications, you move straight into the design process. However, this process can vary depending on whether you’re building with a custom builder or a volume builder.

If you’re working with a custom home builder, the design process typically involves undertaking several consultations to ensure you are effectively communicating all of your goals. You’ll discuss a preliminary design brief with an architect or designer, with revisions and reviews until you are comfortable moving forward.

Conversely, if you choose a volume builder, the design process may be more streamlined. You’ll typically choose from a range of floor plans that the builder has already designed. While this approach can be quicker and cost-effective, it offers less flexibility for design changes when compared to a custom build.

For more information on designing your home, we have an article that covers everything you need to know.

8. Sign the construction contract and finalise budget

When you commence a new build, you’ll have to sign a contract that includes aspects of this checklist and will detail the full scope of your project. It’s vital to be across your contract before you sign to ensure that nothing is missed from previous consultations. You should double-check for the following non-negotiables:

• Construction steps and estimated timeline
• Legalities
• Project inclusions and tasks to be completed
• Warranty and technical support

Also, a great idea is to review your initial budget and make sure it is still achievable before signing your construction contract. It’s normal for your budget to change, particularly after the design and planning phases.

9. Prepare the land

Now that you’ve reached step 9, you’re ready to get started with construction. Make sure during this step in your checklist, that your block is fully prepared. Ensure trees are cleared, rubbish and any existing structures are removed. Carry out preparation for your landscape to get it ready for foundational work. This may include redirecting natural water or stabilising land. Keep in mind that different locations have different demands. If your site is severely sloping, unstable or exhibiting difficult soil and heavy vegetation, it will require more significant preparation.

10. Monitor each stage of your building

Once your construction has officially begun, it is a great idea to continue monitoring your process. Typically, construction will be carried out within these steps:

1. Site Preparation and Base – Concrete slab or stump foundations are laid.
2. Framing – The frame is built to form the skeleton of your home.
3. Lock-up – Your home is sealed. Doors, windows and roof are installed.
4. Fixing – The interior of your home is developed.
5. Completion – Final touches before move-in, including painting, flooring and appliance installation.

Although your builders will manage all of the day-to-day operations, we still recommend that you maintain an overall view, as decisions may still need to be made. If you’re not sure within your checklist what you should be focusing on during construction, we recommend periodically monitoring the following:

• Material and Labour Quality
• Any Deviations from Standard Plans
• Timeliness of Construction

11. Monitor your budget during construction

Stay across your budget as each stage of building is completed. You will typically pay a specific amount for each stage of building; therefore, you should only pay if you are satisfied work is complete. You must also be across any ongoing alterations to your budget, caused by unforeseen circumstances or design changes during construction.

12. Double-check completed work

As construction nears completion, and you make your final payments, you should check everything within your building contract to ensure it’s been completed. Building completion will not be official until all works defined in your contract plans have been completed to an agreed standard and major defects have been rectified.

Factors To Consider In Building a New House Checklist

Specific factors will dictate your home build checklist, which are important to consider. By addressing the following factors, you will ensure you don’t miss anything important:

Home Specific

Every house is fundamentally different, and how you incorporate the following main features within your home will alter how you prepare the checklist:

• Ceiling height – The most common ceiling height in Australia is 2.4m – 2.7m. However, within your build, you may want to consider higher ceilings to create a more grand experience. High ceilings are growing in popularity as a way to increase the feeling of space within your living areas. This is a big structural decision and should be dealt with early within your checklist and budget.
• Windows and doors – If you increase your ceiling height, this can have flow-on effects to other parts of your home. You may have to think about increasing the size and dimensions of your windows and doors to keep your home in proportion. You will also have to consider your type of windows and doors, which will impact your checklist’s budget.
• Flooring – Flooring is often one of the more costly decisions you can make. It is also an aspect of your home you are likely to want to personalise. Tiles, carpets, vinyl, timber, and laminate are popular flooring options and can be combined within the home, for example, carpet in bedrooms and tiles in living areas. Flooring decisions will greatly impact your budget and checklist.
• Insulation – Acts as a temperature barrier for reducing hot and cold spots, as well as stopping noise from penetrating your home. Insulation is essential for achieving the minimum 7-star energy rating mandated by the NCC. To reach this minimum rating, ensure you install high-performance insulation into every part of your home design, from your ceiling to walls and floor. Insulation also extends to your windows and doors, with additions such as double-glazed glass, providing a barrier of insulation for windows. Homes that reach the minimum 7-star rating are better equipped to handle the demands of different climates, reducing the need for heating in winter and cooling in summer. Because the 7-star rating is a requirement for new home builds under the NCC, it will be essential to include your checklist budget and address it before construction.
• Outdoor – Decisions on your outdoor design can often be put on the back burner when dealing with your home’s construction. We highly recommend considering your outdoor space within your checklist. When you’re finding a block of land, it’s great to consider how much outdoor space you want. Furthermore, you should also include outdoor space within your budget to account for extensive landscaping and alfresco areas, which will increase the cost.

Room Specific

You will also need to consider in your checklist the factors specific to each room in your house:

• Bedroom – Consider the decisions unique to your bedroom within your checklist. Not only should you consider the size or layout of your bedroom, but also how you will budget for cabinetry, shelving, and wardrobes.
• Kitchen – For many, the most important room in the house, and it’s great to plan ahead with your checklist. Consider how different kitchen layouts will affect your checklist budget, and how more complex installations may add time to your construction. You will have to make design decisions, for instance, do you want your sink on your kitchen island, or near the wall?
• Bathroom – It is always best to review which bathroom items are included in your home’s base price. Although items such as showers, sinks and bathtubs are typically included, if you want to incorporate upgraded features, you should consider these within your checklist.
• Electrical – Pays to add a section within your checklist to unpack your electrics. This will help to understand how it factors into your budget and to make decisions on lighting and outlet positioning.
• Blinds and window furnishings – Blinds and window furnishings should be an important addition to your checklist. These furnishings are essential for both privacy and for controlling the amount of light in certain areas of your home. Consider the different blind and window furnishing options and how they affect your budget and home design. For instance, roller blinds are a popular option because of their affordability, while curtains may require greater investment but may enhance your room’s aesthetic appeal.

By following our checklist, you can feel best prepared to tackle your home build with success. With the preliminary budgeting and design, all the way through the construction process, our checklist should have you covered. Finally, by considering the factors unique to your home, and adding these to your checklist will ensure nothing is missed. For more information on any stage of the building process, please contact the experienced team at Forme Homes.