What To Look For In A Home Builder

We’ve all heard the horror tales… New homes built with inferior building materials, quotes that imply certain inclusions and end-results that fall well short of the mark.

It all comes down to your choice of builder and how much research you do before signing your quote.

How to choose a house builder

In this blog we’ll share how to choose a house builder and ensure that the finished home is exactly what you’d hoped for!

1. Look for value

When shopping around for a great builder, don’t automatically assume that the cheapest builder is the best value for money.

Ask yourself why the builder is cheaper than the others. Is it because they are actually good value or because they’re using inferior building materials?

A shoddy building job could cost you more in the long term, because the home will degrade faster.

2. Consider their building materials

When it comes to how to choose a home builder, you should consider the types of materials that they use.

Some builders have a preference for timber construction materials while others will use steel.

Weigh up the pros and cons of each building material and also consider how each will cost you over time.

For example a steel-framed home is lighter, more durable, and more cost-effective to assemble than building with timber.

We also choose steel frames as they are more resistant against flexing and warping, meaning your home stays looking like your home with straighter lines and finishes on your roof, ceilings, and walls.

The benefits of our steel framed homes

✓ Termites can’t eat steel

✓ Steel is non-combustible and fire resistant

✓ Steel can withstand extreme weather conditions

✓ Made from 100% recyclable BlueScope steel

✓ 100% Australian made and owned

3. Chat with past homebuyers

Talking to existing clients of your select builders is absolutely essential.

They will tell you what this builder is like to work with and how transparent their quote was.

Did the previous clients end up with the house they were expecting?

Ask your builder to refer you to previous clients. If they did a good job, they should have nothing to hide.

4. Compare quotes

There’s nothing quite like expecting one thing and getting something very different.

Some builders may have one feature in their display suite but then exclude that item from the quote.

When comparing quotes,ensure that you’re comparing quotes with comprehensive schedules.

That way what you see will be what you get, and you’ll be able to choose the best quality home for the best price.

Standard inclusions with every JG King home:

✓ Truecore steel frame supplied by BlueScope

✓ COLORBOND® steel roof

✓ 50 year structural warranty for peace of mind

✓ Access to design and electrical teams

5. Visit their display homes

You can learn a lot by visiting display homes!

Not only will you walk through their finished homes but you can also chat to their sales team and get a good idea on what they would be like to work with.

Here are some tips to make the most of your display home visit:

1. Have a clear idea of what you’re looking for so you can begin to shortlist the builders who display a home that fits the bill. Just keep in mind that thing we mentioned earlier about inclusions!
2. Know your budget so that you can get the best bang for your buck.
3. Bring your phone to take plenty of photos. From rooms to door handles and finishes. This will be a great point of reference to record any information that you’ll want to consider later.
4. Ask questions. At JG King Homes, our experienced New Home Consultants are here to answer your questions, from the costs to what comes as standard vs. added extras.
5. Take your time to picture yourself in the home and consider how you feel when you first walk through the doors. This is an exciting moment that you should enjoy!

Choosing your homebuilder

We hope this helps you better understand how to choose a house builder.

In summary, shopping for a builder doesn’t have to be hard - but you should do as much research upfront as you can to put yourself in the best position.

It’s important that you feel comfortable with your choice and ready to build your dream home.

At JG King Homes, we’ve been building much-loved homes for couples and families across Victoria for over 30 years.

Speak with us today about the possibilities for your dream JG King home.