Once you’ve decided to build your new home, the next step will be choosing a builder. There are a large number of builders in Victoria, all providing different service options. There are two main categories of builders – they are the Volume Builder (sometimes referred to as Project Home Builders) and the Custom Builder.  Sometimes there is a crossover of service offerings within the same company.

To choose your builder, you must understand what they offer and how they are different to other builders. This article will help you decide.

Volume Builders

A volume builder builds homes from a variety of pre-designed plans that they have the rights to. Typically the buyer selects the floor plan, façade and chooses from a pre-designed colour palette, inclusions range and upgrade options. Volume builders can create hundreds or thousands of the same home within Australia. You will often see volume builders building multiple identical homes in new estates. Flat, regular shaped blocks and building multiple dwellings in the same area can give them the efficiencies they require.

A volume builder will often list house and land packages on websites such as realestate.com.au. When comparing prices with other builders, it is essential that you understand exactly what is included in the advertised price. Some examples of items often excluded from the advertised price include:

• Site costs
• Demolition (if the project is a knockdown rebuild)
• Developer guidelines and covenants e.g. eaves, water tank, NBN etc.
• Fencing
• Landscaping
• Driveway
• Window furnishings
• Outdoor lighting
• Clothesline
• Letterbox

These elements can add significant cost to your build, so it is imperative that you understand the final build cost and inclusions before you sign a contract.

Custom Builder

A custom builder (such as ARCA) will create a truly unique home, where all aspects are carefully designed to suit the client’s lifestyle, budget and aesthetic preferences.

By choosing a custom builder, you are giving yourself complete flexibility in the design of your home. When building with a custom builder:

• You can choose the block of land exactly where you would like to live. There are generally no issue with the slope or shape of the block. Many custom builders will also manage the demolition of the existing house if you require. Some custom builders offer a full end-to-end service option for knockdown rebuild projects.

• You can engage your own architect and draftsperson and supply your own plans or engage the custom builder to facilitate the whole process for you. Many clients prefer to engage their custom builder from the outset to provide them with financial peace of mind, as it is in the best interest of the custom builder to design a beautiful home that the client can afford. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for clients’ dreams to turn into nightmares when third-party designers or architects are engaged directly and their designs never make it to construction. Without direction and guidance from the custom builder, architects can easily fall into the trap of focusing on design outcomes and unintentionally exceed budget due to their unfamiliarity with construction methods and costs.

• You have greater flexibility – unlike volume builders, custom builders are not locked into forcing ‘cookie-cutter’ homes onto unsuitable blocks of land. Custom builders work with the land, taking into account existing trees, neighbouring properties, views and slope. Each home is carefully designed and tailored to suit each block and care is taken to minimise site costs and expensive retaining walls.

• You have complete freedom to choose the specifications and inclusions for your new home to suit your lifestyle, taste and budget. Some custom builders employ in-house interior designers and colour consultants who can help you with your choices and make the process enjoyable and stress-free.

Choosing a Builder

When choosing whether to engage a volume or custom builder, it ultimately becomes a cost/benefit decision. Off-the-shelf homes constructed by volume builders are generally cheaper than unique homes by custom builders – this is because designing and constructing a truly unique home tailored to your exact lifestyle needs takes time, effort and skill. However due to their superior quality, finish and unique design characteristics; custom builder homes generally out-perform volume builder homes in terms of holding their value and return on investment when the time comes to sell.

As the saying goes: “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get”

If you are planning to build a custom design home and would like to talk to one of our home design experts, call us now on 1800 GENTRIFY (1800 436 874) or email us at enquiries@gentrify.com.au. We’d love to help.