House and Land Packages: Things You MUST Know!

15 Oct 2018 05:53
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Savvy home builders and land developers are providing effective solutions for those contemplating and wishing to explore house and land packages and everything this brings with it.

There are no simple decisions when entering the home & land market… There are basic in terms of the process you need to go through if you are to come out of it the other end with what you hoped for, i.e. on budget, on time, in the right suburb, but then also the best block of land for you and your home design in the right estate from a home builder who understands this is important to you, in fact probably the biggest thing in your life and delivers on their promises.

And there's also the all-important consideration of what type of home and budget suits your lifestyle. We all want what we cant have and be very careful not to over extend your self financially up front, because its all the little things after you move into the home that also require a huge amount of available cash - things that are not included in some packages, like curtains, landscaping etc.

You have probably heard of baby showers, and we all know about wedding registries, well something which is gathering a bit of interest is build registries. This is where friends and family can assist with purchasing some of the elements of your new home as a house warming gift. This can be a great way to avoid the vases, picture frames and toasters.

Back to the serious stuff - Understanding terms like a home and land packages inclusions, fixed price packages, fit out and colours, purchase and payment process, land title release, construction time, costs and financing, borrowing capacity, energy efficiency, block suitability, site costs, land covenants, and planned community are all integral to making an informed decision on the house & land package of your dreams. Educating yourself through a little bit of research is imperative at this point so you can assess value. Face it, no one else is going to do that for you.

Other elements include the existing and proposed infrastructure surrounding a land estate development is imperative when choosing a location: retail outlets, educational institutes, public transport, and amenities if important to you should all be on the 'wish list'.

No estate is the same, so consider the present and the future of any land development. It would certainly benefit to research previous estates the developer has brought to life and ask the hard questions around what will be delivered on this estate and when.

Most, if not all, of us are dictated by a budget. Thus it would be wise to seek financial advice firstly on a budget and secondly on items such as construction costs, taxes, and purchase process prior to signing on the dotted line. You need to also consider when you are building depending on whether progress payments will be used, that you might in fact have a rent payment and build payments due each month, so do the numbers to avoid and mistakes.

Not every home design is ideal for the block of land you may choose. It's not rocket science, but still some buyers commit the cardinal sin of purchasing land to later find the home they wanted to build will simply not fit or provide ample space for entertaining etc. When reviewing house and land packages look over the site plan of how the house site on the proposed block of land to ensure it suits your lifestyle needs.

And knowing what is included in the price will ultimately give you the ability to compare apples with apples to ensure you get what you want. Not realising that flooring isn't included in the build price is 10,000 or more mistake. Know what you are getting so you can ensure its the right value. Don't look for 'bang for your buck' as you get what you pay for so familiarise yourself with the standard inclusions and contract price… It just may save you money - and some heartache!

'Fixed price' should mean 'fixed price'. So get to know perth house and land packages and ask if anything in the price can change what is it. You need to know up front that if a provisional sum is added later, you have capacity to cover it with the finances available. Surprises are something to be completely avoided.

Aspects also worth firing a question or two include local council regulations, connected services to the block of land, whether the land is bushfire or flood prone, and any inhibitors to the sitting of the home from these restrictions. Spend time with sales consultants and insist they take you through the paperwork slowly and diligently so you are confident and if you are not, seek professional advise.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to personal preference. However, if you're not prepared to ask the right questions the implications could be less than favourable.

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