Are you aware of the different stages of building a house? Getting your house build underway is a huge milestone. And it puts you on the path to having your dream home sooner than ever. But there are some important steps throughout the building journey that you need to be aware of.
Whether you’ve bought the land yourself and are organising construction with a builder, or you’ve used one of Darren Walters’ no or low deposit house and land packages; here are the 7 stages of building a house in Australia.
Stage 0: Pre-Construction
Before any of the real building can begin you need to make sure all the paperwork is organised and you’re happy with everything. Go over your paperwork thoroughly and ensure everything is included and covered.
If you’re getting a full turnkey custom build from No1 Property Guide, you’ll be able to see all inclusions as well as the fixed price. So, you’ll know exactly what you’re going to get before construction even begins.
Make sure your floorplan and contract are what you agreed on and you’re completely happy with the plans before finalising anything. Making changes during the construction phases will cost you an arm and a leg and may not be possible at all in some cases.
Stage 1: Site Clearing
The first stage of building your house is site clearing. The extent of work here will depend on the block of land of course, but will mostly involve clearing any debris, levelling the ground, and doing soil testing. If your block of land is in an estate or part of a development lot, this will usually already be done before you sign a contract.
Stage 2: Slab or Base Stage
This is often the most exciting stage for anyone building their own home. This is where the foundation of the entire home is laid. It’s a great feeling and definitely a picture-worthy moment. This is also when site measuring, termite protection, drainage, reinforcement, and footings are done.
Stage 3: Frame or Enclosed Stage
This is where it really starts to feel like you’re building a house. Stage 3 is where the frame and all internal and external structures get erected. And the outline of your house really starts to come together. Plumbing and electrical channels will also be laid during this building stage, and the roof, gutters and insulations are prepared.
This is the last time small changes, like a recess in the bathroom etc, can be added in relatively easily. While it will still be expensive to make last-minute changes at this stage, making changes before walls and plaster have been done is a lot easier than afterwards.
Stage 4: Lockup Stage
Stage 4 is when walls, doors and windows are all installed. It’s also when electricians, plumbers and tradies come in and start their work. Usually, builders will install temporary doors during this stage to lower the risk of damaging your actual doors during construction.
Stage 5: Fixing Stage
The 5th stage of building a house is the fixing stage. This is when the fittings are installed, including the remaining walls, cupboards, cabinets, wardrobes, and tiles. Other fine details like cornices and architraves are also prepared and installed during this stage. Your builders will also put the proper doors on during this stage, no longer using temporary ones.
Stage 6: Practical Completion
Like the name suggests, the final stage of building a house is when your new home is practically ready. The final painting is done, finer details completed, and the contract finalised. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean it’s 100% ready to live in.
This is when the house is checked over, by both yourself and trained professionals, to ensure everything is the way it’s meant to be. Once everything’s been checked, the builders will then go back to rectify any issues.
Stage 7: Moving In
Once your house has been built, final checks are done and you’ve got the keys, it’s time to move in! A new build through No1 Property Guide is fully turnkey and fixed price. So, you won’t find yourself needing to do last-minute construction or painting before you move in.
The stages of building a house are fairly standard across all property types. And they’ll usually only vary due to things like extreme conditions and unique property designs etc. If you’ve bought your home using Darren Walters’ no or low home deposit system, you won’t have to worry too much about these building stages as we handle almost all of the process for you.
But, if you’re doing it yourself, knowing where your home is during any stage of the build is crucial. If you want to know more about building your own home, download our guide to Building Your Own Home, or contact us and speak to one of our New Home Specialists to find out more.
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