
Our team have spoken to a lot of people interested in building a home. Many have only just begun their research phase, and it’s common to find FAQs about house and land packages being asked sheepishly.
But there’s no dumb question. Ok, maybe asking to build a home in Peppermint Grove for $100 is a bit silly. But building a home is a very important decision so we want you to make your choices with confidence.
So we’ve written some of the FAQs our clients have asked us about house and land packages via email or have apologised for asking. If you’ve got a question, fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you.
What is a house and land package?
When you purchase a house and land package, you sign two different contracts. One will be for your land, and that will be either in an estate or a vacant block. The other will be for your house, and that will be with your builder. Fortunately, your builder will liaise with your land and settlement agent so will let you know what you need to do.
What’s included in my house?
Every builder in Perth has a different specification or inclusion list which outlines what’s in your house. We recommend asking what’s not included, because these are items you will need to do yourself or pay extra for. Common items not included are:
- Internal wall painting
- Floor coverings (e.g. carpets or tiling)
- Vertical or venetian blinds
- Doors to built-in robes
- Front and rear landscaping
I have a tight budget, so should I pick the cheapest builder?
The saying “you get what you pay for” is pretty accurate in this situation. If you’re looking at two different builders and there’s a $20,000 price difference, there’s most likely a reason why. The most common reasons are:
- Siteworks have been underestimated (so you will have to pay more later on)
- Many items have been taken out of the home such as floor coverings
- Inferior products are used such as a flatpack kitchens
Do I have to build my house in Perth’s “outskirts”?
No, we’ve built in many infill locations like Coolbellup, Dianella, Duncraig, Morley and Yokine. In these instances, our clients have either secured the block of land themselves or have asked us to find them something.
The reason the new suburbs are popular for building is because of cost and land size. If you’re a first home buyer looking for a beachside suburb, Jindalee is probably more in your price range than what Hillarys is. You can find out more about what we think are Perth’s best suburbs here.
What are siteworks?
Before you can build on a block of land, your site needs to be prepared. The costs to prepare the block are called your siteworks. We’ve written a blog post that explores this in more detail and you can read it here.
I really like an advertised house and land package, but can I change the house?
Yes, you can! For the majority of house and land packages that are advertised, the builder does not own the land. What this means is that you are not forced to use that builder or their home design. With Move Homes, we can find a block of land and create a custom design for you!
How do I buy a house and land package?
There are several ways you can proceed, but the easiest is if you reach out to a builder. This is because your builder can connect you with a mortgage broker to find out how much you can borrow, but can also chat to land agents to secure your block. Here at Move Homes, we do just that. We work with people to find a home design in a location that suits their lifestyle (and budget!).
If you’re looking at building, you probably have plenty of questions. Online research is a great tool, but if you’re struggling to find an answer to your questions you can fill out the form below and we will reach out.