Handy Hints

If you're new to home building, these handy hints can help ensure the process runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible:

1. Don't under-estimate the costs involved There are three major costs associated with building a new home. These include: Cost of the land. This includes your purchase price, plus stamp duty and any legal or conveyancing costs. Cost of the home. Start with the base price then consider the façade, inclusions and any variations you would like – or that are required due to state or local regulations. These could include features to make your home more energy efficient. Cost of building. The costs of building the home on your land are the site costs, which include leveling the land and building the foundations, or footings. However, there are also other costs that you may need to consider. These can include: Floor coverings - as typically, only the tiles in wet areas are included, unless you selected floor coverings during your colour selections consultation. Window coverings - including curtains and blinds. New furniture or electrical appliances. Outside features - if you didn't purchase an Express Address home, you'll need to include a driveway, landscaping and letterbox (if you are organising mail direct to your property). Utility connection.

2. Make sure your house and land work together Ideally, you should start looking at available land and home designs at around the same time. You don’t want to buy a block only to discover it's not easy to find a home to fit. Nor do you want to fall in love with a design that can't be built on your chosen block. Also, you need to make sure both the home, and the block, are within your budget. Becoming familiar with the opportunities and limitations of different blocks and designs will give you a greater ability to ultimately choose the right home and land together. In a sense, the block or lot will help to determine the home design, as the location, dimensions, orientation and condition of the lot could influence which design would be best. And remember, whatever you do choose first, you can't sign a contract to build a home design without having already signed a contract for the land. A house and land package is often a good way for people looking to build, as the task of finding the right home for the block has already been completed. There is also a price associated with the package which makes it easier to determine whether it's within your budget.

3. Build for long-term energy efficiency Ensuring that your home is as energy-efficient as possible can certainly save you money on energy bills over time. Plus, you can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing you are doing your best for the environment. Energy-efficient considerations can include: Solar orientation of your home How your home is placed on your land is very important. The 'ideal' home has the daytime living areas facing north with the long axis of the house running east-west. In the real world, this is fairly rare, but the good news is that variations on the orientation can be up to 30 degrees to the east and 20 degrees to the west of true north, with no major effects on the solar advantage. Our home designs have been created with the sun in mind and we provide options for most land orientations, so ask your New Home Consultant which design may be best for your block. Design and layout Your home's design and layout can also play a significant role in reducing energy costs. For instance, having daytime living areas facing north captures the winter sun. When you tile these areas, the rooms warm up even more in winter – while effective eaves and blinds keep them from being too hot in the summer. Having an open plan style of home will also help. This makes the best use of all available space, and should also allow light to penetrate easily and air to circulate freely around the home. However, you should be able to close off areas to contain warmth when needed. Insulation Wall and ceiling insulation is another effective way of minimising the need for heating in winter and cooling in summer. Up to 40 per cent of winter heat can escape through a non-insulated ceiling and about the same amount of heat can be stopped from entering the home during summer. Windows and shading While north-facing windows and doors let in the winter sun, in summer you may need suitably designed eaves or pergolas to keep the harsh summer heat out. In areas of extreme heat, external blinds or shutters are a great idea. In the cooler months, our homes lose the majority of their heat through windows and sliding doors. Close-fitting drapes, blinds or internal shutters trap a layer of insulating air between them and the glass and make a big difference to how much heat escapes. Landscaping Out in the garden, you can establish shady deciduous trees to help block the summer sun. Of course, in the winter, they allow the sun through to warm and light your home. Ideally, you should place them as far from the house as possible so you still get shade - but don't need to constantly clean out your gutters or create bush-fire danger. It is also important when planting trees to refer to your Guide to Home Maintenance to ensure you are positioning the trees in suitable locations, so not to disrupt your footings with the tree roots when they grow. If you've built pergolas, plant them out with attractive vines that again will allow sun to shine in winter. Heating and cooling Lastly, the heating and cooling devices you choose for your home will have a major impact on your energy efficiency - and your bills. Choose a gas heater or high efficiency reverse cycle air conditioning system. If the system has adjustable louvers, adjust them towards the ceiling when cooling, and the floor when warming.

4. Get familiar with any legalities or restrictions We are committed to creating a "common wealth" for our customers, communities and living environments. Life revolves around the home and happiness for everyone in a family begins at home. A house is a valuable asset, often the largest investment that a family makes. It is also a building block in shaping a community. A house sits on the earth and exists through use of the earth's natural gifts. Land is a precious, finite resource and governments set the rules for maintaining its value. Governments also set the rules for maintaining the safety and welfare of individuals and communities. Building a house always involves meeting the requirements of a number of laws and regulations. They are concerned with: Damage to infrastructure beneath the land, for example, sewer pipes and cabling. Conservation of energy resources, especially electricity. Conservation of water resources, including mains water and rainwater. Conservation of the natural and heritage environment, for example, preservation of trees and native plants and landscaping requirements. Risk to building stability, for example, from land slope and underlying rocks. Risk to lives and buildings, in particular from flood and bushfire. Risk to people's health, for example, from soil with toxicity from earlier use Risk to people's privacy and enjoyment, for example, from placement of air-conditioning and outdoor dining and clothes lines. Safeguarding public health and safety, for example, with security fencing.

It's important to have a full picture of what's involved in building your house on your land.

Your New Home Consultant will discuss these aspects of your land and building plans with you. You can't avoid the decisions and costs of meeting government legal requirements. It's wise to keep them in mind so you maintain control and avoid unwelcome surprises.