Questions to Ask Before Building Your First Home
A short list to bring to your first conversation, so nothing gets missed.
If this is your first build, the process can feel like it has its own language. Asking plain questions early saves a great deal of second-guessing later, and no reasonable person will mind you asking them.
This guide sets out the questions first home buyers most often wish they'd asked sooner, grouped so you can bring them to a conversation as they are.
About the price
- What exactly does this price include, and what does it exclude?
- Is the site cost figure an allowance or confirmed for this block?
- Are driveway, fencing and landscaping covered?
- Which items are provision only?
- What would typically move the price between now and contract?
About the land
- What stage is the land at, and when is titling expected?
- What are the frontage, depth and slope?
- Are there easements or build-over restrictions?
- What design guidelines apply in this community?
- How soon after settlement do I need to start building?
About the build
- What's the expected timeframe from contract to handover?
- What are the payment stages?
- What happens if I want to change something after signing?
- Who is my point of contact during construction?
- How and when will I be updated on progress?
About getting yourself ready
You don't need everything worked out before your first conversation — but a few things make it far more productive.
- A rough overall budget, even as a range
- Your preferred areas, and how far you're willing to look
- Bedrooms, bathrooms and must-have spaces
- Whether you already own land, or are still looking
- Your rough timeframe, and anything driving it
- Where you're at with finance, in general terms
Things worth watching
- Feeling rushed into a decision before your questions are answered
- Assuming a verbal answer is captured in the contract
- Not writing down what you've been told and by whom
- Comparing options with different inclusions and site allowances
- Holding back a question because it feels too basic — it usually isn't
General information only. Costs, requirements and availability need to be confirmed for your situation with the relevant builder, developer and other parties.