We bet you have some questions about building…

How much does a home cost to build? . . .

The rule of thumb for how much a home will cost is based on:

1. Size of floorplan

2. Actual lineal metres of external wall per m2 of space

3. Number and size of bathrooms, kitchen size and features, laundry size and features

4. Façade style; classic with a hip and valley pitched roof being the most economical and the flat roof (architectural style) with low pitch being being the more costly option

5. If building a two-storey home, factor into the cost a set of stairs, 8-10m2 of floor space to house the staircase and scaffold to build the second storey. This will add minimum $24k + to the price of the home from the same amount of m2 in single storey configuration.
 


Is building a custom home expensive? . . .

A custom home costs no more to build than a standard plan because we complete our design inhouse. No expensive Architect or Building Designer fees are added on top of the build cost. Often these third-party consults drag out the entire process as they rely on external people carrying out work. Similarly, most external consultants may not be aware of the true cost to construct or change what is proposed.

What should I budget to build a home? . . .

The best way to ascertain the amount you should budget to build a home, is to meet with us, completely obligation free, and go through a design brief known as a design needs analysis. From that point we will ballpark a price based on all the data collected from you on what YOU want for your home. The price will then be based on overall size, inclusions and style of home derived from the series of questions asked during the meeting.

How can I save money when building? . . .

The best way to save money on a lifestyle home is to stick to the offering of essentials or luxe inclusions, as we get the best pricing on this offering.

What additional costs should I budget for on top of my build cost? . . .

The most common costs that need to be taken into consideration are landscaping and fencing, and we advise that you grasp a good understanding on what these costs are, to allow for budgeting.

How long will it take to design my home? . . .

Standard Plans with modifications: this can usually be completed the next day after consultation. Custom Designs: The initial concept design floor plan and elevations will only take one week, depending on work load.

How long will it take to price my home? . . .

Once we have arrived at the final plan that you are over the moon about, we will price every nut and bolt in the home to arrive at the contract price. This should take no longer than two weeks.

How long does it take to build a home? . . .

For construction, timeframes are usually a 24-30 week build on a two-storey home and a 20-22 week build on a single storey home. Add an extra week or two if including a pool, especially on a narrow lot where the pool shell is required to go in first.

Can you build my home if I already have plans? . . .

Yes, if you have already designed your new home and are simply looking for a builder, we can provide you with pricing on your plan. Remember, the more information you provide, the more detail we can put into our pricing.

Can I be involved in the design process? . . .

Absolutely, the home we are designing is all about YOU! The design brief process gives you full involvement.

Can I customise my plans? . . .

Yes, absolutely. You can do your own selections from our suppliers for items like floor coverings, cabinetry, plumbing fittings, appliances etc. and we will work those selections into your custom specification for construction and price accordingly.

Can I make changes to inclusions? . . .

The best way is to make all necessary changes to inclusions pre contract. Once orders are produced and documentation sent out to trades and supervisor, changes become difficult to make and require lots of administration to make sure that they are actioned correctly and mistakes are not made. This comes along with associated costs like plan changes and admin costs.

Can I do any work myself? . . .

If you are a licensed contractor we can possibly allow you to do your component of the work on your home. Simply make contact with us to find out.

Can I make variations in the build process? . . .

Of course. Last minute thoughts and variations for improvement pop up during every construction, so we have a process to help you change things that’ll make your home even better.

What guarantees do you offer? . . .

At Costa Homes, we offer a 12-month defect and maintenance warranty. At the end of 12 months we conduct a full check to see how the building is performing once the home has settled. We also offer a 6.5-year structural guarantee.

What happens if there’s a default or something breaks after handover? . . .

Contact our office immediately and we’ll organise a visit to sort out your problem.

What’s the difference between Costa Homes and other builders? . . .

We build a 145m2 home the same way we would build a $2m waterfront home. The same trades do the job, and the same quality and detail is given to each of the different types of homes. The big things that you don’t see behind the scenes include the extra structural timber used on our homes and the detailing of frames that are in our standard prior to sheeting. The bitumen/render and painting of slab edges to avoid rising damp and achieve a better aesthetic. Tilers who don’t use metal angles on external corners, but rather mitre tiles for a better appearance, and cabinet makers who use blum mechanisms and good quality materials to provide a higher level of detail. The quality of trades overall, some who have been completing our work for over 20 years.

Why do people choose Costa Homes? . . .

For the first 25 years Frank Costa operated solely on word of mouth. He instilled in his children the ethos of transparency, pride and generally to do a good job and give value for money and you cant go wrong. Our past clients are still our best advocates.