Before You Sign The Contract: Don't Overlook These Key Details in Your New Home Inclusions

Before You Sign The Contract: Don't Overlook These Key Details in Your New Home Inclusions

Before you sign a contract, have you clarified what you're actually getting in your new home? 

Building a home is an exciting but sometimes daunting adventure. But what are you actually getting at your handover? Is it what you imagined and knew you would receive or is it missing anything?

When thinking about building a new home, it’s important to understand the level of inclusions and specification so that you can reasonably compare new home estimates “apples for apples”. Every will builder presents their standard inclusions a bit differently, which can sometimes be confusing and difficult to decipher. 

It all lies in the details, so it’s important to read slowly, carefully and seek clarification on items that appear vague or ambiguous. Building your new home can be complex undertaking so it’s best to not leave anything by chance. If an item appears to be missing from an estimate and inclusions schedule, then it is likely not included.

We've created a Builder Comparison Checklist to help you compare what we include here at DC Living against other builders in the market. Download the Checklist here

We’ve put together some common items to look out for and query on an estimate:

  • Air conditioning: Is it included? If so is it split system/s or ducted and is what is allowed adequate for the size of the home?
  • Landscaping: There can sometimes be an allowance for turf and fencing for the entire block -  double check what it is as it may just be a minimum package.
  • Retaining walls: While there may be an allowance for this, is it something that might be increased later? Some builders might not even cost in retaining so it is important to check. 
  • Slab type: What has been allowed for the slab and can this allowance be reasonably expected?
  • Floor coverings: Sometimes builders omit things like floor coverings (carpet / tiles), what will your house receive and what quality can you expect? 
  • Ceilings heights: Standard heights can vary between builders, you may actually want to walk through a home to know what you feel comfortable with before you commit.
  • Driveway: Not all builders will include this in an estimate so you’ll want to check whether you're going to have one at your handover.
  • Letterbox and clothesline: It’s the essential smaller items that can be forgotten but it’s best to have builders put these in for you.