Frequently Asked Questions

We have the capability to build homes across Greater Brisbane - from the inner city down to Coomera, out to the Western Corridor, and all the way up to Caboolture and surrounds. If you're not sure if we build in your area, just drop us a line here and include your build postcode in your enquiry. One of your team will reach out to let you know if we can build your new home in your desired location.

The cost of building a new home is influenced by several factors including the size of the home, floor plan & layout, facade, and the inclusions and upgrades that you may choose. Site factors can also contribute to the cost of the build, such as the slope of the land, the location, site access, as well as the soil type or retaining requirements.

At DC Living, we believe in complete transparency when it comes to pricing on all of our new build homes. We will work with you to ensure that all of your requirements are met in a way that is both cost-effective and fits within your budget. We invite you to get in contact to discuss your new build home and get a personalised quote. 

Build time is dependent on the type of home being built (single or double storey), the complexity of the house site and floor plan, and the colour selections and upgrades chosen for the home. With Expression by DC Living, we guarantee a fast-tracked build time frame of 20 weeks which commences at base claim stage.

We recommend speaking to a New Home Consultant who will be able to advise on the approximate build time for your new home. Once you get to Contract stage in the home building process, we will lock in your build time.

The home building process is essentially broken down into three phases: Pre-Construction, Construction and Maintenance & After Care. We've broken down each stage below.

• Pre-Construction: Project Consultant, Site Evaluation & Design, Colour Selection, Contract & Post Contract Administration
• Construction: Slab, Frame, Roof + Roughin, Enclosed, Fixing, Practical Completion & Handover
• Maintenance & After Care: 12 Month Maintenance Period 

You can read more about your home building process here or download our Home Building Guide. 

How exciting and congratulations on taking the first step towards new home ownership. We recommend getting in touch with one of our experienced New Home Consultants. They will be able to discuss your home building options with you including the type of home you're after, your block of land and your budget. If you don't have land yet, then we can assist with that too! Get in touch with us here. 

Yes, we have a great flagship display home that you can come and visit to get a feel for our homes. It is located in Brookhaven Estate, Bahrs Scrub 4207 and is open from 10am - 4pm from Saturday to Wednesday. You can learn more about our Brookhaven Display Home here.

We're excited to be opening a brand new display home in Affinity Estate, Morayfield 4506 in late-2023, so stay tuned for more details!

A full turnkey home is one that is built with everything you need so it is ready for occupancy with no additional work required. The home is built complete with items such as roller blinds, a driveway, landscaping, and fencing, and is commonly referred to as 'move-in ready'. This type of home is especially convenient for first home buyers and investors.

Generally speaking, our house & land packages are full turnkey too, however, on the odd occasion, items such as fencing may not be included due to an estate covenant. Please speak with a New Home Consultant for clarification if you are unsure.

Knockdown + Rebuild is the process of demolishing an existing property and rebuilding a new home in its place. This is a great option for those who want to customise a home to suit their needs and design preferences, but don't want to go through the process of purchasing a completely new house. It's especially popular for people who want a new home but don't want to move away from their beloved community. You can read more about the Knockdown + Rebuild process here.

There are many benefits to knockdown + rebuild, as opposed to purchasing an established property or conducting large scale renovations. We actually wrote a whole blog about it here.

Building a new home has lots of advantages over buying an existing one. You can create a space that’s totally tailored to your needs and lifestyle with the right layout, size, and number of rooms. You'll also be able to create an aesthetically pleasing exterior, from selecting a facade that complements the surrounding neighbourhood to choosing a colour palette that reflects your personal style.

Plus, you can opt for modern features like smart home technology and sustainable building materials, so you can make your home as energy-efficient as possible. You can also choose the latest appliances and fixtures, and get peace of mind because all the components of the home are brand new and under warranty.

We have developed a Builder Comparison Checklist to help you cross-reference the base level inclusions that we offer against other builders in the market. You can download the checklist here and also find a bunch of questions that we suggest asking your builder in your initial phase of research.

We have built hundreds of homes in Greater Brisbane, so you can be sure that we are an experienced local builder. Unfortunately, due to privacy reasons, we cannot give out information regarding specific locations. However, you can check out our Portfolio of Homes to get an idea of the quality of our work and our capabilities as a builder. We think you'll be impressed!

Expression by DC Living is an affordable range of full turnkey homes designed specifically for first home owners and investors. With Expression, you get complete transparency in the form of fixed-price contracts, so you know exactly how much your home will cost from the start. Plus, the streamlined process allows you to move quickly from contract to site. Choose from a range of home designs, facades and colour schemes, and your home will be ready to start building.

At DC Living, we have two great home ranges for you to choose from - Expression and Habitat - and they each have their own range of inclusions.

Our inclusions are renowned for being generous and we typically include a higher level of inclusions than some other builders. In every home we build, we include items such as floor coverings, air conditioning, and a driveway as we know that you will need them in your home regardless. To compare our inclusions to other builders, take a look at our Builder Comparison Checklist so you can make sure you get the best value for your money when building your new home. We also have a range of upgrade options if you're looking for something extra special. You can discuss these further with your New Home Consultant when they prepare your quote.

We are able to make internal modifications to floor plans from our Habitat Range only. These are assessed on a case-by-case basis so please chat with our New Home Consultants here to see if this is a feasible solution for your new home design. 

We understand the importance of creating a home that perfectly fits your needs. While we don't currently provide custom home building services, we are able to offer some flexibility with our Habitat Range. If there is a home design that you are interested in, speak with a New Home Consultant here about your desired modifications and we can assess the feasibility on a case-by-case basis.

While we are unable to assist with renovations or extensions, we do specialise in Knockdown + Rebuild. There are many benefits to building new as opposed to renovating an existing home. You can read more about it in our blog here. 

Unfortunately, we do not currently offer these home building services at DC Living.

We have experience building homes on sloping and narrow sites but these sites typically come with their own challenges so we tend to assess these jobs on a case-by-case basis. We do not, however, build in flood zones or homes on stumps. If you have any specific questions about your site or potential build, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be more than happy to have a look. 

While we do not sell land itself, our New Home Consultants work closely with Agents across South East Queensland and can assist in sourcing land for your new home. We also have a number of house and land packages available and you can explore these in more detail here.

A house and land package combines the purchase of a block of land and a perfectly matched home design into one process (but with two separate contracts). House and land packages provide an efficient, cost-effective solution to obtaining a property. You can benefit from clear upfront costs and the hassle of dealing with fewer people.

Plus, they are usually situated in a master-planned community and the price is representative of a full turnkey homes. This makes them a great investment opportunity too. We've broken down house and land packages & why you should consider buying one in a recent blog, read more here. 

Yes! We have a range of house and land packages across Brisbane and its greater suburbs. Check out our latest opportunities and if you can't find what you're looking for, our New Home Consultants are here to help. We have relationships with developers across South East Queensland and can assist you in your search. Contact us here. 

The time it takes to reach the contract stage can vary, depending on the complexity of the job, among other factors. 

Expression by DC Living offers a fast-track process so you can expect a contract within 3 weeks of paying your deposit, providing your land is registered. You can read more about our home building process here. 

Time frames for council approvals vary depending on the local governing body that you are seeking approval from. We recommend speaking with your Customer Service Office who will be able to advise more on this at the time of submission. 

As part of your home building journey with DC Living, we will submit and manage these approvals on your behalf.

Registered land refers to land with established boundaries and is ready to be built on. This will be subject to any necessary approvals and permits.

Unregistered land refers to land that has not been included in a land or title registry This type of land is common in new estates with developers, and is awaiting surveying, subdivision or registration with the appropriate government agency. 

Site costs include fees associated with preparing your land for construction, such as earth works, soil tests, retaining walls and other engineering requirements to build the foundations of your home. Site costs also include expenses related to obtaining permits, surveyors and engineering reports, and clearing the site for construction. These costs can vary depending on the size and complexity of your build, as well as the local zoning and building regulations. 

A soil test is used to evaluate the suitability of the soil in which your home will be built. The test looks at the physical features such as the soil's composition and structure, and its chemical properties such as the pH level, nutrient content, and levels of any toxic elements. The results of the soil test will indicate what type of slab you need for your home, whether any soil amendments are required, and any other strategies that should be applied to ensure that your home is safe and secure. 

At DC Living, we will facilitate and manage the soil test on your behalf as part of our home building service. 

A contour survey measures the elevation of the land. The survey provides detailed information about the land including its topography and any changes in elevation across the block. This helps the builder determine where to place the foundations of the home as well as any other structures to ensure a safe and reliable home. 

A contour survey is included as part of the standard inclusions when you build with DC Living. We will facilitate and manage this survey on your behalf. 

A Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) is a rating system used to assess how exposed your building could be in the event of a bushfire. Depending on your block of land, you may need to take extra precautions when building, such as installing special windows or flywire screens.

Your land agent should be able to tell you what BAL rating applies to your block of land. From there, your builder will be able to advise on any additional costs to ensure your home is protected. 

If you have already built a home with DC Living, you can lodge a maintenance request here and someone will be in touch shortly.