Many people think renovating an old house is the way to go. Maybe redo the flooring, put in new tiles, freshen it up. That’s fine. But once you start extending or reworking the structure, it often costs as much as a new build. And after all that, the house is…
We hear it all the time — people sign a contract with a builder, thinking everything’s sorted. And then, boom, just before starting the house, the builder asks for an extra $70,000.00. Why? Well, maybe that “cheap” block was cheap for a reason. Maybe it has a 1.5m fall, so…
A lot of Victorian builders have been going broke recently. And it’s homeowners who’ve been paying the price. If your builder’s struggling financially, you’ll face delays and unexpected costs, at best. At worst, they could abandon you altogether, dishonouring your warranty and leaving you with a construction site instead of…
Imagine you’ve secured the perfect block of land and are finally ready to lock in your designs for your dream home — only to find out there’s a sewer pipe running right across the property. Your builder’s response? “Yeah, you’ll have to make the house smaller now.” This happens more…
You walk into a display home, and it’s stunning. Gleaming stone benchtops, towering ceilings, oversized windows flooding each room with light. And the price? Surprisingly low. But here’s the thing — that’s not actually what you’re signing up for. What you’re seeing is the “showroom model,” packed with high-end features…
Many Melbourne building companies push their supervisors to the limit, with each managing 25 or even 30 houses at a time. When they’re stretched thin like this, communication breaks down, trades fall out of sync, and quality control goes out the window. For you, this means ongoing delays that push…
One small oversight can undo all the good decisions you make when building your dream home — choosing a builder who cuts corners by subcontracting untested or inexperienced trades. Imagine moving into your new custom home, only to find leaks, structural issues, and uneven floors that creak with every step.…
Lured by lower upfront prices, many Melbourne homeowners are rushing to purchase sloping blocks. Yet, the harsh reality is that building on a slope can inflate construction costs by 5 to 40%. More than that, without the right builder, you’re likely to face unexpected expenses and delays as the project…
With land prices rising and blocks getting smaller, it’s tempting to fill every available square metre with as much house as possible. But that approach often backfires. The result? Cramped interiors, wasted space, and no room to breathe outdoors. Instead of a breezy retreat, your home starts to feel more…
When you’re building a custom home, it’s easy to rush the process of choosing a builder. You might even be swayed by a low quote, or feel pressured because you think you’re getting a one-in-a-lifetime deal. But here’s what you might not realise: Many builders cut costs by leaving critical…
With land becoming scarce, Melbourne’s developers are pushing plots that might seem like great deals on the surface – but which hide significant issues beneath. Most people don’t realise Melbourne’s developers are now repurposing land considered unsuitable for homes a decade ago — including blocks with soft soil, uneven terrain…
