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Top Ten Tips When Building
There are many traps and potential pitfalls when building a house. Below are my top ten tips however they are by no means exhaustive. Always seek advice from a range of building professionals at every step of the way.
- When assessing contractor quotes always obtain unit prices for extras. If this is omitted some tradesmen will charge exorbitant amounts.
- Only allow hourly rates to tradesmen you trust and even then monitor closely.
- Only choose tradesmen who have been referred to you and who have a known track record of quality and reliability.
- Most external concreting works will eventually show signs of cracking if not completed properly. Choose the concreter and finish very carefully.
- When employing the services of a builder, contact consumer affairs to see if complaints have been made, contact VCAT to see if there are any orders pending, contact the building control commission to see if they are registered, inspect completed previous projects and talk to former customers.
- Most building faults are the result of poor waterproofing application. It is critical to get this right.
- Work with an experienced interior designer to make sure all fixtures and fittings are placed in the correct position.
- Use an experienced architect to ensure floor plan is functional and window openings are the correct size and positioned correctly to take advantage of natural light. Also make sure you understand how to read architectural drawings.
- Complete a thorough cost assessment and make sure your specification is detailed including make and model number of all appliances.
Decide on your preferred maintenance level and choose materials accordingly.
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