Here's a simple way to think about it. Let's say you've got $700,000 and you want to build. That sounds like plenty. But by the time you account for the block, council fees, engineering reports, energy rating certificates, landscaping, driveway, fencing and GST — the actual build budget can be a fair bit less than that headline number. I've had people come to me genuinely surprised that the home they've been dreaming about doesn't fit the budget they thought they had.
The best thing you can do early on is be upfront about your numbers. Tell your home builder exactly what you've got to work with. A good builder isn't going to try to talk you into spending more than you can afford — we're going to tell you honestly what's achievable and where we might need to make some calls.
Something else worth knowing is the difference between your "dream list" and your "must-have list." When you sit down to plan your unique home, write everything down first — all of it, no filter. Then go through and divide it into two groups: what you can't live without, and what you'd love if the budget stretches. That way, if we need to make some compromises, you know which things stay and which things can wait.
As a Mackay builder working with custom builds, I see this all the time — the people who are upfront about their budget from the start end up with a much better outcome than those who try to keep it close to the chest. We can only help you properly when we know what we're actually working with. Being customer focused starts with that honest first conversation.
If you want to talk through what's possible for your budget in Mackay, come and see us. Head to inh.com.au/Mackay and let's work it out together.
