10 Questions to Ask Wollongong Builders

Here are 10 questions that you should be asking your potential Wollongong project home builders, and why:

1. DO YOU HAVE HOME DESIGNS THAT ARE SUITED TO MY COASTAL AREA?

Good project home builders should have a broad range of house designs available to choose from, which should cater to the modern lifestyle, individual style preferences and different locations and surrounds.

Here at Mincove Homes, we have a beautiful selection of carefully designed homes that feature functional elements and aesthetics suited to coastal Wollongong living, such as relaxed, open plan, indoor/outdoor living areas, fresh neutral colour palettes and the use of natural textures.

To view our range of home designs and to explore your different facade options, click here.

2. DO YOU USE YOUR OWN LOCAL TRADES?

Here at Mincove Homes, we employ our own local based trades to help maintain our high standard of quality.

Some Wollongong builders may use and have working relationships with Sydney based subcontractors/trades. Using Sydney based subcontractors from Wollongong could work out to be more expensive than using local subcontractors, as workers coming from Sydney are likely to charge for travel, whilst their cost of materials could also be slightly dearer.

Looking at reliability, local subcontractors could also be perceived as more ‘accessible’, ensuring additional ease throughout your build process.

3) DO YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE BUILDING ON SLOPING BLOCKS?

As Wollongong is a particularly hilly coastal town, you may require the expertise of a project home builder who has experience building on sloping blocks of land, as well as standard split-level home designs.

A sloped block of land will add additional demands onto your building requirements.

Therefore, it is important to discuss any concerns you have about your block of land with your builder Wollongong builder, to ensure that they are fully equipped to handle the challenges, and so that you do not stumble across any unforeseen costs during the construction process.

4) DO YOU BUILD TO ACCOMMODATE FLOOD ZONE AREAS?

Due its location at the foot of the Illawarra Escarpment, Wollongong is particularly prone to flash flooding.

Therefore, one of the first things that needs to be addressed when looking to build in the Wollongong area is a risk assessment of the probable flood depth that the house will be subjected to – so make sure to ask your potential builder if they will arrange this for you.

The key reason for this risk assessment is because any house that is likely to flood to a depth of 500mm or more, should not be built with the intention of keeping water out as this could cause the house to collapse due to hydrostatic pressure.

An alternative is to design the home using resilient materials in order to minimise potential damage from flooding, as well as giving the house a chance to dry out after the flood is over.

Resilient materials include the foundations themselves, the timber you are working with, insulation, bricks, doors, flooring and the walls within the home.

5) DO YOU WORK WITH SUPPLIERS WHO PROVIDE QUALITY WEATHER PROOF PRODUCTS?

As well as to address the above mentioned potential flood issues – when building close to the coast it’s best to opt for corrosive-resistant materials that are durable and capable of withstanding the harsher conditions, including high salt exposure, humidity, moisture and strong winds.

Here at Mincove Homes, we work with a range of reputable local companies who uphold the same standards of excellence we pride ourselves on, such as Colorbond – who has developed a corrosive-resistant metal cladding (and roofing) recommended for use in a seaside environment.

6) WILL YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OUR LOCAL BUILDING REGULATIONS?

Local councils usually have different regulations for building in coastal areas. These could include how far from the beach you can build, the style of home, glazing choices, roof structures and also the types of building materials to be used.

Before starting any new build, you should ask your potential builder/s if they will check with your local council or building regulation body for you, to understand your obligations so that you can ensure building approval for your dream coastal home.

7) WILL YOU LET ME CUSTOMISE ONE OF YOUR STANDARD DESIGNS?

You may fall in love with one of your project home builders’ home designs, but also want to make changes to maximise the attributes of your block.

For example, you may want to incorporate windows that take advantage of views, natural light and air flow, or incorporate design elements that help protect you from harsh winds or the movement of the sun.

If you think your building site is difficult or you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, here at Mincove Homes we are the perfect choice for custom builds! Click here for more information.

8) DO YOU DO KNOCK DOWN AND REBUILDS?

Found the perfect block of Wollongong land, with a not so perfect house on it? You will be seeking a project home builder who offers a knock down and rebuild service.

With over 18 of experience, Mincove Homes is your reputable, dependable and award winning local Knock Down Rebuild specialist in the Wollongong and Illawarra area.

9) DO YOU PROVIDE FIXED PRICE QUOTES?

Not all builders will provide them! Fixed price quotes ensure that both you and your builder have agreed on a total sum for the build, which external factors such as time extensions cannot affect.

Here at Mincove Homes, we offer a fixed price tender which is secured with a non-refundable initial deposit of $2,500. We then commence organising all of the necessary reports and approvals for your new home for you.

10) DO YOU HAVE DISPLAY HOMES NEAR WOLLONGONG THAT I CAN SEE?

We have two beautiful display homes (the Ridgewood and the Oakwood) in the Illawarra’s largest display home village at Calderwood Valley, which is only a 25 minute drive from Wollongong.

We now also have two brand new display homes (the Callala and the Milton) in South Nowra’s Green Orchid Gardens Estate at 109 Quinns Lane, South Nowra.