Building a house can be distressing, especially with the stories about building costs blowing out while the project runs. Are you a first homeowner who has the same worry? Or are you a homeowner who tries to DIY your home renovation in fear of exceeding the budget?

Whichever the case, we truly understand. However, entrusting the building works to a licensed builder is still the best option. No need to worry about those stories, we got your back. Here we listed some tips to not just stick with your budget but even reduce the building cost.

#1 Be familiar with “site cost”

The site cost is a magic word when it comes to building a property. More often than not, site cost is responsible for additional expenses in building work. Therefore, you have to be familiar with it.

Building on rocky or sloping ground, or having trees that must be removed are some examples of site cost. These conditions require more services than the usual construction work which means more expenses.

The thing about site costs is that they are not typically detailed when a plot is advertised. Unless you are aware of site costs and checked the plot yourself before acquiring, you might pay for additional services.

#2 Keep your dream house simple

As much as you want your first home to be extravagant, we have to be realistic. It is important to get the footprint right and to complete the things that can’t be easily changed in the future. So then you can always extend your house through renovations in the future.

Moreover, simplicity is a trend in Australian architecture these days. Smaller and a more minimalistic home is easier to manage, has a lot of room for improvement and more practical.

Keeping your dream house simple also has to do with your choice of materials. Consider having more conventional basins, benchtops and flooring as that would be cheaper. But if you have a bigger budget, then using expensive fittings is your option as these will eventually pay off when it’s time to resell.

#3 Invest in Sustainable Living

This may not lower the cost of construction but it will have a significant effect in the long run. Sustainable living is another trend in architecture that promotes cost reduction.

By utilizing your location’s airflow, sunlight direction and natural energy you can have a sustainable living. For instance, you can have your windows placed in the direction of the airflow to minimize the use of electric ventilation. However, these elements vary from one location to another. You may want to consult a local builder to help you plan your home’s layout.

#4 Choose low-maintenance options

One of the most expensive things about owning a house is its maintenance. As a first homeowner, you must think about the property’s maintenance before its construction. This can help you save up in the long run.

There are lots of low-cost and low-maintenance options for building materials available in the market today. You will never run out of choices to make your home as low maintenance as possible.

#5 Stick to the plan

Now that you have the necessary information to plan your dream house or renovation, what’s left is to plan. Weigh what can be applied from the tips above. Maybe not everything in this list will work on what you have in mind so you’ll have to discard some. Following just a thing or two will mean a lot already in reducing your building cost.

However, we highly advised that you follow this last tip. Stick to the plan.

Make up your plan, consult it with your chosen builder, revise if needed and stick to it. It can be tempting to add more designs and prolong or shorten the project duration but refrain from doing so. If your budget will not blow out, the building work will be compromised. Therefore, it is with the utmost importance that you follow your plan.

Do you need any help in planning a budget-friendly renovation or building work? Send us a message.

Are you planning on building your own home this year?

Do you already have a builder in mind?

Finding the right builder for these tasks is important because your chosen builder can spell a big difference in the expenses and outcome of your construction project. Therefore, you must choose your builder wisely.

But how would you do that?

There are lots of construction companies in Queensland. There are large firms which provide services to wide housing projects while others are relatively smaller, often run by a local family.

Between the two, who would you choose?

In this blog, we listed some of the benefits of hiring a local family-owned builder for your building and renovation work. Read on to know who to choose for your 2021 project.

#1 Experience

Large firms have extensive experience in building works. However, a local family-owned builder has more experience in working with rural sites and family focused homes.

Large construction firms tend to specialize in wide housing projects while small scale constructions often get smaller projects. So, a local family-owned builder can be more experienced with your construction needs and have local knowledge compared to larger firms.

#2 Price

“Not all that glitter is gold.”

As the popular saying goes, not because it’s fancy and expensive doesn’t mean it’s the best option. Price may be a good parameter to ensure quality. But then, you should always keep in mind that larger firms tend to charge higher regardless.

The good thing about local family-owned builders is that they may offer you the same service with more cost effective outcomes. Who wouldn’t want a less expensive deal of the same quality?

#3 Familiarity with the local area

A local family-owned builder is usually the go-to company whenever there is a renovation need in the neighbourhood. It isn’t surprising if your local family-owned builder knows the community as much as the community knows them.

This familiarity comes with being within the area. Most local family-owned builders started their business in the community where they lived. The climate, historical and cultural factors, as well as the disposition of the neighbourhood, are known to your local builder. This knowledge helps them adjust the building works to minimize possible problems.

#4 Openness for custom-built projects

You would not find the same openness for custom-built projects more than what you will experience with local family-owned builders.  Their previous projects make local family-owned builders familiar with all-sorts of customized renovations and building works. They might even be able to suggest necessary modifications to make your house look and function better.

#5 They are near you

Choosing among the builders within your community could mean two things. First, you can ask your neighbours for referrals. A referral is a good basis when hiring a builder as feedback says a lot about the services a builder offers.

The other one is that they are just a few kilometres away and would like to build again or have a query, your local builders are very accessible.

Conclusion

Working with a local family-owned builder has a lot of benefits. You’ll find when you hire one that there’s more to them than what we have listed here.

Should you need a local builder for your building works? Send us a message today.

Do you ever consider designing your dream home?

If your answer is a “yes”, then we are happy to tell you that it is possible. Yes, it is a reality to have your custom-built home. We are here to help you in every step of your homeowner’s journey.

Now, you may be interested to know what it’s like to have a custom-built home.

Will it be costly?

Will you have a say in every phase of the construction?

Is your idea even feasible?

Those questions are probably running in your mind when you think of doing a custom-built home. We’ll be discussing all of these in this blog. Let’s start.

The right way to start

One of the most difficult phases when building a custom-built home is how to start the project.

Homeowners may think that the right process is to:

• buy a block of land
• hire an architect to design the house
• get a builder to do it

But do you know that this can be very impractical and may even result in blowing out your expenses along the way?

What we suggest is for you to first find a builder, a local one,  who will help you find a block of land.

Why?

It is because local builders are more familiar with the location. This allows them to give you helpful advice when choosing a plot.

Your input will always matter

Since this is a custom-built home, the homeowner has a say in every phase of the project. From planning the house layout to the finishing touches, your input will always matter.

This is one of the benefits of having a custom-built home. If you wish to have a bold and artistic splashback, you can have one installed. If you fancy a flat roof with a few skylights, it will be possible. Everything you want to add to your dream home is just a plan away from happening.

We at Davolyn Constructions are happy to hear our clients’ ideas. As a local family-owned builder, we can also help you come up with the best decisions to make your dream home possible.

Custom-built home can cut future expenses

The idea that custom-built homes will cost so much is what hinders most first time homeowners from choosing this option. However, choosing a custom-built home can actually help you save more money in the future.

Firstly, you can have your home built with sustainable living features to minimize electricity consumption. By simply positioning your windows towards the direction of natural airflow, you could limit the use of your AC. Or if you install enough skylights, you can save up energy by turning off the lights during daytime.

Custom-built homes are also less likely to be renovated in the near future. Considering that all of the materials used are new, repairs wouldn’t be needed so soon.

Conclusion

Davolyn Constructions believe that a home is an important family investment. We know how much you want your dream home to become a reality and we are always willing to make that happen. Should you need our service, we are just a phone call away. Let’s talk.

Brisbane is known for having a favourable climate due to mild winter as compared to other zones. However, the long summer in this tropical zone can be very challenging for some residents as the heat triggers several types of illnesses such as heat stroke, high blood pressure and heart disease, as well as mild diseases such as allergies and heat rashes.

Aside from health risks, the summer heat can also become a threat to your property.  High humidity during summer produces mould and dampness on concrete walls which are responsible for peeling paint. It also invites pests such as dust mites and bugs.  For this reason, air conditioning systems are an absolute necessity for homes in this region.

But then again, the problem of rising energy bills can become an issue. What if we tell you that a passive design can help you save on your energy consumption during the long summers? Would you consider it?

What is Passive Design?

Passive design is a method of constructing a house or other properties which maximises the following features for you to enjoy a natural and cool atmosphere:

• directions
• location of the plot
• materials to be used
• the layout of the interior 
• placement of windows 

It is the general term for several techniques applied by builders and architects in the design and constructing properties. There are more specific strategies to passively cool your home without or with minimal use of air conditioning units and they are detailed below.

Making use of insulators

Insulators, as used in building and construction, are materials which possess great resistance to heat transmission by conduction and convection. Applying insulators in your property will do a lot of help in maintaining cool indoors or lessening the effect of summer heat in your home by repelling the heat from the outside as it is transmitted inside through some materials such as metal roofing which conducts heat. 

Using thermal mass

Thermal masses are construction materials which absorbs heat during daytime and expels it out during night time. Concrete is one of the best examples of this material. Concrete walls are more convenient to use in houses due to this reason. Concrete slabs for floorings are also getting into trend nowadays due to it acting as thermal mass. 

The good thing about thermal mass is that it allows you to have a cool indoor during daytime through heat absorption while diffusing the collected heat during night time when it is cold making the indoor a bit warmer.

Proper placing of windows, shades and other openings

This technique requires knowledgeable builders and architects as the placement of windows shades and openings has several considerations to be effective. Skilled builders know where the windows and other openings like a verandah must be placed to maximize the flow of air from the outdoor to your home. They must also be able to advise which type of windows works best in a given spot as windows can be either a shade or an opening, or both. 

Proper layout of the rooms can also do a great deal to passively cool your home. For instance, in an appropriately designed interior, a single air conditioning unit can be used to cool several rooms at once which will save you from paying for several units per room.

You might have observed that most of the techniques being utilized in passive design need assistance from an experienced builder. Here at Davolyn Constructions, we extend that help for you. We have proven skills in designing properties to provide passive cooling for your summer-ready indoors! Send us a message, today.

Be it your first time to invest in your own house or you are about to move somewhere in Plainland and Lockyer Valley, finding a good lot to build your new home is both exciting and frustrating at the same time.

As property is an investment where your hard-earned fortune will go, it is only natural to be very meticulous in every aspect from the lot to acquire to the actual property which will be turned over to you for occupancy. As fun as it is to plan every detail of your dream house, it also takes a lot of patience to put the plan into reality. For once, if you do not have previous experience in building works, you have a good chance to encounter unreliable contractors who will probably not be able to deliver your envisioned results. Worse if they get you into investing in lots of materials which will present tons of problems in the future. 

It must not be news to you as well that most plots presented to you by property sellers do not look as good in pictures as in the actual. The pictures in property brochures and websites are mainly focused on good spots and were probably taken during appropriate conditions in order for the property to sell. You may want to check the actual property before investing in it which is not only time consuming but can be stressful as well, especially when you are not sure what to check.

If finding an expert to consult regarding your plans for the property you want to build is what you have in mind, we might be able to offer you good advice. 

Have you tried consulting a local builder to find you a plot?

If you are planning to build or renovate a house in the property you will be acquiring, then it is really better to let a local builder seek the ideal land for you and here are some of the reasons why.

Local Builders vs Property Agents

Property agents will most probably sell you properties which are ready for move-in since this will gain them more profit than selling plots. If you want your property to be custom-built according to your design and preferences, then local builders may offer better deals for you.

Local builders will more likely go through lengths to find you a good plot, more so if you will contract them to do the construction. Why? Because the quality and location of the land has much to do with the quality of the house they will be able to finish. 

Local Builders Know the Location Well

Since they operate in the certain area, you can count on local builders to be very familiar with the following factors that may affect the construction of your dream house: 

• neighbourhood
• lifestyle
• climate
• historical attributes 

Local builders will also inform you if the area is closed to bush fire zones and protected sites for natural habitats so you will be advised to find a better location or what you have to do as precautionary measures if ever you are still interested to buy the property.

They Know What Is Possible and Not

One of the most common problems in building your dream property is your own expectations. Not that it is bad to have a firm expectation on what an ideal house is but you should always keep in mind that not everything you want in your property is feasible. This is where local builders can greatly help you.

Since builders are expert at constructing and renovating properties, they can fully guide you with budgeting, designs and materials that will do with the location. You just have to stumble upon a reliable one where you can be open and expect honest recommendations in return, just like here at Davolyn Construction. 

The house you are planning to build will be a shelter to you and your loved ones. You will also place in its construction, a huge sum of money which you earned through hard work. We at Davolyn Construction understand that and you can surely count on local builders like us to make your plans possible. Let’s talk.

Do you have a dream house and you can finally invest in it but you do not have the slightest idea what things to consider in building your very own property? Shall I invest in a custom house or buy an already existing one?

Are you having a hard time making decisions like where to buy a plot?

Are you still thinking if the offer provided you are a good deal?

Things like this can be very frustrating for property seekers and it’s totally fine if you are having such dilemmas, after all, this is where you will be spending your life with the people you love so having demands is only natural. 

However, to answer those bugging questions, you may want to consult someone who has proven experience in properties to help you out. A local builder might just be what you are looking for.

What is a local builder in a nutshell? 

Local builders are construction experts in their particular regions. Given that they operate within a specific area, their knowledge about the climate, danger zones, wildlife sanctuaries and appropriate materials for construction works in their location is unquestionable. Aside from building your dream house, they can very well offer you recommendations on what plot to buy, what materials to use and which will and will not do in the community, all in consideration with the budget you are willing to spend.

Since they have experience in finding plots and properties, you can rely on them to locate a convenient place to build your ideal home. Not only do they know what offers are pricey and cheap but they can also find the good qualities of a plot as well as the flaws, weighing the two in order to recommend the best choice for you. Local builders are also aware of danger zones and reliable ones will inform you ahead so you can properly decide to either push through or find a plot somewhere else.

Local Builders vs National and Project Builders

Unlike national builders or project builders, local builders are more specific, thus you can trust them to be well-versed in what to consider before building your dream house in the community. Though national builders do have a larger scope than local builders, the latter has more connections within the area than a national builder. Ensuring you that you can get a good price in your deals from land acquisition to buying materials.

Being familiar with the neighbourhood, local builders can also save you time scrolling the map if the site you are considering to buy is close to markets, gyms, recreational centres and other public places you may want to go from time to time during your stay. National builders often do not have that more specific knowledge on the community you are planning to move into due to their larger scope. On the other hand, project builders might not be offering you that information as it is not really part of their job. Note that local builders just knew these things because they are part of the community as well.

Local builders take the custom house to a new level

Another good thing about consulting a local builder in making your ideal house is that they are very open to your inputs on how the property should look like. Although some constraints are still in place when designing your dream house, these do not hinder local builders from getting your insights into the plan. Moreover, they are somewhat expert in doing so. Since they are aware of the conditions in the area, they can give you honest and factual advice on what is possible and not. They can also give you the best alternatives for the unfeasible.

Hiring a local builder to help you out in building your dream house has a lot of pros to offer. From land acquisition to finishing touches, you can be sure to rely on your local builder to deliver satisfactory results. You just need to find one who understands your ideals and knows how to make it happen.