Can You Design Your Own House in Australia?

When pre-designed home plans available from project builders don’t suit your needs, what can you do? If you take a look around a typical Australian suburb, it seems that most new builds today are by project builders and don’t allow for much customisation. While that may suit some people, it isn’t your style, and you want to start from scratch to make sure your home meets your needs. But can it even be done?

This article explores whether you can design your own house in Australia and breaks down some of the finer details. For personalised advice, contact our team at Varcon Group today.

Things to Consider When Designing Your Own House

When you’ve decided to design your own house, it’s essential to:

1. Do Your Research

Although it may seem daunting to begin with, designing your own house may be simpler than you think when broken down into small steps. Think about the following, one by one:

• The location you want to build in
• The amenities you want nearby, such as schools or shopping centres
• How large you want your home to be
• Your ideal timeframe
• Any sustainability features you may want to include

2. Decide Your Budget

Your budget will be one of the main factors for your build, so it’s crucial to ensure yours is realistic— and to stick to it. Communicate with your builder upfront and throughout the build to keep from overspending, and to make sure you allocate your funds to where you most want them to go. Some elements may be more important to you than others, so it’s wise to keep these in mind and not get lost, overspending in other areas and needing to make compromises later.

3. Design Your Floor Plan

Define your style by looking at various home designs and taking note of what appeals to you. Creating a mood board is helpful here, or simply saving pictures to a folder on your computer. Consider factors like:

• Room sizes
• Window sizes
• Exterior cladding
• Interior design style
• Landscape design
• Lighting fixtures
• Heating and cooling systems
• Smart technology
• Sustainable features

The Construction Process

Building a new home involves several stages, each with its own timeline and considerations.

1. Site and Foundation— 1-2 Months

This phase includes preparing the construction site, leveling the ground, and building supporting walls if necessary. Then, your builder will lay the foundation, which involves pouring the footings installing drainage systems, and moisture barriers.

2. Framing— 1-2 Months

Once the foundation is set, your builder will construct the house’s shell or frame. This includes building the exterior walls and installing roof sheeting, gutters, cladding, and insulation. Meanwhile, electricians will lay electricity cables, and plumbers will install water and gas lines.

3. Lockup— 1-2 Months

The lockup stage involves installing exterior doors and windows, making your new home waterproof. This allows for plumbers, electricians, and other trades to conduct the work they need to do inside.

4. Fitout— 2-3 Months

All the internal fixtures and fittings are installed during the fitout stage. This includes lighting, power points, cabinetry, benchtops, tiling, tapware, baths, shower screens, and more.

5. Practical Completion— 1 Month

Your new home undergoes a thorough inspection in the final stage to ensure all work is up to code, looks good, and functions well. This includes checking all painting, installations, detailing, and appliances. If there are any issues or defects, these will be addressed before the final handover.

Read related article: Cost of Building a New Home in Victoria