Communication, communication, communication

This is my last article for 2021. Thank you all for the great feedback and support for these articles and the fine work of Master Builders Association of Western Australia (MBA WA) in supporting the housing industry and WA homebuyers.

The building industry is very reliant and, over many years, it has withstood a multitude of challenges and continued to be the backbone of the state and national economy.

The last few years have been one of those periods where the industry has been relied upon to remain operational, stimulate the economy, support local jobs and create apprenticeships by constructing homes, renovations, roads, rail, infrastructure, maintenance and more.

I am extremely proud of our amazing industry, which is one of the country’s finest.

The housing industry has been incredible in having to manage significant state and commonwealth stimulus programs, social housing, massive demand, trade shortages, material shortages, natural disasters and enormous price escalations right through the COVID-19 pandemic.

I expect some of these challenges to continue into 2023, so relationships between clients and builders are more important than ever.

In normal times, we say what’s most important when talking about homes is location, location, location. Right now that has changed to communication, communication, communication.

Builders must ensure clients understand the challenges and are part of the building process. Communication is critical and it’s reasonable for clients to expect their builder to respond to calls reliably and be able to explain clearly what’s happening onsite.

For anyone in the process of building a new home, shortages in building materials could affect the work. Builders may struggle to keep to the schedule and fall behind on their contractual obligations.

For the homeowner who is keen to move into their dream home, setbacks are never welcome.

Again, open and honest communication is essential so builders can explain any products that may be substituted or alternate supplies sourced to meet needs and get work moving forward.

MBA WA is asking homeowners to please take a sensible and caring approach to deal with these issues, where projects are delayed by forces beyond the control of builders. The best way to get through the challenges in the months ahead is for Western Australians to keep talking, keep working and keep looking after each other.

With the stimulus ending, building approvals are slowing, so it’s a good time to consider building or renovating, however research is critical to find the best builder for you and your project.

If you are embarking on that New Year’s resolution and thinking of building or renovating, you should check out the finalists and winners from the 2021 Master Builders-Bankwest Housing Excellence Awards. Stay tuned for the winners of the 2022 awards and ask your builder if he is a Master Builder.

For previous publications and winners go to www.mbawa.com/media/publications.

If you are interested in becoming a member and entering the awards go to www.mbawa.com.

Q&A with MBA Housing and Construction Director Jason Robertson

The Question

I am thinking of renovating my existing house but I am unsure of where to start, with costs and other things. I wanted to investigate it over Christmas. Are there any things I should be considering?

The Answer

Renovating your existing home can appear daunting to start off with. For many, loving where you live is very apt and enhancing what you already have is a fantastic way to continue enjoying all that matters.

It will be project specific but, as a starting point, here are some things to consider.

With renovation projects, one question builders get asked often, and a tough one to answer, is “what’s your square metre rate?”

A common mistake to make is not having well-documented plans and specifications.

One builder may quote $2000 per square metre, yet another has included all finishes and quoted $4000 per square metre. It may not be until well into the project that you realise the items excluded from the price would incur much higher costs when done after handover such as additional light fittings, power points, air-conditioning and painting.

Depending on the vintage of your home and the extent of the planned renovation, building costs can and do vary significantly. Several factors are very important to consider when you are planning a renovation or addition to your existing home.

This will include your site conditions and soil types, and the size of the renovation itself – small additions tend to be more expensive when broken down to a square metre rate than larger ones. Your soil type can and will influence requirements for your footings/slab and drainage considerations. This is something to definitely look at and understand.

The style of building – whether you are matching existing ceiling heights and materials – where on your site are you building, whether you are building a second-storey or building up to the boundary are seemingly simple things to get curious about.

Finishes, selections and features can vary the price of work significantly, so pay attention to these. And often, existing building modifications are required. The home may need to be rewired or perhaps the roof design modified to make way for additions.

Ultimately, spend some time thinking about it and chat with your builder. As often mentioned, communication is key and helps with expectations.

Merry Christmas.

CONTACT Master Builders WA, 9476 9800, www.mbawa.com