Buying a home is for most people, one of the biggest investments they’ll ever make, and yet many people tend to throw caution to the wind when they’re searching for their ideal home. So many people make hasty decisions when it comes to house and land packages, and just as many end up losing a considerable amount of money due to dishonest home builders.
No matter where about in the country you are, buying a property can be tricky business. If for example you decide to buy a secondhand home, you could end up with a property that’s going to require very costly repairs in the near future. On the other hand, if you opt for a new build, you have many hidden expenses.
These could include things like planning permission, regular inspections by your local building inspector, and depending on the area, you may even need to pay money in order to get a power supply to your property. On top of everything else, you could have the misfortune of dealing with a crooked building contractor.
These are all things which have lead to the current trend where people buy a piece of land off a developer, and that developer then also builds their home. These house and land packages have a number of advantages. To begin with, many of the developers who offer these packages are well established companies.
They have staff in place to take care of all legalities, they have home designers, landscapers, and of course their own builders. Many of the larger developers will also have a range of different home designs, some of which include pre-approved house plans. If you choose one of these designs, the plans will still have to be approved, but process will almost always be seamless since the plans will have been used several times in the past.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to house and land packages is they get tempted by very low prices. As with so many other things in life, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Remember, nobody is going to sell their land far below the market value. The only time you might be able to find a property below market value is by attending auctions.
Many people also make the mistake of hiring the first home builders they come across. They arrange a meeting with a building contractor, and they hire them simply because they seem like nice honest people. Choosing a builder is not only about finding an honest builder. Even the most honest builder in the world can cause you financial loss, albeit unintentionally.
Experience is just as important as honesty. If your builder has to knock something down and then rebuild it, they’ll almost certainly try to recover their losses in one way or another. This is why you need a builder that does it right the first time, every time. You need a builder that’s willing to work with you every step of the way should you require any changes to be made to the original plan.
There are plenty of good house and land packages available, but no matter how tempted you might be by one of them, you should never be overly hasty to sign on the dotted line. It’s a big investment, and as with all big investments, it requires proper planning.