Building a Custom Home in Melbourne - Any Recommendations?

LChiTown on 18/03/2022 - 17:13
Last edited 18/03/2022 - 20:12

Looking at building our forever home and we've come across so many builders who promise the world but in reality we're likely just a transaction for them so we'd like to get some feedback on builders from those who've recently built a full custom home in Melbourne.

We're looking at going with a modern/comtemporary design, 45-50 squares and our budget is approx. $1.2m for the build (inc site costs).

Looks like Thomas Archer has more or less the look we're going for, something like this:
https://thomasarcher.com.au/gallery/the-gallery/

The place is actually going for auction this weekend:
https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-bentleigh+e…

Cheers!

Home & Garden

Comments

  • oscargamer on 18/03/2022 - 17:18
    +5

    Whoever you go with, get an independent surveyor to assess the build as it progresses.

    • ChiTown on 18/03/2022 - 17:23
      +1

      Yep we're definitely going to do that! We'll also get a lawyer to go over the contract before signing.
      Can never be too careful with builders, especially when there's so many different sub contractors involved.

  • brendanm on 18/03/2022 - 17:37
    +2

    45-50 sqm and our budget is approx. $1.2m for the build.

    $24k per sqm should get a pretty good finish 😂

    • Euphemistic on 18/03/2022 - 17:42

      Double garages are expensive these days.

    • iDroid on 18/03/2022 - 17:50

      I heard inflation was in full swing, but holy moly things are getting rough.

    • TheBilly on 18/03/2022 - 18:10

      45-50 * 9.5m2 I think is what they meant… Otherwise they would be building their forever granny flat

      • pharkurnell on 18/03/2022 - 19:21

        this is going to end well….

      • ChiTown on 18/03/2022 - 20:16

        That would be quite a nice granny flat though…haha

      • brendanm on 19/03/2022 - 19:28

        Yes, I understand op meant squares when they typed sqm, just thought it was funny to imagine how a tiny house would end up with a $1m+ budget.

  • oO0Dam0Oo on 18/03/2022 - 18:42

    Depends on the style you are after but these guys come highly recommended with lots of awards Bespoke Homes. These are the guys we are going with for our next build.

    • ChiTown on 18/03/2022 - 20:13

      Thanks! Will definitely take a look at them :)

  • SF3 on 18/03/2022 - 19:28

    comteporary design

    Sounds very alternate, niche… that could only mean costing more $$ than a contemporary design

    • ChiTown on 18/03/2022 - 20:13

      haha cheers, fixed up.

  • voo123 on 18/03/2022 - 19:29

    latitude 37 are reputable custom builders.
    Unique living homes seem to build nice higher end homes too.

    • ChiTown on 18/03/2022 - 20:15

      Yea those guys build some nice homes, sadly their estimate was around the $1.5m mark so we're priced out.

  • godofpizza on 18/03/2022 - 19:54

    do you have land already? does the 1.2mil include site costs?

    • ChiTown on 18/03/2022 - 20:14

      Yep already have the land, yep $1.2m inc site costs (i've edited the post to include that now, thanks!)

      • godofpizza on 18/03/2022 - 21:54

        is there a slope on the land? some builder ( mostly volumne ones) might not touch land with large falls.

  • RiseAndRuin on 18/03/2022 - 20:34

    What suburb are you building in?

    • ChiTown on 18/03/2022 - 20:58

      Ashwood

  • popsiee on 18/03/2022 - 21:03

    I'm not sure you will get your forever home with the shonky modern building practices and materials .

    • voo123 on 18/03/2022 - 22:01

      the smaller custom builders do nice homes, as they have a reputation to uphold. As long as you do the legwork in terms of materials and upgrades, it would be a good home.

    • kiitos on 19/03/2022 - 09:54

      Which modern building materials are shonky?

  • hasselbladsnapper on 18/03/2022 - 22:23

    Get a proper (QS) quantity survey done, we did with our custom design home after a building trade friend suggested this. Wow what a tool, at the time we had quotes of $530 to $1.2m our QS had it around $545K. We went with the $530k quote as it was a small long term family builders 20yr+. There was a fixed price, and we had no cost increase during the build except a few hundred extra for plywood floors rather than particle board. Don't expect to finish on time, and look after the trades well (Beer & Quality burgers!).

    We had a shortlist of 4 out of around 20 we contacted, the QS drove them a bit nuts, as we had a tool to keep them honest! - good luck.

    • voo123 on 18/03/2022 - 22:29

      QS is good in a normal market. However, the good builders are booked out nowadays so they won't care about what a QS comes up with, they can pick and choose clients. Looking after the trades well is a good idea. When my parents went through a custom builder many decades ago, they would come on site once a week and buy tradies some takeaway food and cold drinks. This doesnt cost much but builds a lot of good relations. The tradies did a good job.

  • voo123 on 18/03/2022 - 22:34
    +1

    Thomas Archer do nice homes as well. Check out a couple of build threads from Thomas Archer on homeone.

  • hasselbladsnapper on 18/03/2022 - 22:36

    Exactly!, my builder had heaps of trouble getting his trades to go to his other contracts, I did the treats each 1-2 weeks, and I was working most day's at the site, that is a good way to make things work out well. I picked up several issues and had them sorted asap. Regardless, keep in touch with the build as much as is possible.

  • abhi007cruise on 19/03/2022 - 07:56

    G'day @ChiTown I know a custom builder as they are our client (I am a director at an audit and assurance company here based in Melbourne CBD). I promise this is not a sales pitch of any kind but more of a pay it forward. If you are serious about this, I would love to introduce you to the director of that company. All I can say about this company is they are honest builders and have been going around for more than 48 years. I am not sure about the protocols of ozbargain and want to be respectful to the rules. What would be the best way to organise an introduction? Am I able to post here my linkedin so you can get in touch with me outside ozbargain etc.

    Disclaimer: I know you have mentioned your budget but offcourse it would be a discussion for you to have with the company I am going to recommend.

    Since posting this message, if you had already found a custom builder, then best wishes.

    Looking forward to hearing from you.

    Cheers

    Abhi

    • ChiTown on 19/03/2022 - 18:28
      +1

      Have messaged you, thanks!

  • The tiger on 19/03/2022 - 09:43

    It will be the most horrible nightmare if you try to build your home by getting home builders in Melbourne.Prepare to have a lot of unpleasant arguments such as sudden price increase during construction, different designs , paints colour different from original request etc etc . Worst building construction time delays and delayed.I heard so much of it from those in home auction attendance . It is better to buy you a second hand house outrightor a new completed one; life would be much easier then submerging yourself in long time arguments for a not a little much of period out of your life time.

  • penting on 19/03/2022 - 10:39
    +1

    Have a look at latitude37.

    Never build with them but their design is quite good.

  • whatthecrappin on 19/03/2022 - 19:02

    I went custom - all I can say is - mine went a long way by providing a list of houses he'd built so I could go and see them prior (I've no idea if my house was on his list :P) but saying that he obviously did ask permission to show a propective client my home.
    The last thing our builder did was provide a house number for our letter box in chrome with his logo on it

    I dont think he's around now (covid really hurt his industry), so I'm tipping any builder that survived it really must know what they're doing

    Basically - get real references!

    • voo123 on 19/03/2022 - 23:51

      The smaller builders suffer during this time because they cant get supplies in a timely manner. Their purchasing power isnt great. The suppliers look after the big boys first as they’ve got a long standing relationship. Quite sad really, as theres some smaller builders who really do ensure the homes are built correctly.

  • MadeIt on 24/07/2023 - 21:26

    @ChiTown I’m looking at Thomas Archer atm, keen to know if you’re building with them and what you’re experience is?

  • Kingsway on 30/07/2023 - 21:01

    @ChiTown mind sharing who your custom builder is?

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