Building a house is like baking a cake; it starts with a vision, a dash of concrete, and a sprinkle of dreams. In my case, it also involved a lot of frantic queries and last-minute research, as I was unaware of the steps needed to build a house.

After my mishap, I didn’t want another Perthite to go through the same thing, so I made this comprehensive guide! Grab your metaphorical hardhat and let’s discuss the stages you must undertake to build your new home.

Stage 1: Research

As the famous saying goes, preparation is key to everything. That’s why I’m in favour of doing some research first before committing to something huge and expensive like constructing a house in Perth.

During this stage, you can learn about various building styles and ideas that are popular nowadays. See whether concepts like indoor-outdoor living and open floor plans are the perfect fit for your dream home.

Furthermore, you’ll also have the chance to know how much the average cost is to build a house in the city. With this knowledge, you can prepare a sound budget that you can prepare for months or years in advance.

Most importantly, you can use this chance to ask various experts about whether your plans for your dream house are feasible or not. Listen to their input closely, and be prepared to make some alterations to your plans when needed.

Stage 2: Finding the Right Land to Construct Your Home On

Sadly, finding the best land to build your house on can be a tedious and long process. During this stage, you’ll need to find a location that’s within your budget while also having enough space for your dream home.

And that’s not all, as you’ll also need to consider whether the location is suitable for your lifestyle. Check whether the land is close enough to amenities like public transit stations, supermarkets, hospitals, and major highways.

If you’re planning on starting a family, it’s also important that your future home is near a school so your kids won’t have any problems attending classes.

Aside from your lifestyle, you must also consider additional factors like soil quality, slope, drainage, and flood risk when choosing land. I highly suggest you do a thorough site inspection to identify any potential challenges early on.

Stage 3: Choosing the Perfect Home Builder

Now that you have land and a rough idea of what your house should look like, it’s time to find the perfect home builder who can help turn your dream home into reality. 

With so many options available in the city, you might find yourself having a hard time picking one! That’s why it’s crucial to pay close attention to reviews, as they can provide you with an honest look into these various companies.

Once you’ve trimmed down your list of home builders you’re interested in, it’s time to evaluate whether they have the necessary skills and expertise to actually commit to your ideas.

Research whether they can accommodate custom designs and implement modern building techniques like passive solar house designs. It also wouldn’t hurt to review their portfolios so you can get a clear idea of the extent of their capabilities.

For more information on how to choose the best builder for your home, check out this handy guide.

Stage 4: Planning and Designing Your Home

Planning and designing your home is a crucial stage in the process of house construction. No matter how long it takes you to build a home, this is one stage you simply can’t skip.

During this phase, you will work with architects, engineers, and other professionals to create a blueprint that reflects your vision for the home.

Here, you’ll have the chance to choose from one of your builder’s pre-designed homes and make any slight alterations to ensure the design will fit your exact needs and wants.

Going for this route is always a great idea, as your builder already has a set price that they can give you. Furthermore, your builder won’t have a hard time meeting deadlines as they are already used to working with a pre-designed house.

Of course, a downside that comes with this option is that you won’t have much room to include any customisations or modifications.

Alternatively, you may also go with a fully customised home, especially if you have a specific idea in mind. Opting for a customised home is not a bad idea, as you can tailor the house’s layout, room sizes, and other features to your preferences.

Just make sure you’re ready to take on any additional costs for your project. Since your builder will be working from scratch, they’ll need to spend more time and manpower to plan a house that’s up to your specifications.

Furthermore, customised homes may sometimes take longer to build because your builder might need to implement new construction techniques and train their staff on how to do them.

Make sure to weigh both options carefully and choose according to what you really want and need.

Stage 5: Securing the Necessary Permits

Like most construction projects, it’s necessary that you have the proper paperwork and permits before you can begin building your house. Typically, this stage will be handled by your house builder. If that’s not the case, here’s what you need to know.

When it comes to residential homes, you’ll need the Building Permit Uncertified. This permit requires that a licensed surveyor review the proposed plans to verify their compliance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and other relevant standards.

Thankfully, you won’t need to hire an external building surveyor because one of the City of Perth’s building surveyors will conduct the technical assessment.

Once the surveyor has deemed that everything is in order, you will be granted a building permit and can begin construction immediately.

Stage 6: Preparing the Construction Site

Now that you’re almost about to begin the construction of your home, there’s one last stage left to do: prepare the construction site. This step involves several essential tasks that lay the foundation for a successful building project.

Firstly, the site will undergo a thorough evaluation and soil testing. This step uses geotechnical investigations to ensure that the soil’s properties are well understood. It can also help determine the soil’s load-bearing capacity, type, and behaviour.

After this comes site clearing to remove any rocks, trees, and debris in the area. The land will also undergo grading to ensure the ground is level and properly shaped for construction. 

If your builder deems it necessary, an anti-termite treatment might also be conducted to prevent termite infestations during construction.

Once that’s done, your builder’s surveyors will mark boundaries and establish reference points around the property, as they are crucial for precise measurements and accurate positioning of the building.

They will also map any underground services that run underneath your land, like water pipes and internet cables, to prevent them from disrupting construction.

Finally, your builder will then start digging trenches for foundations, basements, and utilities. They will also begin planning your property’s drainage system to prevent water accumulation around your future house.

Stage 7: Construction

Now that everything is ready, it’s time to move forward with building the house itself! A lot happens during this stage, from laying the foundation to last-minute inspections, which makes this part one of the longest ones to complete. 

Now let’s go into a bit more detail about the various steps you’ll encounter during the construction stage.

Stage 7.1: Laying the Foundation

Let’s start with the most critical part of your house, its foundation. Serving as the bedrock of your house, a strong foundation is a must to ensure your house can withstand both structural and environmental stresses.

After doing the necessary excavations, your builder will start by setting up batter boards to hold the layout lines and indicate the limits of the foundation.

Then, your builder will start preparing the footings and reinforcing them with steel bars. After a quick inspection to test their strength, concrete is poured into the trenches to finish this initial stage.

Stage 7.2: Framing Your Home

Once the foundation’s concrete hardens, the construction will then move on to another crucial step: framing your home. During this step, your builder will place the structural skeleton that defines the shape of the house and the layout of the rooms.

Depending on your budget and preference, this step may either use timber or steel to construct the frame. Timber is abundant and cheap, however, it also has a tendency to rot away within a few years if not treated or cured before installation.

Meanwhile, steel is more expensive, but it’s stronger than wood and can significantly support more weight.

Stage 7.3: Building the Structural Elements

Now that the skeleton of your house is set, the construction of its structural elements can begin. 

This stage involves assembling and constructing the fundamental components of your house, which are used to safely support and transmit applied loads to the ground without exceeding allowable stresses in the other parts of the house.

These components typically include beams, columns, walls, floors, roofs, foundations, and other parts that contribute to the overall stability of the house. 

They are often made from materials such as steel, concrete, wood, or a combination of these.

Stage 7.4: Installation of Electrical and Plumbing Systems

Another crucial step that takes place during house construction is the installation of utility systems in your house. During this stage, electrical lines and plumbing will be installed throughout the walls to ensure water and electricity are available 24/7.

Additionally, this is also the time when a proper sewage system will be installed underneath your house, like septic tanks and sewage pipes that connect to the city’s sewage system.

Stage 7.5: Interior Design

We’re now reaching the end stages of construction! Once the utility lines are installed, it’s time for your house builder to go forward with constructing the interior design to transform your property into a liveable home.

In this stage, your builder will work closely with an interior designer to create a floor plan, select a colour scheme, and arrange a comprehensive lighting plan considering natural and artificial light sources.

After this comes the actual construction part, as new additions to your home like drywall, cabinets, flooring, and lights are installed inside the house. This is also when your house will be given a fresh coat of paint.

Stage 7.6: Performing Touch-ups and Quality Control Inspections

After so many months, it’s finally over! However, before your builder can officially turn over the house to you, it’s essential that a quality control inspection be done to ensure it’s safe to live in.

During this step, the building site manager will invite you for an inspection of the house so you can see whether there are still some things that need to be redone or improved.

If you want to be doubly sure that your house is up to standards, I suggest that you invite an independent building consultant who will assess whether your house is built according to your exact specifications.

Stage 8: Final Handover

Now that everything is finished and ready, it’s time to finally receive the house you’ve waited for so long to get. At this stage, you only need to pay any remaining balance you might have with your builder.

Once that’s done, you’ll receive the keys to the house and get access to essential documents and warranties. I suggest you ask your builder about the specifics of these documents, especially about things like their warranty coverage policy.

After that, you can finally enter your home and begin moving in your furniture and belongings. Don’t forget to celebrate your success with your friends and family!