Common Misconceptions About Building a Bespoke Home

If you’re toying with the idea but are hesitant to take the first step, it may be because you’re concerned about one (or a combination) of these factors: an extensive build time, exorbitant costs or an onerous build process.

There are plenty of benefits to building a bespoke home, however, it can seem daunting if you’re not sure what to expect.

While each are valid concerns, you shouldn’t be too quick to rule out a bespoke build. Here we’ve dispelled some common misconceptions about building a custom home to help you assess if it could be a good option for you.

MISCONCEPTION #1: YOU’LL NEED TO ALLOW FOR A LONG BUILD TIME

Yes, it’s true—a custom home build will take longer than an off-the-plan or spec home build (and for good reason), but it might not be as long as you think.

While building timeframes will vary based on the individual project, you can usually expect the design phase for a bespoke home to take around six months, with construction requiring approximately 9-12 months. You’ll also need to factor in some time to obtain permit approval.

Detail does take time, but in most cases, an experienced builder should be able to adhere to the agreed timeline. The number one cause for schedule blowouts is to accommodate last-minute alterations to your building plans, so if you’re building to a tight time frame, it’s crucial you get your plans right the first time.

By dedicating a little extra time to some careful planning during the initial design phase, you can avoid the need to make changes to your plans as the build progresses and make sticking to the project schedule a more feasible prospect.

The key here is to choose an architect and builder that will support you through the process and help you make the right decisions, the first time.

At APC Build, we work closely with our clients from the initial design phase through to construction, ensuring we can provide you with the information you need to make the optimal selections from the get-go. A rushed decision is rarely the right one, which is why we also ensure you have enough time to carefully consider the options and finalise your designs without impacting the building program.

MISCONCEPTION #2: IT COSTS THE EARTH

‘Custom’ and ‘cost-controlled’ are two terms that rarely go hand-in-hand, however, it is possible to build a bespoke home without blowing the budget.

Cost is always an important factor when building a home and most clients simply can’t afford an unexpected cost blowout. Aside from making last-minute changes to the home design, a common reason why a custom home build could end up costing more than anticipated is because of inaccurate cost quoting by your builder.

The trick here is to get your builder involved early in the piece. Customers often approach us with completed designs with very little understanding of the cost of construction, only to find their budget can’t accommodate their grandiose plans. That’s why we encourage our clients to engage us during the initial stages of the design phase.

At APC Build, we have the resources to guide you through the entire process, always ensuring budget and design are afforded equal consideration.

Our unique capability to accurately cost projects at an early design stage gives our customers complete confidence that they won’t encounter any nasty surprises after construction has started. We also make sure our clients understand where their dollars are being spent and offer our expert advice to help them get the most for their money by allocating budget to the places that are most important to them.

MISCONCEPTION #3: IT’S DIFFICULT TO MANAGE

If the prospect of having to manage the design, budget, council approvals and timeline for your custom home build seems overwhelming, there is a simple solution—select a builder that can do it all for you.

At APC Build, we offer a design and construct concept service where we’ll manage every aspect of the build for you. While you will of course need (and most likely want) to be involved at key stages throughout the project, we’ll ensure your experience is a positive one by taking care of all the finer details.

With extensive experience building bespoke homes and multi-residency projects including heritage-listed property works and builds which require a town planning permit, we’re well equipped to handle even the most complex requirements. Currently building across all Melbourne suburbs, we invite you to view some of our previous projects or get in touch with us to discuss your bespoke project.