Building a house in Australia does not have to compromise your financial stability. It’s possible to do things that will not require you to go over budget. It would all depend on your perspective and careful planning.
Building a house in 2022 in Australia could cost you around $473,000. This is why most people can take years before they get to build their dream home. House building is simply costly. But there are ways to save money. So much so that if you’d apply everything that we’d list here, you could even end up saving thousands of dollars!
You can build your dream house now even if you have a limited budget. We got you covered! This post will give you everything you need to build in the cheapest way possible in Australia. This will go beyond advice that will tell you to look for single storey home designs and carefully budget. There is so much more that you can do! Read on, take notes, and enjoy the building process!
5 Effective Ways to Save on Costs When Building a House in Australia in 2022
Hack #1: Choose an area that is not populated.
You will cut your expenditures in half if you’d be wise enough to choose a location that is less populated. For this, you would have to be ready to give up looking for lots in big Australian cities that are densely populated. Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney, and the likes will be out of the picture.
This trick will surprise you immensely. You’d be amazed at how just one change in your research target will help to cut your expenditures in a big way. To do this properly you first have to enlist all less populated areas in Australia. Once you have the list, you may then order them according to their median house prices. Choose one that will fit your budget best.
Hack #2: Choose a good block of land.
Your spending will start even before your contractor starts building your house. You would need to spend on surveys, soil tests, permits, and more. To secure that you don’t spend as much on such preparatory tasks, you should endeavor to look for a good block of land that will not give you the following problems:
- limited site access
- site restrictions
- slope issues
- topography issues
Choosing a sloping lot, for instance, will require you to spend money to make the site ideal for home building. This is not smart at all as your budget will easily run out. When choosing a lot, ensure that such a lot has easy access for builders. Ensure that all materials can be easily transported to your lot of choice.
Hack #3: Consider prefabricated options.
You’d also get to save so much money if you’d look into prefabricated options. Looking into ready-made homes might just be the best way to spend as little as possible. Tiny homes are really popular these days because more and more people are enjoying living a minimalist lifestyle. All you have to do is research and shop around for tiny homes. Ready-made homes are getting ever affordable and accessible in the market.
Don’t be discouraged by the idea of ‘tiny’ as these prefabricated options also come in different sizes. You can even join two separate ones to build a modular home. The following are the additional perks that you would enjoy if you’d consider prefabricated options:
- shorter construction time
- absolute quality control
- mobility
- design versatility
- full budget control
Hack #4: Build on a need basis.
You will end up spending less if you repeat this mantra again and again: build only what you need. You’d be surprised at how fast and affordable everything will be if you’d return to the basics and truly opt for a house with essential design features. The simpler your design and vision, the less you’d spend.
If you have a little family and will only need three bedrooms, don’t go all out in building a double-storey house with six bedrooms. One with three bedrooms will do. To make the most out of building on a need basis, choose to prioritize home features that you and your family truly need. Skip on items and fixtures that are not true to your lifestyle. PRO TIP: Ensure that your house design maximizes natural light.
Hack #5: Choose basic fittings and finishes.
Most homeowners end up overspending once the building process reaches the part where fittings and finishes need to be installed. You can and you should avoid this situation at all costs. It will be pointless to look for a good lot and a less populated area if you’d end up overspending on fittings and finishes anyway. Skip on fancy options that will require you to spend more. So long as an item will get the job done, such an item will already be a perfect fit. You do not need to have expensive items at all. You should also consider reading about minimalism. Consider the following tips from minimalist house design experts:
- prioritize function above everything else
- aim for clean lines
- choose neutral walls
- optimize natural light
- utilize mirrors
- rethink staircases
- opt for simple lighting
