FAQs
What is a floorplan?
This is the layout of the home and will show you what design options you can make to the standard floorplan. For example, you may want to add an alfresco or rumpus room. The floorplan will give you the dimensions of each room and tell you what size block you need to build this house.
Please note: The required block sizes nominated for each house are based off the standard plan. If you start to add design options (which affect the footprint of your home) you need to check that your block can accommodate these changes.
What is a facade?
This is the front of the house aka what you see from the street. If you are looking at a display home and love the internal layout but don’t like the look from the front don’t be disheartened; it will be interchangeable, meaning you can have the same house design with a completely different external look.
There are usually around 4-8 different facades for each house type, so ask your Sales Consultant to see the range for your desired design.
If I see something in a display can I have it?
Yes. If it is in the same display home that you are asking for a quote on. All the items that are showcased in our displays (design elements or structural) are available in that particular house design. (Furniture, rug, prints, etc are excluded).
The sales consultant can add any additional items you have seen in the display home into your quote as you request.
NOTE: Should you have seen a display enhancement you like in one home and want this item, or floorplan, change applied to a different house design, you will need to speak to a sale consultant. Please be aware that this may not be feasible due to the structural differences between the two individual house designs.
Is the furniture in a display home ever for sale?
Yes. When we close a display, the person who has purchased the actual display home has first choice, and we will then hold a sale on what’s left. You must attend on the day of the sale and arrange any transportation for purchases where required. Lists of sale items are not made available prior.
If I see something in a display can I have it in my home?
Yes. If it is in the same display home that you are asking for a quote on. All the items that are showcased in our displays (design elements or structural) are available in that particular house design. (Furniture, rug, prints, etc are excluded). Your sales consultant can add any additional items you have seen in the display home into your quote as per your request.
Please note: Should you have seen a display enhancement or floor plan you like in one home and want this item or change applied to a different house design, you will need to speak to a sales consultant. Please be aware that this may not be feasible due to the structural differences between the two individual house designs.
Can I purchase a display home?
Yes, we usually put our display homes on the market after 3 months and then we rent them back under a 2-3 year lease agreement however, this is dependent on the length of the display village being open and our need for exposure in that area. For further details on our display home sales, please contact our display team at info@beckimhomes.com.au
Why are display homes never standard?
To ensure the optimal outcome, our designers will have included certain design elements and additional floorplan options within our displays that are not included in the base house price. These things can be structural such as adding a grand Alfresco, through to design-based such as increasing the thickness of an island benchtop. Should you want to know more about a certain display, please speak to the Sales Consultant on site.
Where can I find my closest display home?
To search for a display home, please visit the Beckim Homes website and use our property search.
Do you have a First Home Buyer range?
Beckim Homes have several product options designed with our first home buyers in mind:
Smart Living
The Beckim Homes Smart Living range is our most affordable range of designer homes. This range is exclusive to our house and land packages, whilst also having the opportunity of a custom (house without land) package. There are limited selectable options available to add onto your Smart Living home, including a set of pre-designed colour scheme options hand-crafted by our interior design team at World Of Style.
Townhomes
These are low maintenance homes with functional, well thought out
floor plans. With anywhere between 2-4 bedrooms, they are spacious,
include everything you need to move in and are all at a great price
point.
Beckim Homes Real Estate
These properties are ready to move into in 90 days or less. They’re good for buyers who are leaning towards an established home but still like the idea of something brand new.
How much of a deposit do I need?
As a general rule, people aim to save 20% of the property price (excluding other fees). It means you can avoid paying costly Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) and you’ve got a great head start on paying off your loan. If you’ve got 5-10% saved, paying LMI is a small price to pay to crack into the property market. It’s also included in your loan repayments so that it’s spread out over the term of your loan.
Please note: All financial advice is a general guide only and not an indication of your personal circumstances. Please contact a finance professional if you wish to receive tailored advice.
How do I know how much I can borrow?
This is subjective and depends on your personal circumstances so there’s no one answer fits all. Income, living expenses and number of dependents are just a few factors that will influence your borrowing capacity. Organising pre-approval is a fantastic way to get an indication of your borrowing capacity and to help guide you when looking for a home within your price range.
For tailored personal advice, please contact a finance professional.
What concessions will be available to me if I build with Beckim Homes?
As a first home buyer you might be eligible for the First Home Owner Grant scheme (FHOG), a Government assistance program designed to help you get into the property market. Incentives for people living in Victoria include a $10,000 First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) for new homes valued up to $750,000 (or $20,000 if you’re in regional Victoria) as well as stamp duty concessions. Incentives for people living in Queensland include a $15,000 FHOG for eligible first home buyers who are buying or building a new home up to the value of $750,000 – including off-the-plan. Please check the Government website relevant to your state to assess your eligibility for this concession.
What is stamp duty and when is it applicable to pay this?
Stamp duty is a one-off ‘Government fee’ you will be required to pay when you buy land or property in Victoria or Queensland. For new homes, stamp duty concessions are available for first home buyers.
In Victoria, if your home has a dutiable value of $600,000 or less, you’ll receive the first home buyer duty exemption (visit the State Revenue Office’s website for more details). But you’ll still need to pay a fee for the registration of your property’s title to the Land Titles Office (maximum $3,606) and you might need to pay GST too.
How much will my repayments be per week?
This is something you’ll need to sit down and work out with your lender based on your total loan amount. There are loan repayment calculators online that can give a rough indication, but for specific and tailored financial advice please contact a finance professional.
What other costs do I need to be aware of?
The price of your home won’t be the only cost you need to bear upfront and there are other considerations to make when working out what you can afford. Stamp duty, taxes, Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI), as well as conveyancing and legal fees are just a few of the costs associated with purchasing a new home. There’s also other factors you’ll need to consider closer to your move in date such as council and utility rates and building and contents insurance. To get an idea of the amount you’ll need to save on top of your house price, please speak to a finance professional.
Why doesn’t construction start as soon as my contract is signed?
There are still many administrative matters to cover off including variations, building permits, developer/Council approval, asset protection, PIC, soil reports, engineering, Formal and ACC (finance approval to commence) – just to name a few!
Who are my key contacts in each stage of the building process?
Post sales stage and pre site start your point of contact will be your Building Coordinator. Once construction has commenced and up until Base Stage, you will be liaising with one of our Base Supervisors. Once the base has been poured you will be contacted by a Build Site Supervisor who manages the rest of the process, all the way through to completion. Post completion, we have a New Home Care (Maintenance) Team that will tend to your needs.
Can I access my home during construction?
Yes but only via a scheduled appointment with your Site Supervisor. Building sites can be potentially dangerous and this is covered in your HIA Contract and relevant OH&S regulations. Technically, you require a white card in order to enter a domestic building site but when accompanied by a qualified Beckim Homes Site Supervisor this is acceptable and you are not putting yourself or family at risk.
Can we use our own tradies?
Only contracted suppliers and subcontractors can work on our homes but once the home is considered complete then it’s all yours! The reason for this is that all builders aim to provide a complete design and build service for their clients so will have rules around using unlicensed contractors, relatives or other tradespeople. This is also because of their responsibility to maintain a certain quality of work and reputation and for liability reasons. (Current Statutory requirements hold builders responsible for all structural issues and therefore we can not partially complete a home).
Do I get insurance during my build?
What is covered
During the period of construction, Beckim Homes will put a public liability insurance policy in place for the construction site. This policy covers the Builder and Owner for liability for physical loss, destruction or damage to the building works we are undertaking, as well as the goods and building materials kept on your site as described in your Contract documents.
What is not covered
Whilst Beckim Homes is in charge of the construction site during the period of construction, our policies do not cover the Owner for any loss of their own personal property kept on the construction site during the period of construction. Owners personal items should be removed from the site prior to commencement of construction as any personal items left on site during construction are left at the Owners risk.
This information is outlined in the H.I.A. Plain English Contract which is a document you will sign at your Contract Appointment.
What happens leading up to my handover appointment?
Once construction of your home is complete, we will organise the Building Surveyor to do a final inspection of the home and ensure it has been built to Australian standards, codes and regulations. The Building Surveyor will then provide Beckim Homes with a Certificate of Occupancy which states that the home is legally allowed to be lived in and we will provide this document to you. You will need to provide this document to the lender you have gone through for your construction loan, if applicable.
During your Handover appointment, you will meet with your Construction Supervisor on site at your new home. They will walk you through and show you where everything is, including how to use items like security systems, garage roller doors, the thermostat for any heating/cooling, etc. They will also provide you with the original copies of your compliance certificates for items like electrical, plumbing and insulation as these works are required by law to have been done by a licensed trade. Your Construction Supervisor will also provide you with the keys to your entry door, any external doors and any windows across your home.
What goes into preparing a site to be built on?
Site survey and soil test
A Geo-technical engineer will conduct the testing and will deliver a
report on your block of land. The site survey records key features on
both your block and the area neighbouring your lot. The soil test will
determine your slab classification, as well as indicate if any rock
removal is expected.
Excavation works
Your new home needs to be built on level ground. The land is levelled by
a combination of cutting soil away from the higher end of the block
and/or adding new fill to the lower areas. The fill must be compacted
properly to ensure your land is stable. If this can’t be achieved
satisfactorily, concrete piers will be put in place to make it stronger.
Where required by the council, crossover protection may also be used.
If there are rocks underneath the surface, these will be removed and
taken away where appropriate.
Retaining walls
These are used to retain the earth on your land if required. In the case
where a block of land is too close to a boundary and we can’t fully cut
or fill it, we will need to build a retaining wall that holds the soil
and ensures a flat building platform can be achieved.
Concrete piering
Where soil conditions are not stable to a satisfactory level, or if your
house is in close proximity to mature trees or easements, an engineer
may specify the use of concrete piers in the ground to support the house
foundations. To do this, holes are dug until they reach solid
foundations and concrete is poured into them to achieve stability.
Slab pour
The engineering company determines your slab classification in
accordance with the soil report. In some instances there may be a need
to increase the stiffness of the slab, which can be achieved by
increasing the steel mesh size, and the amount of concrete used.