Building contract documentation
When they arrive, the first thing you’ll notice is…
… they’re BIG! But definitely worth the read. Your building contract documentation—when they finally arrive—includes everything, and we mean everything! As part of your remarkable team, the contracts peeps are totally focused on this task for weeks (yep, they’re made up of 90% caffeine), getting everything down on paper. There’s the contract quotation, contract drawings, contract addendum, standard specification, and notice to the home owner—and let’s be honest, that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
Each piece of the building contract documentation puzzle
If we’re sticking with this metaphor, then the puzzle is like one with no edges and a whole lot of blue sky. But don’t let that put you off. We normally give you a call around this stage just to talk about all the contracts and documentation (no one expects you to handle the 100+ pages on your own). Our best advice at this stage is to take your time.
Here’s what each section includes:
Contract quotation
This is the initial pricing you would have signed up on. Everything is as expected and detailing every cent.
Contract drawings
Aka your working drawings. These are a blueprint of your new home. They’re completed with a thorough set of building plans and views (details, notes, and dimensions) that the team will follow to construct your home.
Contract addendum
Your addendum is the contract that includes all the selections and inclusions. We wrote a blog specifically about the contract addendum so spend a little time there and you’ll level up quickly!
Standard specification
In this section, you’ll find your spec (one of four: make it yours, make it count, make it bold, and make it shout). Each one features the same basic inclusions, along with a variety of extras depending on which spec you end up going with.
Question time
There is no such thing as too many questions, particularly at this stage, so don’t be shy. Make sure you ask any of your burning questions. It’s important to get it in writing too just to be safe. You know that whole thing, “when in doubt write it out”? We’re pretty sure that came from this process.
Once you’ve read every word, what’s next?
It’s time to sign. And, once you do, no structural changes will be permitted, as they’d affect all your approvals! So, make sure you are 100% sure when you add your unique mark (aka signature) and send it back via DocuSign. Everything gets uploaded to your TM portal for safekeeping.
And, just so you know, these docs need to be signed before we can start on your finance and shire approval processes so it’s important that you dedicate the time to get this step locked away.
Wait, what were structural changes again?
Anything that is a change to the ‘structure’ or blueprint of the home is considered a structural change (shock), including things like increasing or decreasing ceiling heights, adding or removing walls, changing alfresco sizes, and any elevation or brickwork changes.
Then there are the cosmetic and non-structural parts of the build, which can be changed and/or upgraded at prestart. These are things like amending cabinetry and upgrading things like tapware and appliances. Get the full rundown on what changes are considered structural vs cosmetic in our house deposit blog.
First we sign, seal, then we 3D deliver
Once your contract is signed, your new home’s 3D model is loaded up to your own personal portal. We call it TM (as in, trademark) and here you’ll also see all of your personalised selections and those important novels (aka contracts). It’s here that you’ll see the vision starting to take shape—first on paper, then on the screen, then on your very own piece of land!
