Navigating the home building process brings with it a lot of questions. So, to help you grow your home at Harlow, we’ve got answers to 5 of the most frequently asked questions we get from homebuyers!
Answering 5 of the Most Frequently Asked Questions From Harlow Homebuyers
Where do I start the buying process?
Your first move is to know your financial position. If in doubt, a mortgage advisor will know many lenders and can help find the right home loan for your needs. They can also explain any extra costs, such as bank and government charges, and any grants that may be available to you, such as the First Home Owner Grant. If you’d like help, our team can also put you in touch with mortgage advisors or lenders.
How do I choose the right block of land?
There are a few things to think about:
- Have you already decided which house you want to build? If so, there will be a minimum lot size required. Then you’ll need to decide if you want a large backyard. A handy tip is to make sure the width of the lot is suitable for the home design, as you will need to meet ResCode or building envelopes. Talk to our sales team for advice.
- What is your budget? It will need to cover the cost of your land AND your house. Our friendly sales team can put you in touch with a builder to determine the cost of your house, and then you’ll know what you can spend on the land.
- What direction do you want your house to face? The orientation and position of your land may or may not be important to you, but it’s worth thinking about.
How do I choose the right home?
Again, there are considerations:
- How much space do you need? Think about the number of bedrooms, single or double garage (to help determine how wide the lot needs to be), and anything else important to you, such as the size of the kitchen or backyard. Ultimately this might help you decide if you need a two-storey home.
- What will your family’s needs be in the future? Think about accommodating children, parents, and any house guests you might like to play host to. This will help determine if separate living spaces or an outdoor entertaining area are needed.
Ideally, you’ll be able to visit a display village and see a home similar to the one you want. Then you can talk to the builder and discuss your budget and design preferences, making sure that your home design complies with the Harlow Design Guidelines, which we developed to help protect the value of your Harlow home.
Our team can point you towards display homes and put you in contact with a range of Melbourne’s leading builders. We also offer a variety of House & Land packages that make the whole process simple.
When can I start building my new home?
You can start building your new home after your lot becomes titled, which occurs once the civil construction of the land (roads, services and infrastructure) has been completed. We will be in regular contact to update you about our progress, and you can view live updates via our online portal MyHarlow, which will show the real-time construction progress.
To help you prepare for settlement, we will call you upon reaching three main construction milestones:
1. When civil construction is complete and we ask the council to register the plan of subdivision.
2. When we have lodged the plan of subdivision at the Land Titles Office.
3. When the plan of subdivision has been registered and titles have been issued.
We can then determine a settlement date. Your builder can advise you about when construction of your home can begin and how long it might take to complete.
What are the advantages of building a new home?
Almost too many to mention! For a start, you get the home you want, built to your specifications to meet the needs of your family. Building at Harlow means your future home is protected by our Design Guidelines, and you are just minutes away from all the amenities to be found within the community and the surrounding area. And of course, there may be financial advantages if you are eligible for any of the Government grants currently available to first home owners and new home builds.
Do you have any questions that you don’t see answered here? Check out our MyHarlow portal for more helpful resources or contact our expert team on 0419 174 696.