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The Hidden Costs of Building: What You Need to Know

Building a new home is an exciting journey but, it can also be confusing when it comes to understanding the costs involved.

One of the most common misconceptions is what’s included in the base price of your home and what is considered an extra. At Arkadian Homes, we believe in total transparency to help you understand the full picture, right from the start.

So here is a breakdown of the hidden costs you should be aware of, as well as what you can expect from Arkadian Homes.

Understanding the Base Price

The base price of your home typically covers the fundamental aspects of the build. This includes essentials like the concrete slab, framing, brickwork, roofing, and internal finishes.

However, what’s considered essentials can vary between builders. For example, some base prices don’t include flooring in areas outside of wet rooms, or overhead cupboards in the kitchen and laundry.

It’s important to clarify early on what’s included in your builder’s base price. Generally, it will cover a complete home, but many features you may consider standard, like timber flooring or high-end carpets, can often be classified as upgrades. This can add to the overall cost of your build.

We believe in providing a comprehensive base price that includes an elevated standard of inclusions from the start, so you can be confident in the value you’re receiving from Arkadian Homes.

Site Costs: What Lies Beneath

Site costs refer to preparing your land for construction, from soil testing and levelling to drainage and utility connections, and are typically not included in the base price. This can come as a surprise too many new home builders.

The cost of preparing your site will depend on many factors such as the condition of the land, the results of the soil report, and whether additional work is needed for the slab. These additional costs can escalate quickly, so it’s important to plan for them.

To help you avoid unexpected fees later in the build process, Arkadian Homes conducts free site inspections, providing you with an upfront estimate of potential site costs before construction begins. 

Inclusions: What’s Really Included?

Many builders offer a basic package in the base price, where essential features are then marketed as upgrades once you’ve committed to your build. Some key inclusions you should look out for include:

  • Flooring: Check if your chosen flooring type (carpet, timber, tiles) is included.
  • Kitchen and laundry storage: Confirm that your base price covers overhead kitchen cupboards and drop in laundry trough.
  • Tiling: Ensure that tiling in wet areas is included and meets your expectations.

We take pride in offering a superior standard of inclusions in our base price, from high-quality flooring options, to ample storage and stylish finishes. Our goal is for your Arkadian home to exceed your expectations, without the need for costly upgrades.

Selections and Personalisation 

Your new home should reflect your own personality and creative style. However, some builders offer limited pre-selected finishes and colour schemes, which makes it more difficult to personalise your home to what you had imagined.

That’s why we offer a wide range of interior and exterior selections at Arkadian Homes, for your home to reflect your unique taste. Our flexible selection process allows you to choose colours, finishes, and fixtures that suit your aesthetic, without the restrictions of a narrow palette.

No Surprises: Transparent Pricing from the Start

We’re proud of the fact our building journey is created around transparency. We ensure our base price includes a higher level of standard inclusions with a range of personalisation options. Our free site inspections, with expected upfront costs gives you peace of mind throughout the entire process.

When you choose Arkadian Homes, you’re not just building a house – you’re creating a beautiful home that comes without hidden costs and is perfectly tailored to your lifestyle.

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