How to Avoid Hidden Costs When Building a House

overview.

The low advertised build price is rarely the real one. Dad walks through the costs builders leave out of the quote, what the bank needs to approve the loan, and the questions to ask before you sign anything.

Dad — John Kefalianos — has built over a hundred homes, so he knows exactly what builders leave off the quote. He spells out the hidden costs.

"The cheapest quote is often the most expensive house. The gap is everything they left off the page."

John Kefalianos

what you'll learn.

• Why the advertised build price is almost never the final one
• The major costs often left out of an initial quote
• What a turnkey home includes, and what it doesn't
• The questions to ask the builder before you sign

Prefer to read? Grab the free first home buyer guides.

part of: building and new homes guide.

chapters.

Tap a chapter to jump the video to that point.

1. 00:00 Introduction
2. 00:56 The Reality Behind Low Advertised Prices
3. 01:24 Understanding Basic Inclusions in a Build
4. 02:15 The Concept of Turnkey Homes
5. 02:43 Major Costs Often Excluded in Initial Quotes
6. 03:03 The Process of Getting a Home Loan
7. 04:01 Importance of Consulting a Broker Before Signing
8. 04:46 Key Questions to Ask Your Builder
9. 05:46 Timeline for Starting and Completing the Build
10. 06:48 Final Advice

links Nicola & John mentioned.