Steps in the Building Process

overview.

David Hillman from Fairmont Homes joins me to demystify building your first home. Whether you buy land first, how to choose a design on a budget, why fixed-price contracts matter, and the questions to ask before you commit.

David Hillman is from Fairmont Homes. He builds first homes for a living, so I asked him to walk through the process the way he'd explain it to a buyer sitting across the desk.

"A fixed-price contract is only fixed if you understand what it includes. The surprises live in the exclusions."

David Hillman

what you'll learn.

• Whether you need to buy the land before you design the home
• How to get the most home for your budget
• Why a fixed-price contract protects you, and what voids it
• What's left out of a build package, and the buffer you'll want

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. 01:26 Do You Need to Buy Land First?
3. 01:51 Figuring Out the Best Design
4. 03:16 Elevating Your Home on a Smaller Budget
5. 03:59 What to Know About Buying Land First
6. 05:25 How Long Does Building Take?
7. 06:52 The Process from Meeting to Design
8. 08:07 Standard Block Sizes Explained
9. 09:23 Fixed Price Contracts: What to Expect
10. 10:01 Consequences of Non-Fixed Price Contracts
11. 10:54 Budgeting for Building: The Importance of a Buffer
12. 11:24 What’s Not Included in Your Build Package?
13. 12:20 Understanding Turnkey Items
14. 13:13 Working with Banks on Your Budget
15. 14:15 Conclusion

links Nicola & David mentioned.