Your home building checklist 

So, you’ve decided to take the next step towards building your new home – that's great news!  Now, it's time to take your home from paper to visualisation, as we walk you through all the things to consider when you’re in the thick of planning for your dream home build.  

A list of things to do when building a house...  

Step 1: Find a floor plan.

This can seem like a daunting task when there are so many plans to choose from, but there’s a few tips to keep in mind to make the process that little bit easier.  

a. Take a close look at your lifestyle: Number one on the list is to think about your lifestyle. Do you need a separate living area for kids to hang out? Do you need a mudroom connected to your laundry for sports gear, pets and dirty footy boots? What about other living areas – how can you maximise your indoor-outdoor living so that you get the most out of your home all year long?  

b. Room dimensions: A good rule of thumb is to first look at the room sizes on floor plans and compare the dimensions with the rooms in your current place. Are all the bedrooms proportioned correctly with your bed sizes? Do you have enough room in the dining area for your favourite 8-seater dining table?  

c. Personalise your plan: Talk to builders about the different structural options available on their home designs. At Simonds, our home designs come with popular structural options built into the floor plan, which makes it quick and easy to personalise your home above and beyond the standard layout. Your New Home Specialist will walk you through your options, taking into account factors such as orientation and natural light, energy efficiency, privacy and functionality.  

Step 2: Key features to consider.

Once you’ve got a layout in mind, it’s time to turn your attention to big features within your home.

a. Ceiling heights: The standard ceiling height in Australia is 2.4m, but you’ll have the option to increase the ceilings to 2.55m or even 2.7m, which can be a great way to boost the feeling of space and openness – especially in your main living area. Raised ceilings aren’t a structural element that homeowners incorporate easily retrospectively, so along with skylights or raked ceilings, you’ll want to consider and budget for these additions early on.  

b. Windows and doors: If you increase your ceiling heights, you’ll want to look at increasing your windows and doors to keep everything in proportion. It pays to look at your elevation plans here to review the dimensions of windows on your facade.  

c. Flooring: Some builders don’t include flooring in their base price, so this is an addition to keep an eye on as it can be one of the more costly upgrades that customers include. At Simonds, we include category 2 or 3 carpet* and laminate timbergrain flooring as standard to nominated rooms, which means you could have more flexibility with your budget during your Gallery appointment.  

d. Landscaping and driveways: This is often a cost that you’ll need to budget for during Gallery or after handover. At Simonds, we have a range of ready-built standalone homes and off-the-plan townhomes that include features like landscaping, fencing and driveways – so consider these options if you’re looking for an even more streamlined build journey. 

e. Cornices: Did you know that there’s different styles of cornices and architraves? From ‘cove’ to ‘Pacific’ and ‘square set’, the different profiles suit different design styles  

f. Paint: Review your builder’s standard inclusions to make sure they include a 3-coat paint application. Some builders only include 2 coats, but you’ll want 3 coats to ensure that your walls and ceilings are looking top notch.  

Step 3: Planning your kitchen.

It’s the heart of your home, which is why it’s important to give your kitchen some TLC when you’re at the planning stages. 

a. Appliances: If you’ll be using your current appliances, take down their measurements so that you allocate enough space for your fridge, microwave and dishwasher in your new layout. You want these appliances to fit, but you also don’t want to waste space that could have otherwise gone to larger cupboards.  

b. Joinery: Consider your ideal joinery situation, what does it involve? Open shelving versus overhead cupboards or a combination of both? Features like deeper pot drawers and soft close cupboards are both popular additions that you might want to consider.  

c. Layout: Last but not least, layout. Consider your kitchen work triangle with the configuration of your stove, sink and dishwasher. Do you want your sink on your kitchen island, or do you prefer it off to the side on a secondary bench? Think about the ideal distance between your preparation space and your stovetop and oven.  

Step 4: Planning your bathrooms and ensuites. 

a. Review your builder’s standard inclusions: Items such as basins, bathtubs, showers, toilets and tapware tend to be included in the home’s base price. But bathrooms and ensuites are also rooms where customers look to incorporate upgraded features such as semi frameless shower screens, freestanding baths, double vanities or feature tiles.  

b. Bathroom accessories: Small considerations like the placement of toilet roll holders and towel rails make a big difference. Check their accessibility and height to make sure they’ll work for the whole household.  

c. Powder room: If you’re building a double-storey, your floor plan will include a powder room (also known as a WC) downstairs. Double check that it is conveniently located in relation to the kitchen and living, while still offering privacy.  

Step 5: Mapping out your electrical plan.

During your Gallery appointment, you’ll sit down with our specialised consultant to go through your electrical plan, but it pays to consider your requirements and needs ahead of time.  

a. Lighting: Your home should have a good balance between regular, ambient and task lighting, giving you a mixture of direct and indirect lighting sources.  

b. Dimming lights: Consider dimming capabilities and two-way switches for hallways and staircases. 

c. Power points: Review how many power points are included in your standard plan, and the locations where you might want to add additional points. Depending on your inclusions, this could be in your butler’s pantry, kitchen island, hallways, beside bathroom vanities, next to couches and beds and out on your alfresco and inside your garage.  

Well, there you have your first 5 steps for new home planning! Remember, at Simonds, our expert team of New Home Specialists, interior designers and draftspeople are all at your disposal from your initial consultation through to each build stage.