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What are the awards? The Master Builders and Asset Construction Hire Excellence Awards are a celebration of the best residential, commercial and civil projects from across the Canberra region. The awards represent excellence in the building and construction industry and recognise the incredible work of Master Builders members. Take a look at some of the winners of House of the Year from the past four years

The perfect interpretation of a home where nature, hobbies and friends can be intrinsically interwoven into one harmonious residence. A place where nature isn’t a nuisance to construction but is instead welcomed into the design of the home. Nature is figuratively and literally at the heart of the home, with the central atrium sitting as one of the star features in this abode. The atrium has a window into one of the homeowner’s passion projects: the basement car museum.

This home delivers the grandeur and futuristic quality of an airport, all while retaining the warmth of a family home. The teams also took an aeronautical approach to planning the layout of this home by separating the house into different wings. The four wings include the living zone, the office, the double height entry and the sleeping zone, which allowed for solar penetration and cross flow ventilation. The location of ‘Forrest’ is ideal for this home, as it perfectly blends nature and home with the use of large glass windows and heritage trees at focal points.

Architekt

The interior has warmth and character with a bold, vibrant colour palette that is the result of the collaboration between the construction team and the client. The team paid close attention to impeccably preparing and finishing materials including the ply sheeting, steel work and handmade tiles. This home showcases the result of meticulous planning and impeccable craftsmanship, as well a daring design eye.

The architecture of the home is a tribute to Origami, the Japanese art of paperfolding, with the use of different angles and shapes creating a visual masterpiece.

Inspired by multi-generational living and large-scale entertaining, this extraordinary home was masterfully created by renowned builders, Classic Constructions, in collaboration with TT Architecture. A complete one-ofa-kind, this amazing resort style home is a symbol of sophistication and distinction. The six-bedroom, six-bathroom House of the Year, offers privacy, solar gain and outstanding views. Marry this with intelligent design, innovation, faultless quality and functionality, and you have a laudable property that is striking, yet totally liveable.

There are a lot of reasons why you might decide to build a brand new home rather than buying an established one. Here is a list of the top 5 reasons to build new:

When you build new, you can design your home specifically to meet your requirements and suit your family and lifestyle.

New homes must meet a 6-star energy efficiency rating, which may reduce your energy consumption and lower your costs of heating and cooling.

There may be stamp duty savings when you build new rather than buying an established home. You should look at the ACT Revenue Office stamp duty calculator to compare the difference.

New homes ordinarily require less ongoing maintenance when compared to older, established homes.

You will have the peace of mind that your home is covered by a home warranty insurance policy or fidelity fund certificate (for five years), as well as warranties from your builder for structural defects (for six years) and non-structural defects for two years.

IF YOUR PREFERENCE IS TO MOVE AND BUILD A NEW HOME, MAKE SURE THAT THE SUBURB YOU CHOOSE HAS THE AMENITIES AND CONVENIENCES THAT YOU WANT AND NEED. YOU SHOULD ALSO KEEP IN MIND THAT NEWER SUBURBS GENERALLY HAVE SMALLER BLOCK SIZES THAN THE EXISTING AND MORE ESTABLISHED SUBURBS.

There are also good reasons to renovate your existing home, or to think about an extension. It might be worth considering the following:

If you decide to stay in your home and renovate, you will save money on conveyancing fees, real estate agent’s commission, advertising or marketing fees, removalists costs, and stamp duty on a new block of land.

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Extending or renovating your home will likely add more value to your home.

Renovating or extending is a great idea if you enjoy living in the suburb and local community you are currently in.

Choosing to renovate means that you won’t need to look for a block of land (plus you save money on the cost of needing to buy a new block).

Renovating an existing house can be a sustainable alternative to building a new home. The majority of the existing home can usually be retained or improved, a number of materials can also be recycled. Plus, your garden will be retained.

IF YOU DECIDE TO RENOVATE YOUR HOME, ALWAYS ENGAGE A QUALIFIED BUILDING DESIGNER, DESIGN AND BUILDING COMPANY, OR ARCHITECT. A GOOD DESIGNER WILL WORK WITH YOU TO ENSURE THAT YOUR PROJECT IS FUNCTIONAL AND BLENDS IN WITH YOUR EXISTING HOME. IF YOU CHOOSE TO ENGAGE AN ARCHITECT, MAKE SURE YOU ALSO SELECT AND SPEAK WITH YOUR BUILDER EARLY IN THE DESIGN PROCESS. IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU, YOUR ARCHITECT AND YOUR BUILDER COLLABORATE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO AVOID PROBLEMS DOWN THE TRACK.

Financing your new home build or extension project can be achieved in a number of different ways, depending on your financial capacity and the size of your project.

Before you engage a builder, you should develop your budget and, if you are borrowing money to pay for the build, speak to your preferred financial institution.

When engaging a builder, you should discuss the items that will be included in the building contract. Make sure that this discussion includes any preliminary costs, such as soil tests, preparation of plans, building approvals and consultant fees. There might be expensive items that are not included in the building contract such as landscaping, blinds and curtains, or even floor coverings. It is important to also understand which costs are fixed, and which costs may change. Your builder or your lawyer can explain the difference to you.

THE STARTING POINT IS TO DEVELOP A REALISTIC AND ACHIEVABLE BUDGET.

If you are buying land and building a new home, you will also need to consider government fees and other costs associated with the build, which can include:

• Stamp duty

• Conveyancing costs

• Government record searches

• Registering plans

• Lodging a development application

• Applying for a building approval

• Various certificates and inspections

• Engaging a building certifier

Your budget should also include other costs such as rental payments (or other mortgage payments) while your new home is under construction, as well as moving costs.

It is recommended that you include a contingency or reserve in your budget for any unforeseen items or cost variations that may be required during the building process.

IT CAN TAKE MONTHS TO OBTAIN FINANCE IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES. MAKE SURE YOU START THE PROCESS EARLY.

When it comes time to choosing a mortgage lender, there are two common options you have when searching for the financial institution to assist your needs:

• Mortgage broker – a mortgage broker can help you to find a variety of loan options from different lenders. Essentially, a mortgage broker acts as an intermediary between a lender and a borrower.

• Choose a lender based off your own research – while this can take more time than using a mortgage broker, completing your own research in order to choose a lender and loan type may be your preferred option.

Consider and compare different financial institution’s fees associated with a mortgage. Some common fees are:

• Application fees

• Valuation and lender’s fees

• Lender’s mortgage insurance

• Exit fees

• Monthly or annual fees to keep the account open

It’s also important to consider what features you would like your home loan to have. Some features include:

• Ability to redraw – if you make additional payments you can choose to ‘redraw’ that money back

• Offset accounts – money in an offset account can allow you to reduce the interest rate you pay on your loan

If you are looking to purchase land, build a new home or buy an existing property, you may be eligible for a concession scheme.

ACT: Home Buyer Concession Scheme

If you are purchasing a home or land in the ACT, you may be eligible to pay no stamp duty. Applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria including:

• All buyers of the home or land must be at least 18 years old.

• The total gross income of all buyers must not surpass the relevant income threshold.

• All buyers including their partners (if any) must not have owned any other property in the last two years.*

• At least one buyer must live in the home continuously for at least one year, starting within 12 months of settlement or completion of construction.**

A partner includes your spouse, civil union partner, civil partner or de facto partner.

* There are limited exceptions to this requirement, including court orders and agreements made under the Family Law Act 1975 and the Domestic Relationships Act 1994. These orders or agreements must be made before the transaction date.

** The Commissioner for ACT Revenue can exempt you from the residence requirements, in full or in part, but only in very specific circumstances.

Off the Plan Units - from 1 July 2021

For contracts exchanged on or after 1 July 2021, there is no stamp duty on off-the-plan unit (unit-titled apartment and townhouses) purchases valued at $500,000 or less.

Eligibility requirements include:

• Contracts must be signed and exchanged on or after 1 July 2021

• At least one buyer must live in the home continuously for at least one year, starting within 12 months of the date of completion (settlement date) of the off the plan agreement

• Off the plan ‘units’ refers only to unit-titled apartments or townhouses.

Further information is available at www.revenue.act.gov.au.

Under the Australian Government’s First Home Guarantee, eligible first home buyers can purchase or build a new home with a deposit of as little as 5% without having to pay lenders mortgage insurance (lenders criteria apply).

Eligible borrowers can use the guarantee in conjunction with other government programs.

From 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023, 35,000 FHBG places are available to eligible first home buyers.

Further information can be found at https://www.nhfic.gov.au/supportbuy-home/first-home-guarantee.

Building or renovating a home is one of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime. Ensuring you undertake all necessary checks before choosing a builder will assist you in making this decision. Knowing the essential questions to ask and what you should expect from your builder is fundamental to this process.

HOW CAN I ENSURE I HAVE UNDERTAKEN NECESSARY DUE DILIGENCE BEFORE CHOOSING A BUILDER?

1 Research – Find out about the builder’s experience, craftsmanship, licences and insurances.

2 References – Ask to inspect the builders previous projects or speak with previous clients.

3 Fit for Purpose – Not all builders are experts in all types of buildings. Renovations are best undertaken by builders with renovation experience, new builds are best completed by new home builders. If you have a special requirement, such as sustainable design, check that your builder has the relevant experience.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THINGS AREN’T WORKING OUT BETWEEN ME AND MY BUILDER?

Disputes can occur when communication lines between a client and builder break down, often resulting in a failure to meet obligations under the building contract. It’s important to seek help early if a dispute arises and ensure that any concerns are raised in writing to the builder. If you cannot resolve a dispute with your builder, you should seek independent legal advice about your rights and responsibilities under your contract, as there are some strict timeframes and dispute resolution requirements. For more information on this, turn to page 66 for key contacts.

WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE TO BUILD WITH A MASTER BUILDER?

Members of Master Builders ACT represent the top builders and tradespeople in Canberra and the surrounding region. By choosing an MBA member, you are choosing a higher standard of builder or tradesperson, who is committed to excellence and takes pride in their reputation.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM THE MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION?

Members of Master Builders ACT represent the top builders and tradespeople in Canberra and the surrounding region. Satisfied clients make satisfied members, therefore we have an interest in helping our members satisfy their client’s needs.

Master Builders ACT can provide general information about the MBA ACT Home Building Contract and home warranty cover, including Fidelity Fund Certificates. However, we cannot provide you with specific advice about your dispute.

The Strathnairn Charity House project will provide a significant boost to a range of local community organisations in West Belconnen while providing a platform to promote the growing participation of women in the construction sector.

The project will see Master Builders ACT and the Ginninderry Joint Venture collaborate on the design and construction of a premium home in the fast-growing suburb of Strathnairn.

MBA members, led by Kane Constructions, have donated (or provide low cost) materials and labour. Proceeds from the sale of the house will be donated to Hands Across Canberra for distribution to four local charities.

To help create a skilled construction industry, Master Builders ACT has a long running partnership with the University of Canberra to assist in research efforts as well as unit requirements of the construction related degrees. MBA Group Training facilitates White Card, asbestos awareness, and WHS hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control training for students undertaking built environment courses.

Master Builders ACT partners with OzHelp to encourage construction industry members to look after their mental wellbeing. This occurs through the delivery of Tradie Tune-Ups, Lifeskills workshops and mental health training that assists individuals with learning self-management strategies and recognising distress signals in others.

Master Builders ACT partners with Ginninderry and the ACT Government to deliver the JobTrainer Women in Trades program and the JobTrainer Women in Civil program. The JobTrainer Women in Trades program provides participants with specialised accredited training, industry work placements and potential employment pathways within the carpentry, electrical and plumbing sectors. The JobTrainer Women in Civil Construction program runs for 9 weeks with a combination of theory, practical hands-on learning and industry work placement. The key purpose of the program is to encourage more women to consider a career in the civil sector. In 2023 the program will be in its fifth year running with a new intake of participants commencing 1 May 2023.

Master Builders ACT also supports:

• Hands Across Canberra

• Jeans for Genes

• The Push-Up Challenge

• Canberra Hospital Foundation

• Vinnie’s CEO Sleepout

In 2022 Master Builders ACT introduced the MBA M.A.T.E program, which aims to improve the apprentice retention rate in the construction industry and provide participants with a mate for life. Mentees learn how to set career goals, run their own business and communicate more effectively in their role.

• Communities at Work

• Mark Hughes Foundation Beanie for Brain Cancer fundraising

• Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea

• Jersey Day

• Movember

• Shaw Building Group and Carers

ACT Charity Bowls Day