FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Our recommendation is to seek the advice of a new home specialist before committing to a block of land. Buying a block based on price and location alone can lead to many additional costs when it comes to building your home. Things like fall (the amount of slope on your block), easements and fill (additional land brought onto the site) used in the construction of your land can lead to a steep increase in sitework's costs that can outweigh any perceived savings buying the land in the first place (pun intended).

Our new home consultants are ready and waiting to answer all your questions, as well as to provide a site costs estimate on your proposed block before you commit to anything.

Yep. First-Place homes have been professionally designed with modern living in mind as well as things that you probably haven’t considered such as orientation, sunlight in living zones and long term sustainability.

There is no one-size-fits all approach to new home selection. There are many factors that determine the right home to suit your needs – from the number of people living in the home, the amount of time spent in the home and personal preferences on locations of bedrooms and living areas.

First-Place has a variety of plans to suit all requirements.

Still not sure which one works for you? Send us an email and we’ll be glad to help – with no obligation.

Our range of designs meet the expectations of most new home buyers and have been carefully drawn by professional designers to ensure everything ‘works’ and you will be happy with the home for years to come. First-Place is also able to keep their overheads down by providing ready-to-build homes that don’t require any red pen.

However, if there is something specific that you want, drop us an email and see what we can do.

Every home comes with a specification list that outlines exactly what is included in your new home. Want some additional extras? You’re in luck! Our interior designers have already put together some great upgrade packs just for you! Simply select the level of finish you want for your new home and add them to your build!

Absolutely. The Victorian Government offers First Home Buyers an incentive which means you could be eligible for a $10,000 grant in Melbourne and $20,000 in Regional Victoria. This process is handled by your bank or finance broker. Haven’t got that far? Don’t worry, we’re here to help. Speak to a new home consultant today and we’ll put you in touch with a preferred 3rd party broker to talk you through the process.

For more information on the Victorian Government incentive program visit their website here: https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/first-home-owner

Not at all. At First-Place we’re flexible. If you have a preferred bank or mortgage broker by all means, please use them. If you haven’t got that far we’re happy to help you through the process.

No. To be honest, we’d prefer you to talk to us first. The advice of a new home consultant before you commit to purchasing land can save you a variety of costs later on in your build. First-Place can also assist in sourcing you land to suit your preferred home design and location – or select from one of our fantastic house and land packages – ready to go.

There are four factors that can affect the site works cost of your new home build:

Slope of the land - Sloping blocks need additional ground works – such as retaining walls, surface drainage, cutting and filling – to ensure your build is structurally sound.

Orientation of the block - Ideally, you want the block and the design to work together to maximise the natural light and energy efficiency of your new home.

Location and proximity of easements - Easements may restrict your building options, affecting where you can position your home and the size of the home you can build.

Soil type - The stability and type of soil on your land may increase the cost of building your home.

Siteworks (sometimes called earthworks) are the costs involved in the preparation of your land in order to build a solid home on top of it. These costs vary from block to block based on a variety of factors and are critical in ensuring the longevity of your home for years to come.

First-Place offers fixed cost siteworks that meet our basic land criteria. These costs are based on years of new home construction across Victoria. If we can’t fix your siteworks due to unusual circumstances (for instance severe slope or rock underneath) – never fear! As part of our process we’ll order a soil and survey report from an engineer and then provide you with a detailed price before you build.

Yes. A First-Place new home consultant can answer all of your questions around the building process as well as introduce you to a 3rd party mortgage broker to help you understand the financial obligations around building a new home. We will detail all the costs involved in a simple, hassle free and easy to understand way and guide you all the way from start to finish.

All new homes must comply with government 6 Star energy regulations. The regulations change regularly, but having a 6 Star energy rating in all of our homes means they are more cost-effective to use heating and cooling and are more sustainable to the environment.

Us! Send First-Place an enquiry or speak to your new home consultant and we’ll happily answer all of your questions.