Common questions

It depends on the site, the design, and the specification. A custom home in the Hastings region typically ranges from $500K to $1.2M+ depending on block conditions, size, and finishes.

We quote either fixed price or cost-plus, depending on the project. Fixed price gives you certainty on the total. Cost-plus works better when there are unknowns, like a renovation where we can't see everything until the walls are open.

Your quote will include estimated prime costs (fixtures, fittings, and selections you choose) and provisional sums (costs that depend on site conditions, like excavation). We explain every line item before you sign.

Usually, yes. Slope can affect excavation, access, retaining, footing design, drainage, and build sequencing. The cost shift is not always dramatic on the Mid North Coast, but it is never imaginary. Tight coastal lots around Lighthouse Beach and Shelly Beach tend to add the most complexity.

That said, the best sites often come with slope. The important part is understanding the full site cost early, before you commit to a design that doesn't account for the block. If you've got a sloped site and want to know what's realistic, we're happy to do a visit and give you a straight answer.

Most custom homes take 8 to 14 months from slab to handover, depending on size and complexity. Add 2 to 4 months for design, engineering, and council approvals before construction starts.

We give you a realistic timeline at the quoting stage, not an optimistic one.

All new homes and most major renovations require development approval from Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. Internal renovations (like a bathroom or kitchen refit) usually don't.

We manage the approval process as part of the build, including coordinating with council if there are conditions on the DA.

BAL stands for Bushfire Attack Level. If your block is in a bushfire-prone area (common across the Mid North Coast, particularly around Bonny Hills, Lake Cathie, and parts of Port Macquarie), it will have a BAL rating from BAL-LOW through to BAL-FZ (Flame Zone). The rating determines what materials and construction methods are required.

Higher BAL ratings add cost, because the specification for windows, cladding, decking, and openings changes significantly. BAL-FZ builds need specialist knowledge, and it's an area where cutting corners creates real problems down the line. We've built to BAL-FZ on the Mid North Coast and know the compliance requirements well.

It depends on the scope. For smaller renovations (a bathroom, a kitchen), you can usually stay. For large-scale renovations, second-storey additions, or structural work, you'll likely need to move out for part of the build. We'll be upfront about this early so you can plan.

A fixed price contract gives you a defined contract sum, subject to the normal allowances and selected items. You know what you're paying before construction starts. The builder carries most of the risk on the unknowns.

A cost-plus contract means you pay for materials and labour as the project progresses, plus an agreed builder's margin. This is common for renovations where a lot is hidden behind existing walls.

One is not automatically better than the other. Renovations with unknowns often suit cost-plus, because pretending there are no unknowns does not make them disappear. We'll talk through which makes sense for your project at the quoting stage.

It means you walk in with your furniture and nothing else to do. We coordinate all trades through to completion: plastering, painting, flooring, tiling, plumbing, electrical, cabinetry, and a full clean. We also handle structural landscaping like retaining walls, driveways, and pool installation if they're part of the scope.

We're builders, not architects. But we work closely with local draftsmen and interior designers so you get a coordinated service, design, documentation, and construction managed as one project. Jon's experience means he can review plans for buildability before they go to council, catching issues that would cost money on site.

If you already have an architect or designer, we work with their team too.

It depends on the wall. Some internal walls are load-bearing, meaning they carry weight from the roof, ceiling, or upper storey. You can't remove a load-bearing wall without transferring that load to a new beam or structural support first.

A qualified builder can assess whether a wall is structural and how to remove it without compromising the house. Non-load-bearing walls are simpler, but even those can hide plumbing, electrical, or bracing that needs to be dealt with properly.

If you're thinking about opening up a floor plan as part of a renovation, this is one of the first things we look at during a site visit.

No. You don't need to supervise the build. Jon manages the site and the trades, and you'll get regular updates on progress without needing to be there watching.

Some clients like to check in, and that's fine. Others prefer to stay out of the way until there's a decision that needs their input. Either approach works. The important thing is that communication stays clear, which is easier when one builder is running the project rather than a rotating crew.

Two major projects at a time.

That is a deliberate operating model, not a temporary cap. It keeps Jon close to the build, keeps communication short, and keeps the work from drifting into volume for its own sake.