Talk To Michael About Building Across The Great Southern Region

Under cost-plus, the client is billed for the actual cost of materials and labour, plus a fixed building fee. Every two weeks, an invoice shows exactly what was charged for that period: trade costs, materials, everything. There are no margins built into a fixed price that the client cannot see. For custom builds in the Great Southern region across a project that runs 12 to 18 months, cost-plus gives the client full visibility and means the builder is not managing risk by hiding it in the contract price. The cost of the project reflects the actual cost of building it.

Fortnightly updates are built into how every project runs. Photos are sent before each scheduled call so you can review progress and form your questions. The call is either a FaceTime walkthrough of the site or an in-person meeting if you are in the area. BuilderTrend is used for project documentation and visibility between meetings.

Michael is the single point of contact throughout. You do not deal with a project manager you have never met. If something needs a decision or an explanation, it comes from the person running the build.

In Western Australia, Home Indemnity Insurance is a legal requirement for all residential building work over $20,000. It protects the homeowner if the builder becomes insolvent, dies, or is unable to complete the project, covering the shortfall between what has already been paid and what it costs another builder to finish the work, up to a defined limit.

Great Southern Homes holds Home Indemnity Insurance before any building permit is submitted. In the current WA building environment, understanding what this insurance covers and why it is required is worth the five minutes it takes.

Around half of projects in the Great Southern region involve some level of Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) compliance requirement. Great Southern Homes engages a dedicated BAL consultant from the initial site assessment. They assess whether the block carries a BAL requirement, determine the applicable rating, and advise on what design and material changes are needed tomeet it.

BAL compliance is worked through at the start of the project, not discovered during construction or council review. Finding it late leads to design changes, material substitutions, and cost increases that are harder to absorb when work is already underway.

From building permit approval to handover, a typical custom home build takes around 18 months. Renovation timelines vary depending on scope and site conditions. Material lead times, trade scheduling, and site-specific factors all affect the programme. These are discussed at the quoting stage so the timeline is realistic from the start.

All residential building work in Western Australia carries a six-year statutory structural warranty as required by law. Great Southern Homes also provides a craftsmanship warranty covering non- structural elements, with details outlined in the building contract.

After handover there is a four-month defect review period. Clients keep a running list of anything they want looked at. Michael returns once during that period to address everything on it in a single visit.

Building costs in the Great Southern region vary significantly by project. Site conditions, design complexity, materials, compliance requirements, and the build method all influence the final cost. In a region where BAL compliance, sloping sites, and freight from Perth can each affect pricing, it is not possible to give a useful number without understanding the specifics of the land and the brief.

Great Southern Homes works on a cost-plus contract. A detailed budget is prepared before any contract is signed, with as many trades and materials quoted upfront as possible. The most useful starting point is a conversation about your land and what you are planning to build. That is what the Great Southern Build Conversation is for.