The Process

Step One – Choose your home design

To start with you need to decide on the floor plan – either one of our standard plans, or your own design, or a combination of both. Together with this floor plan you should decide on the roof design and any major extras you'd like e.g. verandahs, carports, polished timber flooring etc. (Small items and colour choices come later.) Normally you would also know the location where the home is going to be situated.

So you know where you're heading, it's best to get an obligation free quote at this stage. This is at no cost to you, and within a short time you'll have accurate pricing in your hands for the home you want, where you want it (subject to site inspection).

To ensure your new home purchase goes smoothly, working out your finance should be done now. (We can assist by giving you contact details for different lenders.)

Step Two – The Home Starter Pack

This is where it starts to happen ... your dream of a new home takes shape. The Home Starter Pack is the next logical step to take as it allows you to get Council approval before signing a contract – which some lending authorities require prior to approving a loan. Here is exactly what's included:

• Site inspection to your property: you can meet a home consultant on site and discuss where you want to put your home. We'll help you by giving advice on the best way to orientate your home with regard to slope, BASIX requirements, power and plumbing connections, the best views etc. (Your on-site consultant will also place marker pegs so you can see the home position, take levels of the building site and inspect access routes for delivery of your completed home.)

• Visual representation of your new home: You'll receive a set of drawings of your home, similar to the example shown, including a 3-D view, cut-away (so you can 'walk through'), elevations, site plan (if required) and floor plan, all in the graphic colours.

• Plan drawings and specifications for local council: Plan and location are decided, a full set of construction drawings is completed. These include all the necessary plans, elevations, specifications, BASIX report, documents and engineers details your local council requires.

• Lodgement of plans with local council: We'll apply to your local council for you to get approval to build the home on your land. After lodgement it usually takes about 6 weeks before approval is granted. (During this time we check up at certain intervals to ensure your application is progressing with the council as fast as possible.) Council/Private Certifier fees are additional, however we check before lodgement to establish the exact cost.

• Your name is 'pencilled in' on the building schedule: This means your name is written on the next available home complettion date on our building schedule (similar to a waiting list). In effect, it means you're given the first option on having your home completed by that date, and as time passes by you 'move up the waiting list' instead of being put at the bottom of the list at contract stage. Your contract is also prepared.

• Home warranty insurance (HWI): Required for Council approval.

Your home is built on a production-like basis, where everything happens at a set date (scheduled weeks in advance). This means to have your home built as soon as possible, it's best to get your name 'pencilled in' on the list now. (More orders come in every week, which means your name will be above any others that come in later.)

The Home Starter Pack acts as an initial deposit (but is included in the overall cost of your home) and costs $1650 (incl GST) – deducated off first payment when contract signed.

Step Three – The contract stage

You can progress straight to the contract stage without the Home Starter Pack if you have available funds (other than loan arrangements) and wish to speed up the waiting time i.e. before council approval. However, your completion date on your contract could change depending on time taken for council approval.

You must have finance arranged and in place prior to this stage ... once your home is in our building schedule everything happens very quickly! Proof of finance approval is required before you can sign the contract.

Your contract is a legal agreement between you and Manor Town & Country Homes to build your home and sets out:

• What is included in your home (as per your quote).

• When your home will be completed.

• The contract price.

• The progress payment schedule* consisting of: 5% deposit; 50% at lock-up stage; 45% prior to leaving the factory; balance upon completion.

The signing of your contract is accompanied by the deposit amount from which the cost of the Home Starter Pack (if purchased earlier) is deducated. Normally at this stage you will know exactly when your home will be completed (not just started) and the excitement really begins.

*This schedule can be varied if necessary to suit your lender's requirements.

Step Four – Colour selection time

This is where you get to choose how you want your new home to look and feel. There is a huge variety in our standard allowance, or for that individual touch you may select something special. We'll advise you of any extra cost.

In the standard allowances, the items you can choose include:

• Outside: Colour of roof, cladding, windows and paintwork, etc.

• Inside: Colour of walls, ceilings, tiles, kitchen cupboard doors and benchtops, etc.

• In a package: Colour of carpet and cinyl floor coverings, colour of curtains/blinds and standard light fittings.

To ensure you get exactly the home you want, we can arrange for you to meet direct with some suppliers, including a kitchen designer, ceramic tile showroom and bathroom consultants.

This stage must be completed at least 4 weeks before the building of your home begins to allow for ordering of your selected items. (You can do your colour selections at contract stage if you wish.)

Step Five – The construction stage

Now it happens quickly – usually only 9-10 weeks before you move in. It all continues smoothly, because your home is being built in our secure premises in a controlled environment and under constant supervision. During this stage:

• You can visit our factory as often as you wish (it's hard to stay away when it's your home being built) during normal business hours, but you must give at least 48 hours notice, owing to our OH&S requirements.

• Engineered concrete footings and galvanised steel piers are installed on your land (about 1 week before home delivery) ready for efficient positioning of your home.

• Once on your site, the finishing touches are added (as per the contract) such as final painting, curtains, carpet, verandahs, carport, etc.

Your home is contructed with environmentally sustainable building materials – making use of the excellent benefits of timber.

Step Six – Moving into your home

Once final payment is made and practical completion is achieved, a final inspection is to be made by your local council or private certifier. You then receive your keys, certificate of ownership, your welcome pack, full details of the Home Warranty Insurance and after-sales service details.

All that's left is for you to enjoy your new home, new location and relax!