Laggner Building: New homes, houses and renovations by a local Canberra builder

Frequently Asked Questions

Here we hope to answer your questions. If we haven’t, please contact us and we are happy to help you further.

FINDING OUT ABOUT LAGGNER BUILDING

What are your credentials?

Experience and reputation in the local building industry. We are a proud Bronze member of the Australian Housing Industry Association. Currently possess an ‘A’ Class Builders license in the Australian Capital Territory and ‘C’ Class Builders license in New South Wales. We are also accredited GreenSmart Builders (one of the first in Australia to become a GreenSmart professional).

What makes you different from any other builder?

We strive for a strong customer and builder relationship. Within our company we have a solid nucleus, giving you a stable building company to work with. We are here for the distant future, "Building Tomorrow's Heritage".

Do you have all needed insurances?

Yes, definitely. We hold Public Liability Insurance at 10 million dollars, Construction Works Insurance covering the structure, fire and water damage etc, Workers Compensation Insurance for all our employees, and we have access to Home Owners Warranty Insurance for your protection.

How many jobs do you work on at any one time?

We always try to work on a small number of homes at a time. Too many may cause a reduction in quality and we don’t want that. The more attention we give on your home the better for you.

BEFORE WE START

Do you charge for a quotation?

No, they are absolutely free.

What should I have available with me when you first meet us?

Good detailed plans, if not, readable sketch plans and a general understanding of what you want in your home, and a general budget to work towards.

How often will you be in contact with us regarding the progress of our home?

At the start, we will form an agreement with discussions, finding out how often and by which medium we will contact you. You will recieve a project schedule at the start and at periodical stages during the construction phase.

What do you need of me before I sign your Contract?

Written confirmation of finance from your lending institution;
Written proof that any loan has been approved by your lending authority;
Details of any easements, covenants, encumbrances and caveats affecting the land;
A current rates notice or Certificate of title showing owners name/s and property address for that property;
A required deposit in the form of a cheque as per our Contract.
Two original DA construction plans.
A third party person to witness our signatures at time of exchange.
A guarantor.

How long will it take to have the architect draw up my plans and what does he need from me to start drawing?

Depends upon your design and how prepared you are. Usually about 4 - 8 weeks. He needs your sketch designs, a good idea of what you want in your new home or extension, and your existing house and site plans.

How long will it take to have my design approved with the government and private building certifier?

Firstly, there will be the Planning Approval and secondly the Building Approval. Once these have been completed we will be allowed to commence building works. The length of time depends upon the design and what you want approved. Generally speaking, two months with ACTPLA, and one month with the Private Building Certifier.

How long will it take to start construction on my home?

Once Contracts have been signed and all approvals have been met, we will agree on a start date and begin construction.

Have you built a home similar to what I want in my home?

We have built and worked on many homes, so we guarantee that we have worked on something very similar to what you want in your home.

How do you employ your trades?

We set out a structured framework and employ tradespeople that will work within that framework. We DO NOT USE tradespeople.

CONSTRUCTION PHASE

How long will it take to build my house or extension?

Depending on your design, will determine the expected construction period of your project. Of course there are unforeseen circumstances such as extra work needed to complete something or inclement weather, lack of trade and material availabilities which could alter to timing of the job. Also the complexity of the project will play with the construction timeframe. Extensions and new homes will take approximately 4 to 5 months to complete.

What happens when I want to change something in the design of the house?

No problems, we are here to please. We will raise a Variation to the Contract and this will show what you are getting and the price we would charge for it being usually labour and materials. Sometimes the cost will be ‘NIL’ and be called a Design Variation.

Is it possible to make any structural changes to the house during construction?

Yes, but these may need Planning and Building Approval. Usually once these are approved in the form of a Variation, and the needed approvals, the building works can continue.

Can I choose my own colours etc?

Absolutely yes! You may choose your own paint colours as well as all other Provisional Cost items. We custom build for you. You can choose anything under our approval.

Do I have to use your inclusions for my house?

Not if you don’t want to. As we build your home, you’re the boss in choosing the right inclusions. All we need to know is what you are choosing, with notice, so we can incorporate them into our design. We will guide you through each choice.

Will trades interrupt our family life while working on the job?

With extensions, there will always be noise, dust, dirt, and trades walking through your home. We will strongly reduce the effects of these factors. With new homes we don’t have these issues lingering. We will always do our best!

What are your hours and days of work?

We work from 7:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday. With extensions we sometimes start later in the mornings because we don’t want to affect your personal lives. Getting children ready for school isn’t easy. Sometimes we may work on Saturdays usually between the hours 7:30am and 5:00pm. We don’t work on Sundays. If we work outside of these hours, we’ll ask and confirm with you first.

Will you provide a schedule of what we can expect of you week by week?

Yes, we will hand out a project schedule at the beginning and at different stages during the project, to update you on progress. We will also communicate via phone or email on progress.

What could possibly hold up the job during construction?

Unforeseen circumstances such as the weather, trade and material availability, hold up’s by local authorities, variations to the Contract, may all string the job out longer than expected. Some of these factors may affect your job and are dealt with by us as they arise.

What do you mean when you say ‘unforeseen circumstances’?

Anything we don’t expect to pop up. Hidden items which may surprise us. A job can sometimes be a can of worms.

Can I stay living in our house while you build?

Yes you can. Depending on what we are working on in your home. Usually if your Kitchen, Bathroom, Ensuite, Laundry, heating and cooling systems are affected during construction, it’s usually easier and much less disruptive to you if you move out until the job reaches completion or a stage when your home is liveable. Any excess furniture and personal items in the home that prove in the way of building works will need to be relocated off site into storage.

Will my house and yard be kept clean and tidy during construction?

We will do our utmost best to keep your home clean during all construction work on site. Of course there will be dust and rubbish throughout the construction phase and we enforce stock piling of building rubbish and regular site clean ups inside and out.

Will the house during construction be inspected by a third party?

Yes, by our Private Building Certifier. Inspection stages are: Footings, Floor, Pre-sheeting walls and ceilings, Stormwater system and the Final inspection. The electrician and plumber will also be inspected individually.

Will the budget change?

Yes, if you make changes to the contract. The price may increase or decrease, depending on and the timing of what you need done. Otherwise NO.

Are there any hidden costs which might arise?

Sometimes we may hit rock when excavating, unforeseen conditions in existing walls such as electrical, plumbing or asbestos sheeting. These may or may not affect the price of our Contract. It all depends on how the Contract is set up between us.

POST-CONSTRUCTION PHASE

What happens when you reach Practical Completion?

We always strictly follow each Contract we enter into with all of our clients. We’ll give you a Certificate of Practical Completion, showing the building works is ready for the Final inspection. We then both inspect the building works, and once satisfied, we exchange with final payment and keys.

What is the maintenance period you offer?

We offer a healthy 65 days as per our Contract. This period commences after the Practical Completion date. During this time you may point out items which may need attention to by us.