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Building my home > Choosing the right builder
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How do I choose the right builder?
What are the builder's responsibilities?
What are Standard Bank's responsibilities?
Important documents
What types of dwellings does the Standard Home Builders Warranty cover?
How do I choose the right builder?
Building a home or buying a newly built home is one of the biggest investments you will make. For this reason it is imperative that you choose a well-qualified and reputable builder.
Follow the six easy steps set out below to ensure that you are dealing with a reputable and experienced homebuilder:
Step 1
- Check the reputation of the homebuilder.
- Inspect some of the houses built and completed by the registered homebuilder and talk to the
homeowners.
- Make sure the homebuilder provides you with a proper contract for the building of your new home
and that finer details with regard to type of finish, inclusions and exclusions, time frames etc.
are fully covered.
Step 2
- Ask an attorney for advice about the building contract or deed of sale before you sign a contract.
Step 3
- Seek the advice of someone who knows the building and buying process. This could include estate agents, architects.
Step 4
- Do not pay a deposit unless you have a valid building or purchase contract and you are sure that
your deposit is being held in a trust fund.
- Do not sign any documentation unless it has been explained to you and you understand it fully.
Step 5
- Obtain copies of the following documents:
- Building contract and land sale agreement or deed of sale;
- The Standard Home Builder's Warranty; and
- Payment receipts or any other documents that you are required to sign.
Step 6
- When you move into your new home, draw up a snag list - a detailed list of all the problems and
defects that need fixing.
- Your snag list must then be handed to the registered home builder to fix the problems / defects
as indicated
- You should sign a letter confirming that the house is acceptable for occupation. The letter must
state the date on which you received the keys for your new house, and confirm that you have given
the snag list to the builder to rectify the problems.
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What are the builder's responsibilities?
- Make good any defects related to plans, specifications, workmanship and materials in the new
house which occur within 90 days of your moving in to the new house;
- Repair any roof leaks occurring within 12 months of occupation;
- Provide a five-year warranty on the structural integrity of the new house. This warranty is a
guarantee on the roof structure, superstructure (walls), substructure (foundations) and private
drains;
- Ensure that you sign a letter confirming acceptance of occupation (for building contracts)
- Ensure that all relevant documentation has been completed and signed by both yourself and him
before construction begins.
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What are Standard Bank's responsibilities?
It is our responsibility to ensure that where a Building loan is approved
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Important documents
The following documents are important for the new homeowner, the bank, and the homebuilder.
All parties must make sure these documents, where applicable, are properly completed and signed:
- The building contract or deed of sale for both land and buildings (where applicable);
- The plans and specifications of the home;
- All engineers' certificates;
- The Standard Home Builders Warranty;
- Waiver of Lien
- The snag list (which should be drawn up by you before you move in); and
- The letter of occupation, signed by you when taking occupation of a new house built in terms of
a building contract.
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What types of dwellings does the Standard Home Builders Warranty cover?
All new homes (freehold and sectional title) will be covered by the warranty.
This includes:
- Houses;
- Cluster homes;
- Flats;
- Townhouses; or
- Sectional title
Alterations and additions are not covered by the warranty.
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