Home Builders Brisbane
Looking to build your new dream home in Brisbane? Want to get to know what builders are out there, and what their strengths and weaknesses are? You’re in the right place! We have taken the time to do the legwork and have compiled detailed reviews for Brisbane builders that offer everything from new builds to house and land packages.
Clarendon Homes
Clarendon Homes has been around since 1978 and have been building homes across South East Queensland and Brisbane since the beginning. From our review, the most common complaint about Clarendon Homes are:
- They take about 12 months to build a home. This is on a higher end of build times
- The contract and tender process often seems to be confusing. This is because their inclusions are unclear.
- Their years of experience, however, are undeniable, and thousands have trusted them to construct their family homes.
Ownit Homes
Ownit Homes is a Brisbane based builder who’ve been building homes in Brisbane since 1972. One of their signatures is rooftop terrace designs.
They believe that your home should have an individual flair, meaning you can change their designs to suit you or start from scratch.
With only 4 display homes in Queensland, it’s hard to tell what they are capable of until you build with them.
CLICK HERE to read in-depth review Ownit Homes.
BOLD Living
BOLD Living is a boutique builder, that has been building homes in Brisbane since 2010. They’re the baby of the list with only 11 years under their belt. This inexperience could affect your build.
Being locally based, they have a good grasp on the needs of Brisbane home builders and are flexible with their designs.
Coral Homes
Coral Homes is a true volume builder. They were founded in Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast in 1990 and have been building homes in Brisbane since then.
- It’s easy to get an idea of their craftmanship at one of their many display homes around QLD.
- None of their designs are customisable, but luckily there’s a lot of them.
- Coral will show you design plans relative to your block in the early stages and their initial quotes provide a surprising amount of detail.
- Their build process is very segmented leaving you to feel a bit left in the dark when the build begins.
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Homes by CMA
Homes by CMA are family-owned, Brisbane based builder, founded in 2009.
- Standard inclusions are generous.
- Friendly team.
- Steel frame as standard.
- Their process can slow down a build.
- Not flexible with minor changes.
Plantation Homes
Plantation homes have operated out of Brisbane since the 1990s and benefit from the financial backing of a large Victoria-based construction company.
- Have won the Queensland Professional Major Builder Award every year since 2012.
- They have a massive range of designs but make you wait.
- If you have any big questions don’t expect a response for 2 – 3 weeks as everything must go through their head office. These kinds of delays also seem to apply to their tender and contract process. Whether they’re worth the wait is up to you.
Metricon
Metricon is a Victorian-based builder that builds around 5000 homes a year nationally. They build a large volume of homes in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast & South East Queensland.
- Metricon is a big builder in Brisbane and build some of the most on-trend in the state.
- They offer is steel frames as standard. (steel vs timber frames article)
- Their biggest downfall, however, is that often there are too many cooks in the kitchen, making a good site supervisor an absolute must.
- Without level-headed supervision, their constructions have been known to get messy.
Porter Davis Homes
Porter Davis is an award-winning builder that expanded into Queensland in 2016 and has steadily been building its reputation in Brisbane since.
- Great customer-focused mantra to “respect the dream”
- They utilise an online hub that keeps you up to date with your build progress.
- Porter Davis are very secretive about their prices, often not revealing important fees until the very last minute. Surprises like the ones associated with Porter Davis can be stressful when building and back you into a bad spot.
Simonds Homes
Simonds is one of the countries largest builders with 50,000 builds since its foundation in 1949.
- The issue with a builder this size is that you’re prone to have a less personal experience with them that can lead to disappointment.
- Many have cited issues with the build quality and post-build support.
- With no dedicated post-build team to ensure their work stands the test of time and the size of the build, it can be easy for you to slip through the cracks.
Brighton Homes
Brighton Homes was established in 2018 as the Southeast Queensland focused builder of the MJH Group.
- Fairly new builder.
- Offer designs that are up to date with modern trends and are known to be upfront about their costs.
- You will have 2 points of contact with the people in charge of your build; a site supervisor and a project coordinator, so if one is busy, call the other.
- Brighton offers a 20-week timeframe to finish your build.
- There is a 2 – 3 month wait after putting down your $3000 deposit to get a fixed price contract.
McCarthy Homes
McCarthy is a Brisbane based builder that was founded as a family operated business in 1999.
- Known for their Hampton style homes in Brisbane.
- Their ability to take on unusually shaped blocks makes them a viable option for those with blocks other builders won’t touch.
- A strength of McCarthy is their organised process that keeps your build moving forward.
- This strength is also their weakness as it makes them inflexible. Even minor changes can create big bills and final cost first home price location in the future.
Dixon Homes
Dixon Homes is a franchised builder with locations along the Australian East Coast. Founded in 1959, Dixon Homes have built a name for themselves as an affordable alternative in the building industry.
- More affordable than other builders.
- Wide range of designs to choose from.
- Communication has received mixed reviews. Customer service can be poor
- Different locations will have different approaches.
- Finished homes sometimes fail to meet customers’ expectations.
Hallmark Homes
Hallmark Homes are based in South-East Queensland and build around 500 homes a year.
- Specialise in narrow blocks and acreage properties.
- Good entry-level prices
- Ability to compare designs on their website
- Use self-certified tradespeople
- No double-storey homes
- Basic Standard inclusions
G.J. Gardner Homes
G.J. Gardner Homes is one of the biggest builders in the country and have operated in Brisbane for over 37 years.
- One of the biggest builders in the country, with over 36,000 builds to their name.
- Lots of variety in home designs.
- They’re a franchised business, meaning different locations will offer completely different experiences
- Upgraded display homes can be misleading
- Prices can vary depending on where you’re building
Ausbuild
Since its foundation in 1988, Ausbuild has built nearly 9000 homes.
- Known for their fast plan builds
- Have designs suitable for narrow blocks
- Founded in Brisbane so they know the area well.
- Their rigid process can make them inflexible.
- Often use expensive electrical contractors.
Stroud Homes
Stroud Homes was founded by James Stroud in 2005, and they build Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria
- Promise a reasonable build time
- Wide range of different house-designs.
- Good rating on Productreview.com.au
- Post-build communication can be poor
- Some customers have complained of issues with finished home
Ausmar Homes are a South-East Queensland Builder that has been operating in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast for nearly 30 years.
- Great for custom builds.
- Flexible with designs.
- Sometimes have delays with their builds.
McLachlan Homes are a family-owned, award-winning custom builder with locations in Sunshine Coast to Brisbane. Their motto is ‘Build around Lifestyle’ and they promise a more personalised experience than other builders.
- Flexible with designs.
- Offer knockdown rebuilds
- Some communication issues
Domaine Homes is a new branch of Clarendon Homes, the aim of which is to bring budget house designs to consumers.
- More affordable for those on a budget
- Great sales team
- However, this great sales pitch doesn’t always lead to a good experience, as some customers have been disappointed by their experience.
Home Building Services
Bespoke New Homes
A bespoke home is a one-of-a-kind house design. Custom-made and designed, a bespoke home for those who thrive off inspiration and want their home to reflect their life.
Pros and Cons of Custom Homes
Before you start designing your bespoke home, consider the pros and cons of this approach.
Pros:
- You have more choice and flexibility in the design of your home.
- Gives you a chance to personalise your home, giving you the chance to build a home that reflects you.
- Functionality: Create the perfect floor space to suit your lifestyle.
- Transparency: Because you are taking a more hands-on approach, you have a better idea of all expenses.
- Quality: With a bit of know-how, you can make sure you get the best materials and fixtures.
- Location: If you’re working with a challenging site, a custom house is a great way to work with your environment and still get your dream home.
Cons:
- Higher Costs: The upfront costs will be higher for a bespoke home than using a pre-existing home design.
- Things Falling Through: Custom home builders tend to be smaller businesses. If they become insolvent, you risk a large debt with nothing to show for it.
- Time: Custom homes tend to take longer to build than standard designs.
- More Variables: Taking more control means more decisions, which means more risks. Mistakes, such as an unreliable contractor or poor materials, can be expensive and time-consuming. Having the right people on your team who know the ins and outs of new home building will make the world of difference.
- Resale Value: The uniqueness of your house might be an acquired taste. While you and your friends may love it, it might be a little ahead of the curve for the mainstream homebuyer.
Read our in-depth guide to the Pros and Cons of a Custom Home here
Single-Storey design
A single-storey design will provide you with a simple, cozy home and is often an affordable choice in quality house designs.
Not only will a single-story home often be less expensive to build, but you will also save money maintaining it. Single storey homes are also perfect for those who want an open, sprawling layout to their home.
A disadvantage of a single-story design is space. It will take up more space than other designs, which will mean you’ll have less yard space. The interior of the house will also be smaller than a home that uses multiple levels. You also won’t have the advantage of buffer zones that double-storey or split-level homes can provide you.
Split level design
If you’re working with a tricky landscape, such as a block of land with a slope, a split level design might be the solution. Split level homes work with your sloping block, using three or more levels connected by stairs. You’ll save money on excavation, and may be able to build a bigger home than you thought possible on your block of land.
A split-level design won’t be for everyone. Stairs will be a fact of life if you choose this design, so consider if this works with your lifestyle and physical capabilities. Due to the specific nature of a split-level house, renovations are more challenging than they are one more traditional home designs.
House & Land Packages
For those who find designing a home from scratch a bit daunting, a house and land package will have its charms. The advantage here is simplicity. This solution takes out a lot of the decision making required for a custom build. You’ll also only have to deal with one person rather than many.
Read our ultimate guide to House and Land Packages here
Display Homes
Ever visit a display home and thought how wonderful it would be to live in a house like this? By buying an ex-display home, you have the opportunity to do just that. Here are the pros and cons of purchasing a display home.
Pros
- Premium fittings and fixtures: The purpose of display homes is to showcase the best a home builder has to offer. A big advantage of buying a display home is you’re buying a home fully equipped with the best fittings and fixtures for cheaper than if you decided to build new.
- Good Location: Buying a house in a display village will mean your home will be surrounded by ex-display homes which were built to exceptional standards. You’ve heard about location, location, location? Builders want to showcase their work in stunning environments, something you can take advantage of by buying a display home.
- You’ll be able to move in a lot sooner if you buy a pre-existing house rather than build one.
Cons:
- You will have to pay stamp duty on the total value of both the house and block of land.
- Less chance to customise: Building a new home will give you more say in the design of your home, whereas buying a pre-existing home will require you to adapt.
- You’re not the first people to be in this house. Hundreds of customers have already walked through your new home. While display homes are meticulously cleaned, there may be some wear and tear.
See our comprehensive review of Display Homes & Villages in Brisbane here
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