Photos coming
ProjectDouble-storey home
SuburbTBC
FileCX-03
Custom home builders in Canberra
New homes built around your block, your family and your budget
You deal with one licensed builder from the first sketch to the day you get the keys. We build across Canberra and over the border in Queanbeyan, Googong, Bungendore and the Yass Valley.
- Licensed in the ACT and NSW, ACT 2023538 and NSW 499527C
- Site costs priced before you sign
- We call back within one business day
Short answerUpdated
What a new home costs depends on your block, the size and shape of the house, and the inclusions you choose. Once the plans are approved, expect 9 to 14 months on site, with another two to five months of design and approvals before that. We walk your block before we quote, so the site costs in your price are real numbers, not guesses.
Is this you?
Who we usually build for
Most of the people who call us about a new home fit one of these. If you're somewhere in between, that's fine too.
01
You've bought land in a new estate
Whitlam, Strathnairn, Jacka, Googong, Denman Prospect. Each estate has its own design rules, and some give you a deadline to build. We work to both.
02
Your block slopes or has rock
We sort out the cut and fill, retaining, split levels and drainage before we price the job, not halfway through pouring the slab.
03
You want low power bills
New ACT homes can't connect to gas anyway, so we design all-electric from the start: heat pumps, good orientation, proper insulation and a roof ready for solar.
04
You want a shed with the house
We build sheds as well, so your garage or workshop goes up under the same contract, in matching colours, on one schedule.
What we build
The kinds of homes we build in Canberra
Custom homes
Single or double storey, designed for your block and the way you live. Bring your own plans, or we'll draw them up with our drafting partner.
All-electric homes
Built to the current energy rules, with heat pump hot water, reverse-cycle heating and cooling, induction cooking and a solar-ready roof.
House and shed packages
Your new home plus a garage, workshop or storage shed that matches it, built at the same time.
Sloping and difficult blocks
Split levels, suspended slabs and retaining walls, designed in from day one.
Granny flats and dual occupancy
A second small home on your block, or two homes on one block, where the zoning allows it.
Local know-how
Things worth knowing before you build in Canberra
None of these will stop you building. They're just much cheaper to plan for at the start than to find out about later.
Energy
No gas for new homes in the ACT
The ACT stopped new gas connections for new homes, so heating, hot water and cooking all run on electricity. That suits us fine. We plan for heat pumps, decent insulation and solar from the first sketch, and running costs usually come out lower for it.
Ratings
Your home needs a 7-star energy rating
New homes in the ACT have to reach 7 stars on NatHERS, and in NSW the BASIX rules set similar targets. Window sizes and which way the living areas face make a bigger difference than most people expect, so we get the rating right while the design is still on paper.
Estates
Estate rules can decide your facade
Estates such as Googong and Ginninderry have their own design guidelines covering facade materials, setbacks, fencing and landscaping, and some want to sign off on your plans first. We read them before the design starts, so nothing gets sent back.
Site costs
Site costs are where budgets go wrong
Rock, slope, reactive clay and long runs to the water and sewer can add a lot to a build. We order a soil test and a contour survey before we give you a price, so it's in the quote from the start.
How it works
How your new home comes together
These are typical times. You'll get your own programme in writing before you sign anything.
Have a chat
We talk about your block, what you want, your budget and when you'd like to move in. We'll tell you what's doable for that budget.
Week 1Site visit
We walk the block, order the soil test and contour survey, and check access, slope and where the services are.
Weeks 1 to 3Design
Your own plans adapted to the block, or a fresh design with our drafting partner. The energy rating gets sorted here too.
4 to 10 weeksQuote and contract
An itemised quote with inclusions, allowances and site costs on separate lines. Take your time with it and ask us anything.
2 to 4 weeksApprovals
Building approval in the ACT, or a CDC or DA in NSW, plus any estate sign-off. We lodge it and chase it.
4 to 12 weeksBuild and handover
Slab, frame, lock-up, fixing and finishes, with updates at every stage. Then a walk-through together, the keys and your warranty papers.
9 to 14 months
Costs
What decides what a new home costs in Canberra
What decides the price of a new home, so you know what to weigh up before you talk to anyone. Your quote depends on the design, the block and the finishes you pick.
| What you're building | What decides it |
|---|---|
| The house itself | Size, storeys, roof shape and the finishes you pick |
| Kitchen and bathrooms | How many there are, and the fittings and benchtops you choose |
| Energy performance | How far past 7 stars you go, plus solar and batteries |
| Site costs (slope, rock, retaining, services)Changes the most from block to block | Your block. We order a soil test and contour survey before we price it |
Every price is worked out for your site and your inclusions. The quote and the first site visit are free.
House and shed packages
Build the house and the shed in one go
Most home builders don't do sheds, and most shed companies don't do houses. We do both. Your garage, workshop or storage shed gets designed alongside the house, matches its roof and colours, and goes up on the same schedule.
- One quote, one contract, one site supervisor
- Approvals lodged together where the rules allow
- Power and water to the shed planned before the slab goes in
Your quote
What's in your quote, line by line
Building quotes can be hard to compare, mostly because of the allowances. Here's how ours is set out, so you know what you're looking at.
Fixed
Fixed price items
The things we can price exactly: slab, frame, roof, windows, plastering and so on. The price is the price.
PC
Prime cost items
Money set aside for things you haven't picked yet, like tapware, appliances and tiles. Choose something dearer or cheaper and the price moves by the difference, in writing.
PS
Provisional sums
Work we can't fully price until we're in the ground, such as extra rock. We keep these few, and we explain each one.
Site
Site costs
Excavation, retaining, drainage and connecting power, water, sewer and NBN. They sit on their own lines, so you can line them up against other quotes.
Projects
Homes we've built
Every home here will be one we built ourselves, with the suburb, the size, how long it took and what the owners thought. No stock photos.
Photos coming
ProjectHouse and shed package
SuburbTBC
FileCX-04
The owner is on site for every job we build.
FAQ
Questions about building a new home
How much does it cost to build a house in Canberra?
It depends on your block, the size and shape of the house and the inclusions you choose. A steep or rocky block needs more footings and site work than a flat estate one, so we give you an itemised price, free, once we've seen the block. Our cost guide goes into more detail.
How long does it take to build a new home?
Most homes take 9 to 14 months on site once the plans are approved. Allow another two to five months before that for design and approvals. Wet weather, approval queues and late changes to selections are what usually stretch it.
Can I use my own plans?
Yes. We can price and build from your architect's or drafter's plans, or tweak plans you already have so they suit your block and your budget.
What are site costs?
Site costs cover the work around the house itself: excavation, retaining walls, rock removal, drainage and connecting power, water, sewer and NBN. They depend entirely on your block, which is why we visit it before we quote.
Can I connect gas to a new home in the ACT?
No. The ACT doesn't allow new gas connections for new homes, so they're all-electric. We design the heating, hot water and cooking around efficient electric systems, and running costs usually come out lower.
How do progress payments work?
You pay in stages as the build goes along, usually a deposit, then at slab, frame, lock-up, fixing and practical completion. Every stage and amount is written into your contract, so there are no surprises about when money is due.
What warranty comes with a new home?
Statutory warranties cover residential building work in both the ACT and NSW, and we arrange home warranty insurance wherever the law requires it. We'll go through exactly what's covered, and for how long, before you sign.
Do you build in new estates outside Canberra?
Yes. We build across Canberra and the NSW side of the border too, including Googong, Jerrabomberra, Bungendore, Murrumbateman and the Yass Valley.
You might also be looking at
Knockdown and rebuild
Love the street, not the house?
Knock down the old place and build new without leaving the neighbourhood.
Have a look ShedsGarages, workshops and storage sheds
Built by a licensed builder, slab and all.
Have a look Free toolRenovate or rebuild?
Eight quick questions about your house, and we'll tell you which way we'd lean.
Try itGot a block? Let's talk about what could go on it.
Send us the lot number or address. We'll look at the slope, the soil and the estate rules before we talk numbers.