Nulook Homes Pty Ltd

At Nulook Homes we are committed to building quality homes to the highest of standards at an affordable price. Our expertise in
craftsmanship and attention to detail mean we go above and beyond to ensure you have the best possible experience.

As a trusted small builder we are able to give you a personalised experience. Our dedicated team will guide you through your building journey and will treat your home as if it were their own.

Only accepting a limited number of home builds per year we ensure quality so that you get the best possible service and experience. We tailor solutions to meet your individual needs by:

- Listening to your ideas and requirements
- Understanding the way you live
- Designing a custom home specifically for you
- Giving you excellent customer service at every level

You will have peace of mind knowing our Directors are both builders and together have over 35 years of building experience.

MBA Member, HIA Member and GreenSmart Accredited Builder

 

ABOUT NULOOK HOMES PTY LTD

08 9349 7003
Unit 4, 511 Wanneroo Rd
Balcatta WA 6021
Builders Registration Number: 12257
Price Range: $300K - $1mil
Construction Type: Brick, Timber frame, Alternative/modular
Region: Perth Metro

GET IN TOUCH

Testimonials

D. Palacios & C. Prior
We built our very first home with Nulook homes. It was completed in May this year (2016). Based on all the horror stories we’d heard from friends who’d built, we had resisted building for years. Our old home was way too big for our current needs, but we loved the location. We explored all other avenues (renovating, selling and moving, subdividing) but finally realised building made the most sense for us. So we demolished the old home and moved into a rental for the duration of the build. I wanted a solar passive home, and had the design done by Solar Dwellings. We then costed the build with 3 builders—two recommended by Solar Dwellings (Nulook being one) and one of our own choices. We chose Nulook not so much for the price (they came in the middle), but for their willingness to listen, advise on, and execute the many non-standard options I wanted. I can’t begin to explain how pleased I’ve been with both the process, and the final product. 1. The build itself was completed in 10 months. All up we were in our rental 13 months (time for demolition and after-handover work). Handover came in 4 weeks late, but this was due to delays by a separate kitchen supplier I had chosen. 2. From planning to completion, communication was timely, and clear. They did a lot of research for me and made sure I understood the ramifications of my choices. 3. Our next door neighbour is a retired builder, and our best friend is a retired cabinet maker, and both said the quality of work was above par, and that *they* would choose Nulook as a builder. 4. We’ve had multiple times when outside tradesmen have commented on the high quality of the work in the house. All in all, the entire build process was relatively stress free. We’ve been living in the home for 8 weeks now, and really starting to settle in. We would recommend Nulook wholeheartedly as a builder.
M. Coppari
We engaged Nulook Homes to build our first 4x2 single storey family home and we couldn't be happier with the end result due to the outstanding level of quality. Brent and all his team were always a pleasure to deal with, they were professional and communicated well throughout the process, their willingness to listen to our ideas was really appreciated and most important we were given flexibility with all changes that my (fussy) husband wanted to do :-). I have already recommended Nulook homes to a couple of people and hopefully we will use them again soon for our next project. Thank you Nulook!
E. Killian
Building for the first time we were obviously nervous about who we choose to bring our dream to fruition. Nulook Homes didn't fail, they took our plans and turned them into a beautiful home. It’s so rare to find a business that really understands the meaning of customer care. Nothing was too hard and at no stage did we feel pressured to make a decision. There was always time and lots of options presented in terms of features, price and quality. We always felt our project was just as important to them as it was to us and if we weren't happy with something then neither were they. We would highly recommend Nulook Homes to anyone building or renovating. They are a truly professional and customer focused team.
S. Piviali & C. Brown
Nulook were extremely attentive to our specific needs. They delivered our project within a very timely manner and all tradespeople were helpful, hard working and produced a high level of craftsmanship. We would highly recommend Nulook to build, renovate or extend on your home, without hesitation.
R. E. Gadsdon
Work has recently been completed at my residence. My Wife and I would now like to take this opportunity to thank your team and in particular Brent in the manner in which the work was undertaken. As you are aware the residence is a heritage property over 100 years old. The tradesmen employed on the project were true artisans restoring the property to its true origins which was particularly pleasing. We congratulate you on not only your sensitivity but also our focus on the detail to ensure the original detail was preserved in your work. This work will stand for many generations as a testament to the faithful restoration of this residence by Nulook Homes. Your entire tradesman group faithfully fulfilled all our expectation under your careful guidance. Thank you once again for your excellent work.

awards

  • 2016 HIA- Colorbond Perth Housing Award- Winner

  • 2016 HIA- Colorbond Perth Housing Award- Finalist

  • 2016- HIA- CSR Western Australian Housing Award- Winner

Feature Properties

No property found.

VIEW NULOOK HOMES PTY LTD'S...

BUILDING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Show More

FAQS

What is the difference between a project builder and custom builder?

Project builders (also known as display home builders) have standardised pre-designed house plans that you choose from. Project builders offer house and land packages where they build their plans on a lot of land, usually in a development area, or house only packages where they build their plan on land you have previously purchased.

The builder usually has strict requirements on the types of blocks they build on. They also rarely allow changes to the plans, and if so can only be minor, and are charged to you at increased prices.

The minimum price project builders advertise their display home is only for the very basic “shell” of the house and does not include driveways, carports, landscaping, air-conditioning and sometimes flooring and painting. Most display homes you see in a display village will be at the highest end of their price range and have all the additional upgrades which can be misleading.

Although they may only provide you with a basic package, there is a lot of competition for companies to win your contract, and so they are likely to provide great inclusions and incentives so it pays to shop around.

Advantages of a Project Builder

  • Have a bigger buying power as most project builders construct high volumes of homes, they buy in bulk and so can help to negotiate better prices for materials to reduce you costs
  • Many companies offer house and land packages.
  • Great for first home buyers or if you don’t want to design your own home.
  • Can get some great savings with inclusions and upgrades from competing companies.

Disadvantages of a Project Builder

  • Restricted in the choice of fixtures and fittings as they have limited options due to the high volume of houses built.
  • Can only make minor changes to the plans which can incur very high costs which are handed on to you.
  • Project builders are only contracted to build the design, meaning all pre-construction is at the cost of you, including demolition, earthworks, tree removing or putting in retaining walls.

Custom Builders

Building with a custom builder means you have greater flexibility in your design. They create a unique home that is customised to suit your needs and budget.

You can use an external architect to design up your floor plans and then approach a custom builder to build the house, or the custom builder will engage an architect and engineer to help in the planning and building stage.

Advantages of a Custom Builder

  • One-off design specifically for your needs and budget
  • Greater involvement and control over the design of your home to suit your needs, along with flexibility of finishes and fittings.
  • You work with the same builder the whole way through, from demolition and earthworks to lock up and completion, meaning you have a closer working relationship.
  • The builder will take into consideration your particular block, slope, views or any bushfire regulations
  • Custom builders will usually get multiple quotes from various sub-contractors to ensure the cost of the trades is the best possible

Disadvantages of a Custom Builder

  • The overall costs associated with a custom home may be greater than a project builder depending on the quality products, features and design layout chosen.
  • Typically custom homes will take longer to build due to the complex design, skills required and the choice of materials
  • You will have to pay for an architect to design your house if your builder is not also an architect.

A few tips if choosing a project builder:

  1. It pays to shop around – do your research and a product price comparison (on the same product) as you may get a much cheaper price from one builder then the next.
  2. Ensure all items agreed on are included in the contract and you know what it is you are paying for. It’s also recommended you know what is required at lock up for your home to have council compliance (many items not included in the original package).

Overall, whether you decide to choose a project or custom builder, it’s important you create a budget and stick to it!

What should I do when looking for a builder?

Residential builders in WA are required to be registered. You must ensure the name of that builder is associated with a current registration and endorsed for the work you intend to have undertaken. If there is no licence, then immediately scratch the name from the list.

Below is a general checklist which you can use as part of your selection process. The most important thing to remember is to ask questions at any stage, particularly if you are unsure about any decisions or changes.

  • Approach a builder knowing exactly what you are looking for and your budget;
  • Visit display homes beforehand to know what you like;
  • Obtain information from your local council about zoning regulations, requirements and building approvals.
  • Only deal with a builder who is licensed. You can download a current list of registered builders from the Building Commission’s website;
  • Look to see if your builder is a member of the Master Builders Association and also to see whether they have won any Master Builders awards for the quality of their building work or customer service;
  • Familiarise yourself with the fundamental legal obligations and jargon, to feel comfortable openly talking with your builder;
  • Do not sign a building contract or preliminary agreement without reading and clearly understanding your rights and obligations;
  • Ensure you know what inclusions you need to have for your house to be approved by council as some things are not included in the initial quote;
  • Select only three or four builders to get quotes from, and in comparing building prices or quotations, make sure that you are comparing “apples with apples”;
  • WA has mandatory home warranty insurance for works over $20,000
  • Ask about the accessibility of the builder during construction – how regularly will the builder or supervisor update you on the work programme?

At the end of the day it’s about which builder you feel the most comfortable and confident with so you can build a good working relationship which is vital for when such a large investment is being made.

What assistance is there for first home buyers?

There is a lot of assistance available to first home buyers from Governments. It is worth spending some time to carefully investigate the rebates and assistance available to you.

First Home Owner Grant

The WA Government’s First Home Owner Grant currently offers $3,000 to first home owners for established homes. The grant is not a loan, and it doesn’t need to be repaid. Home buyers can use their grant to cover the deposit and loan fees in WA, provided they meet the criteria.

Home Buyers Assistance Account

This account provides a grant of up to $2,000 for the incidental expenses of first home buyers when they purchase an established or partially built home through a licensed real estate agent for the purchase price of $400,000 or less. The grant can be used for mortgage registration fees, solicitor and/or conveyancing fees, valuation fees, inspection fees, establishment fees, mortgage insurance premiums and lending institution fees associated with lodging the application.

Stamp duty reductions or exemptions

When a home buyer is eligible for the First Home Owner Grant, a concessional rate of transfer duty may apply. Properties under $430,000 are completely exempt, and a reduced rate applies for properties of up to $530,000 for house and land. If land only is bought, first home owners are totally exempt for land purchased up to $300,000, and a reduced rate applies for land purchased for between $300,000 and $400,000.

KeyStart Home Loan

The KeyStart Home Loan is a low deposit loan for homes under $480,000. Home buyers may be eligible if they have an income under $95,000 a year, or if they are a couple with a combined income under $115,000.

 SharedStart Home Loan

With a fixed SharedStart loan, you receive finance from Keystart to purchase a percentage of the property from the Department of Housing. The Department will retain its share, up to 30%, in the property permanently and you can at any time sell your share of the property back to the Department.

GoodStart Loan

This loan is available for current Department of Housing tenants, which is another shared ownership arrangement.

 Even if you can access any of these government savings and grants, you must still carefully budget to see if you can afford your new home on your income, while allowing for unexpected expenses.

First home buyers should take advantage of all the opportunities out there to get assistance to buy or build their new homes, and take care to read the fine print to budget carefully for the largest single investment generally made in a lifetime.

What is practical completion?

Practical completion is a term that is misunderstood by many home buyers. Generally it means the point where all building work is complete or all but completed, in accordance with the contract, and the house is reasonably fit for occupation.

A building contract usually defines practical completion being when all works are completed, except for any defects or omissions which do not prevent the home from being used for its intended purpose. In other words, if the unfinished items prevent the home from being “lived in” then practical completion could be deemed not to have occurred.

Usually there will be a practical completion inspection and the building supervisor and client will agree on a list of items that need to be attended to.

There is usually a short gap in time to the handover, commonly 10-14 working days, although two weeks is the standard timeframe to key handover. This may be extended if there are a lot of practical completion items still to be addressed.

The builder has a contractual obligation to repair minor defects, but this may not necessarily happen before handover, although most builders would attempt to do so. Many items are attended to in, or at the end of, the defects liability period (usually a period of four to six months after practical completion for many residential contracts, and sometimes called the maintenance period).

Practical completion is an important stage of the building process but buyers must understand that not every last detail will necessarily be completed at that time. In short, at practical completion, the builder is paid in full, there is a short gap of time, and the owner takes occupancy – then the defects liability period starts. The Building Commission or the courts will act if the builder does not meet the defects liability obligations.

What is home indemnity insurance?

Home indemnity insurance protects you against financial loss for faulty, unsatisfactory or incomplete building work and loss of deposit should the builder die, disappears or becomes insolvent. The insurance policy must cover the residential building work during the construction period and for six years from the date of practical completion.

Currently all residential building work valued over $20,000 must be covered by a policy of home indemnity insurance except when carrying out ‘associated work’ only ie. installing a swimming pool, kitchen cabinetry or landscaping.

It is compulsory for builders to take out a home indemnity insurance policy before accepting any payment or obtaining a building licence from the local government. The home owner must also be given a copy of the insurance certificate.

It is the builders’ responsibility to take out home indemnity insurance; however the insurance cost will be paid for by you, so ensure it is in the contract before signing. Home indemnity insurance needs to be purchased before commencing any re residential building work, asking you to pay a deposit or asking you to pay any other money under a residential building contract.

The builder is also required to give you a copy of the certificate of insurance which summarises the main requirements.

 The policy will be in your (owner) name, so should you sell the property within the six year insurance period, the benefit of the policy will pass to the subsequent owner.

If home indemnity insurance cannot be obtained, it is recommended that you find another builder who can to ensure you are covered.

Click here for more information.

Should I have a building inspection before buying?

Under the Builders Registration Act, a builder is legally responsible for all faulty and defective work for a period of six years after practical completion. Whether or not you engage a private building inspector will not affect the builder’s obligation for the integrity of your home.

However, many owners do seek assistance from a private consultant if they do not feel qualified or confident in their ability to deal with the builder or his construction supervisor at handover.

If you decide to engage a private inspector, as a matter of courtesy you should advise the builder of your intentions. It is important also that you instruct the inspector appropriately. What you do not require is a list of minor defects e.g. chipped paint, cracked tiles etc which are perfectly obvious for all to see. Builders and clients are often annoyed by voluminous inspection reports which identify imperfections like these which would be rectified in the normal course of events anyway.

Your instructions to an inspector should be to verify the integrity of major building elements. For example, the inspector should climb into the roof space to see if the roof structure is correctly installed. Checking that windows are correctly fitted and sealed is another important item.

Sometimes it is the things that are unseen that are most important. An experienced building inspector can usually assess integrity of the footings and slab by visual examination.

Before engaging a building consultant you should ask for a sample copy of a previous building report.  Are the defects described specifically?  Comments such as “non-compliant with building code” are vague and unsatisfactory as they give the builder no clue as to what specific section of the code has not been met and what needs to be remedied.

Private inspectors do not require registration in Western Australia, so it is important to check their experience and credentials before engaging them.  The quality of some building consultants has been heavily criticised by the Building Disputes Tribunal so it is important to choose wisely. There are a number of precautionary steps that you can take to ensure that you are getting value for money.

Tips:

  • Check with the Builders’ Registration Board to confirm their registration number;
  • Contact the Master Builders Association for members who are building inspectors. You can use Master Builders’ free Find a Member service to find an inspector;
  • Obtain a list of previous clients and obtain their feedback; and
  • Confirm an agreed price before agreeing to an inspection.
What is alternative construction?

Alternative construction methods are any ways in which a building is construction that differs from traditional practice, namely double brick that we widely see throughout Western Australia.

The most commonly used term is modular construction, which describes the process of constructing building units off-site and in a controlled environment. The ‘modules’ are then delivered and assembled on-site.

Some types of alternative construction methods can include modular, steel frame and pole construction.

The materials and design methods used build these homes are still to the same Building Code of Australia standards as conventional building techniques, meaning you get the same quality, durability, and longevity with alternative construction as you would with traditional builds.

Alternative construction methods are known to be cheaper to build, have faster construction times, and produce a more quality product due to the controlled conditions in which they are manufactured.

Processing.....

loading