Our Building Process
Building Your Dream Home, Step by Step
At Five Rivers we understand that building a home is one of the most significant investments you’ll make. Our streamlined process ensures transparency, quality, and personalized service from start to finish.
Initial Consultation & Site Assessment
Understanding Your Vision: Every successful project starts with a clear understanding of your goals. We take the time to learn about your lifestyle, design preferences, investment objectives, and budget. This allows us to tailor our approach and ensure every aspect of the project aligns with your expectations from the very beginning.
Site Inspection: Our team carries out a detailed inspection of your land to assess site conditions, identify opportunities, and address any potential challenges early on. This ensures we design and plan your build with accuracy, making the most of your block’s orientation, slope, and access.
Design Selection & Customization
Home Designs: Explore our wide range of home designs tailored for the Newcastle region. From single and double-storey homes to dual key and duplex layouts, we offer flexible options to suit your block, budget, and lifestyle. Each design balances practicality, visual appeal, compliance, and long-term value.
Custom Designs: Want something tailored to your land and lifestyle? Custom design requests incur a $3,000–$4,000 + GST fee for a detailed concept plan. This ensures compliance with council and authority guidelines while optimising your block’s potential. We focus on floor space ratios, liveability, and functional yet appealing layouts to lay the groundwork for a confident, high-performing build.
Investment Builds: Building for investment? We’ll help you maximise your land’s potential with cost-effective, council-compliant designs that prioritise equity growth. Our experience ensures smart, practical solutions that deliver lasting value.
Tender & Agreement
Detailed Quotation: We provide a comprehensive tender that outlines all costs associated with your build — with full transparency from the start. Our quotations are detailed and inclusive, covering everything from DA or CDC approvals through to subdivision (if required). This ensures you have a clear understanding of your total investment with no hidden surprises along the way.
Agreement: Once you accept the quotation & payment of deposit, we initiate the drafting of construction plans and formal contracts. This step officially sets your project in motion and allows us to begin coordinating the necessary documentation and approvals for a smooth build process.
Pre-Construction Planning
Site Testing: We conduct soil tests, Bushfire reports and contour surveys to inform the construction process.
Selections Appointment: During this stage, you’ll collaborate with our interior designer to personalise your home. From fixtures and fittings to finishes and colour schemes, we guide you through the selection process to ensure every detail reflects your style and complements the overall design. This is where your vision truly starts to take shape. We also offer tried & tested colour schemes for time-poor investors.
Approvals: Our team takes care of all required approvals on your behalf, including Complying Development Certificates (CDC) or Development Applications (DA). We ensure every aspect of your project meets local council regulations and statutory requirements, allowing you to move forward quickly with confidence and peace of mind. Ultimately saving valuable time.
Construction Phase
Foundation & Framing: This is where construction begins. We start by preparing the site and pouring the concrete slab, creating a strong and stable base for your home. Once the foundation is set, we construct the timber frame — forming the structural skeleton that brings your floor plan to life.
Lock-Up Stage: At this stage, your home takes full shape externally. We install the external cladding/Bricks, roofing, windows, and doors — fully enclosing the structure. This not only protects the interior from the elements but also marks a major milestone in the build, as the home becomes secure and weather tight.
Internal Works: With the structure sealed, we move inside to complete the essential internal components. This includes electrical and plumbing rough-ins, wall insulation, and plastering. Once the internal shell is complete, we install cabinetry, fittings, and fixtures — bringing your chosen finishes and design details to life.
Completion & Handover
Final Touches: As your home nears completion, we take care of the final details that bring everything together. This includes painting, flooring, and the installation of appliances — all completed with precision to ensure a flawless finish and ready-to-move-in presentation.
Quality Inspection: Before handover, we conduct a comprehensive quality inspection to ensure every aspect of your home meets our exacting standards. From structural elements to finishes, no detail is overlooked — giving you confidence that your new home is delivered exactly as promised.
Handover: The ultimate step — and the most rewarding. At handover, you’ll receive the keys to your new home along with all relevant documentation, certificates, and warranties. We walk you through the completed property to ensure you’re fully satisfied and ready to move in with confidence.
Subdivision
CDC Subdivisions: We handle the entire subdivision process under CDC, allowing you to make the most of your investment while approvals are underway. In most cases, approvals are obtained within 2 to 5 weeks after the properties are issued with OC, and during this period, your completed properties can be rented out without delay. Our goal is to keep your project moving while maximising returns.
DA Subdivision: We initiate the subdivision process early in the project to avoid unnecessary delays. However, council times can be unpredictable, and approvals may take longer than expected. Based on our experience, most subdivisions are approved and registered within 2 to 3 months after construction is complete. The good news? You can relax — your investment property can still be rented out while we wait for final registration, ensuring your return is not put on hold.
Post-Construction Support
Maintenance Period: We offer 90 days maintenance period to address any issues that may arise after moving in.
Ongoing Support: Our commitment does not end at handover. We are here for you long after you have moved in, whether you have questions, need assistance, or are planning future projects. Our team remains available to provide reliable support whenever you need it.