FAQ'S

The business name of Ninedots stems from the popular ‘nine dots puzzle’ which encourages people to think differently, unconventionally and ‘outside the box’ for a solution.  We love the lessons to be learned from this puzzle as they resonate strongly with our business philosophies – we pride ourselves on providing a creative alternative to the traditional build process which allows for a more enjoyable new build experience.

Our definition – A build advocate is an individual who is an expert in the construction process engaged to support and/or represent home buyers at varied stages throughout the new build process.   We work on a similar philosophy to that of a mortgage broker  – we give clients greater product knowledge to allow for more informed decisions.

There are many reasons to engage Ninedots but at the core it would be because of our level of care and dedication to making the build process stress free and enjoyable. We treat each project as if it were our own and are known for going above and beyond ‘industry standard’ in applying knowledge and creative strategy for successful build and investment outcomes. Ninedots saves clients a considerable amount of time and money while helping to avoid common build mistakes.

The concept of a build advisor and in particular our structure and accessibility is quite new, one which Ninedots proudly pioneered and brought to market in 2015. Because of this, many people don’t know our service exists. People are generally introduced to Ninedots by their mortgage broker, conveyancer, accountant or financial planner. Often people also assume engaging a project manager/build advisor would be expensive however this is not the case with Ninedots – In fact you’ll more often than not SAVE money by engaging us!

We provide support across all phases of the building process to help simplify the process and deliver an optimal build outcome. This includes land acquisition, builder selection, project management, building inspections, quote and contract reviews and coordination of support services such as conveyancing and property management.

Absolutely! Although we don’t write loans ourselves, as qualified mortgage brokers we can clearly identify a clients needs and can support them through the finance process with ease. We can connect you with banks and brokers who specialise in construction finance who will ensure your fitted perfectly to your mortgage product allowing for the most adequate tax deductibility, risk protection and ease for future lending. We don’t accept any referral fees from third parties so you can be sure your getting referred for the right reasons!

We pride ourselves on finding solutions. If there’s a way we’ll find it! If in the rare instance we can’t assist in getting you an approval we’ll equip you with a plan to help get your finance ready as soon as possible.

Brave soul. No just kidding. It’s a long process but a rewarding one! Yes we can certainly assist. Give us a call to discuss your specific needs.

Yes we can. We can step in at any stage during the design phase to add value to your construction. If engaged prior to the completion of the plans we can contribute ideas from a buildability perspective focussing on how it can be constructed while looking at opportunities for cost saving. If you have completed your drawings independently we can tender your project out to builders we feel will be best suited based on your design, location and budget. Getting quotes on custom builds can be time consuming and exhausting, but we find our expansive knowledge of builders and our process gets things moving faster and attracts the best possible price.

Absolutely. We find a lot of our clients have an interest in sustainability but aren’t quite sure where to start or what it looks like – What sustainable build options are available, how it impacts on cost and what builders are a good fit. We explore all elements that are important to our clients and fill in any knowledge gaps as required.

We certainly can. Although our clients get maximum value from engaging with us from the onset many clients engage our services after discovering the complexity of the construction process.  If you have already engaged a builder we can assist with full project management or site inspections at key stages. From a quality perspective we ensure your build is in line with the Victorian Building Authority Standards and Tolerances and relevant Australian Standards. We have a unique approach to building inspections which ensures your build experience as stress free as possible.

We certainly can. Ninedots provides regular assistance to both interstate investors and families looking to relocate to Victoria or South Australia. Our service provides peace of mind ensuring you have someone local, monitoring your build progress.

We have purposefully structured our company in a way to ensure support is accessible to everyone in need including those building for the first time or those building on a tight budget. With this in mind, our services start from as little as $220 but vary depending on the level of support required. We are happy to discuss your individual needs and talk through pricing so give us a call.

Although some builders can be hesitant at first. once engaged builders enjoy working with Ninedots and highly value our partnership and input. We operate quite differently to traditional building inspectors and provide for an optimal build outcome. When our clients are  introduced to a particular builder they are perfectly matched to the builders product,  more educated and supported by us throughout the entire build process. We bridge the knowledge gap between builders and buyers and communicate on clients behalf which saves the builder significant time and ensures a quality build with complete client satisfaction. We find good builders embrace our approach as it provides an additional layer of quality control for the builder at no cost to them.

You may assume that having a third party involved in the transaction would be more costly however this is surprisingly not the case. Our clients save a considerable amount of money engaging our services. Our industry knowledge ensures you are well matched to your selected builder, we pick up on common build mistakes and our project management often results in shortened build times – all of which results in cost savings for clients.

Our National office is based in Geelong and we currently service home buyers and investors throughout Victoria and South Australia. Ninedots is also now extending its business to industry leading franchise partners so new offices are opening in 2023.

Certainly not! This is one of the most common assumptions people make when considering using our service. Although we provide guidance on good fit builders we are not affiliated with any particular builders. Each client engagement is unique and treated accordingly. Our recommendations vary depending on your project scope, design guidelines, location and price point. Over the past 12 months alone, we have worked with more than 20 different builders both volume builders and custom smaller builders. We are able to support you and add value to your construction regardless of your preferred builder.

We certainly can! Ninedots often have access to early land releases and ‘off market’ opportunities. Aside from negotiating the land price and conditions of sale on your behalf we undertake a considerable due diligence, ensuring the land is right for you and your intended build. In addition we often get paid referral fees which we always pass on to you!

While we provide guidance across all aspects of residential construction, we find most builders employ experienced interior designers to help you with colour selection so we’re often not required for input at this stage.  For interstate buyers or homebuyers who prefer to simplify the process, we can arrange colour boards and advise on current market trends for guidance. Alternatively we can connect you to well reputed Interior designers for further support.

We certainly do! We offer support from the initial custom design right through to successful completion of a custom build. We can assist you in sourcing a well suited architect/draftsman or we can simply tender the project to suitable builders once you have plans completed. Getting quotes on custom builds can be time consuming and exhausting, but we find our process gets things moving faster and attracts the best possible price.

If you are building a new home valued up to $750,000, you may be eligible for a First Home Owner Grant (FHOG). If you are eligible for the FHOG and the home you are buying is in regional Victoria, you will receive $20,000. If the home is not in regional Victoria, the grant is $10,000. For more information visit https://www.sro.vic.gov.au/first-home-owner

We’re with you every step of the way.

The Victorian Building Authority states that domestic building work more than $16,000 will require domestic building insurance and will cover costs up to $300,000 to fix structural defects for six years, non-structural defects for two years and up to 20% of the contract building price for incomplete works from 1 July 2014. It’s important to ensure your builder has this insurance in place prior to signing your contract. Although there are measures in place to protect you somewhat financially it can be a very stressful process. Ninedots can support you through this process. If you have been affected by one of the above circumstances please get in touch to see how we can assist.

We certainly do. Weather it be for a build discovery session to help get someone started on their build journey or for full project management we can assist. Give us a call to discuss your needs.

The earlier the better. Even if your just considering building – get in touch. We’re here to support you through the entire process – the earlier we are engaged the more educated your build decisions will be and the more you will save.

We offer a complimentary 20 minute phone consult to help you decide if Ninedots is a good fit for you. We’ll happily answer any questions you have about our service, your situation or the build process in general.  Feel free to give us a call to book in your consultation or simply complete the contact form below and one of our friendly staff members will be in  touch.