What Happens at Contract Signing When Building a Home in NSW?

After your initial deposit and design approvals, the next major milestone in your home building journey is contract signing.

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This stage is exciting, it means your plans are finalised, costs are confirmed, and your project is ready to move toward council approval and construction.

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Here’s what happens during the contract stage with Perry Homes.

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Final Review of Costs and Adjustments

Before your contact is issued, all costs are reviewed and finalised.

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This may include:

• Site costs (based on soil and contour reports)
• Any design revisions
• Upgrades or variations
• Adjustments to inclusions

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This is the stage where everything is clearly documented so there are no surprises later in the process. Transparency is key, and all agreed changes are confirmed in your issued contract.

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Issue Contracts

We will now issue you a draft HIA contract for you to read over and may wish to seek legal advice to review the particulars. This will include:

• Personal details
• Contract terms
• Build price and any Provisional Sums or Prime Cost items
• Special conditions relevant for your project 
• Approved Tender
• Approved Plans

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Contract Execution

Once comfortable, you can proceed to sign the contract, which we send via Docusign. Once it has been counter signed by the builder, and executed by all parties, confirming their agreement to the scope of works, contract price, timelines, and the terms and conditions outlined in the contract, it is considered to be executed. 

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Balance of Deposit Paid

After contract signing, your Warranty Insurance is issued, and the remaining balance of your 5% deposit is now due for payment.

This payment confirms your commitment to proceed and allows us to formally prepare and lodge your documentation with council (or private certifier, where applicable).

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Once this stage is complete, your project officially transitions into the approvals phase.

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Council Lodgement (or Private Certifier, where applicable)

After contracts are signed and documentation is complete, we proceed with council lodgement or CDC (depending on your approval pathway).

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This includes submitting:

• Final plans
• Engineering documentation
• BASIX certification
• Required reports
• Any covenant or developer approvals (if applicable)

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Once lodged, the approval process begins.

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Understanding Approval Timeframes

Approval timeframes can vary depending on:

• The local government area (LGA)
• Complexity of the design
• Site conditions
• Whether the application is approved via council or private certifier with CDC (Complying Development Certificate)

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Some councils process applications relatively quickly, while others may take longer depending on workload and requirements.

Different LGAs across NSW can have significantly different turnaround times, which is why we keep you informed throughout this stage.

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Roof Colour, Setbacks and Design Compliance

During the approval process, council or the relevant authority will review your plans to ensure they comply with:

• Setback requirements
• Height restrictions
• Site coverage limits
• Roof pitch and materials
• External colour schemes
• Estate or subdivision guidelines

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If your block is in a new estate, additional design rules may apply.

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Covenant or Developer Approval

If your land is located in a master-planned estate, it may require covenant or developer approval in addition to council approval.

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This can govern façade materials, articulation and even dictate special setbacks. 

These covenants can cover:

• Roof colours
• Façade requirements
• Landscaping
• Fence styles
• Building materials

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We assist in coordinating this process to ensure your home complies with all estate requirements.

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What Happens Next?

Once approvals are received:

• Final documentation is confirmed
• Your build is scheduled
• Construction preparation begins

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This is the exciting transition from paperwork to groundwork - the final step before building starts.

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Building with Confidence

The contract stage is about clarity, compliance, and confirmation.

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By this point in the journey, your:

• Design is finalised
• Costs are documented
• Council submission is underway
• And you are making your colour selections

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At Perry Homes, we guide you through each step so you understand exactly what is happening and what to expect next.

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