Step-by-Step Guide to Building a House in Perth 2025

Most people dream of owning a house that is perfectly made as per their needs and lifestyle preferences. If you are planning to build a house in Perth, Western Australia, it is important for you to understand the complete process. 

In this aspect, this guide outlines steps that show how to build a house in Perth, covering everything from choosing the right block of land to the financial inspection. Breaking down each stage early allows you to plan ahead and reduce the possibility of errors.

Why Build Your Own Home in Perth in 2025?

Building your own home in Perth offers you a blend of opportunities, including taking advantage of a growing property market and attractive government incentives like the First Home Owner Grant WA. As compared to buying an existing house, building a home allows for complete customisation that suits your lifestyle. This personalisation is also extended to creating modern layouts, energy-efficient features and freedom to choose your ideal location.

With construction and design technologies advancing, house construction in Perth offers long-term savings on maintenance and electricity bills. In a nutshell, building a home provides you with better value and a chance to create a space that meets your needs.

Step-by-Step Process to Build Your Dream Home in Perth

Building a home in 2025 requires a detailed approach. This process includes budgeting, land selection, inspections for each step completion and many more. To know them, here is the breakdown of what you can expect at each stage of your home-building process.

Step 1: Define Your Vision & Budget

The planning process begins with defining clear goals. During this period, decide on your ideal home style, total living space, calculate required bedrooms and other essential features like a study room or double garage. Once your requirements are clear,  decide how it aligns with your budget and what steps you can take to make the best home for you. 

Step 2: Choose the Right Block of Land in Perth

Location significantly affects your lifestyle and the overall cost of the project. When you are evaluating land, consider proximity to schools, transport, shopping centres and grocery shops. These are the basic facilities that you should look for to improve your living experience.

Beyond location, building companies in Perth review the block’s soil classification through geotechnical reports. For example, reactive or sandy soils often require additional footing systems, which can increase the overall house construction cost. Subsequently, be aware of zoning restrictions, bushfire-prone areas and site orientation for your build.

Step 3: Hire a Trusted Builder or Construction Company in Perth

Once your land is secured, you have to select a qualified builder. You can start by researching local construction companies that are experienced in your chosen area and preferred build type. Read client reviews, request project portfolios and compare what’s included in their standard and premium packages.

You should look for companies that offer integrated project management across the design, approval and construction phases. For example, Boda Building Group is one of the reputed custom home builders Perth, which is known for excellent end-to-end service and client satisfaction.

Step 4: Finalise Home Design & Secure Approvals

At this stage, your home design is personalised to match your block, meet your lifestyle needs and comply with council regulations. Choose a builder that offers you in-house planning services to simplify the process of managing the technical and legal requirements to move forward.

Here’s what is typically involved:

• Preliminary Planning Assessment

It is the detailed check of your proposed design against local planning schemes to identify compliance issues. This preliminary planning assessment process helps to avoid costly redesigns or delays for home builds.

• Development Application (DA)

In case your design doesn’t comply with standard planning codes like building height or land use, then a Development Application must be submitted to the local council for project approval. To fulfil this application, your home builder or planner will prepare the supporting documents and justification report for the approval.

• Architectural Plans for Council

A well-drafted architectural plan for council is made in accordance with council standards, which includes site plans, floor plans, elevation and shadow diagrams. These documents form the basis of your official planning submission.

• Council Requests Management

Throughout the approval process, the local council often requires council request management. Your builder manages these communications, responds to feedback and updates your plan when needed to ensure approval is granted.

• Construction Certificate

Once your design is approved, a construction certificate must be collected from the certifier. This step confirms that your plans comply with the Building Code of Australia and all relevant structural and safety standards.

• Subdivision Certificate

If your project involves dividing land into multiple lots or titles, then you may need a subdivision certificate. This document includes survey plans, serving arrangements, and compliance with your local council’s subdivision conditions.

You must also ensure that all building permits in Perth are collected before work begins.

Step 5: Construction Begins – What to Expect

After approvals and contracts are completed, the construction of your new home begins. The house construction Perth process generally follows these key stages:

• Site Preparation: This step includes clearing the land, levelling the ground, and setting up service trenches.
• Slap Pour: At this step, the concrete foundation is poured on the land to form the base of your home. 
• Framing Walls: Timber or Steel frames are erected to create the layout of walls, rooflines and internal partitions.
• External Work: Roofing, external wall cladding or brickwork and window frames are installed to enclose the home structure.
• Lock Up Stage:  External doors and windows are fitted to secure your home from thunderstorms, which helps to reduce safety risk for internal work. 
• Internal Fit-Out: During this step, electrical, plumbing, insulation, plasterboard, cabinetry, tiling and painting are completed.
• Final Fixes: Lastly, flooring, lighting, appliance and hardware are installed before final inspection.

During this step, payment schedules are made as outlined in your contracts. Your house builder in Perth will coordinate inspections at certain points to align them as per WA’s National Construction Code (NCC). For better compliance, stay in touch with your site’s supervisor and require regular updates to track your home’s progress.

Step 6: Interior Selections & Customisation

As your home construction progresses and reaches to the lock-up state, interior selection begins. During this phase, you define the look and feel of your home. Most Perth builders offer consultations or access to house design catalogues for these selections. Key areas of focus include:

• Kitchen Tiling: You can choose splashbacks, flooring, and benchtops for their durability and attractive design.
• Custom Carpentry: This step allows you to design tailored solutions to create built-in wardrobes, study nooks, entertainment units or additional storage.
• Bathroom Tiling:  For your bathrooms, select durable, waterproof tiles with slip resistance, which ensures safety and complements your overall interior palette.

Step 7: Handover & Final Inspection

Once your new home’s construction is complete, the final inspection will be done to fix any outstanding areas.  During this step, ensure that all compliance documents are provided to you. Once the final quality checks are complete, your builder will hand over your new home’s keys and certificates issued during construction.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a House in Perth? (2025 Update)

Understanding the cost to build a house in Perth requires looking at several factors, such as land, construction, permits, and finishing charges for extra work. While prices may vary by location, builder and the type of your build. Here is a general guide to help you estimate home build expenses in 2025:

Land Costs

In Perth, the land prices range between $300,000 to $545,000 for about 300 sqm to 450 sqm. These costs can vary based on land type and accessibility to necessary amenities.

Construction Costs

The average construction cost for multi-storey homes is as follows:

• Single-storey: It ranges from $2,300 to $3,500 sqm
• Double-storey or custom builds: To build such homes, the estimated cost includes  $3,500 to $4,500 sqm

This cost includes the base building cost, excluding additional site work.

Permits & Planning

You can expect this cost to be between $4,000 and $20,000 for approvals, surveys, engineering, and planning permits. But it also depends on your block and council regulations.

Site Works & Extras

Site preparation, utility connection and other finishes can add between $10,000 to $60,000 to your overall build. 

Summary Table of Home Build Cost in Perth

Here is a summary of the approximate cost of building a multiple-bedroom home in Perth. It includes the range of construction costs per square meter and adds a median price to present the overall amount.

Apart from mentioning these prices for building homes based on the number of bedrooms. The cost of building granny flats in Perth costs between $120,000 and $200,000 for a one or two-bedroom design. However, the cost of all builds depends on the availability of land, the builder you choose and compliance charges as per your local council.

Also Read: Complete 2025 Guide to Granny Flats in Perth: New Rules, Designs, Costs, & ROI

Essential First-Home Construction Mistakes to Avoid in 2025

The experience of constructing a new home is thrilling, but it comes with challenges such as the cost of construction, delays in supplies, and meeting regulatory compliance. To overcome these, it is vital to follow the right steps on how to build a house in a structured manner, especially if you’re a first-time builder.

The following are some of the common pitfalls you can avoid to be on track and within budget:

• Underestimating the Full Budget: Many first-time home builders overlook the site cost, landscaping, fencing and connection fees. To avoid this, add a 15–20% contingency buffer to your build estimate.
• Skipping Soil & Site Testing: Not conducting a proper soil test can lead to unexpected foundation costs. Always do soil testing to ensure the durability of your build.
• Over-Customising Early On: Adding too many upgrades can inflate your home build cost, and it can delay approvals. Stick to essential services and conduct upgrades later if required.
• Neglecting Orientation & Design Efficiency: Poor layout choices, such as placing living areas away from natural light, can affect comfort and increase electricity bills. To avoid such issues, do proper planning for ventilation and accessibility to direct sunlight 
• Ignoring Council Regulations: Overlooking your local region rules or height limits can delay approvals. To ensure a faster and smoother approval, always verify planning regulations before you select the design. 

Why Choose a Local Perth Builder for Your Dream Home

Choosing a local home builder in Perth ensures your home is designed for the region’s climate, lifestyle and council’s regulations. These builders understand the soil types, electricity efficiency requirements and materials that perform best in Perth WA’s conditions. They are also familiar with local councils, which helps you get faster approvals and avoids costly delays. With strong connections to the local trades and supplies, they offer better quality control and reliability.

Among these, Boda Building Group brings years of experience in delivering well-crafted homes that align with both local expectations and long-term liveability. Their client-focused approach and deep construction industry knowledge ensure every project runs smoothly from planning to handing over the keys of your new home to you.

Conclusion

Building a house in Perth is an opportunity to shape a home around your lifestyle, values, and future needs. By following a structured step-by-step approach, you can minimise costly changes and build the perfect home as per your requirements. With the support of building companies Perth, like Boda Building Group, your vision can be brought to life with precision and care. 

FAQs

Q1. How long does it take to build a house in Perth?

On average, it takes 8 to 14 months to build a standard home in Perth, depending on the design, builder availability, weather conditions, and permit approvals. Custom or larger homes may take longer due to added complexity and material sourcing.

Q2. How much to build a house in Perth 2025?

As of 2025, the average cost to build a house in Perth ranges between $1,800 to $2,500 per square metre. For a standard 3-bedroom home, this equates to approximately $270,000 to $400,000, excluding land costs, council fees, and upgrades.

Q3. What to know before buying a house in Perth?

Before buying, consider:

• Suburb growth trends and amenities

• Property inspection reports (building & pest)

• Flood/fire zones and zoning restrictions

• Council regulations

• Potential for renovation or extensions

• Loan pre-approval and hidden costs (stamp duty, conveyancing, etc.)

Q4. What is the house final inspection checklist?

A final house inspection in Perth should include:

• Doors & windows opening/closing correctly
• Electrical & plumbing fixtures functioning
• Paintwork and finishes are clean and even
• Flooring and cabinetry installed properly
• No visible cracks or damage
• Compliance certificates & warranties received
• Site cleaned and ready for occupancy

Q5. What is the average cost to build a home in Perth in 2025?

In 2025, the average cost to build a new home in Perth is around $320,000 to $450,000, depending on the builder, home size, materials used, and inclusions. This figure does not include land or landscaping.

Q6. Is it better to build or buy in Perth?

It depends on your priorities:

• Build if you want a customised home with new features and lower maintenance in the short term.

• Buy if you want to move in sooner, live in an established suburb, or avoid construction delays.
  In 2025, with land prices rising slowly and construction normalising, building is gaining popularity again.

Q7. What approvals do I need before building in WA?

In WA, you’ll need:

• Development Approval (DA) from your local council (if required for zoning/development restrictions)

• Building Permit (issued by a registered Building Surveyor)

• Planning Approval (for specific designs or heritage areas)

• Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) Assessment for high-risk zones

• Water Corporation & utility approvals if making new connections

Always check with your local council or building surveyor before starting construction.