One of the most frustrating things about building a new home in Australia is the gap between the headline price and the final cost. You see a beautiful home advertised at $380,000. You sign. And then the upgrades, the add-ons, and the things that were quietly excluded start adding up.

We think this is wrong. Not just commercially wrong, fundamentally wrong for buyers who deserve to know what they're actually getting.

So here's a plain-English guide to what should be included in a new home build, what's commonly left out, and the questions you should ask every builder before you commit.

The difference between inclusions and upgrades

Every builder has a different definition of "standard". For some, standard means the bare minimum required to occupy a dwelling, and everything else is an upgrade. For others, standard means a genuinely finished home you'd actually want to live in.

The gap between these two positions is significant. A builder who quotes a low base price but charges for every finish, fixture, and appliance can end up costing substantially more than a builder with a higher headline price and comprehensive inclusions.

At Vero, your home starts where most builders’ upgrades end. 

Because  your home should start in a place worth starting from.

What should be included as standard in a new home build?

This is what a well-specified new home builder should include without additional charge:

Kitchen

• Stone benchtops (not laminate)

• Quality appliances: oven, cooktop, rangehood, dishwasher

• Soft-close drawers and cupboards

• Undermount sink with quality tapware

Bathrooms and ensuite

• Partial floor-to-ceiling tiling in wet areas

• Semi-frameless or frameless shower screens

• Quality tapware in a consistent finish (matte black, brushed nickel, or chrome)

• Freestanding bath where specified in the design

Flooring

• Floorboards

• Carpet to bedrooms 

• Tiles to wet areas

Ceilings and walls

• 2590mm ceiling height 

• Square-set ceilings (no cornices), a mark of quality finish

• Painted throughout in a quality paint

Electrical

• LED downlights throughout, not basic batten fittings

• Sufficient power points, not the bare minimum

• TV and data points in living areas and bedrooms

• Outdoor power and lighting

  
  

Heating and cooling

• Ducted gas heating and split system cooling as standard

• Zoning capability for different areas of the home

External

• Facade finishes as shown in renders, not a standard brick alternate

• Garage door with cladded or coloured finish as specified

Questions to ask your builder about inclusions

1. Does stone come to the kitchen only, or to all wet areas throughout the home?

2. Are square-set ceilings included throughout, or only to the entry and living areas?

3. What ceiling height is standard — and is it consistent across the whole home?

4. What tapware finish is included as standard — and is it consistent across every room?

5. Is the facade finish shown in the renders actually included, or is it a paid upgrade?

6. Are double-glazed windows standard, or only where required by energy rating?

7. Is the alfresco covered or open?

8. If I want to personalise something, what’s the process — and is there a fee to do so?

If a builder can't answer these questions clearly and in writing, that's a signal. A good builder is proud of what they include and happy to put it in black and white. Nothing added, nothing missing.

What Vero includes as standard

At Vero Living, our homes are designed to deliver a genuine finish from day one. Every home includes stone benchtops, square-set ceilings, semi-frameless shower screens in matte black, quality appliances and fixtures, floating floorboards to main living areas, carpet to bedrooms, and LED downlights throughout.

For buyers who want to take it further, our Curated Collection builds on this with elevated materials, premium stone ranges, feature tapware, upgraded cabinetry finishes, and full-height tiling throughout.

Both collections are designed, selected, and priced transparently. No surprises.

What isn't covered by the build contract?

There are legitimate items that typically sit outside the build contract and need to be budgeted for separately:

• Window furnishings, blinds and curtains

• Landscaping beyond the front boundary (rear and side landscaping is often excluded)

• Letterbox, clothesline, garden shed

• Furniture and appliances not listed in the inclusions schedule

• Removalist costs

• Connection fees for utilities if not included in the contract

Built true / architectural homes, without the architectural price.

Want to see exactly what's included in a Vero home? Download our inclusions schedule or book a time to walk through our selection’s studio.