How We Run a Custom New Home Build
Building a custom home in Forster or across the Mid North Coast gives you the opportunity to create a home around your family, your lifestyle and your block from the beginning. Rather than starting with a standard floor plan, we take the time to understand how you want to live and work with our designer to develop a home specifically for you.
At Manning Homes, careful planning happens well before construction begins. Your block, budget, site conditions, orientation, planning requirements and services can all influence what is possible and what it will cost to build. By considering these factors early, we can help keep the design, site and budget aligned as the project develops.
Every custom new home begins with an initial conversation and Discovery Session to understand your block, budget, priorities and what you want your home to achieve. From there, we guide the project through our Concept and Preliminary stages, working alongside our designer and consultants to develop the design, documentation, engineering, selections and approvals required before accurately pricing the build. Once the project is fully documented and priced, we present a fixed-price custom building contract with the scope and inclusions clearly defined before construction begins.
Once construction begins, you'll have 24/7 access to our online client portal, where you can follow the progress of your new home through photos, schedule updates, selections and project information, as well as communicate directly with our team. Jake remains closely involved on site throughout construction, supported by our in-house carpentry team and trusted local trades.
The result is a home designed specifically for your family and your block, with the layout, details and finishes considered around the way you actually want to live.
What's Included
End-to-end service, from first contact to handover:
Initial site assessment and project discovery
Concept design developed with builder involvement from the beginning
Preliminary planning, documentation, engineering and approvals
Selections and inclusions coordinated before final pricing
Detailed pricing and a fixed-price custom building contract
24/7 client portal with progress photos, schedules and project communication
A small, consistent on-site team led by Jake and a full-time leading hand
Vetted local trades, not rotating subcontractors
Quality checks at each stage of the build
Defects and warranty support after handover
About Manning Homes
Manning Homes is a family-owned custom home builder based in Forster, designing and building custom new homes across Forster, Tuncurry and the NSW Mid North Coast. Led by Jake and Emily Manning, we're a hands-on local team with a strong focus on careful planning, clear communication and direct builder involvement throughout your project. Manning Homes is a licensed builder (461639C) and member of the Housing Industry Association (HIA) and Association of Professional Builders (APB).
Our Process
Six clear stages, from first conversation to handover
1. Initial conversation
A first discussion about your block, your vision for the home, and what you're hoping to achieve with your new home.
2. Discovery
We meet on site to understand your block, priorities and any site conditions or requirements that may influence the design and budget.
3. Concept design
Working alongside our designer, we develop a custom concept around your family, lifestyle and block, while keeping your budget front of mind.
4. Preliminary agreement
We develop the project in detail through final drawings, engineering, selections, required reports and approvals, while working with our trades and suppliers to accurately price the build.
5. Fixed-price contract
Once the project is fully documented and priced, we present your fixed-price building contract with the scope and inclusions clearly defined.
6. Construction, portal access and handover
Live progress updates through the build, quality checks at each stage, and a final walkthrough at completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
You don't necessarily need to have purchased your land before speaking with us. In fact, if you're considering a particular block, getting a builder involved early can help you better understand some of the site factors that could influence the design and cost of building before you commit.
No. Manning Homes can start from an initial conversation with no plans in place and work through layout and design together during the concept design stage. If you already have plans or are working with a designer, that's okay too. We can review where your project is at and discuss the best way forward.
Approval timeframes vary depending on the property, approval pathway and relevant authority. As part of our Preliminary Stage, we'll coordinate the required documentation and approvals and keep you updated on progress along the way.
Site costs vary from block to block and can include things like excavation, retaining, access, soil conditions, service connections and other site-specific requirements. Our planning process allows us to investigate these requirements and accurately price the known site works before presenting your fixed-price building contract.
You'll deal directly with the Manning Homes team throughout your project. Jake remains closely involved on site during construction, while Emily and our office team help keep everything coordinated behind the scenes. You'll also have access to our client portal for project communication and updates.
Every client gets 24/7 access to a live digital client portal showing progress photos, schedule updates and direct messaging with Jake, giving you a clear view of how your new home is progressing without needing to be on site.
The cost of a custom home depends on much more than floor area alone. The design, site conditions, level of finish, structural requirements and complexity of the build all influence the final cost. We start by understanding your budget and what you want to achieve, then work through the design and planning stages with both in mind.
