You’ve decided that you want to build your first home. Building is a fun and exciting process. It allows you to be aspirational and creative, and your reward is a stunning home - created just for you. A stress free and enjoyable building experience begins with plenty of thought and planning, but where to start? Here’s our top 10 things to consider as you embark on your build journey.
1. What’s my budget?
Ensuring you have a clear picture of your financial situation will help you understand exactly the location and type of block and house you can afford. And while sparks of inspiration will keep you motivated throughout your build, it’s your budget that is really going to drive the direction of your project. A ‘want and needs’ list will help you determine what your non-negotiables are and it will help you to weigh your options if you end up having to make tough decisions along your journey.
2. Choosing the perfect block of land
Once you’ve decided on a community that’s perfect for you, you’ll need to choose a block of land. The type of block you choose will determine which ‘off the plan’ home designs you can choose from. It will also influence the cost, maintenance required and footprint of your home. Most new estates will have a range of block types for you to choose from including:
- Flute or Terrace: 140sqm to 225sqm, with frontages of less than 8.5m (rear-loaded).
- Cottage or courtyard: 225sqm to 450sqm, typically with frontages of 8.5m to 12m (rear-loaded).
- Traditional: over 450sqm, typically with frontages of 13m or more (front-loaded).
- Homestead or acreage: 1000sqm or more.
When you’re on your search for the ideal block of land for you, be mindful of orientation to make the most of the sun and increase the energy efficiency of your home, making it more comfortable to live in and less expensive to run. North-facing blocks allow you to maximise natural light as the sun moves from east-to-west.
3. Deciding on your builder
Partnering with the right builder will make all the difference to your building experience. Across Australia there are a vast number of builders to choose from.
From small operators offering bespoke, custom-built architecturally designed homes, to larger residential construction companies who not only offer bespoke homes, but home and land packages and a variety of pre-designed plans for you to choose from. Understanding what option best fits your needs and your budget is important. Custom-built homes can often be more expensive but will be unique to you and built to match your exact needs. Home and land packages can be a good option for first home buyers as they make the process simple and can offer a more cost-effective option if you’re on a tight budget.
We recommend visiting plenty of display homes to get a feeling for different Builders’ style, quality of finishing and standards of workmanship.
4. Building green
The energy we use in our homes is a key contributor to our greenhouse gas emissions. As we become increasingly aware of our environmental footprint, we’re moving toward building high performing, healthy and energy efficient houses. When planning your build pay particular attention to insulation, windows positioning and reducing water wastage through the installation of water saving fixtures – such as low-flow showerheads.
5. Make your dream home, a smart home
Automation technology has traditionally been considered overly complex and expensive. Luckily things have changed dramatically and today, there’s clever, easy to install smart home solutions that allow you to set up scenarios to switch your entire home off with one command; every kitchen appliance, TV, computer, stereo and light is turned off, resulting in dramatically reduced energy consumption when you’re not at home.
A smart home delivers convenience, safety and security and will also empower you with better insights into your energy consumption allowing you to manage and monitor you use throughout the day. Be sure to discuss your automation ideas with your builder at the start of the build journey as they will need to be incorporated into the electrical plan.
6. Community design guidelines
Design guidelines are put in place by an estate’s developer to ensure a minimum standard of quality and design of the homes built within the community. Guidelines vary by community, but may include colour and material selections, the design of the home façade, fencing and even letterboxes.
Your developer or builder will be able to provide you with all those details. When building, many first home buyers choose home and land packages because many of the above considerations have already been taken into account. This option can also be easier when understanding your total budget, with the entire cost of the build including the land packaged up neatly.
7. Create a floor layout that works for you
The best part about building a new house is knowing the space is tailored to fit you and your family. Your social habits and family size should play a big role in the design of your home. Your layout should be intuitive to how you live and entertain.
Think about your family life what would make it easier in your new home. Do you want to be near the kids or at the other end of the house? Invest in getting the flow right and try to find a mix between large multi-functional rooms and smaller, intimate spaces. You want your home to still work for you over time, so future-proofing your floor plan is also important.
8. Plan for a home to enhance your lifestyle
Your home should reflect who you are you and make it easy to do the things you love. Starting with a blank canvas means you can build a home that matches your interests. Think about your hobbies and the things that make you happy – will you need extra room in the garage for bikes or a boat? Can you have an alfresco area if you like having dinner parties and BBQs? Is a connection to nature important to you? Asking yourself questions like these will highlight your needs and will help you focus your final design.
9. Timing is everything
Most people who build a house are either renting or living in another house they own. For that reason, it can take a bit of careful planning to ensure your new home is built at the right time to move. The time it will take to build a house will vary on a number of factors including the size and complexity of your home’s design, the time of year you’re planning to build and whether the land is ready to be titled and you can settle quickly in order to get started.
10. Don’t forget the great outdoors
The best time to start planning your new garden is right now! Yes, that’s right, landscaping is something that you should be thinking about alongside your build. The first step is listing out all of your wants and then determine a budget so you can start setting aside funds and understanding what is actually going to be achievable. Luckily, Many Peet communities offer you bonus front lot landscaping, with different options to choose from – all designed to enhance both your new home and the surrounding environment.
Starting your garden planning now will ensure that everything is ready to go come handover, and your outdoor space, is as equally impressive as your brand-new home.
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