In the Australian housing market, families planning new homes are constantly looking for areas where cost-efficiency can be maximised. That’s only natural – as one of the biggest investments most of us will make in our life, it’s certainly worth asking questions and making informed choices that represent significant savings. But of course, like many purchasing decisions, it’s possible to reach a limit where quality and performance start to be compromised and we have to consider whether the savings are worth the sacrifices involved. In today’s blog we’ll look at the comparison between traditional brick homes and lightweight homes, to uncover some fundamental differences between the two.
Energy efficiency is an enormous conversation today, and there’s good reason. It impacts our family finances and our planet every time we make a purchase, drive our car, or even have a shower. So it makes sense that we carefully consider our energy use where we spend most of our time – at home. If you’re planning a new home, considerations of energy efficiency are right up there with the floor plan and materials. In fact, they’re part of just about every decision you’ll need to make as you plan. While the energy efficiency of an existing home can be enhanced to some degree, the choices that have the biggest impact are those that are built-in as a new home is constructed. The earlier you get your builder on board – and the more open they are to the idea of creating an energy-efficient new home for you – the more energy you stand to save. And that will have a significant impact on your living costs as the years go by. Let’s look at the factors that affect energy efficiency in a new home design.
Building two storeys or one? The type of home you build depends on a surprising number of factors, although it’s often just one of these that will kick off the debate in the first place. In Australia, scarcity of land, small and unusually shaped blocks can be the catalyst that starts the conversation, but there’s much more to it than just the type of block that’s available. Let’s take a look at a handful of the big issues that need to be pondered prior to making a choice.
Home building tips ... let’s talk about the essentials. The ideas and concepts that you bring to a completely blank slate when you make the decision to build a new home. Before you get distracted by options, details, material and colour choices, it’s always a good idea to step back, take a deep breath and look at the fundamentals before you go any further. It’s the same common-sense principle that applies to other big purchases such as buying a car – make sure it has all the features and functionality you need first, before concerning yourself with that paint colour. Let’s look at some rock-solid fundamentals and straightforward home building tips.
There’s a special excitement when we come to that time in life where we decide that the next home we build will be our forever home – literally the last word in lifestyle choices. Of course, with this excitement comes the need to pay special attention to the choices we make if we’re serious about the home being a place where we can be content to live forever. From the onset, we’ll set out to eliminate any of those little annoyances we’ve lived with in the past and do our best to build the perfect place to live. So let’s look at some decisions we’ll need to address along the way.
Steel framed homes are no longer a new innovation, in fact they represent technology that’s now been in use and a proven performer for many years. Perhaps the reason that some prospective homeowners still see steel frames as ‘new’ is that simply compared to the centuries that timber frames have been the norm, steel is certainly more of a recent arrival. At the time it was introduced some eyebrows were raised but as steel frames have come into common use they’re now most often seen as yet another option to be considered when building a home or even choosing a home builder. Let’s take a moment to compare what steel framed homes have to offer when help up alongside traditional timber.
When the State Government introduced the $25,000 Homebuilder Grant last year it was a shot in the arm for the local building industry and a very welcome announcement for South Australians planning to build a new home.
Thinking of building a new custom-designed home? The new Homebuilders grant is one of the greatest opportunities that you can take advantage of today. The Australian Government is offering a $25,000 to all new home builds that are approved between 4th June and 31st December 2020 that meet the Homebuilder grant conditions. But it all ends on December 31st, 2020.
