The obvious statement is that when building your new home, you need to prioritise what is important in terms of functionality, design and space when it comes to the needs of your family and lifestyle. Of course your budget is also going to come into play and let’s face it – whether you’re a single income family, first home buyer or cashed up investor – we all want to stretch our dollar as far as it can go. So once again, I went to the wisest lady in real estate to suss out her views on how to get the biggest bang for your buck, Janelle Stratford Evans from Aqua Properties.
Over many years Janelle has come to realise that “‘small lot’ is not a dirty word”. Gone are the days where 400 square metres is considered itty bitty. Now Janelle is selling 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, 2 living areas, lock up garage and car space terrace home on 109sqm! There are no rules anymore, which is fantastic. It means that Aussie dream of owning a home is entirely achievable for anyone and their budget. It’s all about smarter design, open plan and maximising storage opportunities.
Some extra tips from Janelle for building spacious on a small block;
-
Look for the ability to build to your boundary line. Don’t restrict this to just your garage – consider a double build to boundary and use the space in between as a courtyard – smart!
-
Try to add as much light as possible along with lots of windows. You can always place some frosted windows up high for privacy – this is a fantastic way to create a sense of space as well as extra airflow!
-
Consider increasing your ceiling height. You will be surprised how much bigger a home feels with extra feature along with the added benefits of making your home ‘cooler’ during our scorching Queensland Summers!
-
Storage is the magic word! In any corner, room and dead space – go for it! You can never have too much storage. This is great for ‘re-sale’ too!
If land is what you’re after – then go for it but you may find your plans compromising on fixtures and fittings. Again – it is what you desire most for your family. Keep in mind – fancy fittings can always come later when you find a bit of extra cash coming your way.
No matter which way you go with land size and house design the exciting thing to remember is that the opportunities available these days to suit a variety of budgets are limitless. Your builder will appreciate the thought you place into your design and will be able to assist with ideas if you’re stuck.
As always, the best advice is to talk to the experts. They love to share their most up to date knowledge.