Building Budget Tips for Homes

When it comes to building a new home (for single or double story homes), no matter what kind of person you are, where you live or which builder is building your home, one thing remains consistent and that is the presence and importance of a good budget. It can be all too easy to lose sight of your budget during the build process due to uncertain factors or unusual circumstances. There are a few tips though that you can have up your sleeve before going in to deep and losing sight of your budget. We have compiled a few for you.

1. Extend your margin

When you sit down to do a budget, think through all the things you can about what you need money for, once you have done that add a couple of thousand or more on top as a “buffer”. You never know how many unexpected costs may arise that you need money for. If those costs do not arise, then you have a little extra money at the end. But it is better to over budget than under budget. It can help as well to have a rough idea or maybe a copy of the single or double storey house plan you are going with.

2.                  What are your non-negotiables?

Before you begin construction it is worth your time to sit down, and whether it be by yourself or with the person your building with, figure out your non-negotiables. What do you not want to change? or what do you HAVE to have. There are always a few things that people do not want to compromise on, for example these can be things such as: a guest room with a bathroom, polished floors, timber floors, certain light fittings, a pool etc.

3.                  Study up and be prepared

With anything in life that involves a large amount of time and money adequate research needs to be done. One way you can research is to visit display homes, even if the builder you are going with doesn’t have display homes, you might as well drop into some other builders display homes and have a look at the features. Some features that you had your heart set on may not be as appealing in person, so it is worth looking around. Another approach to research could be to ask any family or friends who have built a home before. They would have incredible insight into the whole process along with home builders in Perth and what’s worth putting your money and efforts into and what is not worth it.

4.                  Swap or trade

Staying within your budget can be tough, so be flexible and willing to swap what you wanted for a less expensive product. For example, maybe you really wanted high end marble bench tops but it doesn’t sit in your budget, ask your builder for other options. Maybe they can suggest a less expensive stone that has a similar look and style without the extravagant cost.

Ultimately if you know your non negotiables and are flexible on the rest you can build the home of your dreams. It is important to choose the right builder as well, a builder who is willing to help and communicate with you through the whole process. See Great Living Homes website for amazing one and 2 storey homes in Perth and their house plans.

Design Trends for Your Modern Home

Most people building or planning to build a luxury home Perth are looking for the latest trends and modern designs. Whether that is in colours, type of furniture, technology, or even building materials, there are always trends. Building your home with a company like Great Living homes allows you the access to modern ideas and also the ability to adjust your design to suit your design needs. So what are some of the design trends showing up this year for new homes? We have put together a small list below.

Green Is a Go

Green is a go both in the flora sense and also the environmental sense. Firstly flora, it is no secret that if you walk into a café or a funky restaurant you will see nice artificial plants that make the room seem both comforting and natural. Greenery or even the colour green adds depth and warmth to your home. We recommend jumping on the artificial plant bandwagon and making your house that little bit more fresh. Going green also refers to the popular trend of making your home more sustainable and environmentally friendly. This can be done through the use of solar panels, rainwater tanks and even steel framing. Go green for your new home.

Creating space where technology cannot go

Technology has gotten fast and invasive very quickly. Its advancement has caused many people to look for places where they can be tech free. In your new home why not create one of those spaces; it’s called broken plan spaces. You can custom design your house with cosy little offset rooms that can be made into tech free nooks. You can use these rooms for reading, doing a hobby or just socialising. Adding features like a hammock or day bed can also help within these spaces.

Embracing New home technology

On the flip side to the above trend is the trend to make your home a lot more tech savvy. Making the most of the technologies that are available is something that can create an ease to your home environment. In recent years technology has advanced to allow a streamlined and functional operation within your home, it’s referred to as a smart home.  Basically allowing you to control almost everything from your mobile or tablet device. There are many luxury home builders Perth who can help you with new home technology.

Flexible Rooms

Flexibility and versatility is a great feature popping up in homes today. With a growing amount of smaller houses being built on narrow lots there is more of a need for rooms that can serve two purposes. These dual rooms for example could have a fold out sofa in them, a television and a desk, therefore creating a bedroom if necessary but otherwise a nice little entertainment room. Dual rooms are a definite trend for anyone building a smaller home, or just looking to maximise space.

Whatever the design trend or house feature be sure to talk to experienced luxury home builders in Perth and Mandurah homes like Great Living Homes. We want to help you get into your dream home.

Building an Energy Efficient Home (Home Builders Perth WA)

Have you ever wanted to build a home that helps minimise your energy bills? Want to help the environment? Want to save some money? If you have answered yes to all of the above it sounds like you need to build an energy efficient home.

There are many house designs Perth has to offer, but you need to choose the right design and the right builder to build an energy efficient home. Here are 10 top tips to building an energy efficient home. 

1)     Save the water!

There are so many products now that have been designed to save water, e.g. taps, shower heads. Use them throughout the house. You could also install a rainwater tank for your washing machine, toilet, or for watering the garden. 

2)     Insulation revelation

Both Perth builders and Mandurah builders will offer insulation for your new home, but don’t just take their word for it, do some research and consider upgrading to high quality insulation. It is the thing which keeps your house warm in winter and cool in summer.

3)     Direct your home right

Orientation is a big one. In the summer there can be cool breezes (e.g. sea breeze) and in the winter you want to grab as much sun as possible.
We suggest orientate your house to capture these natural cooling and warming elements. A good tip is design so your living areas face north.

 4)     Shading

Eaves are a great way to shade your house, when you look over your design look at the placement of the eaves. Also consider patios, pergolas and awnings; all of these are great options for keeping the direct sun out in the summer and provide some cover in the winter rain.

 5)     Glaze those windows

Windows can be both heat absorbers and heat deflectors, when building an energy efficient home it is advised to reduce the number, and the size of the windows on the west and east walls.

Double glazed windows can also help, but it is best to ask for window professional advice when it comes to double glazed windows.

 6)     Landscaping

The grass out the front and the plants in your garden can be large water wasters. If you have the budget get yourself some nice artificial turf, it is quite nice and realistic these days and is comfortable for kids to play on.

Also when it comes to your garden, plant drought-tolerant plants in the garden to reduce that water waste, you could also use some native plants to add some Australian flair.

Ultimately there are quite a few ways you can build an energy efficient home. Some that we did not cover explicitly are; thermal mass, lighting and appliances. Majority of home builders perth wa will have a good idea about how to minimise your energy consumption.

Is your New Home A Quality Built Home?

In the housing industry and amongst Perth and Mandurah Builders there are common issues that can arise in terms of quality and it is important for any new home buyer to be aware of them. The reason for this is because there is a constant tension within any building company between quality and profit. The old saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is very true in house building. Therefore quality must come at a cost. When you see an advert that seems too good to be true for a new home, you will basically be looking at a new home which lacks quality, and within a short period, you will see some of the following issues arise with your new home.

●       Cornice Cracking – This type of cracking happens for reasons such as ground movement and building settling which in turn causes expansion and shrinkage. Minor cornice cracking is not of structural concern but should be regularly observed. Great Living Homes have had some cornice cracking, but it is unavoidable with brick homes and some custom design homes. This cracking is due to the different materials moving differently with temperature and moisture changes.

●       Ceiling Collapsing - “Causes of ceiling collapse may include incorrect access and use of the roof space; the use of inappropriate materials; or poor workmanship.” Building Commissioner Peter Gow said (https://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/causes-and-warning-signs-spontaneous-ceiling-collapse).

●       Wall Cracking – Wall cracking can occur both inside and outside. This can be caused by many things. A major one in Australia is our hot weather and lack of rainfall. Restricted moisture in the soil has a considerable impact on the structure of your home. Cracking can also be caused by sun exposure or plant root systems tasking moisture from the soil.

●       Leaking Claddings – Just recently we saw a large amount of apartment buildings in Melbourne have water leaking problems. It was said that Shoddy materials (a certain form of cladding) and poor workmanship were the causes faulty homes.

●       Leaking Windows – Generally caused by a lack of over hangs and poorly installed or missing flashing. If a tradesman is rushed or maybe runs out of materials the mind set of ‘it will be ok’ can sometimes arise. But when it comes to flashing around windows this is a must.

●       European house borer - European house borer (EHB) is a pest of timber including pine, fir and spruce. If allowed to become established it can cause major structural damage to buildings that have been built with untreated pinewood or substandard products. EHB (also known as Old house borer) is found in Europe, Middle East, South and North Africa, South and North America, China and Asia Minor. The EHB was first discovered in Western Australia in 2004. The pest is suspected to have come into Western Australia in imported pine timber as larvae.

All of these and more issues have arisen within Western Australian housing recently and amongst home builders Perth, other than unavoidable cornice cracking none of these issues have been found in a Great Living Homes build. Why? Because the owners are directly involved in the build and at Great Living Homes the highest priority is not profit at any cost. We use high quality materials and good trades to see great houses being built all around the Perth and Mandurah areas. 

Landscaping For Narrow House Designs

Narrow lots create a number of challenges for those who own them, firstly in designing a home to fit on a small space without making the home feel like a prison, secondly in making the block appear larger than it really is for the all-important resale value and also in creating an attractive landscape to suit all needs of the home's occupants. Here are some helpful tips for creating a landscape to compliment your narrow lot house design.

Gardening experts suggest that using every inch of your land will help your block seem larger than it is, this includes that little patch out the front of your home between the footpath and the curb (if you happen to have a footpath out the front of your home). Utilising this verge space to plant ground coverings such as low-growing succulents or perennial flowers helps to add interest and colour to the front of your home as well as lengthening the size of your yard.

If you have a two storey narrow lot house plan you could create a vertical garden of climbing plants to brighten up a bare external wall of the home, or draw attention upwards making the yard feel bigger. Vertical gardens are also useful in covering up ugly fencing and adding a focal point to an otherwise boring space. Using focal points such as water features, winding paths, seating areas and bold tropical plants helps to distract the viewer from noticing the small plot of land.

Lawn is not an essential part of a backyard, so if you don't need lawn in your yard then replace it with lots of different, attractive plants of various sizes and shapes; plants with large leaves can help you change the scale of your yard. Make yourself a miniature forest with footpaths winding through it to allow for garden maintenance and easy access, maybe even a hidden seating area where you can go to sit and read a book without being disturbed!

Use interesting or attractive materials to build pathways, especially if you have a neglected side yard. Paths that can help you to link the backyard to the front yard will add to the feeling of a lengthened yard, particularly when there are several different elements to appreciate along the way such as hedges, vines, seating areas or water features. Outdoor seating areas should be located further away from the house in order to give the impression of a larger yard.

A popular way to maximise the use of outdoor space for a narrow lot home design is to divide the available yard space into distinctly separate zones because this way all areas are more likely to be used; zones may include a vegetable garden or greenhouse, a fire pit, grassed areas for kids to play on, a patio or feature garden. If possible, use bamboo screening as a way to block out views of neighbouring yards and keeping your yard feeling cosy and intimate.

Perth Home Builders Preparing For Rising Sea Levels

Several recent studies reported that by the year 2100 many coastal communities around Australia will be inundated with water due to rising sea levels caused by climate change. Environmental groups and climate change advocates have been talking about this for many years but very few people are taking action to prepare their properties for the future because the threat is not immediate. As Perth home builders who are dedicated to building strong, resilient housing for the future, we believe the responsibility of educating new home buyers may come down to individual companies that are building homes in the areas most likely to be affected.

This month the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released renewed research indicating the likelihood of sea levels rising up to 2.7m is now much higher than previously reported thanks to the acceleration of melting ice in Greenland and Antarctica. Under this latest modelling, it is suggested that Elizabeth Quay, Langley Park and areas of the Kwinana Freeway will be almost submerged as well as parts of Rockingham and Safety Bay being affected by high tides whereas the previous mapping was undertaken only 3 years ago showed these areas as being relatively safe.

The Chairman of the Australian Coastal Councils Association, Barry Sammels, has called for the Federal Government to show more leadership in dealing with this issue instead of waiting until the threat is imminent. Too many people simply believe that climate change won't affect them and they, therefore, shrug it off without taking action, but climate change is happening now and it's not going to go away! Homeowners in coastal areas should at least be taking the time to become aware of how rising sea levels could affect their homes, ways they can safeguard their homes and possibly even saving money to prepare for future adaptations to their homes.

Home builders Perth should also be considering ways to help their future clients build homes that can easily adapt to the forecasted conditions, or homes that will be resilient to natural disasters. It's not just homeowners and builders that need to prepare for the future because both private and public businesses will also be affected particularly in the Perth CBD, so building owners as well as commercial builders Perth should be participating in the preparations for the future of their property assets or offering the best solutions for the benefit of their clients.

Great Living Homes have developed unique technology for building 2 storey houses which they believe will also be useful in assisting homeowners to prepare their homes for future natural disasters. While this idea is still in the early stages of research and development, this is just one example of how this business is contributing to educating our local community and attempting to address the effects of climate change on the housing industry. 

Singles Storey Homes Smartly with Modern Design

Single storey homes are often viewed as the traditional family style home design and with a multitude of floor plans available there is always something to suit every lifestyle.  There are a number of benefits to building a single storey home including accessibility (particularly for the elderly or disabled), they are easier to maintain, they are cheaper to build than double storey homes, single storey homes in Perth are often in more demand and are therefore easier to sell and single storey homes are perfect for first homebuyers to get their foot into a tough housing market.

You can find single storey home designs to suit any size block so whether you need a narrow lot design, a small home or a spacious house for a rural property, there is something available for everyone- but if there’s nothing that tick all the boxes for you then you can always custom design! The great thing these days is that new homes can be tailored to suit not only your lifestyle, but your budget too.

Great Living Homes offer a wide range of single storey home designs and are always happy to alter their standard plans to ensure you get everything you want in your new home. They also offer a complete custom design service because they want their clients to have the best outcome possible from their building experience which includes being 100% satisfied with the design and materials used for their new home. They can even organise the finishing touches on your new home such as window furnishings, patios, landscaping, interior wall painting, pool installation and much more!

Great Living Homes also offer a range of options for building materials such as steel framing, double brick or timber whereas most builders don’t offer you these options or allow changes to be made to their standard house plans. Great Living Homes also like to use resilient building materials to increase the strength, ensure your home stands up to the tests of time and is also resilient to dangerous weather conditions like storms and bush fires. If you build a single storey home with Great Living Homes you can be sure to get the home of your dreams and trust that it will last for lifetimes to come.

Benefits of Buying 2 Storey Homes Builders

Single storey homes are still the “traditional” type of home in WA, however the popularity of two storey homes is growing and there are times when the benefits of buying two storey homes become too good to overlook. There are hundreds of beautiful two storey house plans of all shapes, sizes, materials and prices available from dozens of builders throughout Perth and WA. You can choose from basic, small designs right through to elaborate, luxurious abodes with all the trimmings and everything in between!

The benefits of building double storey homes include street presence (double storey houses look more substantial and impressive), multiple living options (bedrooms upstairs with downstairs living/ parent’s retreat upstairs, kids downstairs/ family business downstairs, bedrooms & living upstairs and so on), building up instead of out could save you backyard space to install a pool, build a patio entertaining area or create your dream garden and of course double storey homes offer you a view of your surroundings which is ideal for coastal living, rural settings, the hills overlooking Perth city, or living near rivers, lakes and canals.

Two storey homes are not generally well accepted by the elderly due to not being able to climb stairs, but for those willing to pay the money there are options available to assist the elderly to access their upper level such as elevators or chair lifts. Often the assumption that two storey homes are much more costly than single storey homes is enough to deter buyers however Great Living Homes in Mandurah have developed a unique method of construction which enables them to build two storey designs at extremely competitive prices. Additionally they offer a wide choice of materials to assist with cost reduction and they are more than willing to alter floor plans to suit individual buyers in order to make more affordable 2 storey homes.

The new technology used by Great Living Homes involves building the upper floor on the ground first and lifting it up in the air to finish building underneath. This method means all work is completed on ground level which provides a safer work environment, it also means they do not need to use scaffolding, cranes or other bulky and hazardous equipment thereby reducing costs and providing a cleaner and more accessible work site. If you are considering building a 2 storey home in Perth, it is definitely worth having a chat with the specialist 2 storey home builders at Great Living Homes.

Great Living Homes - Flexible Luxury Homes builders

Luxury is synonymous with elegance, comfort, opulence and wealth. Luxury homes are often put in the category of “dream homes” which people plan to buy when they finally get a win on that ever-elusive lotto draw. Luxury home builders in Perth are generally smaller companies who dedicate their business to this exclusive niche market, however there are exceptions! Comprising part of the “luxury” dynamic is the location of the home; luxury homes in Perth are typically built along the coast with stunning ocean views or in more upper class suburbs such as Dalkeith, Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove.

Of course luxury homes don’t come cheap, adding on all the extra features (like elevators, gyms, elegant entry foyers, wine cellars, tennis courts, saunas, home cinemas, underfloor heating, water features, guest accommodation, immaculately landscaped gardens and so on) soon makes the costs increase, not to mention the cost of the land to build on! However, those who choose to build luxurious homes quite often are happy to spend the money to ensure their quality of life is as good as it can be.

Luxury builders are held to a higher standard of quality which means they require absolute attention to detail, high quality fixtures and fittings, personalised design service and exceptional customer service. The vast majority of luxury home buyers want a home custom designed to be different to everyone else and they want to be able to move in to their new home with nothing left to do, so luxury home builders need to be able to offer full landscaping, painting and window furnishings in addition to their design service.

Great Living Homes are a luxury home builder in Perth with over 20 years of experience. They specialise in two storey homes and offer a full custom design service to help you put your ideas into a unique floor plan. Great Living Homes can build any home you can dream up and their passion for creating amazing homes means that you can rest assured your new luxury home will be everything you have dreamed of.