Super Admin

HOW TO BUILD YOUR DREAM ACREAGE HOME

A prime piece of acreage is a blank canvas for any residential home builder. A dream home can be tailored to the individual needs and desires of the resident. Landowners intent on building a dream home using acreage property face an exciting range of possibilities as well as a number of challenges, but the path becomes much simpler with a defined and reliable process. Valley Homes offer an exceptional one-on-one service every step of the way from initial discussions through to stepping over the threshold of your new home.

Set a Budget

The most important part of building a dream home is to set a budget well in advance of the planning stages. A hard cap on expenses helps builders make more efficient decisions about resources and lessens the chance of a design suddenly becoming too ambitious. Wants and needs should be evaluated carefully against the total to minimise unnecessary costs.

Develop a plan

Building on acreage requires Development Approval from the local council and this requires a comprehensive building proposal. The application is evaluated for its total impact on the surrounding area and even a minor issue or oversight could mean the denial of a proposal. For this reason it is beneficial to have an application prepared by a professional builder like Valley Homes.

Be prepared to compromise

Local building codes can occasionally create restrictions on the designs of a dream home. There are a multitude of factors that go into a home’s suitability for construction from technical issues such as drainage to aesthetic concerns about the size and layout of a home. Any concerns raised must be addressed in the finalised plans in order to receive approval and for most landowners, it is better to sacrifice small elements of the ultimate dream home design to ensure it can become anything more than a dream.

Stick to your budget

It cannot be emphasised enough how surprisingly easy it is for home construction to rapidly spiral out of control without a professional to guide you - beware of hidden expenses.

Planning and building a dream home can quickly become a nightmare without the proper plans in place. Valley Homes will take care of the building process from start to finish.

Most important when planning a dream home is to consider its long-term potential. The best home designs in the Hunter Valley not only fulfill all of their resident’s current needs but grow with them to respond to changes in their lives and lifestyles. Careful consideration, meticulous planning and well-advised action are essential components for building your dream acreage home.

For more information see:

• Valley Homes Acreage Series designs

• NEWS: Introducing the new Acreage Series

by Super Admin

HOW TO FINANCE BUILDING A HOME

Building a property can be an attractive proposition in that it allows the purchaser to obtain the home they want whilst adhering to the budget they have available. It’s important to note that home building budgets need to be carefully planned to include any required land acquisition costs as well as the building process itself.

In New South Wales there are certain grants available both for first home owners and for new home construction. Construction loans are tailored to those purchasers who are building a home and can help meet any remaining purchase cost. Financing needs to be in place before the purchaser enlists the services of any construction professional such as a home builder in Maitland.

What is a first home owner grant?

Available for the purchase of brand new homes only, including the building of a new home, these grants are available to adult permanent residents or Australian citizens who have not had a relevant interest or investment in a residential property prior to 1 July 2000. Purchasers who have had a relevant investment in a property since 1 July 2000 may qualify, if they have not resided in the property for a continuous period of six months.

Availability of the grants is to individuals only, not companies or trusts, and is subject to a strict list of criteria. Purchasers can obtain details of these grants from their financial institution. They can also apply by approaching the New South Wales Office of State Revenue, but only after the home construction is complete and the title is signed over.

Currently the amount of the first home owner grant is $15,000, but the amount is scheduled to reduce to $10,000 on 1 January 2016.

What is a new home construction grant?

Instigated on 1 July 2012, the new home construction grant is available for purchasers of a newly constructed home, an off the plan home or a plot of land with the intention of building a home. If the purchase is of a plot of land then building of the residence must commence within 26 weeks after purchase of the land purchase.

The new home construction grant is for residential property only. Unlike the first home owner grant it is available to trusts, companies and investors as well as individual prospective home owners. Applicants for the grant must be an Australian citizen or resident, or an Australian owned body and any award is subject to the applicant satisfying a list of conditions. A full list of these conditions is available from the New South Wales Office of State Revenue, to whom applications should also be made.

The amount awarded as a new home construction grant is $5,000 which is allocated to the payment of any duty due on the purchase.

What are the benefits of a construction loan?

Whether or not there is any entitlement to a grant, a purchaser needs to secure funding for any remaining costs. This finance needs to be in place before land is purchased and any professionals, such as builders in Maitland, start work.

A construction loan is specifically formulated for use by those people starting from scratch with the building of a home. It allows for the drawing down of finance at specific stages during the building process. This means that the purchaser only pays interest on the amount of the loan that has actually been used. It’s a good solution to the financing of building a new property. On completion of the build the purchaser is then given the option of which home loan product the construction loan is converted to.

by Super Admin

THE ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME

Energy efficient homes are designed to reduce energy consumption for heating, cooling and lighting purposes. The following ways can help you to improve energy efficiency.

1. Bioclimatic design:

This type of construction considers the local micro climate and site features to help achieve indoor comfort.  By considering the local environment the design uses low or ‘no’ energy solutions for a comfortable home environment.

Bioclimatic design includes the following principles:

• Compact building footprint to minimise surface area in direct contact with the environment .

• Orientation combined with well positioned windows & doors to provide cross ventilation and to control solar access. Interior spaces positioned depending on their heating/cooling/lighting requirements for time of day and season.
• Treatment of the external building envelope and openings to protect the structure from extreme solar heat. Solar radiation is collected by passive solar systems that act as “free” lighting and heating systems.

2. Thermal insulation:

Effectively installed insulation works to ensure energy efficiency in all elements of the home including walls, roofs, lofts, ground decks and facades.

Insulation is just as important in hot regions as it is in colder climates. In warmer areas the system keeps the heat out, minimising the use of air conditioning whereas in cold areas it keeps the heat in, limiting the use of energy for heating.

3, Air tightness:

To create comfortable, controllable energy efficient homes, air leakages should be reduced as much as possible. Air tightness has become a widely discussed and an increasingly important issue, with stricter building regulations coming into effect that require greater energy efficiency.

4. Ventilation:

Defined as controlled or intended ingress and egress of air through homes. Ventilators and well positioned door and window openings not only provide fresh air but also exhaust stale air from the home. Neglecting insulation or ventilation can result in warm, humid air condensing on poorly insulated or cold surfaces causing mould growth. Allowing air flow through the building also in itself provides a cooling effect on a warm day.

by Super Admin