THE KITCHEN: THE HEART & HUB OF YOUR HOME

Get inspired

When it comes to planning your own kitchen start by imagining yourself there. Picture yourself in that space, surrounded by the colours and textures you enjoy. Like the rest of your home, your kitchen is a reflection of you and your family.

Are you really a country kitchen type or are you more suited to modern urban chic? Don’t feel limited to the designs you see in magazines. Combine them with a signature feature such as a marine in-spired splash-back for your beach loving, surf-obsessed family. There’s no reason why you can’t combine the practical with the unique.

Let’s get practical

While it’s great fun to dream about your ideal kitchen, it’s even more important to consider functionality. Here’s a few ideas to help you plan the perfect kitchen for your dream home.

Firstly, consider the golden triangle – that sacred balance of space between the sink, the stove and the fridge. So many miles are walked between these three points and the ideal is to keep them within close proximity to maintain efficient use of the kitchen. You’ll also want to create enough freedom of movement around high traffic areas such as the fridge and the pantry. A good design will avoid your kitchen becoming a congested thoroughfare.

An open plan living area has the kitchen as one of the focal points and it’s common to include a breakfast bar. For smaller homes, some contemporary custom designs actually remove the need for a dining table by extending the bench top into the open space where stools can be placed on both sides of the bench. It’s a little bit different!

Drawers are a must! They have revolutionised the convenience of kitchen storage, think big with soft closing sliders – gone are the days of only using cupboards to stack your crockery and heavy pots. While on the topic of convenience, ensure you plan storage close to your dishwasher so that when unloading, it’s just one easy movement to transfer contents from machine to adjacent drawers.

KISS – Keep it Streamlined and Simple!

If you want to reduce the time spent cleaning your kitchen – and who doesn’t?! – then streamline everything! Select an easy-to-clean induction stove top, integrated appliances and cabinetry without details. Cabinetry with matt finishes also helps reduce obvious fingerprints. Choosing a stainless steel or glass splash back instead of tiles removes the issue of grubby grout. Otherwise, opt for a dark-coloured grout.

Timber bench tops can bring a warmth to your kitchen but keep in mind the ongoing maintenance to prevent water damage. The high functionality of stone and laminate bench tops in a wide variety of colours make them a popular choice.

Lastly, plan for those annoying but everyday realities – where to put the school notices, the box of tissues, the sunscreen, the insect repellent, the medical kit, the water bottles and lunchboxes, the compost bin and the recycling.

Can you allocate specific bench space or a cupboard with extra power points for charging devices? If you consider a place for everything, then everything will have a place – make Marie Kondo proud and prevent your kitchen table or bench from becoming a dumping ground!

You’ll always find me in the kitchen at parties…

There are those for whom the kitchen is their performance space, where they enjoy cooking culinary master-pieces and entertaining friends and family. Their needs can take custom design to another level and might include a butler’s pantry, a designated barista bench, a servery, additional appliances such as a wine storage cabinet or a bar fridge. They’ll want storage for large appliances such as a food processor, a multi-cooker or a bread-maker. There might also be a need for extra cupboard or drawer space for dinnerware including large bowls and platters.

View some of our best kitchens

by Super Admin

A PLACE TO EXPAND AND BREATHE

OSTERLEY

Osterley is a design that promotes peace and calm. The key to this house plan lies in the four bedrooms being located away from the living area thereby creating a sense of retreat. The Main bedroom with ensuite also has a walk-in wardrobe in addition to the built-in. While peaceful retreats are ensured, Osterley still provides ample room to entertain in the large open-planned living area which opens out to the generous alfresco space via stacking slider doors. Osterley is more than just a weekend retreat.

WINDERMERE

Grand style is what comes to mind with Windermere and you get a sense of it soon as you come in from the portico to the spacious entry where you are greeted by a view of the atrium garden. This garden courtyard can also be enjoyed from the main bedroom as well as the main living area inducing an air of peace and calm. Without a doubt this home speaks effortless style and space.

Indoor and alfresco entertaining is ensured with this design and the connoisseur will love the butler’s pantry off the gourmet kitchen. The separate lounge room located near the main room also serves as a parents’ retreat or a home cinema. Windermere is country living at its most grand.

PATERSON & PATERSON DELUXE

With its wrap-around verandah, Paterson delivers traditional country style. Relaxing out under the verandah, watching a sunset turn into a star-studded night sky is a country-living perk. Paterson invites you to make the most of it.

There’s no need for anyone in the family to compete for space with Paterson Deluxe; this design meets all the family’s additional needs. As the name suggests, Paterson Deluxe has everything the Paterson offers and more. With a rumpus room for the young ones and separate living area to serve as either a parents’ retreat or the ever popular entertainment space/home cinema this is living-it-large! The spacious garage allows for two cars but also offers a workshop for the tinkerer, mechanic or creative. There’s a home office or study as well. Paterson Deluxe ticks all the boxes.

One particularly delightful feature of the Paterson Deluxe is the window seat in the main bedroom. Imagine watching the sunrise as you sit back enjoying your first cuppa of the day. Close your eyes and picture yourself basking in the winter sun with your favourite book; or watching a storm roll by from that window seat. It’s the perfect place to savour the majesty of your rural surroundings. Time to breath is what we seek and features such as this encourage you to take time out and relax.

by Super Admin

“TO DEMOLISH OR NOT?” THAT IS THE QUESTION!

For many homeowners the concept of a ‘knockdown rebuild’ sounds like an extreme measure conjuring up images of wrecking balls, piles of rubble, chaos and destruction.

To demolish your existing house can seem like a radical option but the reality is that with the right team a knockdown can be a straightforward solution to the limitations of an existing property.

The benefits of starting with a clean slate

With a blank canvas, or in this case, a clear block of land, you are free to design your dream home. What’s more, it will be the ideal house for the shape and size of your block of land in a location you already love.

Let’s face it, for so many homeowners they bought the type of house they could afford at the time which meant they would need to renovate at some point in the future. After some basic renovations there may still have been the constant frustration about the aspect of the house. “If only it had been designed to make better use of the northern light; it gets so cold in Winter!” Or perhaps the house was positioned in such a way that it didn’t make best use of the view.

Perhaps you bought that little weatherboard house in that quirky suburb and you were glad you did because house prices are soaring in the Newcastle region.

First-time buyers usually step onto the property ladder buying in an area they can afford. As it turns out so many old, inner city suburbs in Newcastle have become boutique suburbs and the land value has appreciated exponentially. With the scarcity of land in sought after suburbs it makes sense to capitalise on it. Let’s explore some of the options to consider…

Knockdown and rebuild your home

If we’re brutally honest, that cute weatherboard is not energy efficient and the wall with the defunct fireplace and chimney blocks out the northern light; the toilet is at the back of the house miles away from the bedrooms; the kitchen and bathroom haven’t been upgraded since the 1970s and need a complete overhaul. These are very common and costly problems, and to maintain the cute weatherboard you need to be prepared to dedicate a lot of TLC and money.

It’s no surprise that many homeowners are interested in the alternative of a knockdown rebuild.  The cost to knockdown and rebuild a home are less than the combined costs to renovate and the following years of endless maintenance. There is also the cost-saving on bills that comes with having an energy efficient home. By contracting a local builder who can take care of every aspect of the project from demolition to construction, the overall costs of doing a knockdown rebuild can also be greatly reduced.

Twice as nice!

In choosing to do a knockdown rebuild, some homeowners take advantage of the size of their block by building a dual occupancy. This is a great way to further invest in your property and increase its value. With the urbanisation of Newcastle and the need for more diverse and affordable dwellings, its a great time to capitalise on your existing block of land. What’s more, you’ll skip the stamp duty you’d otherwise have to fork out when buying a new block of land.

Current estimations predict the population in the City of Newcastle is set to grow by 41,000 between 2016 and 2041 and that there will be an increased demand for smaller dwellings to suit one and two person households. That’s where you can make the most of what your current block of land can offer.

The option is there for you to sell or rent out one or both of the new properties or be a live-in investor. Duplex homes appeal to every sector across the market from first-homebuyers and small families to empty-nesters and retirees. It’s an investment to secure strong returns while being relatively low-risk. So, start imagining what you can create on your block of land with a knockdown rebuild.

It’s all possible with the right help

Whether you’d like to demolish your existing house and rebuild a luxury home or an investment property, Valley Homes construction and custom design service can meet your needs. Whatever your budget, the Valley Homes team have a knockdown rebuild solution to suit your property requirements and your vision. They have the local knowledge and expertise to ensure your project is stress-free because they take care of everything from council approvals, demolition, designs, project management and construction. Valley Homes knockdown rebuild projects are also backed by their fixed price and turn-key assurance. It comes complete with a new home warranty – without having to pay stamp duty – how good is that?!

Contact Valley Homes to find out how they can help you make the most of your property.

by Super Admin

ARE YOU SITTING ON YOUR OWN BURIED TREASURE?

Take a look at your property through a different lens and ask yourself a few questions:

> How much land do we have and is it large enough to develop?
> Do I want to maintain the garden at the size it is?
> What’s the potential untapped value of my property?

At different stages of homeownership its can be a valuable exercise to appraise your most prized asset and explore whether there’s an opportunity to invest in your own backyard.

Let’s take a look at a few scenarios…

Lena and Stefan have lived in their old weatherboard since they migrated in the early 80’s. Now that their children have grown and had families of their own, the upkeep of the house and garden is getting to be a challenge. Lena and Stefan really don’t want to leave their neighbourhood so their family have suggested a dual occupancy as a solution. By sub-dividing the land they can rebuild an energy efficient home for themselves and utilise the excess space in the yard to build a secondary dwelling to provide either an income or a home for someone in the family. Most importantly they can stay living in their suburb surrounded by their friends.

Ruth has four teenagers and is finding the house very cramped. Their block is large and she knows she could be making better use of it. In looking for a smart investment solution, she’s thinking about building a granny flat to create the perfect teen-space, and she’s also keen on a development that would allow her to later rent it out to a tenant.

Hayley and Arjun are really excited to build their first home but they’re wondering if they should sub divide their block to live in one property and rent out the other. They like the idea that this is a low-risk investment which will increase the land value at the same time.

Changing our perspectives

The old Australian dream of building a brick veneer house in the middle of a quarter acre block is fast becoming an outdated concept for number of reasons. Primarily, population growth means our suburbs are changing and councils across NSW are planning for increased housing density. Diverse housing options are what’s required so people can live in the same area across different life stages. Many older people for example would prefer to ‘age in place’ as opposed to downsizing into smaller dwellings or dedicated seniors housing, while first time buyers need more affordable options.

Based on the projected population growth and the changing nature of household composition Newcastle Council estimates that there will be a demand for 19,450 new dwellings by 2041. The population is not only growing, it’s changing. City of Newcastle's Housing Strategy  has identified that there will be more people either living alone or with their partner so the demand for one and two bedroom dwellings is increasing. With a greater focus on the development of infill housing, councils across NSW are making it easier for people to realise the full potential of their block of land with fast tracked approvals for dual occupancies.

The Low Rise Housing Diversity Code shines a spotlight on housing alternatives to the usual options of either the freestanding house or an apartment:

It helps housing affordability by providing smaller homes on smaller lots that still provide all the amenities of a single dwelling and can accommodate a wide variety of lifestyles and needs, including growing families or empty nesters.

What does this mean for you?

Perhaps you’ve realised the family home is now just too big or maybe you’re planning on a rebuild and thinking how best to use the land. Dual occupancy is a great option for both now and the future by providing a home and an income from the rent of the secondary property.

For the investor, now is a great time to be building affordable homes that fulfil the needs of the market. Research into housing preferences of Australians by both the Grattan Institute (2011) and the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (2019), reveals that households generally prefer to live in detached homes with backyards but affordability is the issue. So the construction of a dual occupancy is a relatively low risk development that provides affordable housing for both tenants and home owners.

If you want to build on your land, whether you have a vacant block or an existing property in need of an upgrade, the Valley Homes team has the knowledge and experience to help you to create a dual occupancy solution to truly maximise the untapped value of your land.  We can guide you through every step of the process from the demolition of the existing home, surveying, subdividing and liaising with council, all the way through to the design and construction.

Realise the true value of your property and let Valley Homes help you access your hidden treasure. Contact us today to find out more.

by Super Admin

FINDING THE RIGHT BUILDER FOR YOUR HOUSE PLANS

There are plenty of reasons why you might choose to work with an architect or draftsman before you approach a builder or building company.

Your block of land might be a tricky shape or perhaps it presents a particular challenge when it comes to affording the best aspect or view. Maybe you’d like a design that incorporates unconventional materials or the architecture of a particular era. Perhaps you have an existing relationship with an architect or draftsman who knows your style and can translate your ideas into a design specifically for you. It’s crucial that you start your building project with a house design that satisfies all the basic requirements and includes all the unique features and details that will result in your dream home.

What's next after your plans are done

You’ve worked closely with your architect to design your dream home. It looks perfect on the plan but your architect isn’t a builder and you have a wealth of questions starting with: who’s going to bring this house design to life? Will they respect your architect’s ideas and work with them closely to make your dream a reality? How much does it cost to build a new house?

The benefits of a local builder

In the quest to find a builder, keep in mind the multitude of advantages that come with employing a local builder. Working with a Maitland builder, for example, reduces travel related risks such as annoying late starts. They’re also likely to work with local services and suppliers which increases reliability and reduces the costs associated with transporting materials. Local suppliers have a reputation to uphold within their community and know word of mouth recommendations are the best type of advertising. That means your happiness is their business. You’ll also have added peace of mind that you’re supporting the local economy as well as doing your bit to reduce your project’s carbon footprint.

Who can I rely on?

For 50 years, across Newcastle, Maitland, The Hunter Valley and Port Stephens, award winning builder, Valley Homes has built thousands of dream homes. We have extensive experience working with local architects and appreciate the importance of maintaining good relationships with the owners and architect throughout the building process.

CASE STUDY: Driffield House 

Valley Homes worked in conjunction with local architect, Mark Lawler, on the fabulous dream home, Driffield House. In talking about this team effort, Lawler reflected on the ways in which they collaborated to adapt and adjust some details and selections and utilise Valley Homes’ preferred methods. This resulted in a reduction of costs and a delighted customer.

Valley Homes demands a high level of detail in all house designs, whether provided by an architect or from our in-house teams. Therefore, the costs outlined for construction in all our tenders to clients are incredibly reliable with very minimal chances of unpleasant surprises or variations occurring during the build.

What’s more, Valley Homes supports the region’s economy by working local, with locals.  By making the most of local suppliers, we increase the certainty of your project running on time and to budget. Our clients enjoy the ease of stepping into local showrooms to select everything from bathroom or patio tiles to kitchen cabinets. Having access to great customer service and expert knowledge makes the decision making process so much easier. What’s more, customers can collect product samples, receive firsthand insights into our partners wide selection of products and find out about what extras or upgrades are on offer.

What do our customers say?

We’re happy to share the word of satisfied customers who’ve experienced the quality of our work. Reassurance is a big theme. Valley Homes takes all the pressure off the customer. We liaise with Council, manage all paperwork and applications, coordinate all trade contractors and everything else in the tender, from driveways, to the lawns and washing line. With access to their own site supervisor, our customers feel supported through every step of the journey.

Read the testimonials to find out what sets Valley Homes apart from other builders. When you’re ready for us to build house plans that your architect has drawn up, give us a call.

Making the dream a reality

So let’s be clear, without a builder, your architectural designs are only drawings. A builder is essential to the process of turning those drawings into a real building. Valley Homes won’t just create a building, they’ll build your dream. Whether it is a stand-alone luxury home, a modern townhouse, a row of terraces, or even a much larger multi-unit development, you can be assured your project will be in expert hands throughout the entire building process.

Valley Homes offer competitive prices on home plans and pricing with no hidden costs so you know you’re in safe hands. Contact us to find out more about how we can bring your plans to life.

by Super Admin

SOLVE THE PUZZLE OF HOME BUILDING

Building a home is a bit like solving a jigsaw puzzle: there are a variety of pieces that need to fit together perfectly to create the finished picture. Of course, jigsaw puzzles typically arrive with each piece perfectly cut and all neatly packaged.

It’s not like you need to source materials, design and cut out each piece first! So too, when building a new home, the majority of people don’t want the responsibility of finding every trade needed to build a house – from designing and draughting to plumbing and tiling. They don’t want to be overwhelmed by having to source all the materials either. That’s why it’s beneficial to work with a building company that brings together all the right people, quality materials and the best products. It’s even better if they’ve built strong relationships with local trades and local suppliers. Achieving that finished picture is a lot less stressful when you have the right support located within your area.

The beauty of choosing a company that works with local suppliers is that it’s easy to pop into showrooms to seek inspiration. Not sure what carpet you’d like in the bedrooms? Need more information about the difference between various weaves or materials? What better way to help you decide than by visiting a showroom and stepping onto the carpet  with your bare feet and really get a feel for what you’d like to have in your home. The consultants are there to answer the multitude of questions you have and can help take the guesswork out of choosing the right flooring for your home.

Researching online can be a great place to start when planning to build a new home but something like colour-matching is often problematic. In fact, it can be frustrating and even misleading if that shade of green cabinetry you really liked on one kitchen website turns out to be more khaki than olive. In a showroom you can see the cabinetry, stone bench or bathroom tiles for yourself. So often, the way in which surfaces catch the light provides a whole new perspective. Frequently customers are inspired by what they see on display and contemplate colour schemes that they hadn't considered before.

Also, when you visit a showroom, you've got the benefit of chatting with staff who are happy to share their expertise and provide you with samples to take home. It can become a real team effort as they work with you to help piece together all those parts of the puzzle to build your dream home.

They can also be of assistance when it comes to making choices for a building investment. Sometimes a more objective perspective is needed when choosing fixtures and fittings for an investment property as choices need to be made based on practical needs rather than personal preferences.

Having that face-to-face contact makes the whole decision-making process much less daunting. Time and again, customers recommend local trades and services based on positive experience. Word of mouth is a valuable means of advertising for businesses so it’s in their interest to ensure you are completely happy with their products and service. Their reputation rests on your satisfaction.

We're all too aware of the negative impact the Covid 19 pandemic has had on the economy in Newcastle, Maitland and the Hunter. By choosing a company like Valley Homes to help you build your home, you can be sure that the people working on your project will be local suppliers and local trades. You can make a real and positive contribution to rebuilding the local economy and protect local jobs. Valley Homes believes in supporting the community from which its business has grown.

What's more, using local suppliers reduces transport costs and contributes to your project staying on budget and to schedule. There’s nothing worse than discovering an unexpected delay for an interstate delivery. With our recent experience of border closures the risk of delays has been increased. Local suppliers can bring you greater reliability.

Utilising local suppliers isn’t just an economic concern it’s an environmental plus. Working with Valley Homes and their local suppliers mean there’s shorter distances for transporting supplies so less carbon emissions. You’ll be reducing your carbon footprint and contributing to the protection of our beautiful environment.

Since 1971, Valley Homes has worked hard to build strong relationships with local suppliers in Newcastle and the Hunter to ensure every project is constructed with only the best, locally sourced materials.

Time and again, Valley Homes customers have praised the professionalism of the teams that deliver quality work, on time and within budget. So take the puzzle out of your home build and get in touch with Valley Homes today.

by Super Admin

6 BENEFITS OF FLEXIBLE HOME BUILDING

“I hadn’t thought about that!”

When building a home, it’s inevitable that your first house plans won’t be your last. You’re going to change your mind as you factor in various considerations. It’s a good idea for a home builder to design with a 5-10 year perspective. The lifestyle you live now may change considerably so thinking ahead allows you to plan well and the following list just might help.

1. You can never have enough storage!

Your initial response may be, “We don’t have a lot of stuff.” That may be true for everyday living but consider storage for travel items such as suitcases or back packs and camping gear from tents to sleeping bags.

There’s also the sports kit, boogie boards, surfboards and outdoor furnishings like cushions and umbrellas. If you’re planning for it to all go in the garage calculate the space required around your car for access to shelving and racks.

Fitting an attic ladder allows you to take advantage of storage space in the roof cavity and it’s perfect for seasonal items such as Christmas decorations. It’s also a good spot for boxes of old tax files and memorabilia.

If you’re planning for a family, there’s an abundance of bulky items to factor into your house design. Within your first years of parenting there’s the pram then the stroller, car seats in various sizes, travel cot and the baby bath.

Even if you are a wizz at minimizing clutter it’s all too easy to keep things ‘just in case’ or simply for sentimental value - allow for extra storage.

2. Mudroom or boot room?

Whether you create a separate room or a convenient alcove for a bench seat with a shoe rack below and coat hooks above, it’s great to have a space where people can stop and unload before they enter the house. It spares the rest of the house from muddy boots, wet raincoats, and smelly sports kits. It can even be a good base for school bags.

3. Fur family benefits

Pets bring another set of considerations particularly large dogs. You may need to allow space for a crate, whether for overnight use or for travel. Will you need a kennel outdoors or allocate a spot indoors for your beloved canine? Perhaps you could benefit from a doggy door, or a cat flap for easy access. Where will you wash your dog? Outdoor taps, both hot and cold are worth considering.

4. Space for bikes

How many bicycles end up cluttering the back deck or are left to rust while leaning on an outside wall because they weren’t included in the house plans?

Allow space for hanging bicycles via a pulley system or on a rack in your garage. If you’re keeping your bikes outside how will you protect them against weather damage? Will there be room in the shed and is it easily accessible?

If children are part of your picture, keep in mind that the family will go from tricycles and trainer wheels to mountain bikes which will all need to be kept somewhere along with helmets and other cycling paraphernalia.

5. Outdoor living options

While you’re thinking about where to wash the dog, how about installing an outdoor shower, especially if you enjoy Newcastle’s beaches? It’s the perfect way to leave all that post-surf sand in the back yard, not your bathroom.

You may have also planned for a deck, but will it be covered or is a pergola with a deciduous vine enough for shade? Don’t forget the gas outlet for BBQ and one extra for a heater - especially useful for when you’re entertaining in colder months under a beautiful Hunter Valley night sky.

6. Forget something? No problem!

You want the flexibility to change plans to accommodate all those things you hadn’t considered when you originally set out designing your home. That’s where a Valley Homes custom house design can make all the difference. The Valley Homes’ team has the expertise and experience to help you troubleshoot any aspect of your design and find solutions to those “What about…?” questions. For example, if you wanted to move walls or change a rooms entire layout, our team is more than willing to accommodate your desired changes during the design process. Our customisable architecturally designed house plans may well be the perfect match to your vision so it’s worth taking a look at our home plans and pricing.

We’re also happy to work with the architect or draftsman you may already have on board for your project. We understand that you want your home to reflect you and your family in terms of style and functionality. A core part of the design process at VH to ensure you’re 100% happy with the layout.

Once you’ve settled on your house design...

The Valley Homes’ team will give you the support you need to see it through to completion. For almost 50 years our custom home builders have successfully transformed house plans into dream homes.  Call or email us to discover more about our flexible approach to home building.

by Super Admin

CONSTRUCTION ONLY SERVICE – SELECTING THE RIGHT BUILDER IF YOU ALREADY HAVE PLANS

Quality construction is our speciality.

Construction only or design and construct – we’re keen to make your chosen site shine!

Whether you have architectural house plans already drawn up by an architect or draftsman and are looking for a respected Hunter Valley builder. Or if you are at the beginning of your house design process and want to organise a builder to take care of both design and construction. Either way, Valley Homes’ suite of building services, including home plans and pricing, can be tailored to your needs.

Design with site specific data in-mind

We have a team of design specialists working in-house, as well as a selection of home plans and pricing that can be customised to suit your block of land. All key information gathered about your property through site inspections, surveys and geotechnical reports, can and will be used to customise your design to ensure a smooth construction process follows – on time, on budget, and as you dreamt it.

The importance of site surveys and reports

If you have already engaged an architect or draftsman it is likely that you have already completed some important early steps in the planning process. However, if you are approaching a builder as your first point of call, because they offer both design and construction services, just as Valley Homes does, you may not have taken the step to get your reports and surveys done yet. This is a step we recommend you complete earlier rather than later.

This is because the site information collected during surveys and reports will form the basis for some critically important elements of your build. They will impact not only the aesthetics of your house plans, but also site preparation requirements and chosen building materials, which will impact your final budget. Having this information early can help streamline your house design and overall build process – whether your builder is hired as a construction only service or not.

Some of the specific information that will be gathered will include the exact slope of your block, the soil type, and what natural elements need to be considered, such as trees, rock etc. As well as surrounding elements such as the bushfire risk, stormwater run-off, and service connections. Not forgetting solar access, site breezes and orientation that also need to be taken into account. So it soon becomes very obvious that if you have this information early it will save your architect or draftsman and builder time in the designing and tendering phases.

Why our home plans and pricing can be trusted

As local Hunter Valley construction experts, either engaged as a construction only service or as a full design and build provider, we always demand a high level of detail in all designs, whether provided by an architect or our in-house teams. This means that the costs outlined for construction in all our tenders to clients are incredibly reliable with very minimal chances of unexpected surprises and variations occurring during the build.

We know that building your new home is a significant investment and we know that you also want to be getting value for your build. So if a house design has been signed-off to move into the construction phase, we will be highly confident that we know all there is to know about your site and any requirements have been addressed in the final house plans. We will have created a construction schedule with this information in mind and have selected construction materials from our local Hunter Valley suppliers that suit your unique site and house plans.

Budget is one thing, but customer satisfaction says it all

When researching which Hunter Valley builder you will award your new home construction to, it always pays to ask questions about previous builds. After all, you will want an experienced builder known for achieving great results. Valley Homes has an extensive history of building homes in and around the Hunter Valley and Newcastle, with a collection of testimonials and a building gallery to prove it. If there's a specific previous build or past experience you want to ask us about, we’re only too happy to provide all the information.

So whether you’re interested in a construction only service or a full custom design and build please call or email us to talk home plans and pricing today.

by Super Admin

PLAN YOUR DREAM HOME WITHOUT LEAVING THE HOUSE

Covid-19 may have slowed our normal lifestyles and altered old routines, but it doesn’t have to impact the planning of your dream home build. With many Australians having more time on their hands, now is the perfect time to create vision boards and plan to build a new home when your life returns to normal.

Q: So what are some of the things you could be doing right now?

A: Research, research, research!

Research is one of the easiest first steps of turning your dreams into a reality, especially as internet access is available to most Australians and many businesses are either online or only a phone call away. This means your custom design planning can be done without walking out of your front door.

New home research step 1 – vision board

Researching a new home build can seem like a daunting task at first, as there are many bits of information required over the entire duration of planning and building, but if you break it into manageable chunks it’s really quite simple. Plus, it’s very easy to get started, as step one in your home research journey is by far the most fun – creating a vision board!

If you haven’t heard the term vision board before, it simply means a visual collection of images, trends and ideas laid out on a page. Vision boards can be physical boards, like your old-fashioned corkboard, or an online document, such as a word doc or even a Pinterest board.

To fill your vision board all you need to do is spend some time trawling websites, catalogues and brochures and either copy or physically cut out the things that stand out to you as beautiful, striking or just ‘your dream style’ and pop them on your board. Things to collect are ideas you like, trends in finishes and interiors, design inspiration, and even architectural plans that align with your own style. During the process you might find that you change your style and remove ideas and inspiration that you previously thought were great. This is exactly why vision boards are such excellent tools – they are a refining process.

Vision boards allow you to play around, to see what colours, finishes, interior design features and materials work well together and give you time to try different custom design combinations. You might start your vision board thinking your new home will have loads of sharp lines and bold colours, but by the end you might realise that you actually love neutral tones and natural wood.

Vision boards aren’t just about looking inwards either. The location of your land may impact the style you lean towards. If your new home build is going to take place in Port Stephens or Newcastle, you might find yourself drawn towards coastal style elements. Or for somewhere like the Hunter Valley, country finishes and acreage floor plans might be more your thing. Whatever it is that you like, eventually, what you will be left with is a visual representation of your design style, giving both you and your potential architect or new home builder a solid starting point to start your custom design.

New home research step 2 – design and floor plans

After your vision board is finished and you know your personal style and current trends, your next step in the new home research journey is who is going to design it. So you need to decide one of two things. Are you going to seek architectural plans and then engage a separate builder? Or are you looking to streamline the process to build a new home and go directly to a new home builder that offers a custom design service? With budget being a big considerations for most, the latter option tends to be more cost effective. But whatever option you think you might choose, before you make any final decisions the next step is…you guessed it, more research!

Of course, face-to-face meetings with potential architects or builders are a very important part of the process. After all, you need to determine if the person or firm you will work with has similar values, understands your vision, and generally makes you feel that you can trust them to bring your new home to life. Although the current restrictions might make this difficult for some people, fortunately there is always online platforms, such as Zoom or Skype, that allow you to be able to make eye contact with the person you are speaking to and build a rapport.

Here at Valley Homes we have measures in place to help you navigate the custom design planning process without compromising your safety. Simply call or email us and we can discuss setting up a socially distanced meeting or online meeting to discuss your new home build. We’d love to take a look at your newly created vision board and initiate the design and quote process for you. If you have land - Valley Homes offers a free concept design service, and work with you to design the home you want.

by Super Admin