The team at Valley Homes is just as happy with the rural retreat as the new owners are, so if you’re looking for acreage home design inspo please read on…

“Our neighbour suggested we look at Valley Homes’ plans.”

When friends and family recommend a preferred builder, you’re onto a good thing. Valley Homes is proud to say word of mouth is one of the most common ways we get to work with our many Hunter Valley clients, just like the new owners of Joseph House.

It’s not uncommon for Valley Homes to become the preferred builder of neighbours and fellow sub-division residents once a new build is underway.

This is exactly what happened with Joseph House – the owners were recommended to us by their old neighbours, and in-turn, a new neighbour to their estate noticed Joseph House take shape and went ahead to build with Valley Homes too.  It’s just one of the joys of being a specialist Hunter Valley acreage builder with am extensive range of acreage home designs to inspire our prospective clients.

“Valley Homes were very good at understanding the house we wanted to live in.”

Starting with our sales team, our in-house designs for acreage, and our custom design service, through to our experienced site supervisors and our close relationships with premium local suppliers,

the Valley Homes signature service is built on the promise of bringing your vision to life as smoothly and as cost effectively as possible. Our acreage designs are fully customisable to suit any block of land – simply adjust to suit your surrounding landscape, site aspect, block size, budget and preferred style.

“Valley Homes were happy for us to make changes to tiles, taps, baths…”

Joseph House is full of personal touches, such as the tranquil alfresco garden feature with merbau deck and the bold kingfisher blue breakfast bar, matching tiled splashback and the barn door to the butler’s pantry. And how about the beautifully detailed penny rounds in the bathroom alongside the sleek tapware and contrasting wood finish cabinetry? The result is stunning. All of those finer details and architectural features are unique to the vision of Joseph House’s owners and were made possible with the dedication of our in-house designer, local suppliers and our trades, who were able to rise to meet the homeowner’s requests.

Being able to be part of the design process and customise simple things such as fittings and fixtures, as well as alter more fundamentals of the home, such as the size and locations of rooms, is vital for many new home owners. Customising our acreage plans is often what gives owners a sense of true connection to their finished home.

“We understood exactly what was going to happen before it happened.”

We work hard to make sure the building process is clearly communicated and understood by every one of our clients. Clear and open communication, transparent fixed price contracts, and realistic timeframes are just some of the contributing factors for achieving happy client relationships – the types of relationships where recommendations to friends and family occur. The owners of Joseph House were able to work closely with our experienced site supervisor, as well as visit local showrooms to personalise all aspects of their Hunter Valley acreage. 

External design choices, such as the PGH Blue Steel Flash face bricks and contrasting Colorbond Shale Grey roof and wall cladding are also the result of careful consultation with our clients. It’s our dedication to the details, inside and out, that make all the difference in any acreage build. Before you even reach the front door at Joseph House the façade materials, the outdoor alfresco entertaining area, and even the country-inspired gardens work so well together – the entire design grounds the home, giving it a real sense of place.   

“Our vision was realised when we moved in.” 

Valley Homes is more than your local Hunter Valley acreage builder, we’re your dream home collaborator. Of course, you can choose one of our acreage floor plans and opt not to make any alterations. Many clients are happy with a design as it is. But, if your vision is something unique, we’re here to draw your ideas, engineer the possibilities, and build your dream acreage home, just like Joseph House.

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Get in touch to start your regional development

Whether you’re a local Hunter Valley resident or further afield in New South Wales, if you have a block of land that’s perfect for one of Valley Homes’ acreage plans, contact us to browse our existing range and get initial acreage house costs.

Have it all in the Hunter Valley

A tree-change has long been a popular choice for retirees and empty-nesters who are looking to relax in a slower paced environment, as well as for families wanting to spend less time commuting and more time together. Now it is also a growing market for younger Australians too, people who want to create stronger connections to the environment and improve their work-life balance, while still building on their careers.

The Hunter Valley’s regional property market is still considered strong with Newcastle and some of the wider suburbs achieving solid results and continued growth. But it is further afield in the Hunter Valley that this quiet revolution is taking place. The tree-changers who are seeking something unique, tranquil, and nestled in nature, are discovering you can have all of that while still having access to some of the state’s best facilities and amenities, a regional airport for relaxed getaways or business trips, and fast road access through to employment opportunities in Newcastle and Sydney.

Locals like us know all too well how great it is to live in the Hunter Valley; it’s a part of country New South Wales where space is ample, land is available and property prices aren’t astronomical. It’s also wine country, big music acts drop by, it has solid career opportunities, and has a university not too far away too – and the best part – building your dream home is still an achievable Aussie dream. Which is why many people who make the tree-change opt for an acreage build in the Hunter Valley.

After all, if you’re going to the trouble of uprooting your life, saying so-long to good friends, or switching jobs, then you’re going to want to make the most of your new surrounds – and live large with an expansive Valley Homes acreage.

Acreages offer more than interior space and rural luxury

The lifestyle a tree-changer is drawn too often has more to do with the country town itself (or an escape from the city), rather than a particular block of land or set of acreage plans. However, once the dust settles after the move, it is often that particular block of land, its development potential, and the array of house designs for acreages available that make the change to regional New South Wales a resounding success.

A lot of this has to do with the fact that the specifics of the block of land and the eventual country house designs which are built, are what help complete the transformation from ‘tree-changer’ into ‘a local’. More than that though, the home in which a person lives needs to be a sanctuary, a place to rest the mind and re-charge. Valley Homes have been building acreages in the Hunter Valley for many years now, and if there is something our team excels at, it is matching acreage home plans with lifestyle ambitions to help Australians live their best-life.

Acreage homes plans for everyone

When it comes to knowing what house designs for an acreage will suit each new home builder nothing beats a personalised consultation to go through acreage plans and country house designs, to visit the site gaining an understanding of vistas and rural landscaping, as well as discussing the acreage house price and get a building quote – and that’s just part of our standard service.

Customisation and personalisation is something any good acreage builder will offer – our in-house designers happen to be passionate about fine-tuning all of our acreage home designs to suit personalities and lifestyles – and it is an essential element if the build is to work with the block of land and tick all of the client’s boxes. A bigger entertaining area, a guest suite to wow your visitors from the city, creative studio or workspace, or even an eco-friendly solar passive design are just some of the regular requests we build for our acreage clients.

As long-time local builders in regional New South Wales, we have a reliable team of contractors and suppliers who know the country lifestyle, after all it’s their lifestyle too, and they know how to make the most of the surrounds with quality, long-lasting materials. Which means, if you choose to build an acreage with Valley Homes, you know you are going to be a long-time local too.

Talk to our acreage team

If you’re thinking about making a tree-change, but are unsure, there are some fantastic articles filled with real people’s regional stories and advice on making the big move away from cities such as Sydney. If you want to know more about acreages, please read our recent Luxurious acreages in regional Australia article. And if you’re ready to make the change and want to talk acreage house costs and home designs, then talk to us.

Right now regional Australia is one of the most stable markets on the current property landscape and an astute investment in regional land ownership is a relatively solid one. In fact, in New South Wales, regional blocks of land that are suitable for generous acreage home plans are plentiful, as well as being quite economical, which makes them an attractive building investment.

However, if you are unfamiliar with regional living or are unsure about what to look out for in an acreage block, the prospect can be daunting. So this article will help you start to think through your options.

Know your acreage plans and property ambitions

A cleverly planned house design for an acreage is a great starting point to establish your building budget. This step ensures you have a clear indication of acreage house costs, as well as initiates and establishes a relationship with a regional builder. But there is something just as pressing to know – your property purpose.

Is your property for permanent living or is it going to be a weekender? Are you planning on building a retreat on the site to create an additional income stream? Is it your plan to run a hobby farm with a few animals? Or plant a small crop such as an orchard? Or are your house designs for an acreage part of your retirement plan with a focus on long-term easy management?

When thinking through these questions listed above, it will soon become obvious that your acreage purpose will determine size, type and even the location of suitable properties. So now ask yourself, do you want a:

• small block of about 3 to 5 acres,
• medium 40 plus acres,
• larger scale farm that would require 100 plus acres

Knowing the intended purpose of your acreage can be a critical element to the overall success of your rural property venture, because there are more outcomes to consider than simply size and budget. There can be restrictions placed on certain blocks of land by state or local authorities, including the fact that some blocks are not able to be cleared. Such restrictions might mean you can’t build that stately acreage or become the Hunter Valley’s next boutique vineyard on your particular rural block of land.

Clearing may also be the least of your problems if soil type, access to water, climate, or connected services are not suited to your needs either. So once you know your purpose, make sure you determine what specific characteristics your block of land requires.

Get to know your neighbours

Once you have nailed down your purpose, block requirements, have a budget outline and have a rough idea of acreage house prices by talking to an experienced acreage builder, the next course of action to take is spending time in the particular area. Some developers suggest a minimum of a year researching your chosen part of regional New South Wales to allow the entire scope of seasons to be observed. Of course, that may not be possible to many. So another great avenue for property research the area is to talk to the local land owners.

Find out what they do and how they manage their property through the seasons. Plus, even though rural neighbours aren’t necessarily on top of you like it would be the case in the city, the activities or business conducted on their property may create dust, smoke, noise or even odours that could affect your own business plans, or hinder the type of lifestyle you wish to create. So a quick chat at this early stage can save you a lot of time and money in the future.

Valley Homes acreages represent country living at its finest

When designing your acreage house plans there may be increased fire safety measures to consider, or more fencing required than your last place. However, the good news is, acreage house prices are often less expensive than their inner-city counterparts even though the acreage house plans can take in much larger space. This means you can design your acreage to give you and your loved ones space to breathe and take in the natural surrounds, while you are also saving investment costs on the purchase price of your block of land in comparison to buying a much smaller city block.

If you want to find out more about the types of acreage designs our team can build for you, or ask about a custom designed architectural build on your prized piece of New South Wales land, then please take a look at our extensive range of acreage designs. Alternatively, get in touch with one of our experienced team members who will offer acreage advice, as well as get your project underway.

There are many positive advantages to choosing to build an acreage and one of them is breathing space. Yes, acreage builds give you and your family space to breathe as you grow as a family together. They provide relaxing spaces for when you want to read a good book or escape the daily mayhem that is family life. On the flipside, acreages also have ample space to invite everyone you know and love over to your home, to join you and your family for dinner and drinks. Acreages are a home that provide the best of both worlds – a retreat and an entertainer’s paradise in one beautifully appointed, luxury development.

Acreage home designs can be built anywhere, just as long as the block can accommodate it. However, without doubt the Hunter Valley is a popular choice for home builders in the Newcastle region. The popularity of the Hunter is due to a number of reasons, including rural lifestyle, competitive block prices, land availability, and great access to family-friendly facilities, including quality schools and modern recreational centres.

In fact, beautiful, often private and quite expansive blocks are sometimes available in the Hunter Valley for the same price of a small apartment in an inner city block…so when it comes to family life it is easy to see the drawcard. Plus, an acreage gives you the option to enjoy a large outdoor entertaining space that is all yours. You may have that in an apartment, but it is often a communal space. Or on a regular size block of land the outdoor areas are increasingly small due to limited land availability.

How about a gourmet kitchen with butler’s pantry? When space is at an absolute premium, as in an apartment or a home built on a standard-size block, gourmet kitchens may be a standard inclusion, but a butler’s pantry is rare. In acreage home plans a butler’s pantry is the norm. You see luxury is never compromised due to space when it comes to modern acreage homes.

And then there is parking…

One parking space is fairly standard, but two parking spaces is mostly unheard of in an apartment, unless you are building a penthouse or upper level home. Most regular blocks for stand-alone homes allow for off-street parking and a garage for two cars, sometimes more. But in a standard acreage build, home owners and developers can opt for a triple garage with added workshop – and of course on street parking is free for any of your guests. No pesky meters.

Plus, in an acreage build you have so much more freedom to build your home the way you want to build it. Such as choose the view you want to incorporate, or decide whether it is morning or evening sun that you want to make the most of. You are not restricted to a set spot for the front door or where the plumbing needs to connect to your kitchen, like you would have to adhere to in an apartment. You also don’t need to worry about neighbouring homes blocking your sun or restricting your view like you do in built-up suburbs. And as for growing families, you may even want to build stables for a horse or even a rehearsal studio for band practice, all you need to do is customise the already expansive floor plans.

In addition, the concept of breathing space mentioned earlier also applies to the land surrounding your home, not just the space within it. Many modern acreage home builders choose to allow the landscape to be an extension of their living space, while also being a tool for privacy. That is, the acreage doesn’t take up the entire footprint of the block of land and the surrounding outdoor space adds to the property’s appeal.

Of course, in addition to the features already mentioned, there are many more benefits to choosing to build an acreage on your block of land, such as luxurious ensuites and family bathrooms, generous bedrooms, study nooks and offices, comfortably sized living and entertaining zones, and storage, storage, storage.

Here at Valley Homes we have six modern floor plans that are fully customisable and packed full of clever and contemporary features, which our team is only too happy to discuss with you. So please, if you’re interested in giving your family room to grow, while being able to relax and entertain, you might be interested in knowing about our range of house designs for acreages. We can also discuss the average acreage house prices and costs, as well as show you some of our previous projects. Simply call 02 4934 1400 or drop us a line today.

Ready to build your dream acreage home? Get in touch today

Need ideas? Browse our Acreage Designs