New Home Buyers Blog

A client’s friend called me a couple of days ago and asked me what a floater was? A floater is a large or small rock that has been found while excavating the site and can cause great expense to the new home owner via removal of the floater (rock) and in some cases filling the remaining hole with concrete.
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I have been asked many times about site classes. This is an interesting topic and one that is really important when it comes to site costs. Best soil class is A class and the worst is P class.
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At Berstan Homes we have found that it is becoming standard for our new home builds to have an alarm system fitted.  Most clients are becoming more security minded and an alarm system gives them that piece of mind. The technology available today is amazing we can install an alarm in our new homes that are programmed to call your phone if the alarm is activated. That function is not the normal our most common alarm system installed has a
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Marketing companies are popping up everywhere and who are you buying your home from? a builder or a marketing company. There are many positives in dealing directly with your builder rather than a third party. By dealing directly with your builder you will be able to use his or her knowledge to your advantage with regards to design, location and your buildings functionality. By dealing with a marketing sales agent they have little or no building experience and untimely can
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Why was this happening the owner asked?  The simple answer was the owners partner had flooded the laundry which is easily done and water flowed out to the flooring in the hallway. The water had been wiped up but the damage had already been done causing the flooring to swell up and cup.
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A problem is starting to come to light with many looking for real estate in Donvale area and are unable to find suitable properties.  I had a visit to some clients last night and they had been looking for 12 months for a suitable existing home in the Donvale area and have given up looking. Quality properties are in very short supply forcing many into other suburbs. This particular couple have now committed to doing a knock down rebuild of
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A problem is starting to come to light with many looking for real estate in Donvale area and are unable to find suitable properties.  I had a visit to some clients last night and they had been looking for 12 months for a suitable existing home in the Donvale area and have given up looking. Quality properties are in very short supply forcing many into other suburbs. This particular couple have now committed to doing a knock down rebuild of
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A problem is starting to come to light with many looking for real estate in Donvale area and are unable to find suitable properties.  I had a visit to some clients last night and they had been looking for 12 months for a suitable existing home in the Donvale area and have given up looking. Quality properties are in very short supply forcing many into other suburbs. This particular couple have now committed to doing a knock down rebuild of
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Question why do new homes often not come with exhaust fans in the laundry? The only reason I can come up with is the expense, the cost of an exhaust fan ceiling mounted is approximately $175. Considering the condensation created by dryers it seems to be a no brainer to install one. I would suggest you ask your new home builder to install one.
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Over the weekend I notice a home lift out in one of the popular weekend newspapers with some interesting reading. There was a section in the lift out with a lovely well-appointed display home nothing wrong with that the home was magnificent.  What caught my eye was the from price $176k then as displayed price of $349k. This means to me that anybody walking through these homes would have a sense of confusion as to what would and wouldn’t be included. 
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Ever wondered what is involved when creating the foundation for your new home? There are steps to take in order to make sure the slab is done correctly.  There are materials that are also used to secure with the foundation. Be wary, as there have been issues with other known building companies whom don’t use these materials and end up with an unhappy customer and a home not built to standards. Listed below are materials used to secure the slab: Bored
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It has come to my notice there are several new home builders advertising house and land packages excluding site costs. This is of major concern because if this exclusion is not noticed by the new homes buyer it will potentially add tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of the new home build. So be very careful to read the fine print.  
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Thank you from Whittlesea, It is nice to know there are still some businesses that deal with honesty and integrity. It has been a real pleasure to deal with Berstan Homes and it will be remembered. Jacquie & Pat D Whittlesea
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We are very happy with our new Berstan home. All our friends and family love our new home and are envious. Sonja & Brett S. Craigieburn
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There are many factors you need to take into consideration when purchasing a vacant block of land for your new home. Location  Firstly check out the neighbourhood, speak to your future neighbours and get their opinion on the area.  Also buying land in an area your familiar with, the closer you are to a main city; generally it means the land value is higher. Size, shape and orientation Your block’s exposure to the sun, wind and rain can affect your
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Is your home old and run down? Have you outgrown the style of your house? Like your neighbourhood but not your house? Have you ever considered demolishing your existing house to build a brand new dream home? It gives you the satisfaction of having something new and not previously owned. A knock down and rebuild also allows you to build a new home as you like it, a new design which can include all your family's needs and wants. Many
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There are many horror stories and the worst part about it most are true! You only need to go onto forum sites to see were the problems are and the same names keep popping up. I talk to many potential clients every day and some of the stories I hear are hard to believe. A client came to me about building her new home in Wollert where her sister had built with a major Melbourne new home building company. My
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An owner-builder allows you to be in control, manage sub-contractors and if you plan on using your own skills to build, renovate or extend your home. There are many responsibilities to take on and don't forget about the risks that may be involved.  By having a builder you will save a lot of time and stress, how you ask? It's simple. A builder will liaise with your architect/drafts person, sub-contractors and so forth. Builder's must follow strict regulations to ensure the
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Dear Paul & Mark, Very pleased with Paul and the rest of the Berstan team. They have been very responsive to any issues we bring up. Thank you Terry & Sandra Y Donvale
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I don’t know how many first home buyers have come to me over the years with intentions of buying one with the lot. This can’t wait must have now mentality is proving to be a massive headache for most, creating relationship pressure and unhealthy levels of stress. Over extending financially is one of our concerns for home purchasers’ so at Berstan Homes we start with their budget and calculate backwards from there. By using this simple method we are able
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This is a selling agents intention to sell more so beware. You must have the largest block of land and of course a house to suit with all the bells and whistles. Most have little concern as to how you will manage to meet the monthly mortgage payments. When you are dealing with agents make sure you have done your homework and be clear of mind with home and land requirements. Pick a plan that suits you and find out
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Dear Paul, Mark and all the staff at Berstan Homes, A very big thank you for all your hard work and dedication in completing my new home. As a new home builder I was concerned about all of the horror stories that I heard about building a new home. Picking you as my builders was the best decision I have made. You made the process seamless and stress free. From the signing of the contracts to the handover of the
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Dear Mark, PauI, I just wanted to send you a note to thank you for my beautiful new home, as a first home buyer I wanted to say how easy you made the process for me. From beginning to end the service I received from everyone at Berstan was both friendly and professional. P.S. Mark I have told all my friends and family about my new home and the quality that comes with a Berstan home, and I will continue
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Hi Mark, I would like to personally thank you for your assistance in constructing our new home. The kids just think it’s marvellous and they have many different ideas already to make their own mark on the place. I must admit some I am a bit concerned about……. Only joking!! I would like to end with a great BIG THANK YOU!!!!!!!! I would like to say the construction of the house, from the first encounters with you and the signing
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I hope this email find you well, what fantastic weather for father’s day over the weekend and family gatherings. With the change of government expected over the following weekend and extremely low interest rates we are experiencing strong inquiries.   Strong sales results where shown over the weekend, experienced by most agents and consultants, showing many buyers are aware that now is the perfect time to build a new home.   Most clients are now choosing to lock in interest
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Dear Mark, A huge thank you to you and Paul for enabling us to move in last week. The house is fabulous. Thanks so much. Jo South Morang
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It has come to my attention there has been many building companies going into liquidation of late. So I did a little investigating and discovered most of the liquidations are marketing companies not builders at all. These marketing companies often claim to be builders and register their businesses with names that are often very misleading with the use of words such as homes, builders, build etc so beware. How do they get away with it you may ask? What they do
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Many interstate investors are being caught up in buying home and land packages in new Victoria suburbs at inflated prices, with the promise of high rental returns that are just not eventuating leaving them in hot financial water. A couple of Melbourne based property development and builder affiliated companies are currently involved in this practice. The companies are currently evolved in deliberately inflating there land prices (so there values stack up) with the use of behind the scenes builders rebates
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The foundations for a home are extremely important to get right, with numerous court cases underway in regards to poor under slab works and in some cases no under slab works at all. How do some builders get away with this, one way is the building companies are involved in the practice of shopping the engineering around till they hear what they want.
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