Tips for building a new home

Always consult with your builder before you buy land. They have the experience and knowledge to help you determine if the land is suitable for your requirements.  Most builders would offer this service for free or just a small fee to cover their time. At Berstan Homes we don't charge any fees and work together with you for the best outcome for you not the land agent. Many clients have come to me over the years and have already bought
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Most people are looking for a good deal and are searching for ways to save money. Several of my budget minded clients have asked the question how to upgrade their kitchen appliances? My answer is simple, go to the auction houses they have great discounts and have most items have warranties.  The two auction houses I recommend are the Folwes auction group and Greys auctions. With both companies you can get an itemized list of all the items on sale
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New homes should come standard with fly screens with the increase of insect activity and the ease of infection spread by airborne insects.  The cost is minimal and approximately $300 for an 18 square home. Some of the diseases that can be spread by insects in Victoria are Ross river virus, Dengue fever, Barmah forest virus and Australian Arboencephalitis are the main diseases. It's just not worth taking the risk with your family, insist your new home has fly screens
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We are currently using a Brivis gas add on system that works both heating and cooling. The system uses the same ductwork and only uses electricity for the fans and the cost savings are significant. The system offers refrigerated air conditioning and is very efficient. 
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Many questions I get about flooring and sustainable options. Bamboo flooring is the stick out option being produced from plantation Bamboo and extremely hard wearing. The Bamboo is harvested every 5 years unlike many other timber veneer products requiring growth of 15 years plus. Bamboo also comes in many colours and styles. The latest is a matt finish which has been stressed and is a stunning product worthy of consideration in a new home build. 
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Many new estates have little allowance for large back yards; so many new homes have small yards to work with. Just because the area is small would require the gardener the need to think outside the square by using vertical gardens and stands which will help to create your own personal gardening adventure.
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When looking to purchase a piece of land for your new home build, there are many factors to take into account, but one major item is often overlooked or not known about. Builders because of their relationships with land estate and agents will most cases receive a better pricing outcome than an individual when it comes to purchasing land. Reason being the builder is a major supplier of leads to the estate and for this they are offered land at
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I currently have several clients we are building new homes for on their existing home sites. This is a great way of releasing the full potential in your land. The land cost in most cases is much higher than the new home build cost. Many clients sell one of the new homes off to cover the new build cost and the remaining homes are rented out creating a passive income more years to come.
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With the pressure on the retirement age being lifted many people are looking into building a new home in their backyard. This is a great idea with no cost for land and a rental income coming in relieves the pressure when retirement is coming up. For as little as $180k you can have an investment property generating an income for you. Another option could be to sell the new home and land off, still leaving you in your home.
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I was asked the other day to provide a quote for a new home build in Mernda. I sent an email to the land agent requesting a copy of the current engineering for the civil works. After looking over the engineering I found the site to have 2.3 metres of fill over it. This created an extra site cost which could have been avoided if the client would have asked a new home builder for advice prior to the purchase.
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