You’ve found the house of your dreams and the perfect block to build it on—it’s a great feeling!
But there are a few more considerations that need your attention before you move in. Some are practical, some are essential to your comfort, and others are the finishing touches that make your new house truly become your home.
Moving can be hard work, especially when unexpected expenses and decisions pop up along the way. Being prepared is the key. There are 5 important, but quite often overlooked, areas that need to be considered in your moving plans.
1. Essential connections
How your essential services are connected, and how much it will cost, will depend entirely on your land. Your new home will need electricity, water, gas, sewerage or septic tanks, and possibly solar power.
If your block is serviced, the distance from your new home to the connections will have an impact, and if there are no connections in place, the added expense of connecting will need to be included in your budget.
You should consider this when deciding on your land, and also where you locate your home on the block, and if required our team can visit your site to offer expert advice.
2. Interior options
The interior of your new home will come with some inclusions, and what they are will depend on the type of build you choose. For our modular homes, things like tiling to all wet areas, quality paint finishes on walls, and even a stainless steel oven, cooktop and rangehood are all included in the base price.
Decisions will need to be made on the type of floor and window furnishings that you prefer. Carpet or boards? Curtains or blinds? And then there’s the question of colour…
The type of heating and cooling you choose is a crucial, and will determine your level of comfort. The local climate and size of the house will both play a part in the system you go for.
When it comes to personalising your interior, these suggestions are just the beginning! Many modular homes come with upgrades that can make your home that little bit more comfortable, attractive and special.
3. Your outdoor space
How you plan, and what you include, in the land surrounding your new home is a huge factor. There are many options, and your outdoor zone can be your haven when it’s planned and executed well.
Think about what you and your family like to do. Are you big on entertaining? Does gardening bring you joy? Do you need an active space for the kids to run wild, or a quiet place to relax and unwind—or both?
Things like a decking or verandah, alfresco area and carports can be included as upgrades to your modular home. Then there’s the practical things like driveways, garages and even clotheslines to plan for.
Landscaping and gardens provide the finishing touches, and although this may be completed over time after you move in, it’s a good idea to have an idea of what you plan to do so that the space you need is ready when you are.
4. Energy ratings, sustainability and other compliances
A big advantage of building a new home, is that it can be energy efficient from the get go. Not only is that great for the environment, it will also save money on bills moving forward. New homes must have a minimum 6 Star Energy Rating.
Many of our modular homes are 6 Star rated, but some may require upgrades to meet the requirements. We provide a full energy rating report and offer expert advice to all of our customers.
There are also many things you can do to make your home more sustainable—during the building process and beyond. Building a modular home, compared to a site-built one, results in waste reduction, pollution minimisation and a reduction in site disturbance during the building process, as most of the work is completed off-site.
Sustainably sourced products are used in our modular homes and water and energy efficiency is incorporated into the design process.
Depending on the location of your land, BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) may heavily impact on your design. Our process includes a BAL assessment and our team can assist in making sure your new home is compliant.
5. Moving costs
With so much on your mind, and so many decisions to make, it’s easy to overlook the actual process of moving itself.
Your precious possessions will need to be safely packed, ready for the move, and you may decide to do it yourself, or hire removalists. Either way, it’s essential that you plan your move carefully and account for any expense—well in advance of the big day.
Plan, prepare—then enjoy your new home
Moving can be stressful, if you fail to plan and prepare and leave things to chance. When you’ve thought things through carefully and ticked all your boxes, the move will go smoothly—meaning you can concentrate on relaxing and settling in to your new home!
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