You don’t always need one million bucks to make your home feel like a million bucks.
With Brisbane’s housing market seeing a migration of Sydneysiders selling their homes for larger properties up north, many new buyers are looking to create big custom homes across Queensland.
But builder Eddie Kimmerly – Noosa franchise director of GJ Gardener Homes – said there are plenty of things regular homeowners can do to make a new home feel a little more expensive.
“If somebody’s on a tight budget, we really try to help them focus on the key hero items: the facade and the entry experience of our kitchen, living and dining,” he said.
Queensland is seeing a migration of residents from other states, using the equity from their homes in places like NSW to upgrade to larger properties up north.
80 per cent of Mr Kimmerly’s clients spend more than $1m on their build, seeking upgrades like higher-ceilings, high-quality fittings and designer features, such as pools, cabinetry and stone elements.
Mr Kimmerly has worked on homes with builds worth up to $2.2 million, and has upcoming projects in the $3m range.
While some of the larger builds make liberal use of high-quality materials, the builder said a similar effect can be made by placing those materials in calculated areas across the house.
“It might be a feature stone cladding in a very strategic spot that doesn’t take up 20 square metres,” he said. “It might be a strategic two square meters of stone. It gives that same impact.”
GJ Gardner Homes Noosa franchise Director Eddie Kimmerly knows some tips to make a high-quality home build without breaking the bank.
A striking home often needs a strong first impression, which is why a lot of money goes into the facade, the entrance and the kitchen.
One of the best areas Mr Kimmerly recommends placing these features in is at the entrance.
“First impressions are from the facade, the entry experience,” he said. “It’s kind of a decompression zone.”
“Designer handles are popular because, I guess it’s like a handshake to the house when you enter.”
Other areas that often draw the eye of visitors include the kitchen and nearby living space, which can be done up by investing in a good-looking island.
A distinct kitchen island, open-plan living and timber flooring can all be accomplished on a budget if planned strategically.
One recent home Mr Kimmerly built in Noosa Heads included an open-tread staircase and timber flooring, which are often realistic options to include in new homes.
“There’s a no-step threshold coming from the inside to the outside, creating a seamless transition from the kitchen living to the alfresco,” he added.
Sometimes, cheaper options can also get a similar job done without breaking the bank – like creating a higher ceiling in your home with a scissor truss, rather than traditional engineered timber beams.
Homes with raised ceilings can be made much cheaper by using less traditional methods.
Mr Kimmerly said customers were getting more ambitious with their designs every year, thanks to watching reality TV – but not every unique element needs to be expensive.
“Everyone wants to add their own flavour to their home,” he said. “No one wants a cookie cutter.”
“We had a couple going to put their handprints in this slab, but they were going to be away – so they actually delivered us some ceramic casts they made of their own hands to place in the concrete for them! Along with a ceramic cast of their dog’s paw. That was a pretty unique one.”
The biggest tip to a quality home build is to go in with a strong plan.
G.J. Gardner Homes CEO Trent Gardner said companies like theirs were designed to work with a homeowner’s needs when building a new home, and can accommodate their specific budget during the build.
“It is an exciting time to be building new homes,” he said. “The offerings around materials and home features are constantly changing and developing, and we are lucky to work with some great partners who are leading the industry in these spaces.”
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