Top Inclusions to Consider in Your Home Build
Building a new home is an exciting experience. When you’re the one designing the space you’ll live in every day, it gives you the freedom to truly shape your lifestyle.
These days, builders offer almost unlimited flexibility in custom home design. Standard inclusions packages offer some great features, but there’s lots of value to be found in upgrading the finer details.
In this article, McCarthy Homes the trusted home builders Brisbane and QLD review the inclusions that homeowners should opt for in new builds, and why we think they’re worth the money.
Top Inclusions to Consider in Your Home Build
1. Ducted Air Conditioning
Staying comfortable in the worst of winter or summer can be a challenge. Ducted reverse cycle air conditioning is one of the most effective ways to keep your family happy.
Installing ducted systems is a big project. Upgrading to ducted during construction significantly cuts down on the amount of work involved. That means you get the benefits of ducted air conditioning at a fraction of the cost of installing the system after the build is complete.
2. Energy Efficient Design
Heating and cooling now accounts for about 40% of household energy usage. That’s a huge number, particularly in a time where we’re all trying to reduce our impact.
If you want to do your part, reduce energy consumption and keep your power bills under control, it’s worth incorporating energy efficient design elements into your build. Features such as upgraded insulation, larger eaves, double-glazing, cross-ventilation, solar panels and passive house design can substantially reduce your energy consumption.
A builder that’s experienced with passive design could reduce energy consumption by up to 90%. It takes a bit of extra planning to make the most of these features, but they’re a long-term investment that pays off.
3. Plenty of Storage
There’s never enough storage in a house. And, with block sizes shrinking, many builders are cutting back on cupboard space in favour of living areas.
When you’re building a new home we recommend that you avoid the trap of chasing the largest floor area. Extra rooms are nice, but they won’t help if your fourth bedroom ends up being used solely for storage.
Instead, it’s better to incorporate smart storage options throughout the house. Increase the size of bedroom cupboards, opt for a walk-in linen closet, and explore the idea of a walk-in or butler’s pantry. These simple touches can substantially increase the amount of storage in a house, which reduces clutter and allows you to make smarter use of the space.
4. Stone Benchtops
There are lots of ways you can make your home stand out. Details like stone benchtops are subtle, but they add serious value, luxury and useability to your spaces.
Upgrading to stone benchtops is a great way to get more from your kitchen. Stone benchtops are excellent cooking and preparation surfaces, and they’re tough enough to handle the rough and tumble of everyday life.
There are lots of varieties of stone benchtops on the market today. Many builders include engineered stone products as standard, but consider upgrading to thicker slabs, or opt for natural stone instead.
5. Landscaping and Outdoor Living
Many builders don’t offer any type of landscaping as standard. That means you’ll receive a newly built home with a dirt patch for a yard.
On the one hand, this gives you the freedom to design your own yard. That’s great if you have a specific vision or if you love gardening. On the other hand, it can take months to establish a healthy yard, which limits how you can use your property in the meantime.
Upgrading to include landscaping and outdoor living spaces is a fantastic investment in your property. It speeds up the process of establishing your yard, and it means your home will make a real impression whenever visitors come around.
6. Hardwood Flooring
There are few inclusions that can make as big an impact as hardwood flooring. Real hardwood timber is one of the world’s best performing flooring products. It’s hard-wearing, easy to maintain and it looks fantastic.
Hardwood flooring is also a timeless material that’s always on-trend. Installing hardwood is a great way to introduce natural surfaces and add warmth to your main living spaces. It plays well with other design elements, such as interior fittings, warm lighting and house plants, so it’s the perfect canvas for your interior design.
7. Integrated Appliances
Kitchens are one of the most-used rooms in the house. They’re also among the most expensive, with the average kitchen costing about $2,500 per square metre to build.
If you’re spending that much money on your kitchen, it’s usually worth going all-out. Upgrading to integrated appliances can make a big difference to the look and feel of your kitchen. Integrating appliances into your cabinets provides a streamlined look that can really elevate a space.
Plus, opting for integrated appliances usually means you don’t need to spend extra for stainless steel appliances, so the cost of the upgrade may even out in the end!
- by Matt Watts
