Tuesday, 25 November 2014

Factors to Consider for Choosing a Location When Buying or Building a Home

Building a home is a lifetime investment and before you invest your hard-earned money, thus, it is important to consider various factors that can be of great importance and guide you in your decision making process.

Geographic Location –

When building a custom designed home, geographic location is of great importance, as location will have great impact on your overall lifestyle. If you are planning to stay in this home for a longer time then be careful about geographic location, research about the average home prices in that area, proximity to places that matter to you like a club you are member of, proximity to friends and family, Overall standing of the location in the region. 

City Life vs. Suburb –

Depending upon your preference, you can narrow down your options whether you want a city life or suburb is your first choice. Depending upon the location, there will be differentiation in the prices of various houses you will see. A house at a prominent location, facing the beach is going to cost you more than other.

Neighbourhood –

However, we all have a busy life style these days but importance of good neighbourhood cannot be overlooked. Within a particular area you will find, different types of neighbourhood and you will like to settle at the one that is closes fit to your life style and personality so that you easily get along with your neighbours.

Safety –

Safety is another top consideration when selecting a location. You would like to settle in a area where you can have a peaceful life rather than having a lavish home in an area where crime rate is higher and you don’t feel safe and fear every moment being victimized.

Proximity –

Depending upon your family needs you can decide the proximity to various locations like if you have kids then how close or far is the school or if you are planning to change then kind of schools in that district, proximity to other places like medical services, your work place, shopping and entertainment centres etc.


If possible, seek help from a custom home builder who possess rich experience in designing, developing and delivering quality construction as per your needs.

Wednesday, 19 November 2014

An Architect or a Building Designer! Which is a Better Option?

Whether you are building your new home in Australia or undertaking a major renovation to your current home, in both cases, you will need either an architect or a building designer. These words are most often used interchangeably; however, there is a significant difference between the two.

Let us have a look at the work portfolio and services of both.

The Architect

As per the Australian rules, an architect must complete the following criteria:
  • A formal degree is required in Architecture
  • Need an official registration with the state-based architecture board
  •  To be a registered architect, all valid insurances are must
Even if they have all formal degrees and training, they need registrations in order to advertise their services as an architect.

A Building Designer

In case of luxury home builders in Melbourne Australia, they do not have to adhere to similar laws as for architects. However, there are certain things to check such as whether the building designer you selected is a member of BDA (Building Designer Association) or HIA (Housing Industry Association). Such home builders are considered more credible and are likely to be updated about latest laws and rules.

So, which is a better option? An Architect or a Building Designer?

Selecting between an architect or building designer can more be a matter of personal preference as both are can be judged based on their expertise, experience and merits. Whether you select an authentic architect or home builders in Melbourne, make sure to have a look at their previous work history,  testimonials, credentials, satisfied customers, accomplishments, present projects they have undertaken etc. Make sure they are not handling too many projects at the same time and are equally enthusiastic about your project as you are.

Getting started on your home building project is a big expense, so make sure you do a thorough research in the market before finalizing a builder or architect.