Building a home you can grow with

In today’s housing market; four generously-sized bedrooms, a private home theatre, a study/home office, an airy alfresco dining area and abundant storage space are generally requested by most people looking to build a home. Buyers are well versed and educated when it comes to making decisions about their new home and building a home should be something that a family should be able to grow with, as milestones in family life are met.

Here are some of the things that need to be considered before heading out and buying or building a new home. When discussing your wants in a home, flexibility and ability to grow should be considered when contemplating a layout.

Have a floorpan that can keep up

Today’s families work hard and play even harder! So, a modern family needs a home floorpan that can keep up. In years gone by, yesterday’s game room is today’s home theatre. The formal dining room has given way to a gym or rumpus room and the formal lounge has become an activity room. Homes are still being designed as they were 20 – 30 years ago, however naming conventions are changing. Finding a project home or designing a home from scratch will, in one way or another, incorporate some or all of these rooms. What a growing family needs to work out is what is important to them today may not necessarily be the same in 10 to 20 years’ time, therefore a well designed home that can offer flexibility and change for a family is something that needs consideration.

Quality vs quantity

It is important to focus on quality rather than quantity and go against the ‘bigger is better’ school of thought. Resale value should dictate the design and features such as usable floor area, exquisitely-detailed spaces and orientation towards privacy from neighbours are things that will add value to your home and allow flexibility to the needs of a growing family.

Space

Overflow or second living areas are important especially if adolescent kids or young adults are still residing in the family home. Quality of life is what we all strive for, and a smart, well-designed home that is low on maintenance, uses space well, offers privacy, along with ease of cleaning is a home that is well designed. If your home can offer this, you have found a home you can grow with.

Smart homes

Incorporating smart wiring into homes is another dimension that is now giving the family home additional flexibility and the ability to operate commercially. The emergence of CBUS is allowing more people to work from home due to the effectiveness of its communication mediums. The future for the capacity of the family home is quite exciting as it continues to progress and change through clever design and the use of materials.