First Home Builders and Volume Builders

At the affordable end of the housing market first home builders are often buying land or house and land packages in estates populated by the same type of volume builder construction. Tones are often set by the volume builder 'display village' and houses already constructed. Even though it is on the improve volume builders have a focus on affordability and scale over sustainability. Sustainable design, materials and features are often charged at a premium where they should be a standard.

Volume builders mostly offer options around internal fit out as opposed to method and material of construction where sustainability really comes to play.

For those entering the market your first house is likely to be just that, your first of many. With a eye on the future your first house will likely be sold to fund another purchase or used as a rental in your investment portfolio. From an economic standpoint you want your house to equal nearby properties at a glance but excel when looking under the skin. Your market wont be limited if you've used great design and can show on-going operational cost savings.

A little bravery is the secret ingredient for those looking to build in a volume based estate. Your house will likely look different in a estate of hundreds of the same. The key element is using great design for it to look better rather then kooky. One option may even be to replicate the facade look and feel within your estate so as not to give any valuer the option of a lesser valuation for "looking" different.

A great challenge to the norm is considering do you need a double garage under the same roof line, with the usual internal access, brick walls, concrete floor and lined internals just because every other house has one. Will you even use your garage to store your vehicles and if so do they really need to sleep inside a building? Any real-estate agent will tell you yes. This should be enough of a sign to question the norm. The $10-20k saved could easily fund a carport ($5k), even one with traditional garage door, and a garden shed for essential storage. The savings could be used to fund the majority of your sustainable products or upgrades; flat panel solar to evacuated tube, LED lighting, more energy efficient appliances, upgraded insulation, rainwater tank and pump for toilet flushing.

Generally speaking, for the same cost as specking up a volume builder home you can use a smaller company or private builder to achieve a better result for less with much greater flexibility. Flexibility meaning more options and decisions doesn't need to be scary. Volume builders do a lot of the work providing designs, floor plans and specifications. This can easily be used a starting point with a builder without the need to make every decision.