When it comes to a brand-new house, buyers say four features matter the most
One of the biggest appeals of building a home is the freedom to shape a home around the way you want to live. For Australians, that comes down to four key elements.
Every year, realestate.com.au conducts research into buyers who have either bought a brand-new home, or are considering it. This year, that research showed that among buyers of new detaches houses, two features tie for most important: weather-protected outdoor spaces and home automation (e.g. security).
Each were nominated by 49% of new-home buyers as important features for a new build.
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When building a new home, Australians care a lot about having a covered outdoor space where they can relax and entertain. Image: Getty
Upgraded kitchen appliance packages came next at 46%, followed closely by upgraded floor coverings at 45%.
Among buyers in the premium market, who were searching for homes above $1.5 million, high-end finishes were even more appealing: upgraded kitchen appliances and floor coverings were each nominated by 55%, while premium bathroom detailing reached 52%.
Across Australia, builders are bringing these wide-spread preferences to life in different ways – from covered alfresco spaces with seamless indoor-outdoor flow and smarter security to standout kitchens and upgraded flooring. See below for inspiration and examples of how these features are being integrated into brand-new homes.
1. Weather-protected outdoor spaces
A covered outdoor area can help households make the most of their outdoor space across the seasons, providing protection from the elements and creating somewhere to dine, entertain or relax year-round.
It can also effectively extend the home’s living footprint, creating an additional zone for everyday living.
Homebuyers Centre’s Lawson 28, for example, places an outdoor entertaining area just beyond the main kitchen, living and dining zone.
G.J. Gardner Homes’ Fernbank and Metricon’s Waterford 52 continue that connection between inside and out, with the Waterford offering two separate outdoor spaces.
In Australia, an outdoor space extends the living area for most – if not all – of the year. Metricon's Waterford design shows how sliding doors can make the outdoor space part of the home. Image: realestate.com.au
2. Home automation and security
Convenience and peace of mind are also shaping buyer priorities, with almost half drawn to home automation and security.
For new-home buyers, that can cover everything from smart controls and connected devices to features that make a home more secure and convenient from day one.
Building from scratch also gives buyers the opportunity to plan this technology early, integrating security, lighting and connected systems from the outset rather than having to retrofit them later.
Building a brand-new home is a great opportunity to future-proof your life with smart home features integrated into the design. Image: Getty
Burbank’s smart-home offering includes security cameras and automated lighting, as well as technology that can remotely control blinds, lighting, heating and cooling from a smartphone.
Metricon’s Studio M selection process also includes smart-security options such as CCTV, motion and alarm systems, intercoms and doorbells.
3. Upgraded kitchen appliances
The kitchen is often the heart of the home, so it makes sense that buyers are willing to direct more of their budget towards better appliances.
For families and households that cook and entertain regularly, those upgrades can make a tangible difference to how the kitchen functions day to day.
Boutique Homes’ Oslo 29 design is a good example, with a 900mm Fisher & Paykel built-in oven, cooktop and concealed rangehood among its kitchen inclusions.
A standard inclusion of Boutique Homes’ Oslo 29 is a Fisher & Paykel 900mm wide in-built oven, cooktop and concealed rangehood. Image: realestate.com.au
At Bold Living, 900mm stainless-steel appliances are included across its Bold Inclusions range.
Celebration Homes similarly includes 900mm stainless-steel cooking appliances as part of its standard specification, including a multi-function oven, hotplate and canopy rangehood.
4. Upgraded floor coverings
Flooring can have a big impact on the look, feel and longevity of a new home, with quality materials helping create a polished finish while standing up to everyday wear over time.
The choice can be practical as well as aesthetic, with buyers able to weigh up durability, maintenance and comfort depending on how different areas of the home will be used.
Homebuyers Centre’s Willow 25 and Boutique Homes’ Barcelona 28 are two examples of new homes where flooring helps define the overall interior.
At Homebuyers Centre's Willow 25 display, buyers can see how flooring can be used define different living areas. Image: realestate.com.au
At Celebration Homes, buyers can choose from tiled or vinyl plank flooring to main living areas, with carpet available in secondary living spaces and bedrooms.
Are you interested in learning more about buying or building new? Check out our dedicated New Homes section.