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House Sizes Matter: What Size Should Your Home Be?

jyarrum • Feb 24, 2018

Size is one of the first things buyers consider when looking for a home. They need a home with enough space to accommodate their family and lifestyle, but if they see more space than they know what to do with, they may be put off of a property. Whilst we all like our fair share of space, a home that appears too big might

But more than that, the size of a home will determine how much it’s worth, and how expensive it is to build, so it’s important to get it right.

So, how big (or small) should we be building new build properties in Australia, and what’s the perfect size to help buyers fall in love with homes?

How many bedrooms should new builds have?

The number of rooms in a home will inevitably affect the overall size of the property, so working out how many rooms you want your new build to have is the first step to building a perfectly sized home.

The average Australian home has 3 bedrooms, but most people would rather a slightly larger home, with four bedrooms. So if you want your new builds to get ahead of the competition, four bedrooms is the perfect amount to attract those families who fancy a little more space.

Having just one more room than the national average will help new builds stand out, that extra bit of space adding a touch of luxury, without adding too much to the cost of building, and without causing buyers to rule it out as an excessively spacious property.

The size of new builds is on the up

Whilst overbuilt properties can put buyers off, the average house size in Australia has been on the rise lately, as people want more from their living space. In fact, Australia’s homes are some of the largest in the world, with an average size of 243 square meters (there you go, a straight figure to go by if in doubt).

There are more building materials available now than ever before, and so building larger homes doesn’t have to be all that expensive, at least not as expensive as it used to be. Because we can afford to build bigger homes, and because the building costs of small and large homes aren’t too different, it makes sense that home builders are delivering the homes that people want to buy, rather than just those that make for the quickest build.

So when planning what size to build a new home, properties that are slightly larger than the average house size in Australia may attract more buyers. Smaller homes are fast going out of fashion, so whilst a larger home may be a little more expensive to build, think of it as an investment. Buyers will pay much more for a home that has all the space they need, compared to a home that feels slightly cramped.

It’s not all about the size of the building

The size of the property itself is what buyers will first look at, but it’s not just space inside the home that they’re looking for, it’s outside space as well.

When thinking about what size new builds should be, you should consider garden space in your size plans as well. Most buyers expect suburban homes to have a garden with a little green space.

So whilst many homes in Australia are being built ‘to the edge’, using every square meter of the plot for the house itself, rather than setting aside any space for an outside area, buyers would often prefer a slightly smaller home with a garden that can be used for entertaining.

The best size for new builds will depend on the area

Obviously, city and suburb homes will differ quite a lot in terms of size due to the amount of space available. As cities are often more populated than suburban areas, there are more homes packed in, and so you can expect city homes to (usually) be smaller than suburban properties.

The average house size also differs across the different states of Australia, and even from suburb to suburb, depending on how much land is unlocked for housing developments.

So if you’re building in a more popular area, it’s okay for new builds to be slightly smaller than average.

Summary

The size of new builds in Australia is on the rise, as people look for more space than smaller homes have to offer.

Overbuilding can put buyers off of a property but with buyers wanting more from their homes, properties that are slightly larger than average offer a much desired luxury, and are more likely to fly off the market than smaller alternatives.

It can be more cost effective to build homes that are slightly on the larger side, but remember there isn’t always the market for homes that are excessively large (and expensive).

When it comes to house sizes, it’s always good to have a balance. You want to make sure new builds are of a sensible size, but perhaps have that bit of extra space to add a touch of luxury.

It’s also important to consider setting aside space in the plot for a garden, so that buyers get the best of both inside and outside space.

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