subject: Luxury Homes in Australia [print this page] Luxury Homes in Australia Luxury Homes in Australia
Luxury. What does it mean, exactly? The answer, of course, is "different things to different people". For a busy homemaker Mum it might be five minutes with her feet up and some precious peace and quiet. For a handyman dad it might be his own workshop to retreat to and de-stress after a day at work.
But when we say "luxury homes" a certain impression starts to grow in our minds. Lofty ceilings. Vast windows, and light-filled, airy rooms. Internal and external vistas that seem to go on together. Fine fixtures and fittings, in the latest modern styles. And most of all space. Space to stretch out and breathe.
Space to get some calm down time, or space to come together in celebration and family joy. Three bedroom family home? Why not four, or five? And let's give them all their own ensuite bathroom, too. And separate leisure areas for the kids, so the grown-ups can get some alone time. Now you're talking.
Not all home builders build luxury homes, of course. Luxury home design demands a certain architectural finesse that is, with the best will in the world, not always evident in smaller, compact homes for first home buyers, for example. It's horses for courses.
If first home owners comprise 99% of a home builder's portfolio, odds are they won't do a great job of your dramatic double storey split-level home, or your contemporary designer home that's stepped straight off the pages of Vogue Living.
That said, luxury homes vary dramatically in cost. A one-off home always costs more than one from a builder who may build ten or twenty of them in a year, or even more. The benefits of "system building" should not be sneered at - when applied to luxury homes, the streamlining of the suppliers deliveries to the builder, and consistently smart, work-efficient building practices, can produce a home of stunning quality and breathtaking appearance, yet at a fraction of the cost you might expect.
So how much will a "luxury home" cost you? Well, ask around. Keep an eye on the signs on the outside of homes that you like the look of, and visit that builder's website. And don't be shy: knock on a few doors of lovely properties that have gone up in your locality and ask about their experience. Many people are very happy to talk, especially if they're thoroughly satisfied with their new home.
Major builders are now offering virtual mansions at prices that a typical two-income middle-class family can afford. You might get a very pleasant surprise!
