Posts by: zachomes

“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.”

Christmas is a great time of year to have a bit of fun with your home decorating, both inside and out. You can get creative, recycle decorations from past generations, develop a theme, or go a bit over the top.

Dressing up your home for the festive season can go well beyond putting up a Christmas tree, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. There are loads of ways you can decorate the interior, exterior and even your garden to celebrate the holiday season.

At ZAC Homes we like to add some festive touches to our display homes at Marsden Park and Box Hill, adding a little fun and whimsy.

Tips for Christmas decorating on the inside

The most obvious place to start is the traditional Christmas tree which is often a feature of the living area, but there are many other places in your home where you can have a Christmas display. This can include your entrance way, staircase, dining table, and even your kid’s bedrooms.

Adopt a colour theme

You don’t need to go out every year and buy new decorations, but you can organise your decorating around a colour theme. The traditional Christmas colours of gold, green and red are a great place to start but don’t restrict yourself. Silver and other metallics are also popular for Christmas as well as non-traditional colours.

Choose something that will complement your existing décor, or perhaps even contrast it by using colours that pop out against your neutral-toned Hamptons interior.

Make a statement at your entrance

The entrance to your home is a great place to start with Christmas touches. A wreath on the front door is welcoming to visitors to your home and can be as simple as some greenery from your garden, or a family heirloom.

Add some Christmas touches to the entrance way as people arrive. Scented candles or festival ornaments that fit your theme on a hall table will brighten up your day.

Personalise your Christmas tree

Whether you choose a live potted tree, a real tree, or a synthetic tree, there are a few basic rules for decorating.

Firstly, find the ideal location for your tree. In most ZAC Homes designs the best place will be in your open-plan living area where you can admire the tree, place gifts under it, and sit near it on Christmas Day to open your family gifts.

Then follow these simple steps:

• Start with the lights – it’s easier to wind them around the tree without the decorations getting in the way
• Choose a colour theme
• Hang one type of ornament at a time so you spread them around the tree
• Include decorations that evoke memories like ornaments from your travels
• Decorations made by the kids provide great memories too
• Include some edible treats like chocolates or candy canes for guests to enjoy

Decorate the whole house

Perhaps not every room needs to be fully decked out, but you could choose a few areas around your home to add some festive cheer.

If you have more than one living space, a second smaller Christmas tree, perhaps a live one in a pot would be a nice touch, plus it gives you a chance to try a second colour theme.

If you’re lucky enough to live in a home like the ZAC Homes Dubai you could decorate your staircase balustrade with a garland or Christmas lights.

Beautiful table setting

Nothing says Christmas is on its way more than a festive table setting. There are some ornaments, candles, and napery that you can use for weeks leading up to Christmas simply for the decorative effect.

If you’re hosting Christmas, you can take it up a level for your festive feasts on both indoor and outdoor tables. Once again, you don’t have to spend a fortune, simple touches like foliage and flowers from your own garden, repurposed decorations, and candles can put your guests in a celebratory mood.

Taking your Christmas decorating outside

We’ve all seen the fabulous Christmas light displays all around the suburbs of Sydney, and while many homeowners go all out, you don’t need to spend a fortune or spend your weekends competing.

Christmas decorating can be as simple as one set of lights, decorating your front windows, or garden ornaments.

Decorate your front window

If you have a large front window like that featured in the ZAC Homes Sienna design you can utilise your front window to share the Christmas spirit with your neighbours and local community that passes by.

A window display could incorporate lights, a tree, or just about any freestanding or hanging Christmas showcase. Use your imagination.

Decorate your facade

If you own a home like the ZAC Homes Machu with Hamptons façade you’ll have elegant timber columns at the front to wrap twinkling lights around which will enhance the street appeal. It’s not necessary to wrap lights around every part of your home because this is both expensive and time-consuming. For an elegant look, it’s better to stick with the ‘less is more’ rule.

Glittering garden

Utilise the shrubs and trees in your garden to display festive lights. Make sure you use lights that are suitable for the outdoors and run any power cables safely, free from tripping hazards and weather exposure.

Happy festive season with ZAC Homes

From the ZAC Homes team, we’d like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Have a safe, relaxing and joyful festive season. Focus on the important things in your life and spend time with family and friends.

ZAC Homes builds with trust, respect, integrity and pride, which we work hard to deliver to every client. Call us on 1300 350 793 or send us an online enquiry and our team will work with you to design and build your dream home.

Why would you want to compromise on the biggest asset and the place that houses you and your family? Why settle for ordinary, when you can have extraordinary? If you want to build your own extraordinary home go with our Tailored Approach, allowing you to build a completely custom home on your land.

If you want full flexibility with the design of your new home then you can work with our experienced in-house designers to craft a design that is perfect for your lifestyle and block.

Where do I start when designing my dream home?

Our designers will work with you and your family to make your vision for your new home come to life.

Here are a few things to think about before you meet with us, and to guide our discussions:

Start simple

You don’t need to have fancy software or even be good at drawing to get started on your dream home plans. Brainstorm with your family members and start compiling a list of features you want in your ideal home. Sketch your ideas in whatever form works for you. The idea is to get your ideas out of your head onto paper to begin the process. Even rough sketches can help our home design team get started.

Think about your future needs

Think about how many people you want to accommodate in your home straight away but also what the future may bring. Will you need to have a separate area for teenagers, or ageing parents? Perhaps a separate ‘granny flat’ could be included to accommodate different generations over time.

And while no one could have predicted the ‘working from home’ revolution brought on by the COVID pandemic, perhaps you should factor in a future home office, or a dedicated area for a home gym.

Showcase and maximise your block of land

There will be some rules and regulations from your local council and government that state where you can build on your block, but there will also be some flexibility.

Think about the outlook and views you might enjoy, or the aspects you don’t want to see from within your home. Think about the aspect of your block, like what rooms will face in which direction, and how the different seasons will affect the temperatures within your home.

You also need to consider the slope of your land, and any easements or other obstacles. At ZAC Homes we can assist with all these aspects.

Prioritise features

Most people do not have an endless budget when designing their dream home so think about the most important features and prioritise them. It will be easier to work out what to leave out when you get to the design, and then the costing phase. Once your ideas are recorded in rough form, begin prioritising features for your new house. Various family members may also have different priorities so discuss it with them before you get too far down the track.

Consider function and flow

As you start to consider where various rooms will be located, think about how you and your family will live within the home. Consider aspects like noise levels when you’re deciding where bedrooms will be located in relation to living areas. If your family tends to gather around the kitchen, an open floor plan with easy flow between the living room, kitchen, dining and outdoor area will suit you best.

Set a budget

Even if you’re unsure about how much your dream home could cost, it’s important to look at your financial situation and decide a cost range, or at least a maximum you can afford. You may also need to borrow money to build your new home so you’ll need to understand how much you could be approved for a loan.

Build a new home with ZAC Homes

Once you’ve gone through these preliminary steps, the designers at ZAC Homes will work with you and your family to make your vision for your new home come to life.

Having complete flexibility allows you to include sustainability as a key design element. There are many ways a home can be sustainable including the materials used, the design, the inclusions, and more.

Going with our Tailored Approach option will take longer, you’ll have more decisions to make, and it will generally be more expensive, but you’ll have a one-off home to suit your needs.

Our designers can work with almost any site, although an undulating site will require careful and considered design, suitable construction techniques and most likely increased costs.

ZAC Homes builds with trust, respect, integrity and pride, which we work hard to deliver to every client. Call us on 1300 350 793 or send us an online enquiry and our team will work with you to design and build your dream home.

Home design trends come and go, but with careful choices, you can build a home that will look great in years to come. It might need refreshing every now and then, but you won’t feel like a fashion victim if you take some time to understand the market.

In terms of home design and layout there’s been a few changes in recent years as family living became more casual and homes more open. Then along came the COVID pandemic in 2020 which has had a profound effect on so many parts of our lives.

With both exterior and interior design, there’s a few looks that we think will endure well beyond 2021 and even 2022 like The Hamptons, contemporary design, and industrial.

Ultimately, you should decide what will work for you and your family, and how you want your home to function and look. Don’t be a slave to fashion if it doesn’t suit your needs.

What influence is the COVID pandemic going to bring to 2022?

In both 2020 and 2021, most of us spent much more time in our own homes. Many of us worked from home, lots of kids studied from home, and holidays and big events were cancelled. It made many people rethink how they use their homes, and how this will impact the future.

Here are a few things that you should consider for your new home:

Living spaces for a specific function

Before the pandemic, we had been seeing a strong trend towards large open plan living areas. The long periods at home have led to more areas designated for a specific function. Modern open-plan living areas can hinder activities like working or schooling from home. For this reason, there is likely to be a shift towards more clearly defined spaces that can be shut-off from the open living areas when required, and opened up when not.

Working from home is here to stay

As we reach more than 18 months of the pandemic, it is looking likely that many of the office workers who based themselves at home will continue to do so, even on a part-time basis. This is leading many families to rethink their homes and are creating efficient working from home setups. In some cases, more than one person in a household is working from home which makes it more challenging.

In the past, home designs often included one study or home office, but now many people are considering how an extra space can be incorporated. In post-COVID home design, there’s a need to factor in some multi-purpose space, rather than necessarily two or more home office areas.

Outdoor living focus

Long before we’d heard of COVID, outdoor living zones had been growing in popularity around the country. Spending so much extra time at home has reinforced the need for well setup, functional outdoor living areas to be used by different family members.

A well-designed and setup alfresco area is an extension of the living space of your home and creates a private oasis where you can switch off. It can also be an area for active outdoor activities like play and exercise.

Design trends that will continue in 2022

Exterior and interior home fashion trends come and go, and you don’t want to have a home that looks dated a couple of years after you build. There are a few looks that we think will last for many years to come, but ultimately it comes down to the ‘look and feel’ that you love. Choose designs that will make you smile every time you pull up out the front of your home or walk in the front door.

Hamptons with a touch of Palm Springs

The original Hamptons look comes from the elegant homes located in a group of townships on Long Island, New York, but we’ve adapted the look to suit our Australian tastes and style. It’s for that reason that it’s endured in Australia, we’ve reinvented it to suit our lifestyles, and we’ve added some elements of Palm Springs style which while similar has cleaner lines and less fussy finishes.

Hamptons is characterised by light-filled and spacious homes with a focus on natural materials and simple styling. You’ll see elements like weatherboards and timber fretwork in soft, weathered tones such as white and pale grey with blue or charcoal trims.

You can’t go wrong with contemporary design

The one look that will last well after the fashion trends have been forgotten is contemporary design with its clean lines and no-fuss details.

Contemporary design homes utilise a simple colour palette with no more than three shades, clean, minimalist lines with no visual fuss, set off by interesting angles, shadows, and features to catch the eye.

On the inside of your home, contemporary style is defined by simplicity. There’s a focus on space, highlighted by clean lines and texture. This plays out as bold colour blocks, high ceilings, and bare windows, or at least minimalist window coverings.

The rawness of industrial design

In stark contrast to The Hamptons, the industrial look draws heavily on commercial buildings with features like weathered timbers contrasting with metallics. It’s also known for plenty of texture, exposed concrete, and a minimal tonal palette.

The interiors of industrial design homes proudly show off elements that other styles choose to hide like raw materials used on floors, walls and even ceilings, like exposed brick walls, wood, and metallic surfaces.

Build a new home with ZAC Homes

At ZAC Homes we have many different designs to suit every family’s desired look and function. You might find your dream home amongst our Fast Track off-the-plan designs or might prefer to design your own with Tailored Approach.

With ZAC, you will receive exceptional customer service, and the ZAC Homes team will make the journey of building your new home as fun and exciting as possible.

ZAC Homes builds with trust, respect, integrity and pride, which we work hard to deliver to every client. Call us on 1300 350 793 or send us an online enquiry and our team will work with you to design and build your dream home.

So, you’ve picked your floorplan, finalised all the details and signed your contract. But what happens next? We delve into the process and show you the ZAC Homes difference.

You’ll be assigned a ZAC Homes customer service relations officer who will guide you through the building process from this point on.

Construction certificate and financial documentation

Before we can break ground, your local council must approve the design and provide the required permits. This will vary from job to job but rest assured ZAC Homes will work with you to obtain all relevant statutory and building approvals, including your construction certificate which permits the construction of your home to begin.

At this stage, we will also request documentation to support that funding is available to complete the total cost of construction.

Once permits and financial documentation are in place, physical construction can begin. How exciting!!

Construction begins

A dedicated site supervisor is allocated to your job and will manage your build from day one to the handover. The supervisor spends countless hours getting to know your build before going on site to plan and start the build process which is a key to ZAC Homes difference from many other builders.

“A dedicated site supervisor is allocated your job and will manage your build from day one to the handover.”

Building milestones

There are a number of milestones you will reach in the build process including:

Slab construction

During this crucial first stage, the slab and the foundations are laid, and the site is prepared to have the slab poured. Before any concrete can be poured, the plumbing pipework is also laid, as it sits beneath the slab. Sometimes there are minor delays in this process due to poor weather, and once the slab is poured it needs to cure before we can move on.

Frame construction

In this stage, you’ll see your new home starting to take shape as the skeleton appears. This stage includes the frame, roof trusses, windows and door frames. You’ll get a good idea of room sizes and layout even at this early stage.

Brickwork and exterior cladding completion

This stage will depend on the choices you have made with exterior finishes. If you’ve chosen brickwork they will be laid, and or exterior cladding will be put in place.

Before we move inside, we’ll need to fit the roofing and guttering, and this will again depend on the choices you have made previously.

Now you can see the vision from outside.

Internal work

We then move inside and rough in the electrical wiring and plumbing before any internal linings are completed.

Insulation will also be installed, followed by the wall and ceiling plastic work. Now you can really see your new home taking shape.

The internal fit-out also includes waterproofing and tiling of the wet areas.

It is also at this point the carpenters will be on the job to fit any skirting boards, architraves, door jams, doors and even kitchen cabinets.

Lockup is complete when all external doors including the garage door have been fitted and we can literally lock your new home up.

Then it’s time to fit the final items like tapware, vanities, bathroom accessories, and more.

“All these milestones are all planned and monitored by the site supervisor and the entire ZAC Homes team from Head Office.”

Practical completion

This is the point in time when an inspection is conducted when the builder is almost finished. You will walk through the development with the site manager and point out any items that still need attention. By this time, it should only be touch-ups and minor items requiring installation.

All these milestones are planned and monitored by the site supervisor and the entire ZAC Homes team from Head Office. You will receive weekly updates from your dedicated site supervisor advising you on what is planned for the following week.

Quality control

Between practical completion and handover, our quality control manager will visit and inspect your new home confirming that more than 200 points on a checklist comply with the ZAC Homes quality standard.

Handover – it’s yours

On the day of handover, you will meet your site Manager to have a final walk-through before receiving the keys to your brand new home.

Build a new home with ZAC Homes

With ZAC, you will receive exceptional customer service, and the ZAC Homes team will make the journey of building your new home as fun and exciting as possible.

ZAC Homes builds with trust, respect, integrity and pride, which we work hard to deliver to every client. Call us on 1300 350 793 or send us an online enquiry and our team will work with you to design and build your dream home.

It’s hard to know where to start when you’re designing your new home. One way to get inspired is to look at current trends and innovations in home design and adopt the things that suit you best. Design trends are much more than just choosing paint colours or even tiles for your kitchen and bathroom, they take in things that aren’t on display.

We investigate several, including home automation, eco-friendly homes and flexible layouts, that you can consider when designing your dream home.

Home automation with smart technology

While home automation and smart technology has been around for a few years now the growth in popularity means it has become more streamlined and sophisticated.

Smartphone controls

For many years homeowners have had the option of a hub to control the function of various technologies within the home. Increasingly the control is moving to smartphones with various apps.

This means you’ll be able to control many aspects of your home like lighting, heating, garden watering systems, swimming pool controls, security systems, appliances, and more from within your home but also when you’re not at home.

Home zoning

Being able to control specific zones within your home is also growing in popularity and sophistication. From light switches to music, to zone-based thermostats, a streamlined smart home can be more affordable due to lower utility bills and require less equipment.

Smart lighting

Lighting that is controlled by smart technology is another way you can automate your new home.

Not just limited to overhead lights, smart window coverings are the next step to provide customisable ambience and the ability to raise and lower in conjunction with the strength of the overhead lights. So, as the blinds lower when the sun goes down, your lighting can slowly turn on to ensure the right visibility in a room.

More personalised

Using more gadgets in conjunction with the Internet means your devices will learn your daily routines and work seamlessly. Imagine your front door unlocking because it recognises your face. Or a thermostat knowing when you are doing exercise and adjusting the room temperature accordingly.

Touchless

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened awareness of touchless devices with new items like video doorbells that do not need to be touched to ring. This keeps it clean and allows physical distance to be maintained.

Eco-friendly homes

As the impact of global warming continues to be seen, homeowners are looking at ways they can lower their environmental footprint.

This includes incorporating green building and eco-friendly designs into new homes with the help of companies like ZAC Homes.

Energy-efficient light globes

While energy-efficient light globes have been around for many years, their performance and energy efficiency has grown enormously. According to the US Department of Energy CFL and LED light globes last three to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent light globes and use between 25 and 80 per cent less energy.

Energy-efficient appliances

Energy-efficient appliances reduce your energy consumption and, therefore, your energy bill. According to the Australian Government website energy.gov.au, appliances can account for around 30 per cent of home energy use, so choosing the most energy-efficient appliance can bring big savings.

Replacing an ageing appliance like a fridge or dishwasher can be more economical because you will save more in energy usage in the long run. For example, also according to energy.gov.au modern dishwashers use 25 per cent less energy compared to those of 10 years ago.

Greywater reuse and water tanks

One of the growing trends in green building is to find a way to reuse greywater. Greywater is the water from your home that is only lightly used – the water that is washed down the drain, shower, bath or washing machine. This water may have some traces of food, dirt or other products in it, but it is still safe to use in many applications, such as outdoor irrigation.

New home builders can install pipes that channel this water outside, allowing you to conserve water by using your own greywater.

Installing water tanks to catch rainwater off your roof is also an eco-friendly way to live.

Net-zero energy

Making your home net-zero means you create your own energy, and the amount it creates is equal or greater to the amount of energy you consume.

The first step in creating a net-zero energy home is lowering energy consumption to the lowest possible usage by using good insulation and energy-efficient features, then adding a renewable energy source like solar panels.

Flexible design

As a result of the pandemic, there is a trend away from completely open plan living zones in new homes.

Homeowners are seeing the need for flexibility in the design of their homes. For example, right now you might need some extra room for home schooling in the short term and in the future, it can fulfill another need.

The open-plan concept doesn’t work well if more than one person is working from home or if the kids are being noisy, so that concept may be refined with partitions to dedicate space for working/home office.

Build a new home with ZAC Homes

With ZAC, you will receive exceptional customer service, and the ZAC Homes team will make the journey of building your new home as fun and exciting as possible.

ZAC Homes builds with trust, respect, integrity and pride, which we work hard to deliver to every client. Call us on 1300 350 793 or send us an online enquiry and our team will work with you to design and build your dream home.

We build more duplex homes than any other type of home at ZAC Homes and with 20 years in the industry, we’ve built literally thousands of duplex homes for families and investors.

Here are the most frequently asked questions we’ve compiled from our many years of building.

What is a duplex?

The terms ‘duplex’ and ‘dual occupancy’ are often used interchangeably, but there is one key difference. A duplex contains two dwellings under one main roof and can be built on a single piece of land or a subdivided block.

The benefit of a duplex on a subdivided block comes in when you want to sell one or both dwellings. However, a duplex is also still technically a dual occupancy home because it can be two dwellings on one block. Because of this, confusion over the two terms can still creep in.

In the Sydney building market, the term ‘duplex’ is generally used to describe two homes of similar size with a common wall, like ZAC Homes’ popular Gemini Designs. Our range of duplexes has been developed over the more than 20 years that we’ve been building duplexes.

What are the advantages of building a duplex?

The biggest advantage is that you can build two homes on one suburban block of land.

You can take an older rundown house on a block of land, then turn it into a knock down rebuild project and end up with two brand new homes.

Building a duplex is an excellent way of maximising the value of your land by building one home to live in and another to rent or sell. A duplex is also a great way for a multi-generation family to live together but have separate homes.

In terms of costs, it is also a very economical way to build two homes. If you were to build two dwellings on one block of land the costs would be significantly higher.

Are there any differences between building a single dwelling or a duplex?

When it comes to building a duplex, rather than a single dwelling there are a few differences.

You must have a Hydraulic Plan which shows how rainwater will be drained from your land and where it will go. You must also have a Landscape Plan which takes into consideration your local council’s requirements as well as the Hydraulic Plan.

On the upside, you have the potential for subdivision. In some but not all cases, your council may allow you to subdivide which will enable you to sell each home as an individual property.

How much land do you need to build a duplex?

Under the NSW Low Rise Housing Diversity Code, blocks must be either 400 square metres or the minimum lot size required by your council, whichever is greater. Blocks must be a minimum of 12 metres wide and buildings must have a minimum side setback of 0.9 metres.

Additionally, each dwelling must be 5 metres in width and a maximum height of 8.5 metres and must face a public road. Blocks where the duplexes have dwellings placed one above the other must be at least 15 metres in width.

Do I need to subdivide to build a duplex?

No, it is possible to build a duplex and not subdivide the land. However, you will not be able to sell the two homes separately if they are not subdivided because they will be on one land title.

This might be your preferred option if you plan to keep both homes after you build your duplex and have family members live alongside you.

Can I build a duplex on a corner block?

Yes, a corner block can be an ideal location for a duplex if the block meets requirements from your local council and government regulations.

At ZAC Homes we have standard designs that can be modified, or we can work with you on a custom design.

One thing you need to consider with any corner block build is the façade on both street views.

How much does it cost to build a duplex in Sydney?

Many variables go into the cost of building a home including the land, the size, the materials, fittings and fixtures chosen, the quality, the custom design, and more.

While building a duplex can be more expensive than a single or double storey home, it is still cheaper than building two separate homes because of the economies of scale with a common wall. For investors, the cost can also be offset by the potential rental or sales returns of two properties. 

Speak to our experienced team today to get a better understanding of the costs involved in building a duplex on your property.

Are there duplex designs for narrow blocks?

Yes, the minimum width block you can build a duplex design home on is 12 metres wide.

With ZAC Homes standard designs including the Arabella 25 and the Gemini 25/19, our minimum is currently around 13 metres wide but we can work with you on a custom design to fit the 12 metre minimum.

What approvals are required to build a duplex in NSW?

The Low Rise Housing Diversity Code applies to all local government areas in NSW and allows dual occupancies to be approved through the fast-tracked Complying Development process. The new code applies to properties zoned R1, R2, R3 and RU5 across NSW, with designs also required to meet the Low Rise Housing Diversity Design Guide.

Using a private certifier and the Complying Development process means the planning and construction for your duplex approval avoids the need to go through your local council.

Build a duplex with ZAC Homes

Building a duplex home can be financially beneficial, and a great option for your family home, if you choose the right builder.

Custom-built dual occupancy homes by ZAC Homes are designed to optimise your available space and make the most of your valuable land. We pride ourselves on our exceptional customer service and make the journey of building your new home as easy and rewarding as possible.

ZAC Homes builds with trust, respect, integrity and pride, which we work hard to deliver to every client. Call us on 1300 350 793 or send us an online enquiry and our team will work with you to design and build your dream home.

Building a new home is a major undertaking and knocking down your existing home to build a new one adds an additional element. Breaking the project down into the key stages ensures that it runs smoothly from beginning to end.

Why knock down rebuild

There are plenty of advantages of a knockdown rebuild project, including staying in a community you know and love, cost savings, and building a home that suits your specific needs.

If you love the area where you currently live, then the idea of selling and moving to a new address probably holds little appeal. It could mean you and other family members need to find a new job, perhaps a new school for your children, and even a new hairdresser. With a KDR project, you get a brand-new house and get to stay in familiar surroundings.

It can be cheaper, or about the same cost, to knock down and rebuild than to extensively renovate. This is because a renovation is usually a one-off custom job. In many cases, you’ll uncover problems during the renovation that can also add to the cost, such as repairing major structural damage.

One of the best parts of a knock down rebuild project rather than a renovation is that you are given a blank canvas. You and your family can decide how many rooms you need, how they should be laid out, what you’d like the exterior to look like, what fixtures and fittings you’d like, and much more.

“One of the best parts of a knock down rebuild project rather than a renovation is that you are given a blank canvas.”

Stages of a knock down rebuild project

There are several stages for a knock down rebuild project and all of them must occur for a successful build.

At ZAC Homes we’ve worked with hundreds of home owners to guide them through the knock down rebuild process. Here is an overview of what we’ve learnt:

Check with the authorities

The starting point for any suburban building project is to establish what you are permitted to build on your block of land. You need to check that your current house can be demolished and replaced. Some homes have heritage listings or overlays which prevent you from demolishing.

You also need to know the zoning of your area to ensure you can build a new home that will suit your requirements.

The first step should be to visit the websites of your local council and relevant state authorities like the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. Most Councils also have Council officers who can answer your specific questions.

There will also be restrictions about how close you can build to the boundary, how much of the land can be utilised for buildings, what setback you are required to meet, and whether you can build a duplex or a single dwelling.

Understand your block of land

Once you’ve established that you can demolish your current home, you need to consult experts like ZAC Homes. We’ve assisted many homeowners through the knock down rebuild process and can offer expert advice.

One of the important first steps is to understand what you can build on your block of land. For many home designs, there are restrictions about the width of the land, but there are also considerations like the slope, the aspect, and the vegetation. Our expert consultants can help you navigate all these considerations.

New home design

Once you understand the regulations and land issues you can move on to the fun stuff and find the best home design for your needs.

Some people want to move quickly and build a home just like the display, while others want to develop their own custom design.

That’s why at ZAC Homes we divide our services into three distinct types:

• Fast Track – off-the-plan design with minimal changes
• My Style – modifying an existing design
• Tailored Approach – custom design with complete flexibility

No matter which option you go with we recommend that you visit display homes because they are a great way to work out what you do and don’t like and if you can’t make it to a display village in person, take a 3D walk through the homes on our website.

You should also look at other homes in your area to see what will complement the existing housing in your neighbourhood.

When considering design you and your family need to decide on your requirements like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, what size living areas you require, and more. Think about how you use your current home – do you work from home? Do you like to entertain? You should also consider things like how long you plan to live there.

Organise the demolition

If you decide to build with ZAC Homes we will help you arrange the demolition of your old home and incorporate that into the contract.

Other builders might prefer you to organise your own demolition but can recommend demolition experts.

Either way, there are a few important things to remember including a demolition permit from your council, and notifying your service providers like electricity, gas, water and Internet to disconnect well before your demolition date.

You’ll also need temporary accommodation for you and your family to live in until your new home is complete.

“Once you understand the regulations and land issues you can move on to the fun stuff and find the best home design for your needs.”

New home rebuild

The building of your new home also has several key stages that include:

Sitework – Site will be cleared and prepared for construction to begin.

Foundation/Base – Underground power and plumbing will be laid next and if your new home has a concrete slab this will be poured and allowed to cure. Alternatively, foundations will be put in place.

Frames – Next comes the wall frames and roof trusses and it’s starting to take shape.

Lock-Up – After the frame and trusses come the guttering, roof covering and, brickwork and external cladding. This will be complemented by external doors and windows to bring it to lock-up stage. 

Then it’s time for the plumbers and electricians to add all the necessary pipes and cables. Some of this will occur alongside the other trades. Now it’s really starting to look like a home. 

Interior fixing – Next the focus will shift to the interior with the installation of ceilings and walls, then internal doors, cabinets and shelving, as well as skirting boards and architraves.

Completion – Before you move in all the painting and tiling will be completed as well as the installation of the final touches like light fittings, shower screens, benchtops, and more.

Then you can call it Home Sweet Home. 

Knock down rebuild with ZAC Homes

It is difficult to estimate how long the whole process is from the early research to the completed new home because there are so many different variables. Typically the planning from deciding you want to rebuild to the beginning of construction can take up to 12 months.

The team at ZAC Homes are knock down rebuild specialists and regardless of your block being sloped, narrow, above or below the road, our design team will work with you to create a contemporary design that fits your budget.

ZAC Homes builds with trust, respect, integrity and pride, which we work hard to deliver to every client. Call us on 1300 350 793 or send us an online enquiry and our team will work with you to design and build your dream home.

Building a duplex on your current land can be an excellent investment or a great multi-generation home, but there are several things to consider before deciding whether it’s a great option for you and your family.

The first consideration is whether you can build a duplex on your land. Is it the right size and dimensions? Do the council regulations in your area allow for duplexes?

You also need to examine whether building a duplex on your current property is a good investment and review your reasons for building it.

Can I build a duplex on my current land?

In simple terms, a duplex construction is two homes built on the same block of land that share a common wall. The two homes can either share one land title and owner, or can be subdivided into separate titles so they can be owned and sold separately.

The NSW Government’s Low Rise Housing Diversity Code applies to all local government areas in NSW and allows dual occupancies to be approved through the fast-tracked ‘Complying Development’ process. The code applies to properties zoned R1, R2, R3 and RU5 across NSW.

Under the code, blocks must be either 400 square metres or the minimum lot size required by your council, whichever is greater. Blocks must be a minimum of 12 metres wide and buildings must have a minimum side setback of 0.9 metres.

Additionally, the code requires each dwelling to be a minimum of five metres wide, to face a public road, and cannot be located behind another dwelling except on a corner block. Off-street parking must also be provided for at least one car per dwelling.

“Building a duplex on your current land can be an excellent investment or a great multi-generation home.”

Reasons for building a duplex

Now that you’ve established that you can legally build a duplex on your land you need to examine the reasons you want to build a duplex.

Building a duplex can be a good investment in the short and long term as you can achieve a stronger rental yield and capital growth once construction is completed. Building a duplex can also be faster than constructing two separate dwellings.

A duplex can be a great investment

If you’re building a duplex on your current land you will have several options if you’re planning to use it as an investment.

You and your family can live in one half, and either rent out or sell the other side. That way you get to stay in a neighbourhood you know and love but capitalise on the land that your old home once occupied. You’ll also have a smaller garden to maintain.

Another option is to rent out both new dwellings and relocate, or sell both and potentially make more money than if you had sold just your original home.

Duplexes are a great way to share multi-generation living

There’s currently a strong trend towards multi-generational living, particularly in Greater Western Sydney, where property prices continue to rise. And it’s happening in a couple of different ways, with young people staying at home longer, older generations sharing their homes, and several generations wanting to stay close, but not too close.

What you should decide before you invest

Are you seeking capital growth, rental returns, or cost savings by building a duplex? These are the potential outcomes that are driving increasing numbers of Australians to invest in duplex projects.

But before you leap in, you need to consider a few key financial factors:

Your investment objective

You need to establish your investment objectives or your primary goal for choosing to invest in dual-income property.

Perhaps you’re thinking of starting a property investment portfolio to fund your retirement?

Maybe you want to pay off your mortgage in a set time?

Do you want to pool your family’s money or help your children?

Working with an investment advisor can help you set these types of financial goals.

Conduct your due diligence and market research

Look at other similar duplex properties in your area. Are they selling well? How soon after building completion are they going on the market?

What sort of characteristics like size of the dwelling, parking, etc sell or rent well in your area?

Will you be over-capitalising for your area?

You can seek the expertise of local real estate agents as well as experienced duplex builders like ZAC Homes to answer some of these questions.

“Look at other similar duplex properties in your area. Are they selling well?”

Consider your finances

When you consider your finances, you need to factor in costs beyond construction expenditure and mortgage repayments.

If you are planning to rent out your duplex you will need to look at costs involved with hiring a property manager, costs associated with maintenance and repair expenses, as well as being able to handle periods when no tenants are living in one or both homes.

Building a duplex with ZAC Homes

Building a duplex home can be financially rewarding, and beneficial for your family home, as long as you choose the right builder.

Custom-built dual occupancy homes by ZAC Homes are designed to optimise your available space and make the most of your valuable land. We pride ourselves on our exceptional customer service and make the journey of building your new home as fun and exciting as possible.

ZAC Homes builds with trust, respect, integrity and pride, which we work hard to deliver to every client. Call us on 1300 350 793 or send us an online enquiry and our team will work with you to design and build your dream home.

One thing we’ve learnt from building hundreds of homes throughout Sydney and beyond is that every home is slightly different. Some people want to move quickly and build a home just like the display, while others want to develop their own custom design.

That’s why at ZAC Homes we divide our services into three distinct types:

• Fast Track – off-the-plan design
• My Style – modify an existing design
• Tailored Approach – custom design with complete flexibility.

There are pluses to each of these. Read on to learn more…..

“Being able to see exactly how your home will look by visiting a display home like ZAC Homes displays at Marsden Park and Box Hill is invaluable.”

Fast Track with an off-the-plan design

Fast track is the fastest path to build, with the quickest turn-around time of our three services, typically taking two weeks to complete the Contract.

Being able to see exactly how your home will look by visiting a display home like ZAC Homes displays at Marsden Park and Box Hill is invaluable. You and your family can see the dimensions and layout of a floor plan and gauge how it matches your lifestyle. You can also inspect the workmanship and quality of finishes, and touch, test and inspect all aspects of your new home.

Display homes also allow you to compare upgrades and inclusions in the fittings and finishes, and to see paint colours, tile options, kitchen surfaces and more.

ZAC’s Fast Track process uses standard designs where the changes can be kept to under 30%, which saves on customisation costs and allows us to provide a faster and more affordable service.

You can add more of your individual style to your new home with fixtures and finishes, as well as being able to choose from the many designs and facades offered.

Make your own modifications with My Style

You can choose one of the many ZAC Homes designs and modify it to suit your family’s lifestyle, block and budge, changing up to 60% of the standard ZAC plan.

There are many ways you can customise the standard plans and make them stand out from the crowd.

You can make small changes like the addition of special light fittings, an island bench in the kitchen, or a butler’s pantry.

You could also make larger changes like an altered floor plan to create extra living space. If the standard floor plan doesn’t quite fit your needs, we’re happy to work with you to alter the floor plan with minimal structural changes to the overall design.

You could consider enclosing part of an open-plan living space to create an extra room to work from home. Sliding doors can be a great option because you can leave them open to get the open-plan feel most of the time and then only close them when you need.

Perhaps add a skylight to your new home for a little bit of extra natural light, or some additional windows or different size windows depending on the aspect of your new home.

A popular way to distinguish your home from a neighbourhood of similar new homes is to change the façade. You can also experiment with different paint colours on the front door or a custom door handle.

“Craft a design that is perfect for your lifestyle and block.”

Tailored Approach for complete flexibility

If you want full flexibility with the design of your new home then you can work with our experienced in-house designers to craft a design that is perfect for your lifestyle and block.

Our designers will work with you and your family to make your vision for your new home come to life.

You will have a much greater choice of fittings and fixtures based on what suits the design.

Having complete flexibility also allows you to include sustainability as a key design element. There are many ways a home can be sustainable including the materials used, the design, the inclusions, and more.

Going with our Tailored Approach option will take longer, you’ll have more decisions to make, and it will generally be more expensive, but you’ll have a one-off home to suit your needs.

Our designers can work with almost any site, although an undulating site will require careful and considered design, suitable construction techniques and most likely increased costs.

Building with ZAC Homes

Whether you choose Fast Track, My Style or Tailored Approach, you will receive exceptional customer service, and the ZAC Homes team will make the journey of building your new home as fun and exciting as possible.

ZAC Homes builds with trust, respect, integrity and pride, which we work hard to deliver to every client. Call us on 1300 350 793 or send us an online enquiry and our team will work with you to design and build your dream home.

With land in Greater Sydney at a premium, many homeowners are looking at what they can do with their existing home and block of land to make it better fit with their vision and desire for how they now live, or want to live.

The two options are a renovation or a knock down and rebuild (KDR), and ultimately the only people who can decide on what truly is the best option for you is, well, you and your family.

Assessing the pros and cons

Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of both options, at the end of which we hope to have helped empower you to decide on the best option for you and your family and to move forward with confidence.

Deciding whether a knock down rebuild or renovation is the best option for you will always be a weighty and emotional decision.

But before we start, it’s worth noting that a knock down rebuild isn’t always an option, so first investigate whether there are demolition restrictions on your home, or heritage listings that won’t permit you to demolish it.

The pros of renovating

Do it at your own pace

With a renovation, you have the luxury of progressing the project at your own pace. There’s no single builder pushing you to stick to a specific timeframe, which also enables a little more flexibility with payments.

Living conveniences

As you selectively renovate certain parts of your home, you will likely still be able to live in the home for periods while the work is being done.

A renovation enables you to maintain the strong structure and good bones of your existing home. Keep what you like, perhaps the well-chosen orientation, and only change what you don’t like.

The cons of renovating

Unpredictable costs

The number one con of renovations is unpredictable costs that could blow out the project, and even force you to pare back your vision for your home. Renovations by their very nature can be challenging to cost due to the unknowns of working with an existing home, and it’s hard to project what you will need to spend.

Compromising on your vision

While a renovation enables you to keep the parts of your existing that you love, it could also mean that you may need to make compromises due to the limitations of the existing structure.

The pros of a knock down rebuild

Complete design freedom

With a KDR, you are starting with a truly blank slate. Every single design decision, from the floor plan to the styling, and more, is yours to make. If you have a very specific vision of what you want from your new home, a knock down rebuild is your best option.

Achieve the best of modern living

With a KDR, it’s easier to integrate modern technology and modern living essentials into your new home. This may include things like 21^st Century innovations around energy efficiency, connected home technology and features, and modern living trends, some of which may be limited when renovating.

Certainty around timing and costs

While there may be a chance that an unforeseen cost or delay will occur in a KDR, there is much more certainty, structure, and peace of mind around costs and timeframes.

The cons of a knock down rebuild

Losing the parts of your home you love

With a knock down rebuild, you get your brand new home just the way you like it. But what that also means is that you can’t retain any part of your existing home that you were fond of.

Living situation

For the 12 months that it will typically take to complete a knock down rebuild, you will need to secure alternate living arrangements, such as moving in with your in-laws or renting, and putting the majority of your possessions into storage.

A simple way to decide if a KDR or renovation is best for you

Deciding whether a knock down rebuild or renovation is the best option for realising your perfect home in the location you love will always be a weighty and emotional decision. We’ll leave you with one clear way to help you decide the best path for you:

• If your home holds high sentimental value and you love its existing character and features, then a renovation is the right choice.
• If your home holds low sentimental value and you’re not too fussed about its existing character and features, then a knock down rebuild is the right choice.
• If your home has high sentimental value but you’re not too fussed about its existing character and features, or if you love the existing character and features but you’re not really sentimentally attached to your home, then you could go either way. Go on what your gut is telling you.

A knock down and rebuild specialist, ZAC Homes builds with trust, respect, integrity and pride, which we deliver to every client. Call us on 1300 350 793 or send us an online enquiry and let’s dig into the endless possibilities for your knock down rebuild.