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Whether you’re working with budget home builders or luxury home builders, you’ll most likely have a budget in mind for your home build project. When building at the bespoke end of the market, you’ll naturally be looking for exceptional quality and attention to detail for your investment. How can you ensure your budget is being put to its full potential, without unexpected budget blow-outs?

The key to a successful design and build is to work with a design and building team with three specific qualities.

Expertise

A designer/architect with expertise and experience that’s relevant to your project will help you to avoid the hidden costs of building a home – and there can be many, depending on the project. The same goes for your home builder. One prime example is that of sloping sites. An inclined block can impact on the overall cost of your project, and complexity and costs of the project can sometimes increase along with the steepness of the slope. By working with an experienced designer/architect and builder with extensive knowledge in these more complex sites, you will ensure you receive breathtaking views and a breathtaking home – rather than breathtaking bills.

Communication

Communication is central to designing within your budget. Before working with a builder, ensure you review their client testimonials to assess how well they worked with past clients. If you can communicate your cost requirements clearly to your designer/architect and builder, and if they have the foresight to ask the right questions about your vision and lifestyle, you will vastly improve the likelihood of opening your door to a beautiful home that comes in on or under budget. Being able to speak frankly about choices in materials and design elements can be vital on both sides of the relationship, and quality designers, architects and builders will be able to suggest ways to extract top value for your dollar.

Transparency is key, so feel free to ask questions at every stage of the process. For example, most builders won’t build on a site with a fall greater than 1.5 metres. If your block is sloping and has fall, ask your builder up front if they are happy to build on your land – rather than finding out later that they can’t.

Focus

Designing a custom home is all about focusing on the right elements – the elements that matter to you. By working with a team that works to your requirements in detail, you’ll be able to obtain maximum value for your budget. That might include innovative storage solutions for your home workshop; sustainability measures that can save you money in the long term; or paying extra attention to the rooms where you’ll spend the most time when at home. This all comes back to communication and asking the right questions throughout the design process.

There is no magic answer of how to build a custom home on your budget as every home is unique, but there are shared qualities of those who will consistently deliver outstanding results. Choose your customer home builder well, and you’ll have a true partner throughout the process.

Contact us today to speak with the Wincrest Bespoke team about your custom home project and the services we provide.

Home style is a highly personal thing – after all, our homes reflect who we are and how we live. While some of us love classic and cosy, others are after innovative and contemporary. The choices can feel particularly overwhelming when it comes to custom designing and building a home. If you’re unsure of how to choose a design style for your home or even how to describe the style you’re looking for, then let’s explore the two important considerations: the exterior and interior styles of your future home.

Architectural styles

Sydney home architecture tends to draw inspiration from various influences: our spectacular weather, European design and the aspects of our local culture that embrace the outdoors and entertaining. There are many historical styles to explore, from Colonial and Federation homes to Art Deco and beyond. However, many new homes today centre around two central styles:

• ModernistWhile modernist style first flourished in the post-war years to the 1970s, the warmth and openness of this architectural style seems to tap into the Australian psyche, and as such it can provide endless inspiration for modern home designs. The style is simple yet welcoming, typically with full-length windows to open the home up to the natural light and environment. Flat or raked roofs, geometric angles and the use of natural timbers create character and a timeless simplicity.
• ContemporaryWhere modernism is warm, contemporary style is often cool. This architectural style typically shares the expansive windows and flat roofing of modernism but adds cool contemporary styling with sleek materials such as metal and exposed concrete, and deep neutral tones such as charcoal grey. Neutral timbers or textures are often used to add a sense of fluidity or texture to exteriors. Sustainability can be a key aspect of contemporary homes, including passive solar design and thoughtfully reused materials.

Home interior styles

Your interior styling will shape how you live in your new home. There are a number of modern choices in how to design your home interior that prove popular with our custom home clients:

• Contemporary or Scandi-style interiors evoke calmness with light timbers, natural textures and neutral colours.
• Resort-style interiors are indulgent and relaxing, often with sand-coloured neutral tones and luxe touches.
• Classic interiors are inviting – think warm whites, local timbers and composed colours.

Essentially, your home design should centre around your lifestyle and location. Are you looking forward to opening up your home whenever the sky is blue with expansive entertaining spaces? Does the site contain mature eucalyptus trees to incorporate into the view? Do you require a clever multi-level design to make the most of a sloping site, or will you require separate wings for your grown children and their families to stay? Your architect or designer should be asking these factors when considering how to design a new home that’s perfect for you.

Whether you have a vision in mind for your new abode or no idea of where to begin, the right builder can help you navigate the process of how to build a custom home. With Wincrest Bespoke you can choose to work with our specialist team of architectural designers or with your own architect of choice. Whichever process you prefer, we’ll help you bring your lifestyle to reality in a stunning new home.

Your choice of home builder can influence almost every aspect of your property investment, from design through to the finishing details. This choice becomes even more important when you’re building a custom home, as it takes an expert builder to help you navigate the unknown. But do you know what to look for in a custom home builder? No two building companies are equal, and you may find yourself overwhelmed with options.

Choosing a custom home builder carefully will ensure you have a smooth build process and an extraordinary result that aligns with your current and future needs. If you’re wondering how to choose a custom home builder in Sydney, consider these five essential factors.

Services and Specialisations

It’s wise to narrow down your initial search by assessing the services that a home builder offers and how they relate to your project. For example, if you’re building on a split-level site or planning a knockdown rebuild, you will want to speak with home builders who specialise in these types of complex projects – as costs can skyrocket if the project is mismanaged.

Similarly, search for a good builder who aligns with your expectations. Your family is unique, and as such, your home should be too. Your luxury custom home builders in Sydney should start with a blank slate when designing your home to ensure the result suits your unique land, lifestyle, expectations and budget.

Local Expertise

Narrowing your search for a builder can feel overwhelming, but it makes sense to search based on your future home’s location when looking for a custom builder. A locally-based builder can provide invaluable advantages for your custom build, from clever passive solar array
considerations to the incorporation of exquisite local timbers in your new home. Local experience can also be crucial on complex sites – for example, the sloping sites commonly found in Sydney’s diverse landscapes. While most custom home builders in Sydney will refuse to build on slopes greater than 1.5 metres, the Wincrest Bespoke team specialises in building on sites with falls up to 7 metres. Foundations, positioning, light, drainage and more will all be meticulously considered to make the most of your unique piece of real estate.

Previous Projects and Designs

Building a custom home involves a high level of trust, as you won’t see the final details in person until your home is built. However, you can look through a builder’s completed projects to evaluate their work standards when choosing a builder. Spend some time exploring a custom builder’s portfolio and pay particular attention to how the builder has approached more unique and complex projects.

Whether you’re building or renovating, a builder’s portfolio will give you a good indication of their skill level. The most important qualities to look for in custom design homes will be quality, originality and a strong commitment to the vision of each homeowner.

References and Reputation

You can view thousands of beautifully completed homes without gaining a sense of what it’s truly like to work with a custom home builder. This is where reputation will be vital to your decision-making process. Does the builder freely share their client testimonials, and what are the common themes that previous clients mention?

You might wish to read through review sites to gain an overall impression of the builder’s reputation, or ask if you could speak with one of the builder’s previous clients for a direct opinion. Word-of-mouth is a great way to learn about local specialist builders, so be sure to ask friends and family who have built their home about their experience.

The Working Relationship

It’s crucial to find a custom home builder who appreciates the importance of your project and has a communication style that syncs with yours. From your very first interactions with a prospective builder, pay attention to the level of communication and respect you receive. An experienced building team should be asking questions about your goals and vision early in the process so they can tailor your home’s design and building contract appropriately.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, either. How long does it take to build a house that will incorporate your design choices? Will you have direct contact with your Site Manager throughout the build process? If you wish to work with your architect of choice, will the builder be able to review the plans for buildability, cost-effectiveness and functionality? No matter whether you’re looking for acreage home builders or home designers that specialise in narrow lots, a quality custom home builder will ensure a seamless construction process with clear communication, from initial site inspection to the final touches.

Knowing how to find a custom home builder can help you achieve your vision of a perfect home. If you are exploring options for custom home builders in Sydney, the team at Wincrest Bespoke would be delighted to answer any questions you might have about our process. Simply contact us today.

Work with the slope to create a more prestige home.

Some of the most picturesque blocks of land in Sydney come with a slope. Think the gorgeous hills of the Lower North Shore, the sandstone plateaus of the Upper North Shore, the steep valleys that surround the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers and the rolling hills that characterise the Northern Beaches.

Wincrest Bespoke has had the honour of building homes at some of the most prestigious addresses in Sydney, including the areas above. As such, we have designed and built homes on all types of land – including sloping block homes.

From our experience, we’ve found that building on a sloping block comes with some fantastic opportunities for the home-owner. Below, we’ve outlined some of the ways a sloping block can be an advantage when it comes to building your prestige home:

Take Advantage of Views

One of the greatest advantages of a sloping block is they often come with a view. This includes views of the harbour, the ocean, rivers and natural bushland. Even if it is simply a view of the neighbourhood, you will need a home that’s designed to maximise its outlook.

Let There Be Light

Due to its elevation, homes designed for sloping blocks lend themselves to a greater abundance of natural light, cross breezes and air-flow.

A Customised Home Designed for the Land

A blue-ribbon block of land requires a blue-ribbon home – not one that’s the same as the neighbours! That’s why every Wincrest Bespoke home is fully custom designed. Not only is it built to complement the slope, it is also built around the unique needs of the family who’ll live there, making it the perfect choice for those who want their luxury home to be as individual as they are.

Up To 7 Metre Fall

Wincrest Bespoke can specifically design prestige homes for sloping blocks with up to a 7-metre fall.

Choose Your Own Architect

Wincrest Bespoke offers every client the choice to work with their architect, or ours. For those who choose their own, our team is trained to seamlessly collaborate with external architects to interpret your vision for your sloping block down to the finest detail. They will expertly review the plans to ensure buildability, cost effectiveness and functionality; with no compromise on design.

When it comes to creating a prestige home for a sloping block, it’s about selecting the right builder – one that not only understands the challenges of the block, but one that also understands the exclusivity of design and service that’s expected from a high-end build. If you have found your premium parcel of land, don’t be put off by its slope. Instead, build a home that is every bit as spectacular as the land it sits on.

The month of May heralds a new era in prestige residential building following the highly anticipated launch of boutique luxury builder, Wincrest Bespoke.

Based in Northbridge on Sydney’s lower north shore, Wincrest Bespoke aims to address a gap in the market that calls for a truly bespoke home builder that sets the standard in prestige home building.

Managing Director, Gerard Caruana created Wincrest Bespoke in direct response to those who wanted a prestige luxury home, but found the top builders fell short.

“We started Wincrest Bespoke for people who want the ultimate in luxurious residential living,” he says. “They have a premium block of land and want the home to go with it. However, many find the bigger builders don’t understand the exclusivity of design and service that’s expected from a high-end build.”

Unique Designs

According to Mr Caruana, those looking to build a prestige home look for one that reflects their taste and lifestyle and don’t want a home that’s just like the neighbour’s.

“One of the biggest barriers for buyers considering a prestige home build is the concern they have to choose from a range of pre-designs,” says Mr Caruana. “Every Wincrest Bespoke home is entirely custom made to seamlessly blend with a client’s lifestyle, neighbourhood and land. Not only is every one of our homes expertly crafted to the highest quality of design, you won’t find a design like it anywhere else.”

Choose your own architect, or work with our designer

Wincrest Bespoke’s other point of difference lies in its ability to allow the purchaser full control over their build. They do this by offering the client the choice to work with their own architect.

“We offer every client the choice to work with their architect, or ours” says Mr Caruana. “Our team is trained to seamlessly collaborate with external architects to interpret the client’s vision for their home down to the finest detail. They will expertly review the plans to ensure buildability, cost effectiveness and functionality; with no compromise on design.

“Of course, clients can also choose to work with a member of our experienced design team to create their luxury home.”

World Class Design and Construction

To ensure impeccable craftsmanship for every home built, Wincrest Bespoke uses the highest quality building materials available. This superior workmanship carries throughout each home and includes finely crafted appointments you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else.

To find out more see Wincrest bespoke builders or visit shop 4, 115 Sailors Bay Road, Northbridge.