The best sized homes for resale

If you’re building a new home for investment, or contemplating options for the future of your family home, you may be wondering what size home is best for resale. There are many factors to consider when it comes to house valuation including land size, house plans and location – although there are some market trends for homes in the Bundaberg region.

Here’s our guide on the best-sized homes for resale, and what you should consider when building your house.

Is bigger better?

When it comes to putting your house on the market, the most important factor is the enduring appeal. While you might be tempted to build a mega-mansion with all the frills, the fact is that the further a house is from the norm, the harder it will be to sell. There’s certainly a market for more expensive and luxurious homes in Bundaberg, but if you’re looking for a quick sale, bigger isn’t necessarily better. The quickest selling houses across Australia are those with the most competition – namely 3-4 bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a little extra like a study, media room, or rumpus room. Of course, there’s a huge difference between a modest 3 bedroom and a flashy 4+ study, but there’s a hot market for both (and everything in between).

If you know you’ll sell your house in the future, sticking to a medium-sized single storey house is your best bet.

The importance of layout

In yester years you would have opened the front door to your home and been greeted by grand entryways, corridors running the length of the house, or staircases front and centre. Now, more modern house plans tend to open up to living and entertainment areas more quickly, with bedrooms hidden at the back or side of the house. If you’re building a house to sell, a contemporary floor plan is your best option, with open plan living spaces that can be utilised to suit different tastes.

Something becoming more common is a second entrance at the side of the house, often leading straight to the alfresco or entertaining area. This way homeowners can entertain at their leisure without having guests traipse through the house. Orientation is also important, with north-facing living areas providing sunlight year round, while keeping the house cooler during summer. For land size, slightly bigger than a standard neighbourhood block is sure to be popular, but again don’t go overboard. Lot sizes are growing smaller each year, so a house with a backyard is a big plus for many buyers, but any yards should be proportionate to the size of the home.

Make sure it’s functional

Besides choosing the size and layout of your home, your house also needs to be functional for resale. In most cases, keeping your rooms simple is the best option, so that new buyers can envision their own plans for the space. Over the years we’ve seen media rooms turned into libraries, studies used as craft rooms, and even walk-in closets turned into baby nooks. But this is only possible with minimalist designs and limited fixtures.

If you do want to opt for a custom-built gaming room or a vintage bar, that’s not to say the house won’t sell. In fact, unique features can often raise the value of a house for those looking for niche differences. However, be aware that customised houses tend to have less competition than those with simple house plans, so while you may get the perfect buyer looking to spend a little more, it could take you longer to find them.

Building a home with a resell in mind can be difficult, especially if you’re building it for yourself first. But thinking about resale value now is a great way to make the most of your investment, even if you’re not planning to sell straight away.

If you’d like advice on the most popular home sizes, styles and house plans in Bundaberg, we’re here to help. Contact us today for a hassle-free consultation on the perfect house to build now, and for the future.