My 5 cents,
High traffic areas can benefit from tiles/floor boards. I chose timber veneer laminate (a couple of mm of timber over a high density fibre composite) because it looks good but lasts forever and is cheap (natural timber does look better, but more expensive and gets dints etc…). I put the laminate in the hall way which connects to the kitchen (tiles) and the meals area which connects off the kitchen and has external access to the backyard and entertaining area. My theory being that traffic will normally flow most down the hall, through the kitchen and in and out the back door.
I left carpet in the living room to keep it feeling cosy. I find tiles/wood in the living room where I sit and watch telly on a cold night just isn’t as nice. Also carpet in the bedrooms.
Light fittings of some sort are a must. bare globes are ok, but you really notice the difference with proper fittings.
Spa and pool: personally I would never buy a house with such things unless I was buying a really expensive house and I was quite rich. Spas and, in particular, pools take heaps of work and money to keep clean and they just don’t get used that much.

If I had a choice of only one place to put high ceilings I’d say dining / meals. That “vaulted” feeling seems to work best there.

I wouldn’t worry about “wiring” your house for computing / internet / entertainment. You can do it all much more easily, with greater flexibility and cheaper using wireless technology.

I can’t really comment on air-conditioning. I live in Melbourne in a very well insulated flat that doesn’t get above 27 even on the hottest days (I like 27 degrees too). I do like ceiling fans however. You can combine them with lights and kill two birds with one stone.

My tips for the building:
Read your plans carefully. If there is anything at all you aren’t 100% sure of then ask about it. Get everything in writing, signed and agreed to. Not because people will try to rip you off (though some might) but because your plans will go through so many hands in the process of building that if it isn’t all spelled out in obvious places you will miss out on stuff. If you want a phone jack in the study, make sure it is marked on the plan, in the cable diagram and written into the contract somewhere. The electrician will see one part of the plan, the plasterer another, the frame joiner another and the foreman yet another. If it isn’t in all of those then someone will miss it and it will cost extra. Also, if you block doesn’t butt directly up to the road (and it probably doesn’t) make sure your driveway will be finished including “cross-over”. Otherwise the builder will only finish up to the edge of your property and you’ll have dirt between your drive and the road. The reason is the council may well own the nature strip and you’ll need another permit to build a “cross-over” between the road and your property. (can you tell I got caught out on this?)

Also, don’t assume anything about jargon written in the contract, again if you don’t understand it or you think it is ambiguous get it defined and write the definition in the contract. Make sure all prices are quoted including GST and builder’s mark up. Get final prices where possible. And be prepared to pay an extra couple thousand at the end as there will certainly be one or two things extra to be done (like landscaping) regardless how diligent you are.[buz2]

Surrey

Hey all,

Vacant land, at least in Queensland, is classed as an investment because you can’t live on vacant land. Makes sense.

However, if I build a house on it and make it my PPOR, can I get a rebate on the stamp duty?