Why we built our dream home in Box Hill

Like many young Sydneysiders, newlyweds Megan and David Bunston felt their search to find a home to call their own was a little bit like being on an endless roundabout.

“We were looking in the peak of the market and already-built homes were so expensive and just way out of our budget. And even if we tried [to make an offer at auction], we got outbid all the time,” Megan says.

The couple then looked at the costs of buying land and finding their own builder – and the figures added up. They eventually plumped for the High Grove Box Hill estate in Sydney’s north-west, where they built a three-bedroom home.

Total package cost? $700,000. Or about the price of a one-bedroom apartment in the Inner West.

They chose the estate because both Megan and David grew up around Box Hill, so they were familiar with the area and it was close to loved ones.

“Being near family was the biggest thing, but it was also about feeling safe,” Megan says. “We knew the area really well so it wasn’t like we were going to be somewhere totally new, where we didn’t know where the shops or transport were.”

The couple selected a 320-square-metre block and built with Clarendon Homes. Their budget dictated the size of the block and house, which is a single-storey design. Although the block is compact, Megan says the house makes the most of the available room.

“We’ve got a big kitchen and a laundry, and a combined family and living, so it’s quite a big back area,” she says. “Because the house is slightly smaller, we thought it was important to have an outdoor area that we could entertain in as well. So the family, dining and alfresco flow into each other, and once we open that up, it becomes a bigger, flowing space.”

But the couple say the biggest and best factor was the fixed price, giving them peace of mind that no unexpected charges would arise during the build.

“We knew we weren’t going to incur any costs after we’d signed the paperwork,” Megan explains. “It was all-inclusive so we pretty much just had to buy furniture and move in. We didn’t have to worry about the garden or landscaping or driveway.”

After moving into their new home in December, the couple had a 90-day maintenance period where they could contact the builder to repair any defects – which gave them extra reassurance.

Their advice to new homebuyers shopping for house and land packages? Don’t be tempted to go over budget.

“If you have a figure, you just have to stick to it and be willing to compromise,” says Megan. “Dave and I would have loved four bedrooms, but we just couldn’t afford it.

“I see a lot of people spending way more than they can afford and they don’t realise the rising cost of living, as well as bills and groceries. You don’t want to max yourself out on your mortgage.”