'They want every box ticked': The features that well-heeled Australians insist on having at home

Separate bathrooms within en suites off master bedrooms, full butler’s pantries (often with two ovens and two freezers), larger kids’ bedrooms to fit queen or king-sized beds, sweeping staircases enabling owners to make dramatic entrances – buyers at the top end of the prestige property market are becoming ever more demanding.

“I’d call it discerning,” says Sydney buyers’ agent Janne Sutcliffe of Change of Address. “They’re now much more precise about what they want and they want every box ticked. They’ve travelled widely overseas and stayed
in top hotels and know these things exist and can be achieved.”

Today, there’s a whole swathe of features high-end home purchasers are looking for. Once, it tended to be mostly about location, size and number of bedrooms.

Now, it’s more often location, how that size is arranged, the various elements on offer and ease of access with internal lifts.

Large and well-proportioned rooms are absolutely essential, along with a fabulous, well-appointed kitchen close to a family room where most people spend a lot of time and often entertain, believes Ross Savas, managing director of Melbourne’s Kay & Burton.

“Also, garaging is becoming more and more important as some people have a passion towards collectible automobiles,” Savas says.

“Then there are his-and-hers dressing rooms, a pool, a wine cellar and a gym set up with its own bathroom and massage area, and a private cinema where you can have friends over to watch movies.

“Today, it’s all about creating an environment at home so you don’t have to leave.”

A palatial three-level home currently for sale in Brisbane’s Hamilton has many of those features, including the good-sized rooms, indoor-outdoor flow – via electric glass sliding doors – an infinity pool with covered barbecue area and a guests’ retreat with a fully-equipped gym and theatre.

“This house has been built with no expense spared,” says agent Matt Lancashire of Ray White New Farm. “Everything has been done with the best of the best, including Italian marble, incredible detailing and finishes, and all designed by Greg Harris whose house prices have broken Brisbane records.”

Other features in demand include underground garages – 12-car preferred – so they don’t impact on the house’s own footprint, a butler’s pantry with two large ovens and two full freezers, LED lighting and ionised pool systems, says Peter Robertson of William Porteous Properties International in Perth.

“Bedrooms are getting bigger too, with bigger built-in robes, all with en suites, and with king-sized beds even for small kids, so they’ll still be there when they’re young adults,” he says.

“Increasingly, there are also his-and-hers studies, and at least two significant lounge room areas, preferably three. The house has to be big to fit these all in!”

High-end finishes and bespoke cabinetry are in increasing demand, as are separate and self-contained guest quarters, and en suites with double sinks and then separate showers, dressing rooms and toilets so busy couples can get ready for work in the morning without getting in each other’s way, Sutcliffe adds. “Often people like classic and modern features together, like both lifts and grand sweeping staircases which are good for entrances.”

Lancashire says similar homes nearby to this week’s property have sold for between $8.8 million and $11 million.

Three more luxe listings

Toorak

An Interlandi Mantesso-designed residence with a glass-wrapped foyer, expansive living areas and a marble-clad ensuite off the main bedroom.

Nicole Gleeson of Kay & Burton South Yarra is seeking between $7 million and $7.7 million through an expressions of interest campaign.

Elizabeth Bay

A waterfront penthouse apartment with a state-of-the-art kitchen, a terrace with an operable louvre roof, and impressive storage facilities.

Di Baker, of Di Baker Prestige Properties, leads an expressions of interest campaign.

Palm Beach

A whole-floor luxury apartment with a chef’s kitchen, triple wine fridges, video intercom and an elegant al fresco fireplace.

Michael Kollosche of Kollosche is asking $3.675 million for the beachfront spread.