Why more Australians are turning to local builders for luxury homes

Having a home that is filled with light, spacious, stylishly furnished and sustainable is the dream of many buyers, but the price is often out of reach.

The key for these buyers is finding a builder who focuses on accessible luxury.

They need a builder that has just enough scale for cost optimization, but not so large that they can’t provide personal service and a degree of customization.

A local builder is in this space Stroud Housesa company that still calls its customers every Friday to discuss the progress of their dream home.

“We believe that the human touch is still important,” says James Stroud, founder of Stroud Homes.

“And when we make the last call on Friday and say, ‘The house is ready, you’re going to live there,’ they often say, ‘We’re going to miss this.’”

Accessible luxury at your fingertips

According to Mr Stroud, accessible luxury starts with the orientation of a house.

“It’s an important step to get right, but many homes are sold too quickly without sufficient care and attention given to this aspect,” he says.

Mr Stroud says the idea is to step inside and see the natural light shining on the dining table and a gentle breeze flowing through it.

“It’s warm, inviting and everyone is happy because somewhere along the line the builder cared enough to make sure you had windows on the right side of the house to let the sun in,” he says.

A second ingredient of accessible luxury is having high-quality fixtures and fittings, including taps, handles, lighting, doors and more.

“At Stroud, we think carefully about our customers, then do a lot of product selection and testing those products in our own home, to get the best possible quality at an affordable price,” says Mr. Stroud.

The third factor is capturing the holiday resort feeling for everyday life. This can come from an indoor-outdoor design around a pool, or a cozy living room with an alpine fireplace.

“So if you look at our Wildflower design or Kentucky design, we’ve created an everyday resort lifestyle in an affordable home,” says Mr. Stroud.

Luxury from every angle

Together with the three key ingredients of accessible luxury, factors such as family-friendly layouts and stylish exteriors provide the perfect touch.

“We are finding that the Mediterranean styles are popular,” says Mr Stroud.

“Many people have started traveling to Europe again for the summer holidays after COVID, so they are inspired by the big arches and white and cream bricks.”

Another hallmark of accessible luxury is making the most of the views from every room, especially if there is water or greenery in sight.

“If you look at our Wildflower 256 design, you will see that we have positioned the master bedroom with large sliding doors, essentially at the foot of the bed,” says Mr Stroud.

“You can wake up and look straight at the water.”

Accessible, open layouts that prioritize views and light are a way to build luxury into the home from the start.

---

Prioritize sustainability

As buyers become increasingly conscious of the environment and the need to keep energy costs low, sustainable design is also an important element of accessible luxury.

At Stroud Homes this means designing homes that take full advantage of natural light and ventilation and using materials that suit the local environment.

“It’s incredible how much more comfortable a home is if you simply slow down the process and put the windows in the right place and let the breeze flow through them,” says Mr Stroud.

“Then you can buy some solar panels and keep energy costs down. Or, if you’re in a colder part of Australia, let the sun shine through the windows in the morning.”

The advantage of a local builder

Working with a local builder on your dream home can lead to a much more luxurious outcome, as they will be more approachable and able to listen to your preferences and concerns, Mr Stroud explains.

“The typical supervisor at Stroud Homes might have 10 to 15 jobs at a time, but at many larger companies it’s 50 jobs at a time,” he says.

Stroud Homes also has a long track record of award-winning designs and offers transparent quotes and inclusions to build trust.

A local builder like those at Stroud Homes can ensure you get more of the personal care and support you need to ensure your new home comes to life.

---

Reach all of Australia

Stroud Homes brings its strong customer focus to customers in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, offering new homes from $450,000.

Mr Stroud says while the business is busy all along the coast, some regional cities in Queensland are currently a hotspot, in areas such as Bundaberg and Rockhampton.

“On the Sunshine Coast we are creating some really great builds for families – and in Yeppoon things are really changing, as are Gympie, Hervey Bay and Gladstone,” he says.

Whether your home is in Brisbane or Ballarat, Gladstone or Geelong, the most luxurious results will come from a builder who knows the local market, ensuring the home is perfect for the long term.

“We have a very strong referral network and trusted connections with leading tradesmen, so every home is built to last,” says Mr Stroud.