New Home Buyers Blog

Berstan Homes and Stockland currently have several properties available and are perfect for the investor. The properties are located a short drive from Epping and are turn-key. The prices start at $280k, a limited number of these properties are made possible by Berstan Homes and Stockland each year.
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  Land Sales at the best estate in Mernda are very strong with an average of between 15-20 Lots selling per month. The buyers are a mixture of down sizers and first home buyers. Mernda Villages offers more than the other estates in the area with a shopping complex and schools all within the estate. Berstan Homes have also experienced strong sales over the last  month in the Mernda Villages estate. Berstan Homes currently have eight homes under construction in
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Many clients come to Berstan Homes with the same stories about builders behaving badly and some of the stories are quite alarming.  Many of the problems seem to stem from new home buyers looking for a builder often make the same mistake of going for the cheapest price. When the cheapest possible price is incorporated in to your home build it will in most cases create cost cutting by the builder. There are several ways this can happen, one is
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Berstan Homes, the knock down rebuild specialists have several expert financial broking companies they work with for the best results for their clients.  Not every lending institution loan funds for knock down rebuilds and by having a specialist knock down rebuild lender on board from the start can save you time and plenty of money.  Call Berstan Homes today about their finance brokers.
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  With several home builds lately we had the unfortunate situation of hitting rock while we were doing the plumbing and concrete slab preparation works. The rock was so hard the rock breaker was really struggling to penetrate so we had the need for the rock to be cored. By coring the rock we saved our clients thousand of dollars.
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Parks have certainly changed a lot over the years with many more interesting items for play and adventure.  Stockland at Mernda Villages have now installed a massive sand pit with plenty of toys for those young up and coming excavators and a basketball court for adults and children to enjoy.
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Our display office in Doreen is really starting to take shape and should be open about the 16th of August. The brickwork will be finished this week and the plastering is also going to be completed. The address for our displays is 1, 3 and 5 Windermere Pde Doreen, which is just off Bridge Inn Road. 
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On several of our current projects we have been asked to include a fire pit in the landscaping design.  A fire pit is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and have some good old family fun toasting marshmallows and toast cooked the old fashioned way.
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Over the weekend I was helping a client choose a suitable estate to build his dream home. While driving from estate to estate we found some very poorly designed homes in different areas. I explained to my client that you had to be very careful of developer's poor standard of design guidelines or you could end up living next door and be surrounded by poorly designed ugly homes that will ultimately bring the value of your home down with them.
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Many of our clients lately have been inquiring about places to purchase items of interest to include in their new Berstan Home. I have found several stores that sell interesting items and one that comes to mind is Schots Home Emporium located at 400 Hoddle Street, Clifton Hill. Schots stock a large range of furniture, plumbing, lighting and plenty of quirky items that will cause plenty of conversation.
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On a recent visit to the Technika showroom, I was very impressed with the new steam ovens available.  Many of our clients are having us install a steamer oven as a standard appliance to their kitchens. By having a steam oven option it enables the cook top to have a rest and of course less cleaning required from all those pots. 
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Jet Master has so many different designs available and Berstan Homes are able to offer so many alternatives to clients. Berstan Homes have chosen several different styles in their current display village; the 6000 TRSI, the XLR PlusBro indoor and the XLR outdoor. All models have very different aesthetic appeal. They are all of different style showing logs, stones and flames and the best way to experience the fires is to book an appointment and see them at our display
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  Stockland at Mernda have installed a great BBQ area with plenty of undercover seating and the surroundings are simply amazing. The BBQ area is designed for all ages with plenty of open grassy areas and even a basketball net. The kids can play happily while waiting for the food to be ready.
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The Government would be better leaving negative gearing in place for many reasons. Negative gearing basically allows plenty of rental properties available in the market place and if removed would cause rental properties to dry up very quickly. Another problem would be a mass exodus from rental properties causing a massive glut of properties on the market and causing a certain price correction. Even if corrected by 20% most renters would still not be able to purchase these properties because
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We are finding an increasing number of our clients are requesting a gas point be included to their Alfresco areas. This is a great idea to include a gas point instead of relying on gas bottles. The savings are worth thinking about as well as the convenience.
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Stockland and Berstan Homes have been selling plenty of home and land packages for all sorts of clients.  Mernda Villages have so many draw cards from schools, great public transport options and a large shopping precinct so the residents really don't need to leave the estate. It is little wonder that so many clients are choosing Mernda Villages as their new home.
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The BBQ has now been installed at Hazelcroft. It is located near the rear of the estate and is ready for use.The area has plenty of cover and ample seating. While the food is cooking the little ones have a great choice of play equipment. There is also a large grassed area for some football play.
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We have had an increasing number of enquires for knock down new builds and the potential clients are requesting quotes for dual occupancies. For those who are not familiar with the term dual occupancy it simply means two homes that could share a wall or not, built on the same land not including granny flats or out buildings. Just one good reason for doing a dual occupancy and a major one, is if the building has a joined wall this
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We were out and about looking for interior designer items for our new display village and we came across Matt Blatt in Richmond. This store is nearly a one stop shop for all your styling needs located at 587-593 Church Street Richmond.  They offer everything from dining tables to their quirky and very cleverly designed full size horse with a light mounted on its head. Matt Blatt is well worth a visit for all your point of interest requirements for
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Many people feel that the process for a knock down new build is complicated and way too hard to navigate, so many settle for an old existing home that really is a compromise. Berstan Homes has a full team of experts ready to help you all the way through the process and make every step so easy and the end result is the perfect home for you and your family. The home will be designed to your specification and not
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With land becoming increasingly further away from the CBD it's becoming very popular to engage a builder for a knock down new build. If apartment living is not for you and you don't want to settle for any old home with old fashioned design and poor thermal ratings, not forgetting large ongoing costs for maintenance. Call Berstan Homes today and we can help with the knock down new build process. Yes, it may seem a little overwhelming but let Berstan
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On a recent visit to the Technika showroom, I was very impressed with the many new additions to their already wide range of cooking appliances. Technika have in their vast range a great mix of .600mm, .750mm and .900mm wide model ovens with upright and insert options.
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Stockland at Mernda Villages have cleverly used a giant concrete snake to retain its parks landscaped areas. The snake is around 40 metres in length and greets you on entry to the park.  This is just another great example of the imagination used in master planned communities that Stockland create. Berstan currently have several home and land packages available within the parks area.
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Many home owners have doors open in their homes to rooms they don't use so an easy way of saving some serious money is to close the doors to these rooms. Another great way of saving is to lower your homes heating to 20 degrees instead of higher and simply put on a jumper.
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A junior excavation training area at Mernda Village is available with a massive sand pit for all those up and coming earth workers. The park is located off Galloway Drive in Mernda Village and is open seven days a week for all to enjoy the experience. Stockland have created a wonderful park with an abundance of areas to explore within the park. Berstan Homes still have several house and land packages available within easy walking distance to this lovely park.
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Ivanhoe is the perfect suburb for a knock down rebuild with plenty of good size lots of land and plenty of old homes on them. Talk to Berstan Homes team today about how easy it is to do a knock down new build in Ivanhoe. The major factor with a knock down rebuild is that you will get the perfect home designed for you and your family to live in.
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Berstan Homes uses and recommends Jet Master gas fires in all their homes. Yes, they may cost a little more than some but you get what you pay for. With so many cheap imported models flooding the market it's great to know you can invest in a Jet Master fire and know it will outlast the rest.
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A simple way of warming your home without any expense is simply open your blinds or curtains up when the sun is shining. Another great tip is to make sure all areas of draft are addressed for example doors fitted with draft stoppers and windows sealed against drafts also.
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The cow is a part of a great play area created within the estate and offers plenty of interesting things to do for all.
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Financing a knock down rebuild can have its challenges and that is why you need to involve experts from the start. Berstan Homes in combination with its broker partners have been able to have successful outcomes for hundreds of their clients. It is very important to get the correct financial advice before any works are carried out. Having your finance sorted is a major step towards your dream home being built.
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