Tips for building a new home

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.
read more

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.
read more

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.
read more

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.
read more

With a massive increase in SMSF (self-managed superannuation fund) property is turning out to be a more certain investment for many SMSF managers than shares and relying on interest rates for any growth of their funds. Berstan Homes are supplying investment properties, 3 bedroom 2 bathroom homes, 5 minutes drive from public transport in several locations and are selling well. We currently will have a new release available in two weeks time and we don't expect the properties to last
read more

Beware of the display home styling! Don't get lost in the styling of the display homes, most have hired furniture of the best quality and been styled by interior designers.  The real point to a display home is not the cushions and furniture but the quality of the build. The quality of the build can easily be covered up by the styling and you need to look passed all the removable contents. Once you peel away the contents you can have
read more

Beware of the display home hype! With so many display homes around it is very easy to get sucked into the hype associated with them. Most of the major builders don't have any smaller homes on display and are only able to show you through their 30 square singles plus massive double stories.  By having only larger homes for you to view it creates a false sense of what your smaller home is going to turnout like. It's an old sales
read more

With so many new home builders in the market, choosing your builder can be very difficult. The founder of Berstan Homes Stan Bryson built his first home in 1955 so as a company we have seen many changes in the home building industry. Stan has long since retired but still has a very active interest in the company. Brothers Mark and Paul Bryson are now running Berstan Homes and they are involved with every home built so our clients are
read more

With so many new estates around the outer suburbs there is plenty of competition between the land agents for your custom. This can lead to numerous problems due to many agents being focussed on their bottom line.  For example they may not mention factors like fill and the (fall) slope of the land which can add costs to your building project. When purchasing land I would strongly suggest getting your builder involved before you place any deposits. A builder will
read more

When looking for your builder, make sure you are not just dealing with a marketing company and they are real builders. Currently in Melbourne and around the country there are many marketing companies masquerading as builders. This is a major problem the industry has at the moment and the practice should be banned.  Ask to meet the builder before you sign anything and definitely before you part with any money. If meeting the builder is a problem at the start, imagine
read more