Why More Sydney Families Are Choosing to Build Their Forever Home

in

For many years, building a home was often viewed through the lens of investment. Homeowners would renovate, rebuild, or develop with one eye on future resale value, planning their next move within five or ten years.

But that mindset appears to be changing.

In a recent interview with Ticker News, Magico Constructions Director Darren Zhou discussed a growing trend emerging across Sydney. More homeowners are choosing to build their “forever home” rather than a property designed primarily for future sale. With rising construction costs, lengthy planning processes, and changing family dynamics, many people are taking a longer-term view and investing in homes they intend to enjoy for decades.

Watch the full interview below.

The Shift Away From Short-Term Thinking

According to Darren, today’s clients are increasingly focused on creating homes that will serve their families for the long term.

Rather than asking, “What will this home be worth in five years?”, many are asking:

  • Will this layout still work when my children are teenagers?
  • What happens if an elderly parent needs to move in?
  • How can we make the home comfortable for the next 20 years?

This shift is influencing everything from floorplans and room layouts through to accessibility considerations and technology infrastructure.

What Makes a Forever Home Different?

A forever home is designed around life’s changing stages rather than current needs alone.

That might include:

  • Ground floor guest bedrooms for ageing parents
  • Wider hallways and doorways for future accessibility
  • Space for home offices and changing family requirements
  • Infrastructure for solar, batteries and EV chargers
  • Flexible living areas that can evolve over time

Many of these features cost very little to plan for during the design stage but can become expensive and disruptive to retrofit later.

As Darren explains in the interview, future-proofing doesn’t necessarily mean spending more money. Often it simply means thinking ahead.

Quality Becomes More Important Than Cost

When homeowners intend to live in a property for decades, the conversation naturally changes.

Instead of focusing solely on upfront costs, greater emphasis is placed on:

  • Quality workmanship
  • Durable materials
  • Functional design
  • Long-term comfort
  • Reduced maintenance

Building it right the first time is almost always cheaper than fixing defects later. This is particularly relevant as construction costs continue to rise across Sydney. Many homeowners are recognising that cutting corners today often results in greater expense tomorrow.

Planning for the Future Starts Today

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make is designing around their current situation without considering where life may take them.

Children grow up. Parents get older. Technology evolves. The way we live changes.

The most successful homes are often those designed with enough flexibility to adapt alongside the people who live in them.

For example, something as simple as planning for wider hallways, a ground-floor bedroom, or future accessibility requirements can make a significant difference years down the track. Likewise, considering infrastructure for solar systems, battery storage, EV chargers and future technologies during the design phase is far easier and more cost-effective than retrofitting later.

A Return to Long-Term Thinking

Interestingly, this shift represents something of a return to how previous generations approached home ownership. Rather than viewing property purely as an investment vehicle, many families are once again looking to create homes that can support multiple stages of life.

Whether that means accommodating elderly parents, preparing for changing mobility needs, or ensuring the home can embrace future technologies, homeowners are increasingly taking a longer-term view.

It’s not simply about building a house. It’s about creating a home that will continue to serve the people living in it for years to come.

Forever Homes Are Built Around People

One of the key insights Darren shared during the interview is that a successful forever home starts with understanding how a family’s needs will evolve over time.

A young family with small children will have very different requirements in ten or twenty years. Teenagers need different spaces. Adult children may move out. Elderly parents may require additional support or accommodation. Designing with these possibilities in mind helps create a home that remains functional and enjoyable throughout every stage of life.

By taking the time to consider future needs early in the planning process, homeowners can avoid costly renovations and modifications later while creating a more comfortable and adaptable living environment.

Final Thoughts

While property investment will always play an important role in Australia, we’re seeing a growing number of homeowners choosing to invest in something different: a home designed to support their family for the long term.

It’s a shift away from short-term thinking and towards creating spaces that deliver comfort, functionality and quality for decades to come.

If you’re planning to build and want to ensure your home is designed not just for today but for the years ahead, taking the time to think about your future needs could be one of the best investments you make.

Watch the full Ticker News interview with Darren Zhou above to learn more about the growing trend towards forever homes and the importance of future-proofing your design.

2MTR How To Handle Variations

in

Whilst there is no formula to completely eradicate variations (especially when it comes to alteration and additions projects), there are ways to handle variations to ensure that you are not being overcharged and ripped off. Regardless of the size and type of the project, having a consistent dialogue with your Builder ensures that there are no hidden surprises on the project.

Experienced Builders that work on Alteration-Addition projects know that variations cannot be controlled. Unfortunately, the reality is that the scope of works is prone to changes as new discoveries are made on-site during the construction process. Given the number of uncertainties that often come into play with existing buildings (especially heritage buildings which were built over 100 years ago), many scopes of work items can only be determined once the construction commences.

A professional Builder should be able to provide a detailed cost breakdown on all variation items. In saying that, be mindful that it takes time for a Builder to prepare a detailed cost breakdown. Providing that extra bit of patience can help you avoid being overcharged on variations.

Here is the link for the Markup and Margin write-up: https://www.magicoconstructions.com/m…

2MTR Why Some Builders Hate Working With Architects on Projects

in

No communication Dead air…

These are just some of the main reasons why some Builders refuse to work with Architects on certain projects. Did you know that a typical tendering process for a Builder can take up to 4-6 weeks? In order for a Builder to prepare an accurate quote, they must first go through all drawings and documentation (which could be over 100 pages long), whilst also delegate resources to speak with subcontractors and suppliers.

Whilst it is common practice for a tender to involve typically 3-5 Builders, from a Builder’s perspective this can be a deterrent, and nothing is guaranteed in terms of being compensated for your time and effort. There is nothing worse than spending 4-6 weeks of time and effort only to be greeted with radio silence once you have submitted the price. We have been in that position before whereby we follow up things with phone calls and emails, all of which falls on a deaf ear.

The unprofessionalism we faced was gut-wrenching as we spent countless hours preparing our proposal only to be told that the Owner decided to go with a ‘cheaper option’. (Which in most cases included half the scope of works) It is understandable that there can only be one successful Builder, but to simply ignore the rest seems rather unprofessional in my opinion. The least one can do is provide feedback, constructive criticism, and reasoning as to how the final decision was derived. I would suggest having criteria on which tenders are to be assessed.

That way the criteria can be used to judge the proposals received. (And please, don’t just make a decision based on price alone) What are your thoughts? Have you also had the bad experience of quoting on a project only to be met with radio silence and no responses?

Would love to hear your stories.

Abolishing The ABCC Agency

in

There has been some major rumblings lately regarding the planned removal of the The Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). Currently the ABCC plays a major role as the national construction watchdog when it comes to enforcing workplace relations to comply.

Most notably, it has played a critical role in holding the The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) accountable. Will the removal of the existing ABCC serve to help the construction industry by increasing productivity? Or will the removal lead to increased power and influence for the CFMEU? Below are links to additional information regarding this topic as this further develops.

MBA E-Circular ‘The ABCC 2016 Code To Be Gutted By Albanese Government’ https://www.mbansw.asn.au/system/file… ‘The ABCC was a disaster for productivity’ Article published by The Mandarin.

Government sparks fresh battle after scrapping building watchdog’s ‘ridiculous’ powers https://www.smh.com.au/politics/feder…

Reforming the HBCF

in

There is currently a new reform proposed for the HBCF, previously known as the Homeowners Warranty.

A discussion has been held in terms of reforming and changing the HBCF, which all of us in the industry know that it is compulsory. For any kind of construction project that is over the amount of $20,000.00, it is compulsory to obtain the Home Building Compensation Fund (HBCF). This is not fair in terms of the homeowners, for whom the maximum amount that you can actually claim is only $360,000.00.

What if the builder who is managing your project goes broke, disappears out of nowhere, or worse, passes away? Give your professional experience; discuss what you believe the HBCF should be and what changes must be made to achieve this. This is still an ongoing debate about proposing some changes and capping off the maximum claim.

If you are anyone that’s working in that space of construction, it’s highly recommended that you click on the link below and have your say in terms of what the reform should be targeting. HBCF Reform – Have Your Say https://www.sira.nsw.gov.au/consultat…

2MTR – Door Hinges Part 1

in

Details. Details. Detail. Details. Did you notice the missing letter there?

Let’s talk about one of the small details people overlook on construction projects. Door hinges.

2MTR – Door Hinges Part 2

in

Continuing on from our last 2-Minute Tuesday Rant (2MTR) on door hinges, this video goes into further details regarding the implications and intricacies of works involved with a door hinge.

In this video, I share one of the little detail that give away whether ‘care’ has been taken on the building project. Whilst it is not something ‘major’ that could cause a major defect for the project, it does affect the final quality of finish on the door.

As with most construction works, the simple installation of a door hinge can have consequences on other trades involved For example, if the door was left installed when the painter comes in to complete their painting works, it is inevitable that there will be paint marks over the door hinge itself. Whilst this may not seem like a big deal, the reality of a painted door hinge is that usually the paint selected is not one that will bond with the metal hinge. This results in the eventual dried paint from chipping over time and flaking off the hinge.

In the long term, it may also lead to rusting in the door hinge itself. As mentioned before, the small details in the project matter and should always be considered as it will impact the final result of the project.

If you missed the Part 1 of this topic, click the link below:

Tip 3 Budget

in

It is a word that is often taboo to speak of when meeting with Clients and Architects. But it’s the elephant in the room that needs to be addressed. That word is BUDGET.

Some people like to dance around this word and avoid mentioning it until literally the last moment when they submit their quote. When that occurs, more often than not, the figure is met with a knee-jerk reaction. Usually it’s a response of ‘Oh wow! That’s outside of my budget’. So why not just address this upfront? Why not just have an honest and open discussion regarding the budget and the numbers upfront? I’ve witnessed so many shocking construction projects and been told so many horror stories, all of which usually stem from having an unrealistic budget to begin with.

If you’re an Architect reading this, I encourage you to have this open discussion with the Client. Early #Builder involvement helps not only to provide the Client with cost estimates, but more importantly in identifying construction solution/s which are project-specific. At the very least, we encourage you to a Quantity Surveyor in order to obtain a BOQ which most banks will require in order for the Client to obtain funding.

Tip 6 Doing your Own Due Diligence

in

Do your own due diligence and conduct your own research.

Thankfully, we now live in the information age and with most information readily available to us via the internet. You can un-earth a company’s background and history quite easily by conducting your own research in the company’s staff. Additionally, it takes literally seconds to check the validity of a Builder’s builder license and whether the HBCF insurance policy is valid and legitimate.

I still recall the time I heard the story about a project being put on limbo when the project was close to completion because the PCA had gone through their checklist and realized that the HBCF policy provided by the Builder was photoshopped. It baffled me that no one had bothered to double-check on the paperwork until the very end of the project, by which all construction work had already been completed.

Makes you wonder how many illegal jobsites there are out there up and running in the residential home sector. So I urge you to do some background research and cross-checking of your own upfront for your project.

Don’t risk being caught out.

2MTR – Gantt Chart

in

Importance of proper planning. It could be as simple as starting with a Gantt chart or a simple timeline. It’s one of those things that people tend to overlook when they are in a rush to get things done. The other day I had a conversation with a friend that is an architect regarding a project they were working on. What was meant to be a 12-week documentation process for this development project got cut short down to just 6 weeks.

The reason for the reduced timeframe was because the builder wanted the drawings done sooner so that they could send it out for subcontractors to provide pricing on the project. Putting aside the impossible task of rushing out all the documentation in time given the short notice, what worries me is the accuracy of the pricing the builder will receive from their subcontractors given that the drawings will most likely need to be further refined and changed for construction.

This opens the doors for variations to be claimed by the subcontractors, then by the builder, which will impact the client’s over budget for the project. Had the builder mapped out when they needed the quotes in from their trades, they could have reverse-engineered the timeline to provide the architect with more time. Instead, this will now result in the architect needed to reallocate resources (no doubt also pulling a lot of all-nighters) and result in the tender documentation being partially finalised since it would be possible for the service consultants to provide feedback.

So ask yourself, would you rather put your project at risk of having variations? Or would you rather be a bit patient and do the correct timing in advance so that you can identify these critical tasks upfront to allow for sufficient time for tasks to be completed correctly?

Plan it out properly, do it right and do it once.

Build with quality

Magico Constructions is an award-winning Sydney Building Company

 
International Sustainability Awards Top 100 of the World 2024 badge
Professional Licensed Builder in Sydney | Magico Constructions — An ethical, reliable, professional licensed builder in Sydney specializing in architecturally-designed building projects from $1M to $5M.

Get in Touch

 (02) 8018 4490

Stay Connected