Builder Spotlight | AUSMAR Homes
With more than 35 display homes in the Aura Display Village, we’re shining a light on the 21 builders who make Aura's dream homes a reality.
We sat down with Kate Dunn, Marketing Manager at AUSMAR Homes for exclusive insights, trade secrets and, of course, answers to your most burning questions.
Current homes in the AURA Display Village:
Bondi
Hyde
How do your home designs fit with the way that Australian families/residents want to live? Has this changed over the years?
Indoor/outdoor living: Australians love spending time outdoors, and this is reflected in our home designs. Bi-fold doors, open floor plans, and seamless transitions to patios, decks, and balconies are highly sought-after.
Nature: Bringing nature indoors through natural light, ventilation, greenery, and earthy tones creates a calming and invigorating atmosphere.
Open plan living: This creates a sense of connection and allows for different activities to happen simultaneously.
What is your top tip for prospective buyers to consider when building a new home?
Trends fade, functionality lasts: While incorporating some trendy elements can be fun, focus on features that cater to your long-term needs and lifestyle. Consider your future plans, potential changes in family size, and how the space will adapt to different stages of life.
Resale value hinges on practicality: While personalising your home is encouraged, remember its eventual marketability. Classic layouts, and timeless materials, will appeal to a wider pool of potential buyers down the line.
Future-proof for changing needs: Think beyond today's needs and incorporate elements that can accommodate future changes. Consider flexible spaces that can evolve, accessible features for potential aging needs, and smart home technology that adds long-term value.
Location, location, location: Remember, the adage holds true. Choose a location that complements your lifestyle, offers good access to amenities, has strong community infrastructure, and boasts potential for future growth.
What do you think are the main challenges faced by prospective buyers when planning to build a new home?
Limited land availability: Competition for suitable land, particularly in desirable locations, is fierce. Land releases often fall short of demand, leading to frustrated and disheartened buyers.
Financing constraints: Loan approvals often have time limits. Delays in securing land or registering it can lead to expired approvals, requiring reapplication and potentially impacting interest rates or loan eligibility.
What’s your favourite home design trend for 2024?
Use of Colour: We’re seeing a real shift where owners are embracing a splash of colour. Gone are the days of safe, white everything. Today's buyers are getting bolder, using colour to infuse their homes with personality, energy, and individuality. Why the shift? Perhaps it's the desire for spaces that reflect our unique selves, or maybe it's a reaction to recent years where we spent so much time at home.
Do you implement any innovative or sustainable construction practices in your projects at Stockland Aura?
Waste removal: We use an off-site process of sorting all our site waste and maximising recycling where possible. Our steel, polystyrene, copper, timber, Gyprock plasterboard and all cardboard packaging get separated and sent for recycling. This process means that we vastly lower what we send for landfill.
Only locals: All trades are sourced as Sunshine Coast locals. Minimising our traffic footprint by minimising travel has been a huge initiative for us. Truck and supplier deliveries use similar principles. Buy local where possible and smart on-time scheduling and double deliveries is a high priority within our site scheduling software.
Sustainable products: We include sustainable principles on all materials and products when selecting items throughout the build. Our clients and estimators are encouraged to think outside the box and look further into each of the product selections. Materials used, where it was manufactured, and the item lifespan all weigh heavily in selection decisions.
What achievements or milestones are you most proud of?
Our team and culture: We might not be perfect, but we're always learning, evolving, and strive to be the best for our team. We believe that when people feel valued, supported, and inspired, they do their best work and contribute to something truly special.
Award winning homes: Both our AURA display homes, The Hyde and The Bondi, won prestigious industry awards in 2023, showcasing our commitment to exceptional design and craftsmanship. The Hyde, built on a 4.6m wide block, won the Sunshine Coast & Wide Bay HIA Awards, winning both "Display Home over $500,000" and the "Display Home of the Year" title. This is a testament to its unparalleled design and luxurious finishes. The Bondi also garnered much deserved recognition, taking home the Master Builders Sunshine Coast "Display Home from $350,000 up to $450,000" award.