The state government’s plans to meet the housing needs of the Gold Coast over the next two decades will transform the city.
The South East Queensland Regional Plan, also known as Shaping SEQ, sets mandatory housing targets that councils in the region, including the Gold Coast City Council, must meet.
The Sunshine Coast is renowned for its vibrant lifestyle and idyllic coastal living. With its breathtaking beaches, pristine waters, and a wide range of recreational activities, the region offers an unmatched experience for residents. Whether you’re a surfing enthusiast, a nature lover, or someone seeking relaxation under the sun, the Sunshine Coast over delivers.
The region also offers top-notch schools, healthcare centres and amenities. It’s a great place to raise a family or settle down when you retire.
Golden Gympie
Gympie is located just north of the Sunshine Coast and Tin Can Bay on the Mary River, and approximately 170 kilometres north of Brisbane. It is one of the regional areas we are proud to build in.
Two decades of experience developing and building homes across Australia have allowed Homecorp to develop a range of plans that fuse sustainable living with modern design and exceptional value.
Building more sustainable communities means making a contribution to improving the environment. Part of that equation is lowering the cost of running your home, saving energy, water and maintenance on systems and appliances.
These are the concepts at the heart of Homecorp’s house designs and our company vision to develop inspiring communities of the future where people belong.
Set amongst picturesque playgrounds and walking trails, Prestwood Estate is bordered by a flourishing reserve with bird life and even a small herd of deer – all this in Logan Reserve, just 30 minutes from Brisbane CBD.
New Homes Built For Family Living
The surrounds are shaded by mature trees with bike and pram-friendly paths creating an estate designed to deliver active living for the whole family.
Prestwood features modern family-friendly homes on easy-to-manage blocks so you have plenty of free time to enjoy.
Within a easy drive of either Brisbane or the Gold Coast, Prestwood offers the best in lifestyle whether you enjoying time out at the beach, improving your golf game or splurging on a little shopping.
When it comes to building the term “Practical Completion” is like the holy grail. This is a day new homeowners look forward to as it is the day when ‘practically’ all the work on your new home has been completed.
What Is Practical Completion?
Although is sounds like everything is complete, it is not the day you will get to take possession of your new home. Industry terms, like practical completion, can sound like a full stop to the home building journey but there are actually several steps beyond this.
Here is a quick guide to the final stages of your house build and handover.
Handover Inspection
Between practical completion and handover there is often an inspection by an independent person or company who will look over the entire house and compile a list of defects against Australian standards of finished work.
These defects are then fixed prior to you moving in to help ensure your home is at the highest quality.
There is also likely to be some other formalities, like the final valuation of your home, and of course the final payment. It is generally a two week period from practical completion (PC) to handover.
Handover Day
Handover can take anywhere between 1-3 hours. This is where one of our team will take you around your home and explain everything to you.
Final cleans are done the day of or day before handover so everything is fresh for when you move in.
Just like at the PC stage you will go around your home with your site super. They will point out all the key functions of the house, like how to open and lock the doors and where the garage remote is stored.
After handover is when we step into what we call the defects period. This goes for 6 months, the standard HIA period is 3 months. We doubled it to give you and the home extra time to settle in!
During this period, we rely on the help of the new homeowners to help us note any defects such as leaks that may occur. We will also check in from time to time over the first few weeks and months.
At about the halfway period in the year, we will have a look over the defects that have been recorded and start preparing to go through them.
Home Handover Guide
Everyone also gets a digital handover guide. This book has all kinds of tips and tricks to help you get the most from your new home – like drying out the house, making it green, energy use, window protection, insulation, lighting, and air conditioning.
This guide also includes information about security, electrics, ceilings, bathroom fittings, paintwork care, roofing and your warranty.
Your home comes with a 12-month* maintenance period. Your warranty means that we’ll cover any structural problems that occur with your house. Small maintenance issues are really common and nothing to worry about.
Moving In
Moving can be a stressful time. Here are some helpful reminders to help make the process as low-stress as possible.
First, make sure all the important stuff is safe – things like prescriptions, driver’s license, marriage, birth certificates, and passports.
Secondly, book in the disconnection of the utilities at your old address and the connection of the amenities, internet, and pay-tv at your new address.
Also notify any relevant businesses (incl. Aus Post) of your change of address.
Settling ln
Whether you already know where each picture is going to go, or you’re just beginning your nesting journey, there’s no rush, pace yourself!
There are a number of milestones in every build and Homecorp’s Customer Experience team are here to help you navigate them with ease. If you have any queries about key stages, compliance and certification, just reach out to our team and they’ll guide you through the process.
It is natural for future home builders to explore the options out there and research what is involved with the build process. As a result, you might be feeling a little overwhelmed by all the jargon. One of the biggest questions you might have is: what’s the difference between foundations and footings? Grab a cup of coffee, and let’s break it down!
Setting the Stage: Foundations and Footings
First things first—let’s talk about what these terms actually mean. You can think of the footing as the unsung hero that literally supports your entire home. It’s what stands between the weight of your house and the ground beneath it. So, what does this component do? Well, footings have a few essential roles:
Distributes Loads: Footings spread the weight of your home evenly across the ground.
Anchors Against Winds: They keep your house stable, even when those gusty winds come knocking.
Moisture Protection: Footings help guard against moisture from the soil coming into your home and help prevent movement due to changes in the moisture content of the soil.
Getting your footings right is crucial for ensuring your home is safe and sound for years to come.
Now, let’s chat about the foundation. This is the actual soil or rock that your home sits on. Sounds simple, right? But it’s super important to test the foundation to ensure it can handle the weight of your future abode. Developers typically start by evaluating the soil to determine what they’re working with. This helps in designing footings that are tailored to the specific conditions of your site.
How Can Soil Type Impact The Build?
Did you know that the type of soil on your property can significantly impact your home’s stability and what it costs to build? For example, if your footings rest on bedrock, you’re in luck! There’s minimal settling there so what you build doesn’t generally move much from today to tomorrow or ten years down the track. Sandy soil on the other hand is quick to settle and then stable.
Early development at Roberts Farm, South Australia
Now, let’s talk about the trickest soil, which is in fact clay. It can expand or shrink dramatically depending on moisture levels. This means that during heavy rains, clay can swell by up to 50%! And when it dries out, it can shrink just as much. This constant movement can put stress on your footings, leading to cracks in surfaces in your home over time.
While many builders can gauge soil conditions just by stepping onto the site, it is crucial to get a geotechnical report. This report provides detailed insights into your soil type and behavior, helping engineers design a home that can withstand its unique challenges.
Types of Footings in Australia
Now that we’ve laid the groundwork (pun intended!), let’s dive into the different types of footings commonly used in Aussie homes:
Strip Footings: These continuous lines of support are typically placed in a shallow trench and reinforced with steel. They’re perfect for light loads, like walls in residential properties.
Stumps: Also known as piles in New Zealand, stumps are great for supporting timber-framed homes. They can be made from timber, concrete, or steel and need a solid footing beneath them for stability.
Raft Slabs: Raft slabs distribute the building’s weight evenly to minimize movement. There are two popular types of raft slabs in Australia:
Waffle Raft: Built with waffle pods made of polystyrene, these are laid out carefully based on your home’s design and ground conditions.
Stiffened Raft: This is an economical option but it’s best for non-reactive soil. The bottom of the slab rests on an unreinforced strip footing or mat foundation with edge beam stiffening and concrete reinforced with rebars to provide strength and stability.
Watch a Waffle Pod Slab being laid
How Deep Do Footings Need To Be?
One of the biggest questions in construction is: how deep should your footings be? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. It depends on several factors, including the type of structure, soil conditions, and even local climate influences.
Preparation of a Stiffened Raft Slab
The proper depth will help ensure that your home’s weight is distributed evenly, preventing issues like uneven settling or structural damage.
In Australia, where we have all kinds of soil types and weather conditions, making sure your footings are able to handle everything from frost to water tables is key.
Pods being positioned prior to the concrete slab pour
Wrapping It Up
Building a home is no small feat, and understanding the difference between foundations and footings is just the beginning. At Homecorp, we take care of all the nitty-gritty details, including geotechnical reports and engineering checks, so you don’t have to.
A big part of our business is creating House and Land Packages to make it easier for Australian’s to get into the property market and invest in housing. These Turn-Key Packages include plans that we know perform well under local conditions. They are also carefully curated to be sustainable, easy to maintain and cost-effective to retrofit down the track.
Curious about where we’re developing next? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Homecorp team! We’re here to help you every step of the way. Happy building!