Four in five homebuyers customising floorplans, says Surf Coast home builder
Levonix Homes says a new middle ground is emerging between standard project homes and high-end architectural builds.
Rising construction costs are changing what a custom home looks like, with Surf Coast builder Levonix Homes reporting growing demand for a middle ground between standard project homes and expensive, fully bespoke architectural builds.
Four in five Levonix clients who start with one of the builder's established floorplans now make meaningful changes to the design or layout, with demand for customisation increasing over the past two to three years.
Rather than designing entirely from scratch, Levonix says more buyers are starting with an established floorplan and adapting it around their block, lifestyle and priorities, giving them greater control over where they invest their budget.
The most common changes currently involve kitchens and pantries, additional storage and practical spaces, home offices or extra rooms, and adapting designs to suit smaller or more challenging blocks.
Levonix Homes Sales Manager Kay Seabrook said the shift was changing perceptions around what it meant to build a custom home.
“Custom building doesn't have to mean an expensive, high-end architectural home, and it doesn't automatically mean overcapitalising,” Kay said.
“Our clients can start with one of our established floorplans and customise it to suit them, or create something more individual, while still keeping their budget in mind.
“An established floorplan gives clients a more cost-effective starting point, while still allowing them to invest in the design changes and features that matter most to them.”
The trend is reflected in the experience of first-home builder Suraj, who is currently building with Levonix in Armstrong Creek.
“People who are first-home builders are always looking for cost-effective options, but making small tweaks to a design gives you the satisfaction of creating the home you always wanted,” Suraj said.
“We didn’t want to wait until our second or third home to make those changes. Levonix was able to accommodate our ideas without compromising our budget or financial plans.”
The shift comes against a backdrop of rising construction costs, which have increased 29.5 per cent nationally over the past five years, according to the Cotality Cordell Construction Cost Index.
Kay said higher construction costs, combined with buyers seeking greater budget certainty without sacrificing individuality, were contributing to the change.
“We aren't necessarily seeing clients abandon fully bespoke homes altogether. What we're seeing is more clients recognising the value of starting with an established design and customising it around their block, lifestyle and priorities,” she said.
“People still want a home that feels personal to them. The difference is they're becoming more considered about how they achieve that and where they choose to spend their money."
Levonix also continues to work with clients who bring their own plans or want a completely individual design, with its offering spanning customised established floorplans through to fully bespoke homes.
Kay said the changing market was giving buyers more options between the traditional project home and a fully bespoke build.
“Custom doesn’t have to be all or nothing. That middle ground gives people the opportunity to create a home that feels individual to them, without feeling like they need to start completely from scratch, or blow out their budget.”
Levonix Homes is a family-owned home builder based on Victoria's Surf Coast, building across Torquay, Greater Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.
Home designs by Levonix Homes in Victoria
Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at iBuildNew, where he leads the editorial team and oversees the country's most comprehensive news coverage dedicated to the new home building industry. With more than a decade of experience in residential real estate journalism, Joel brings deep insight into Australia's evolving home building and construction landscape.
