It was in May 2016 that married couple, Randel and Anita, and their two young children first moved into their self-proclaimed ‘forever home’ – Boutique’s Newport 27 (now the Oslo 29).
After renting from 2004 in Heidelberg West, the pair were determined to buy within the same suburb, craving the familiarity of the area, its close access to schools, public transport, work and the airport, with family just a few doors away. With the help of Anita’s parents, they purchased their ‘renovators’ delight’ in 2011 before deciding on the knockdown rebuild route in November 2015.
‘It turned out to be a pretty quick process, especially given the volume of knockdown rebuilds in the area and the level of subsequent council restrictions and forms,’ says Randel.
‘We knew we definitely didn’t want to renovate, and it’s been a good choice. The value of the house has really gone up and we have seen the true potential of the area.’
‘That’s probably the best thing about a knockdown rebuild – you invest more money on the location and then, if you build a nice house like with Boutique, the value skyrockets.’
Click here to be inspired by the journey of other Boutique customers who have found ‘The One.’Â
Beyond the monetary payoffs and convenience, staying in the same locale for so long means Randal and Anita have reaped the benefits of an established community.
‘The neighbours know us – they help water our plants when we go on holiday, we exchange food and meals, and they help us with the kids,’ says Anita.
‘We don’t consider them as neighbours anymore. We consider them as part of our family.’
What to expect from the build journey
‘The total build experience was incredibly rewarding, but our favourite moment was the day we walked into the display home and thought ‘this is it – this is the one! I still have that feeling to this day,’ says Randel.
‘We chose a plan that was big enough for our family but still manageable if and when the kids move out.’
When Randel and Anita then found out about Boutique’s premium standard inclusions, quality of build and warranty periods, the deal was sealed. Three years on, says Randel, the home is still in perfect working condition.
‘It was explained that the house will always move a bit after settlement and that we should take notes of any minor structural changes. We raised them at the 12-month warranty inspection and everything was fixed very promptly,’ says Randel.
Click here to be inspired by the journey of other Boutique customers who have found ‘The One.’Â
‘To this day, when it comes to the structure of the house, we are confident that it will last and we won’t have any issues. And if there is, Boutique is just a phone call away.’
 Creating a resort-style home
Randel and Anita love to travel, but they’ve spent the past three years planning their trips around family and friends eager to visit. And you can see why they’re so enthusiastic to ditch the expensive hotels for the luxury of Randel and Anita’s abode – the whitewashed walls and glossy beige tiles, with splashes of greens and blues in the furnishings, are clean and modern yet homely.
The pair have even created a special look for the guest room, where visitors can write memories of their stay and thoughts about the home.
‘They tell us how beautiful the house looks; how relaxing it is to come home to and how central the location is. We love having people here – accommodating them and showing them around,’ adds Randel.
Top advice for new home builders
- Understand your priorities – When we first decided to build, we spoke to a lot of different homeowners and did a lot of research, including visiting a variety of display homes. Make sure you decide on your non-negotiable inclusions and upgrades from the get-go.
- Think carefully about your upgrades – Remember you are only going to do this once, so you might as well put everything on the table. We’d definitely suggest upgrading your doors – the bigger your doors, the bigger your house looks!
- Take note of your builder’s standard inclusions – They make a huge difference. For example, Boutique includes double glazing on all windows as standard, and this has been a massive energy saver for us and significantly improved the comfort of our living areas.
Ready to start your journey to find ‘The One?’ See more of the Oslo home design or talk to one of our friendly New Homes Consultants. See more of Randel & Anita’s beautiful home on Instagram @randelonline
Have you found ‘The One’?
Share your home journey and connect with the Boutique Instagram community by using #ourboutiquehome