There are plenty of reasons you might choose to build a home from scratch: to achieve the dream property your family has always wanted, to ensure you can fully control the features and style of your home or to have an investment for the future.

If you’re building your new home as an investment, it can be hard to know what you should be including and what to leave off the plans in order to maximise your returns.

There is a huge wealth of information out there and it can be a minefield to work out what the best uses of your space and budget will be in the unique Territory market.

Luckily, we’ve got a wealth of experience of building for Territorians, and we know what the best bang for buck is for your investment dollar.

We’ve pulled together a list of the top things you should include to maximise the value your home holds below, to help you decide what’s a necessity and what’s better left off the plans.

A double (or even bigger) garage

If you’re like many Territorians, you love to get outdoors and into nature – but outdoor hobbies generally come with a lot of equipment, which takes up a lot of space! Factoring in a double-car garage is likely to be a winner with most homebuyers and will help ensure that your house maximises its value. In fact, large garages are an affordable extra that really pack a punch when it comes to boosting your home’s resale value down the line.

An ensuite and walk in robe off the master

Once considered luxury items, an ensuite and walk in robe are now considered necessity items for many new home buyers. Leaving them off the plans is likely to leave your property off a lot of future buyers’ wish lists.

A big pantry

Again, not so long ago this was considered an out of date and unfashionable addition to a home. A large pantry means you can keep your open-plan kitchen clean, clear and stylish by hiding away a lot of the clutter– increasingly important for buyers who look to congregate around the kitchen bench with their families and friends. We’re not saying not including one is a dealbreaker, but if you want as many people as possible putting your property at the top of their wish lists, plus-sized pantries are well worth considering.

A self-contained granny flat

Depending on where you live in the Top End, it may be worth considering including a self-contained granny flat or lock up space in your home. Granny flats are increasingly in demand as AirBNBs, for rental accommodation or just to accommodate family in extra space and comfort.

Focus on the kitchen

If there’s one room on which it’s important not to skimp now, it’s the kitchen. Kitchens are no longer just a place where the cooking happens – they’re now the heart of most homes. They’re the place where the family comes together around the island bench at the end of the day, where the kids do their homework and where mum and dad catch up on the day’s events. If you try to cut costs on your kitchen, you’ll rule out a large proportion of possible buyers who are looking for a home they can see their family living in and loving for years to come.

A good Alfresco Area

Again, this comes back down to the way of life many Territorians prefer. Most buyers are looking for a home that allows them to take advantage of our unique climate (when conditions are right, of course). Including a good outdoor entertaining area with room for a BBQ or outdoor kitchen, shade and plenty of space for the family to gather round the table is an important factor many buyers will take into consideration when deciding whether it’s your home or another to purchase in the future.

It’s important to consider the factors in a home that will date in the future, and what will remain timeless- particularly if your home is primarily to be an investment. Spending your money on fads or fashionable fixtures and fittings is likely to be a poorer investment decision than investing in open-plan spaces, classic designs and functional, family-friendly layouts.

Territory Homes are experienced in building homes for investors and are happy to work with you to plan a home that ticks all the right boxes – just get in touch with us to speak further.