Summit Homes Group scoops gongs at Master Builders awards

SUMMIT Homes Group is celebrating a successful start to the year, scooping a swag of Master Builders awards and predicting a resurgent market in 2017.

After a slow 12 months, the Myaree-based homebuilder is reporting renewed interest, particularly from people keen to enter the property market for the first time following a $5000 increase to the First Home Buyers Grant.

Summit Homes Group metropolitan general manager Tony Harvie said a relaxing of Keystart lending criteria had also had a major influence.

“The changes mean people are talking more positively about the state of the building industry and that is giving potential clients a lot more confidence about pushing forward with their plans,” Mr Harvie said.

“It’s not just first time home buyers either, for every one of them we are also picking up either an upgrader/investor or someone interested in home improvement.”

Mr Harvie said both suppliers and tradespeople had been forced to adjust their rates during last year’s slowdown and that those savings were still on offer.

“The quality of work out there at the moment is much better in general too,” he said.

“When there are not a lot of jobs going around the trades are really conscious of doing the best job they can to try and ensure they pick up more work.”

The market for existing Perth homes, where prices have tumbled 4.4 per cent in the last 12 months, remains Summit Home Group’s biggest competitor.

“It really comes down to the value of buying second hand as opposed to building new,” Mr Harvie said.

“We are seeing a lot of people investigating home improvements after buying in areas like Leeming, Bull Creek and Myaree where you can get a good deal on an existing home.

“Some of those people are building second levels and others are bowling over the existing homes completely to build new.”

Mr Harvie also said home improvement remained popular in Applecross and Mt Pleasant and that there were a number of triplex and duplex development blocks available throughout the City of Melville.

“At some point those blocks will become very popular again, they are probably slightly overpriced at the moment,” he said.

Summit Homes Group picked up both best project builder and best customer service at the recent Master Builders awards and Mr Harvie said he could not be happier.

“We are built around people and we are extremely mindful that we are in this business to build better houses for our clients,” he said.

“You don’t win these kinds of awards if your past clients don’t like you so we are particularly pleased.”

BREAKOUT

MASTER BUILDERS AWARDS

Project Builder of the Year

Best Customer Service

Best Contract Home, $210,000 – $240,000, Easystart Homes

Best Display Home, $240,000 – $260,000, The Fleetwood

Best Display Home, $260,000 – $295,000, The Tropicana

Best Alterations & Additions, $300,000 – $400,000, Kensington

Best Ancillary Dwelling, The Grayson, 94 Manning Road

Best Modular Home, The Lawrence, 83 McCoy Street