Family-friendly Home In The Sun

Newcastle Herald

Friday August 31, 2001

OPERATING mainly from the head office in Maitland but building `virtually anywhere in the valley', Jones Homes offers a personalised service to clients.

The display home at New Hunter Homeland, the Sunseeker, was predominantly used as an example of the company's workmanship rather than as a design because it was more usual for Jones Homes to build customers' individual requirements, sales consultant Ian Britton said.

Jones Homes builds all types of residential developments and has completed a diverse range of projects in the Hunter including villas, duplexes and townhouses.

The company also builds on any block including on sloping land, in mine subsidence areas and on narrow allotments. There are no restrictions on the materials and type of construction methods used.

To ensure customers get the house they want, a drafting service is offered. Plans are drawn up by a design draftsperson and an obligation-free quote is given on that design. The customer can take the plan to other builders to compare quotes.

`There is a cost for the design but that has to be paid for at some time and it is the property of the client to do with what they will,' Mr Britton said.

He said Jones Homes saw itself in relation to bigger building companies like `a corner store to Woolworths'.

`We like to ensure people know they are not just another number in the system, we like to be able to deal with clients face to face,' Mr Britton said.

`The supervisor of the building is always available to talk to clients.'

This is seemingly a successful formula as, according to Mr Britton, many of the company's customers came from referrals and repeat business.

The Sunseeker design on display is a basic four-bedroom house which costs from $123,900. An exact replica of the display home, including floor tiling to entry, hall, kitchen and family room, carpet to the bedrooms, lounge and dining room, pergola off the family room with a Stencil-crete slab and tiles to the front veranda, costs from $135,175. (Prices exclude site costs).

A family home, the Sunseeker has a tiled entry flowing onto an open-plan lounge and dining room featuring a solarium-like window and access to the kitchen and family area.

Separated from the other bedrooms, a main is at the front and includes an ensuite.

The kitchen is positioned in the centre of the house overlooking a family room and although it does not have the traditional window above the sink overlooking the backyard, glass sliding doors from the family room opening onto the backyard allow any outside activity to be seen.

Smeg appliances such as an oven, stove top and range hood are included in the kitchen.

A hallway off the family room hides the rest of the bedrooms, a main bathroom and an internal laundry.

The bedrooms are of a generous size and all have built-in robes.

A double drive-through garage with internal access is a standard feature.

Visit the Sunseeker at Broome St, Fletcher, on Saturdays and Sundays between 10am to 5pm or by appointment. Inquiries 4933-5411.