In search of a bigger backyard and more space to entertain friends and family, Ethan and Liv discovered our ranch-style Maryvale 33 design and the scenic Macedon Ranges in Victoria.

The first home buyers behind @countryhomebuild, Ethan and Liv, always planned on building their home together from the ground up.

They knew if they decided to buy an established home, they’d likely end up having to renovate it, so they started to visit display homes across Victoria before coming across Simonds.

At the top of their ‘must-have list’ for their new home was a big backyard for their future children to grow up in. Which ultimately led them an hour north of Melbourne’s CBD to the Macedon Ranges and ranch-style home designs

Discovering the Macedon Ranges

From iconic outdoor landscapes to wineries and gourmet eateries, the Macedon Shire is a slice of paradise for anyone looking to escape the constant hustle and bustle of the city, without having to sacrifice the office commute or Friday night footy at the MCG.

“The Macedon Ranges is something else, it’s not as far as we thought from the city, but it still has that country town feel. It’s quiet, tranquil and has stunning scenery,” says Liv.

They ended up sitting on their block of land for two years, ensuring they did their research on different builders and their inclusions, as well as making sure their finances were in order, which is an important piece of advice they give to anyone looking to build.

“Building a house is so exciting and when there are endless options, you’ll find you can get swept up in the moment…We never thought that we would be able to afford our dream home as our first ever home, but we were blown away with the extras that were included in Simonds’ packages,” they say.

And as it turns out, Ethan and Liv were ahead of the curve. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more buyers looked to relocate from Melbourne out to regional areas of Victoria in search of a slower change of pace and a tree-change lifestyle.

“We decided to do a Sunday drive out to the Macedon Ranges to have lunch at the local pub and we went through the display home village whilst we were there. This was the moment we fell in love with ranch-style homes,” they say.

After making multiple trips down to Warragul to visit the ranch-style Maryvale 33 on display, they were drawn to the open and spacious floor plan, as well as the classic design of the weatherboard Brookhaven facade.

Furthermore, space for a separate home theatre, games room with a pool table, and outdoor pool and paved alfresco area has meant they have plenty of room to entertain friends and family on the weekends, while also having everyday spaces that make them feel as though they’re always on holidays.

Support from Sales Through to Maintenance

In the end, it wasn’t just the Maryvale 33 design that sold it to them, but the initial encounters they had during their sales stage.

“The reason we chose Simonds, was not just because we had fallen in love with the Maryvale 33 design, but because of the New Home Specialist we encountered across our travels to find the perfect home, really made us feel at ease and comfortable,” says Liv.

And it didn’t stop there. They recall having weekly updates, great communication and transparency with their Customer Relationship Coordinator (CRC) and Site Supervisor, right through to maintenance.

“Simonds supported us through the whole process; from answering all of our questions in the contract session, all the way through to general maintenance after moving in. We also developed a very good relationship with our Site Supervisor from the start, which made the whole build process very streamline.”

What’s Next on the Horizon?

From first receiving the keys and settling into their new home to celebrating with friends and family the day after their wedding, Ethan and Liv have already created plenty of memorable moments in their Maryvale 33.

A bigger block of land has meant they’ve had a busy two years since moving in. But weekends spent landscaping, putting in boundary fences, retaining walls, garden beds, paving and a pool have all paid off.

Their first home, inside and out, has been a dream that they’ve saved and worked hard to achieve and they’re both looking forward to putting the finishing touches on their outdoor entertaining areas, so that they can host friends and family over the warmer summer months.

Keeping following their new home journey over at @countryhomebuild