Taken from the French feminine noun, the English word maison quite simply means ‘house’ or, secondly, ‘home’. Intrinsic to the etymology of ‘maison’ are the notions of idyllicism and homeliness.

If you’re looking to create a lifestyle for yourself or for your family, the location of your home, a la maison, is very important. Equally important, however, is the quality of your home and the joy and ease of living it provides.

With this in mind, great care must be taken when choosing to build a new home. House-and-land packages abound, but which ones are worth looking at? -To begin with, focus on those that are close to the city and are serviced by arterial roads and public transport. The best new estates are those created in enclaves of suburbia, rather than stationed on the metropolitan fringes. The other part of the equation, besides location, is choosing the right builder. Quality materials and workmanship are a must, as is timely completion of the build. Since building a new house may be one of the most important investment decisions you make, you will want to ensure that your builder has a strong reputation and is a Master Builder.

One of the largest and most reputable builders in Australia is Metricon, which has been delivering quality Australian homes for over 35 years. Metricon are at the forefront of residential building and design. Their cutting-edge house designs are very popular and can be found in display villages across the country. Metricon homes are also a favourite for ‘knock-down, rebuild’ choices in more established suburbs and locations.

Other reputable builders include Englehart Homes in Victoria, Huxley Homes in New South Wales, McCarthy Homes in Queensland, Rossdale Homes in South Australia and Webb & Brown-Neaves in Western Australia.