Who better to ask than builders who have built their own homes? Surf Beach resident Andrew Findlay said the best decisions came from an honest look at what you needed now, and what you will need in 20 years.

“We had two young kids, so we wanted a home that would give all of us privacy,” he said.

“With a husband and wife, you need your own space – two vanities, definitely. 

“My wife (Anne) loves to cook, so we have a raised bench at the front of the kitchen. When people walk in or are in the lounge room, you don’t have to worry about them seeing any mess.

“We planned each room, and how the sizes were going to work. The kids’ rooms are three metres by 3.6 metres, but with the built-in, it’s virtually three-by-three. It was big enough for the boys with a single bed, but it isn’t big enough for guests now they’ve moved out.

“We wanted open plan, and as maintenance-free as I could – aluminium windows, and there’s no eaves, because that’s just more work to paint later.”

Anne has a craft room, and he has an office – he urged people to consider their passions when planning. Other considerations were privacy from neighbours (both visual and audio), how the seasons affect your block, and maximising the view.

“People say you only see it once and then you don’t notice it, but that’s not true,” Mr Findlay said.

“I look at the view every day when I wake up, I see it when I walk to the car, I notice something different, and I might get the binoculars … to realise it’s whales.”

Now planning their retirement home, Mr Findlay has different considerations.

“We’re putting a lift in, because I’ve done so many pre-purchase inspections where people are in tears at having to sell, but just can’t manage the stairs anymore, and the lift they’ve installed is clunky to use,” he said.

Low-maintenance outdoor areas were also a retirement must. Some features were always a good idea, whether for your first home or your fifth.

“A walk-in shower with one sheet of glass makes life so much easier, it’s so much easier to clean,” he said.

“We put a different colour on the end of the step. When you get older, you don’t notice where the end of the steps are. (With) that transition of colour, you can see where the steps are easily.” 

He recommended good insulation, different types of lining on the outside, “getting the north sun in and trying to keep the heat in at winter time”, quad power points for high-use areas, narrow cupboards over deep ones, so items are easily accessible and efficient LED downlights.

Given his time over, Mr Findlay would tweak only a few details.

“I could have brought the balcony out that little bit further – and the TV unit was the largest you could get at the time, but people laugh now,” he said.

Have you built your own house? Let us know what you did right and what you’d change at zoe.cartwright@fairfaxmedia.com.au