Fern Valley House

First-time homebuilders Sean and Tanya faced a strict budget and timeline for their Sunshine Coast family home—building during Covid only added to the challenges.

Transparent communication from the get-go meant the homeowners could make informed decisions without breaking the bank. Also, Summerhill’s strong relationships with tradespeople ensured agility despite supply-chain issues. Against all odds, the project was delivered on time, on budget, and (bonus) the homeowners are still good friends today.

“Summerhill’s cost-plus model gave full transparency on all invoices for materials, and labour,” says Sean. “This made it easy to talk about the true cost of the build, and all the individual pieces, from the size of the foundation to the materials.”

For example, one major cost was windows. The couple prioritized a premium, triple-pane product but had to adjust the number of windows and doors to stay within budget. “As with everything, Summerhill guided us on how our choices would impact the build’s timeline, energy efficiency, and so on.”

Flexibility was another advantage to working with a well-respected team like Summerhill, and a key part of that was their strong relationships with tradespeople and approving authorities. These relationships allowed deadlines to be met even when the unexpected arose. “Every build has a critical path,” says Sean. “You can’t build your house without a foundation and you can’t put your roof on without walls. Summerhill treats everyone really well, which fosters goodwill and agility.  So if your stove arrives late, for example, they can reshuffle priorities and keep things moving.”

Through Summerhill’s dedication, hard work, and strong relationships, Sean and Tanya’s move-in deadline—their daughter’s birthday—was met. “And we’re thrilled with the results,” adds Sean.