A home is more than just a house. It has emotional connections, living memories and is where up to 70 per cent of your life's memorable moments will take place. One person who knows this all too well is BT Homes Director, Ben Flowers. BT Homes have been a local builder in the Central West since 2008 and is a family run business, with Ben in the Director's position since 2012.

Ben said the days of the small but simple three bedroom house are past, with people wanting more space, more technology and a place where they can live rather than just rest their heads. "Additional space is always at the top of people's lists, whether it's larger rooms or additional rooms" he said. "Kids rooms have changed and gone are the days of single beds. Most new home owners want larger rooms to fit double beds in".

However the call for space is not just limited to bedrooms. "Whether it's a home theatre or kids activity room an additional space to relax is always on the wish list and the same goes for kitchens," he said. "With the trend for galley kitchens and island benches, storage space has become limited, so a walk in pantry is a great solution".

While planning a home can be a great experience as you imagine yourself enjoying all the benefits of your dream home, it is important to have someone guiding you along the way and making sure no vital steps are missed. Ben said that it's important to take time to engage a builder that works with you from design, selecting inclusions and even choosing the right building site.

This advertising feature is sponsored by the following businesses. Click the links to find out more.

"People need to be careful and pay attention to quotes and not be blinded by bottom line figures," he said. "Make sure that all items are covered and there's no hidden costs. When pushing the budget don't substitute size in order to achieve more - you will enjoy the home more with larger, communal sized areas rather than many small rooms".

Like most major building projects, it's essential for people to work with their builder from day one, not just a sales consultant. Ben said BT Homes do their own in house design, alleviating wait time and getting projects moving faster, allowing you to move into your dream home sooner. "We have a dedicated selection coordinator that helps with design and documentation to make sure we know what you want to build and how you want it done, and this also keeps you on budget".