Small Smart Spaces is more than a range of pre-designed homes—it’s a new way of building that prioritises health, comfort, affordability, and smart use of time and money.

In a world where minimum-code homes are often passed off as quality, Small Smart Spaces provides a better alternative: efficient, adaptable, and performance-based homes starting at Homestar 6 and up to Passive House level—without the typical delays, hidden costs, or compromises.

If you’re thinking about building a new home, here are the top five reasons why Small Smart Spaces could be the smartest move you make.

1. Faster Design Process = Faster Start

Most new builds begin with a lengthy architectural process. When every design is custom from the ground up, timelines stretch as decisions around layout, structure, and materials need to be made and coordinated.

Small Smart Spaces shortens this path by offering pre-designed concepts that are ready to be adapted to your site and preferences. These designs use tried-and-tested systems, meaning they’re faster to document, easier to consent, and don’t require reinventing the wheel every time.

The Process:

Start with a concept consultation to find the best design for your site and planning rules.
Customise if needed, with support and pricing guidance at every step.
Move quickly into documentation and consent, with performance-driven systems already built into the design.

You stay in control of the pace, and there are no salespeople—just transparent steps, expert support, and a smart, efficient path to getting started.

2. Predictable Design Costs—Without the Runaway Fees

The fear of runaway design costs is real, especially with bespoke architectural work. Because Small Smart Spaces uses a set of modular design packages with fixed pricing, you know upfront what to expect—and can adapt from there without blowing the budget.

Fixed pricing on design sets
Optional consultations and customisation available
No hidden fees—everything’s laid out clearly on the website
Design advice before you buy, so you don’t waste money on something that won’t work on your site

You get the security of a known cost combined with the flexibility to shape the design to your needs.

3. Lower Power & Water Bills—Engineered into the Design

Most homes are designed around initial build cost, with little thought given to the lifetime cost of ownership—especially power and water bills. But at Small Smart Spaces, efficiency is built into the blueprint.

Every design is energy-modelled, meeting at least Homestar 6 performance standards, and optionally climbing to Passive House levels. This means better thermal comfort, lower energy demand, and smarter water use.

Energy Bill Comparison – 60m² Home

*Code minimum shown for comparison only. Not offered in Small Smart Spaces.

Even without solar, your bills are drastically lower. And because your demand is lower, future upgrades like PV panels cost less too—your system can be smaller and still cover your needs.

4. Lower Mortgage Costs with Better Lending Options

What if building better could help you save on your mortgage, too? Thanks to green lending products, it can.

Banks like ANZ offer Healthy Home Loans for Homestar-rated homes, starting from Homestar 6:

0.70% interest rate reduction (fixed)
1.00% reduction (floating)

Let’s break that down with a real-world example for a 60m² build using a $4,000/m² rate:

Mortgage Comparison – 30-Year Term at 6% Interest

Even though the up-front cost is higher, Homestar 6 comes out cheaper overall—both in monthly repayments and total interest paid.

Combine that with energy savings, and you can either reduce your financial stress or pay your loan off faster.

5. Consistent Quality and Faster Builds Through Collaboration

Quality isn’t just about design—it’s about execution. And that takes a team that works well together.

Small Smart Spaces is built on a collaborative network of passionate professionals who are aligned in values and systems. Everyone—from the builders to the ventilation engineers—is working toward one goal: creating better homes for everyday people.

Key Collaborators Include:

Virtue Build & Quality Build – Certified builders for high-performance housing
Formance – SIPs panels for rapid, insulated construction
Stiebel Eltron – Mechanical ventilation systems
Abodo – Beautiful, sustainable timber
QPod & Stop Digging – Smart, low-carbon foundation systems
Colab Mortgages – Specialists in financing better builds

Speed Through Smart Systems

Offsite and onsite systems work in parallel to reduce time on site:

Screw piles: Installed in a day, no waiting for concrete to cure
Thermal edge slabs: Insulated, form-ready foundations
SIPs panels: Pre-cut, pre-assembled building components

This significantly cuts down build time and reduces hidden costs like travel time, site overheads, and hire gear.

Final Thoughts: Building Better for Less

When you break it down, the case for Small Smart Spaces is clear:

▪ Faster, easier design process
▪ Transparent and adaptable pricing
▪ Lower running costs from Day One
▪ Better finance options through green lending
▪ Quality builds from a collaborative, experienced team

Best of all, you’re not locked into a rigid system—you get the freedom to customise, the support of real experts, and a smarter way to build that works for your lifestyle and your wallet.

Ready to explore your options?

Book a free chat with Sharon to see how Small Smart Spaces can work for your site, budget, and aspirations.

Because building better isn’t just possible—it’s already happening, and it’s designed with you in mind.

book a chat with Sharon

THE TOP 5 REASONS TO CHOOSE SMALL SMART SPACES - Unlocking Building Better for Less for Everyday People