Building a home is just another first for Luke & Kim Schmidt.

When Dr Luke Schmidt emigrated from South Africa in 2022 he had no idea that it would be the first step in an avalanche of new and exciting experiences, like building a home.

As a highly respected chiropractor in South Africa, Luke held many leadership positions and represented the chiropractic industry nationally and internationally before relocating permanently to Australia.

This bold move became the catalyst for a number of firsts for Luke. Not long after his arrival in Adelaide Luke met Kim, a finance officer in the employment services industry. It didn’t take long for Luke and Kim to realise they had each met “their person” and they tied the knot in June 2024.

During 2024 Luke was also planning to set up his own chiropractic practice – another first – eventually opening My Family Chiro at the WOW Sensory Centre in Morphett Vale in January this year.

And, as if a new country, relationship, wedding and chiropractic practice weren’t enough, in October 2024 Luke and Kim took their first steps along the pathway to new home ownership with Fairmont First, an exciting initiative for first home buyers from Fairmont.

Luke and Kim had weighed up the pros and cons of buying vs building but were incentivised by the benefits of the first homeowners grant and stamp duty savings. Kim explained it was also the prospect of having something new and making it their own that swayed them towards building.

“The idea of having something new and making it our own right from the get-go appealed to us.”

It was a combination of factors that influenced their decision to build with Fairmont First. ‘Fairmont has always had a good reputation for building, which made me feel confident. We looked at all the display homes, and we liked their designs and finishes the best,” says Kim.

Luke agrees. ‘We thought, good quality, best value, best price. And we could build in a location we love, Seaford Heights Vista Estate. We love the sea views, the closeness to wineries and the general vibe of a down-south property.’

Finally, it was Fairmont First’s fixed pricing with no hidden fees that gave them the confidence to proceed. ‘We had a first homeowner’s cap of $650K, so we had to come in under that. Other quotes were complicated and had all sorts of add-ons, but Fairmont First was simple and easy to navigate so we knew we could keep within the $650K cap.’

“Fairmont First’s simple selections process took a huge amount of stress out of it. Transparent fixed pricing, and no hidden fees.”

Not ones to let the grass grow under their feet, Kim and Luke also loved the idea of a streamlined construction process. Their sales consultant, Daniel, referred to it as a “cookie-cutter” process where everything from building approvals to selections are streamlined by a limited range of designs and packaged finishes presented with few pre-determined upgrade options.

‘We chose an interior colour scheme called “coastal” which is very fitting for a house by the beach. Especially because it’s our first house, we were happy with choosing from a few select packages where professional interior designers have bundled together all the different things that work well, like colour schemes, facades and kitchens,’ says Kim.

Colour scheme, coastal. Light, bright, natural materials and a warm harmonic colour palette evoking the calm and breeziness of the beach. NB: flooring is not included as a standard.

As first home buyers, Luke and Kim found their Fairmont First consultant’s guidance invaluable. ‘Daniel went above and beyond from day one. We spent three and a half hours at our first meeting, discussing everything from interior and exterior colour schemes to the upgrades available. Daniel pointed us in the direction of the Hudson Mk1,’ explains Luke.

Daniel says, ‘we had the pleasure of working with Kim and Luke after being introduced through their mortgage broker, who sought our assistance in guiding them through their home-building journey. With their land about to title and a strict budget in place, they needed a quick and efficient process - and we were more than happy to help.

From the very start, Kim and Luke were an absolute delight to work with.

Together, we explored house designs, carefully selecting layouts, upgrades, and packages that would best suit their block while ensuring a comfortable buffer within their budget. They approached the entire process with a positive attitude and were incredibly receptive to my suggestions, making collaboration seamless.

Thanks to their proactive approach and commitment, we successfully fast-tracked their contract stage and met all the necessary deadlines regarding their land.’

With construction well underway, Luke and Kim already know which parts of their new home they will love the most when it’s completed. For Kim it’s the double garage. ‘We currently have a single garage, so I’m looking forward to being able to park both cars and have space for storage as well.’

Luke can’t wait to get in and enjoy what he sees as the stand-out feature of their chosen design - the open plan kitchen/dining/lounge room, and its generous size.

To others who are thinking about building Kim says, ‘I would say it’s been an exciting experience, but it can be tough if you haven’t done it before and you don’t know the terminology etc. So, finding a consultant like Daniel to help you through makes it so much easier. I would definitely build again.’

‘It’s what you make of it,’ says Luke. ‘We know there will be hiccups and ups and downs, so we’ve decided to enjoy the process, not make it a stress. We look at it positively and we enjoy going down there and seeing something new each time.’

Their mindset really impressed Daniel. ‘Kim and Luke are truly one of the most wonderful couples I have had the pleasure of assisting. It was a fantastic experience working with them and I would be more than happy to help them again in the future. We wish them all the best in their new home.’

The Fairmont First design they chose, the Hudson Mk1, features open plan living and three bedrooms. There will be plenty of room to accommodate guests, but the extra bedrooms might eventually be used for yet another first in Luke and Kim’s journey… ‘hopefully a family one day.’

If you’re thinking about building as a way to get into your first home, choose from Fairmont First’s fixed price, budget-friendly, high quality home designs with no hidden fees. Take the first step to building your first home and contact Fairmont First today!