CASE STUDY

Don & Tracie Finlay - West of Gunnedah

From uncertainty to peace of mind with a modular home built for farm life.

Location:
Family farm. west of Gunnedah, NSW

Who For:
Their grandson. living on-farm full-time

Unit Purchased:
Cypress 31 — 3-bedroom modular home

Investment Range:
$ 160,000 to $ 170,000

Timeline:
Ordered at AgQuip (August 2023)
Delivered in 5 weeks

Built:
Australian-made. owned and operated

A farming family’s story of trust regained — and a grandson finally calling the farm home.

Don and Tracie Finlay are no strangers to hard work. They’ve been farming west of Gunnedah for decades, running a mixed operation of cropping and livestock. Their farm is more than just a business – it’s their life, and their goal has always been to keep it in the family.

Family means everything to the Finlays. Their grandson has been working alongside them, learning the ropes and preparing to take the reins one day. For Don and Tracie, that future only made sense if he could live on the property.

But there was a hurdle. Like many farming families, they’d been let down before when it came to buying accommodation. They’d paid money, trusted promises, and ended up disappointed.

That experience left them cautious – and determined not to make the same mistake again.

The Challenge

By mid-2023, it was clear they needed a proper home on the farm. Caravans and dongas were cheap, but flimsy. Tiny homes looked interesting, but not built for long-term living. Don and Tracie wanted superior accommodation — something their grandson could truly call home.

As Don put it:

“You only make these decisions once or twice in a lifetime. We weren’t about to throw good money after bad.”

The Search

Like many farmers, they went to the AgQuip field days in August 2023 to look at options. They walked through every type of unit on display – dongas, cabins, caravans, huts. They compared, they questioned, they took brochures home.

One design caught their attention: the Cypress 31 at the ARUVA Modular display. A proper three bedroom home with open-plan living, a full kitchen, bathroom, and laundry. It felt like a real home, not a stopgap.

But the Finlays weren’t ready to commit. They went home, talked it over, compared prices and options. Then they came back the next day – still cautious, but curious.

The Solution

What tipped the scales?

Talking directly with ARUVA’s owners — real country people with 30+ years in modular
accommodation
A design that was built fast and built to last
Confidence it would give their grandson a great night’s sleep in a home that felt permanent

They signed for the Cypress 31. Within weeks, it was delivered and installed on the farm.

The Results

Grandson now living comfortably on-farm, preparing to take over operations
Family succession secured for the next generation
Peace of mind knowing they’d invested in REAL LIVING. DELIVERED

Tracie summed it up:

“We’d looked at all the other options, but this was the only one that felt right. It’s a proper home.”

Key Takeaway

The Finlays’ story shows that when you look past the cheapest option and invest in quality. you don’t just buy accommodation — you secure your family’s future.

IF YOU'RE FACING THE SAME CHALLENGE, TALK TO ARUVA MODULAR TODAY.

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Interior view of a modular home, highlighting the spacious and modern design features typical of Aruva Modular homes.

Modular home under construction, showcasing the advanced building process of Aruva Modular homes with visible framework and design elements.

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