Knockdown rebuild vs. renovations or buying established
Those looking to find their dream home often agonise over the decision to buy established, find the perfect lot of land and build new, or renovate.
An option that’s often overlooked? Knocking down a home and starting again.
Knockdown rebuild projects involve demolishing a house and building a brand-new home in its place. Although it may sound like a deceivingly lengthy and expensive process, knockdown rebuilds can often be a cheaper, more convenient and less stressful option than buying established or undertaking major renovations.
The benefits of a knockdown rebuild
Boutique Homes’ New Homes Consultant and Knockdown Rebuild specialist, Dale Cardona, takes you through the five key reasons why a knockdown rebuild may be a better choice than buying established or renovating.
1. You get to stay in the same location
Buying an established home will often mean upheaving not only your home contents, but also your life. Living in a different suburb may mean a longer work commute, moving gyms or switching the kids out of their current school. It might also mean moving further away from your bubble of family and friends, and the simple comfort that comes with knowing your surroundings – from the location of shopping centres and restaurants to parks and walking trails.
A knockdown rebuild, on the other hand, means you get all the comforts of a brand new home that’s personalised to your needs but in the suburb you (and your family) know and love. With a knockdown rebuild you’re upgrading your home, rather than upending it.
2. You can design and build your dream home
With the help of a Knockdown Rebuild specialist, you can create a home with all the modern upgrades and additions you’ve been craving. Think additional storage, downsizing or upsizing your space, seamless indoor-outdoor living areas, the latest technology, or just making better use of your block in terms of sizing and orientation. It’s all possible with a new build and personalised design options to suit your lifestyle.
On the other hand, finding an established property that ticks all your ‘wish list’ boxes is near impossible. And getting everything you want in a home through a renovation project can be both costly and stressful – particularly when making substantial changes, such as relocating, adding or extending entire rooms.
With a knockdown rebuild, all of your needs and wants can be planned from the beginning.
‘One of the most common requests from our Knockdown Rebuild customers is the inclusion of a downstairs guest bedroom and private shower for elderly parents or to future-proof the home,’ says Dale.
‘Butler’s pantries are also very popular, offering lots of extra storage and food preparation space for families and avid entertainers.’
3. Your dedicated specialist team will do all the work for you
There’s no denying it: renovating can be extremely stressful. Making significant changes to your current home will take hours of designing and planning, usually with the help of an architect. Plus, you’ll need the input and services of an array of experts and trades, that you will then need to coordinate.
‘The best thing about going with a premium Knockdown Rebuild volume builder – especially a high quality and experienced one – is that we have a wide range of home plans and professional contacts that do all of the hard work for you,’ says Dale.
‘Our customers get access to dedicated Knockdown Rebuild Sales Consultants, Site Assessors and Interior Designers, who walk them through the entire process. Plus, a direct line to their Site Manager once their build has commenced.’
4. A knockdown rebuild means you can avoid stamp duty and keep costs down
Surprisingly, substantial renovations can end up being costlier than a brand-new build. Uncover subpar electrical wiring or plumbing, a pest infestation or rotting timber foundations, and you could be looking at an unexpected and substantial schedule and budget blowout. Older homes, in particular, aren’t guaranteed to stand up to the test of big hammers and additions.
At Boutique Homes, we can provide competitive pricing thanks to years of experience and quality supplier relationships.
‘A Boutique Homes Knockdown Rebuild specialist will have fixed and transparent pricing from the get-go, so you don’t have any nasty surprises. We even have a qualified Site Assessor visit your lot before you put a deposit down, so we can flag any additional costs upfront,’ says Dale.
A knockdown rebuild means you’ll also avoid the stamp duty costs associated with buying established.
‘When you buy established, you’ll pay stamp duty on both the land itself and the home. With a knockdown rebuild, the stamp duty costs are nil – you already own the land and there’s no stamp duty associated with building a new home,’ says Dale.
5. Add serious value to your new home
Is your current home in a sought-after suburb, where land is scarce and valuable? Building a new home on your current block of land may significantly increase your on-sell profits in the future – a benefit not guaranteed by costly and stressful renovations. What’s more, modern home designs often have greater rental security and higher yields than an older home in a less appealing area – giving you the opportunity to one day turn your knockdown rebuild into an investment!