Knockdown and Rebuild in Melbourne
Build your dream home without leaving the neighbourhood you love.
If you love where you live but you’ve outgrown your home, a knockdown and rebuild may be the answer. It allows you to stay in the neighbourhood you’ve built your life around, while creating a brand-new home designed for the way you live today.
At Boutique Homes we’ve helped homeowners across Melbourne replace ageing homes with thoughtfully designed, architecturally inspired homes — managing the process end-to-end from site assessment and approvals through to demolition, construction and handover.
Ready to see what’s possible on your block? Speak with one of our Knockdown & Rebuild Specialists and book a no-obligation site assessment.
Book a complimentary site assessment
Download our Melbourne Knockdown & Rebuild Process Guide
Why Knockdown and Rebuild in Melbourne?
Many homes in Melbourne no longer meet modern expectations for space, efficiency or layout. A knockdown and rebuild provides the opportunity to start fresh, without compromising on location.
A knockdown and rebuild allows you to:
- Stay in the suburb you know and love
- Replace an ageing home with a brand-new, energy-efficient design
- Tailor your home to your land, orientation and lifestyle
- Avoid stamp duty on an existing home purchase
- Build with modern inclusions, layouts and materials
For eligible blocks, rebuilding is often a smarter long-term solution than renovating or relocating.
Am I eligible for Knockdown and Rebuild in Melbourne?
If you’re considering a knockdown and rebuild with Boutique Homes, eligibility often comes down to your land, any planning controls, and the approvals required to proceed. The easiest next step is a complimentary site assessment, where our specialists review your block and advise what’s achievable — clearly and upfront — before you invest time in selecting designs or pricing.
Land suitability
Many Melbourne blocks can be suitable for a knockdown and rebuild, depending on factors such as frontage width, site access, overall dimensions and any constraints like easements.
During your site assessment, we’ll confirm which options from our home design range may suit your block and outline any key considerations early.
Overlays & zoning
Overlays are planning controls used by local councils to guide what can be built in specific areas. They don’t always prevent a rebuild, but they can influence requirements and timeframes.
Our team reviews the planning controls that apply to your site and explains what they mean in practical terms.
Please note: Properties affected by a heritage overlay are not eligible for knockdown and rebuild with Boutique Homes. Other overlays (such as bushfire or flood, where applicable) are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Permits & approvals
Knockdown rebuild projects typically require a combination of council approvals and demolition and building permits. We manage this process — liaising with council and coordinating the required documentation to keep your project moving smoothly.
You provide:
- Property details
- Land title
- Sign-offs where required
We manage:
- Council approvals for Knockdown Rebuilds in Melbourne
- Demolition approvals
- Permit applications and supporting reports
- Coordination with relevant authorities
Popular Knockdown and Rebuild home designs
Explore Pasadena facades & design options
Pasadena
From $473,600
From $504,100
From $525,400
From $571,100
From $603,900
From $621,500
Explore Montreal facades & design options
Montreal
From $478,500
From $513,900
From $547,500
From $531,500
Cost of a Knockdown and Rebuild in Melbourne
We offer fixed pricing for knockdown and rebuild projects once your site and selected home design have been confirmed, giving you cost certainty before you move forward.
What’s Included in a Knockdown & Rebuild Price
Knockdown and rebuild pricing typically covers four core considerations:
| Cost Consideration | Overview |
|---|---|
| Demolition | Removal of the existing home and preparation of the site |
| Site preparation & services | Works required to ready the site and connect essential services |
| Home construction | Your selected home design, inclusions and finishes |
| Permits & statutory fees | Council approvals and required documentation |
Speak to a Knockdown and Rebuild Specialist
Demolition
Demolition is managed as part of your knockdown and rebuild with Boutique Homes. Your Knockdown & Rebuild Specialist will guide you through the demolition process and confirm what’s included for your site as part of the overall project.
Requirements can vary depending on the existing home and site conditions, and a demolition permit is typically required. Your specialist will explain how this is handled and ensure everything is clearly understood before you proceed.
Site preparation
Site preparation costs in Melbourne are shaped by soil conditions, earthworks, drainage, and required adjustments to power, water, gas, or crossovers. A soil test helps identify these variables early, allowing site preparation to be planned accurately and with fewer surprises.
Permits and other required fees
Council and statutory fees form an important part of a Knockdown and Rebuild in Melbourne. These can include planning and building permits, asset protection fees, temporary fencing, and utility disconnections or reconnections. Understanding these requirements early helps keep the process clear and on track.
Home Construction
Home construction includes the build of your chosen home design, based on the agreed plans, inclusions and finishes for your project. Once confirmed, your home construction cost forms the core of your knockdown and rebuild price and is clearly outlined before you proceed.
Where we build in Metro Melbourne and Geelong
You’ve already found your neighbourhood; a Knockdown and Rebuild means you don’t have to give that up.
Boutique Homes has delivered homes across Metro Melbourne and Geelong for over 45 years, so it’s likely we build in your area. Our experience across established suburbs means we understand the local considerations that can influence what’s achievable on your block.
Expertly designed, inside & out
Your Knockdown and Rebuild Specialist will work with you to create a home to suit your lifestyle and complement your neighbourhood. Explore flexible design options, choose from a range of facades and personalise your home with custom interior selections, finishes and features.
Expert knockdown & rebuild finance solutions
We’ve partnered with construction finance experts, Resolve Finance, who can assist with specialised construction loans developed specifically for knockdown and rebuild projects. While you focus on enjoying the journey of creating your dream home, Resolve work closely with your project team, to manage your knockdown and rebuild finance approvals and settlement requirements.
Knockdown and Rebuild - Frequently Asked Questions
Knockdown and rebuilds are becoming more popular in Victoria. You not only get to stay in the neighbourhood you love, but you can create your dream home from scratch. We spoke to knockdown rebuild specialist, David Kelada, to understand the five reasons to consider a knockdown rebuild, including lower costs when compared to a renovation and maintaining your equity. Click here to learn more.
When considering a knockdown rebuild project with us, be reassured that you will have fixed and transparent pricing from the get-go. This means that you won’t experience any surprises throughout your journey and know exactly how much the project with cost at the beginning. Our full-service offering means that all factors will be considered when you are given your Preliminary Works Contract, with everything taken care of from site assessment to demolition and construction. Click here for a step-by-step guide to what your knockdown rebuild project would look like.
Your knockdown rebuild specialist will include all costs in your Preliminary Works Contract, including site assessments, demolition and construction. If you want to speak to a finance consultant about your budget concerns, your knockdown rebuild specialist can get in touch with our in-house finance team at Resolve Finance.
One of the benefits of choosing to knockdown and rebuild your home is that you avoid the costs of buying an established home, including paying stamp duty and agent fees. To read more about the benefits of choosing to knockdown and rebuild your home, click here.
Similar to any build journey, you will need to talk to a finance consultant to determine your budget and get their help to obtain the best loan to finance your knockdown and rebuild. Your Knockdown and Rebuild Specialist can put you in touch with a Resolve Finance consultant to assist.
For a knockdown and rebuild, you will need to pay $5000 at the time of signing a Preliminary Works Contract (PWC), 5% deposit at New Home Contract signing (less the $5,000 already paid) and the following progress payments during construction:
- Base slab complete – 10%
- Frame complete – 15%
- Lockup complete – 35%
- Fixing complete – 25%
- Final handover of keys – 10%
You will also have to pay a provisional sum, which is an amount of money included in the contract sum to cover work or materials, the extent of which cannot be specifically detailed when entering the contract. A provisional sum may be credited back if it is not required via a post contract variation, after the contract has been signed. This amount may or may not affect the finance of your knockdown rebuild depending on your budget as it will be factored into the final contract amount.
As part of our full service offering, Boutique’s expert team will undertake comprehensive demolition management of your site to make sure your build gets started and scheduled without any hidden costs. Click here for more information.
A knockdown and rebuild avoids all the unexpected costs of a renovation, for example subpar electrical wiring or plumbing, pest infestations and stamp duty costs. Entering into the knockdown rebuild process with Boutique ensures you will have fixed and transparent pricing from the get-go, as well as avoiding any nasty surprises. For more information on the benefits of a knockdown rebuild vs buying established of renovating, click here.
Your experienced project team will guide you through the entire process and take care of everything from site assessment and Council approvals to demolition, colours and construction. Click here for a step-by-step breakdown of what a knockdown and rebuild project would look like.
A Knockdown and Rebuild Specialist will help you select the best bespoke house plan and design option to suit your property, goals and personal style, while also complying with council and planning restrictions. Our specialists take into consideration not only the customers personal tastes, but also council restrictions and their budget before offering a suite of floorplans to choose from.
An experienced site assessor is specifically trained to find any potential issues with your design and block before they arise. Your qualified site assessor will work with your sales consultant to ensure that your selected Boutique home design and your own site are a perfect match. This process includes doing an in-depth review of your particular council overlays and residential code, checking the land title, and reviewing the typography (slope) of your block.
Included as part of your knockdown and rebuild, you will be assigned your own personal and qualified interior designer who will guide you through the entire process and help create the perfect vision for your new home.
Yes, an area-specific surcharge may apply to your Knockdown Rebuild. View surcharge area.
Speak to a Knockdown & Rebuild Specialist for site specific information.
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