Knocking down a dated or dilapidated home and building a new one in its place brings multiple lifestyle benefits
The premise is simple. You knock down an old dwelling — one that is dated or dilapidated, too small or poorly designed — and build in its place a home that optimises the site and offers you all the space and inclusions your family needs. Unsurprisingly, the advantages of a knockdown rebuild have made it an increasingly popular alternative for those who don’t want to move or embark on a major home renovation.
“There are many reasons why a knockdown-rebuild project can be the ideal solution for families seeking a lifestyle upgrade or simply more space to live. Renovating while living in the home can be a costly, disruptive and lengthy process, especially if the home is of an age where asbestos or lead may be present,” says Daniel Logue, General Manager, Fairmont Homes NSW.
“You could move and buy a new home, but many families steer away from this due to the stress of inspections, negotiations, rising house prices, and the likelihood of ending up with a home that you have had to compromise on. A knockdown-rebuild offers a new beginning; an opportunity to design your dream family home without compromising on anything at all — and that includes location.”
The advantages of a knockdown rebuild
If it is an existing family home you’re looking to replace, one of the biggest advantages of a knockdown-rebuild is you get to stay in the same neighbourhood. This means your kids can stay in the same school and your family can maintain their existing routines once you move back in to the new home. For family flexibility, it can also allow you to upsize/downsize without needing to move to a new suburb or street.
Another advantage of a knockdown rebuild on an existing property can mean that you may choose to keep existing improvements that you have previously made, such as a tennis court, pool or shed.
In many cases, older homes that are most commonly demolished for knockdown-rebuild projects are located on larger blocks of land than modern estates provide. This means that an added advantage of not moving can be greater land area, offering more living space.
According to the Housing Industry of Australia, nearly a third of all new detached homes are the result of a knockdown-rebuild project. It is a particularly popular trend in suburbs 5km to 20km from the CBD, and in many cases this is because it can be more cost-efficient than a large-scale home renovation and/or extension.
Location, location
There are three typical knockdown-rebuild scenarios. As discussed, one is knocking down an old family home that is too small in favour of building something bigger with a better floor plan and all the mod cons. Another is finding an outmoded home on a prime block of land and building a modern family home in its place. The other is demolishing an old, single-family home in a high-growth area and constructing a duplex, either to live in or as an investment.
Location, as ever, is key and what tends to be a main driver of many knockdown-rebuilds. Families with deep roots in a given location may not want to move, so tearing down the family home and replacing it with something that will see them into the future makes sense on a number of leveles. Being able to live in a new home without having to relocate is the ideal scenario for some.
Other people have a strong desire to live in a highly sought-after location, perhaps in the inner city or an old, established suburb, where vacant land isn’t available. In these situations, buying a tear-down home and building a new home in its place is the only way to live in your dream location in your dream home.
The same can apply to coastal and beachfront locations where an out-of-date holiday home might be demolished, making way for a stunning new home that capitalises on the space and views. It’s also a great option for rural and regional areas.
Lifestyle upgrade
With a knockdown-rebuild you don’t just get the location you prefer, you get the home — and lifestyle — you want. A comfortable, more energy-efficient home with the layout that works for you — a home that offers improved structural integrity and ease of maintenance due to the use of the latest building materials and up-to-the-minute technology.
“Freedom of design choice and the ability to choose your ideal floor plan are big benefits,” says David Bourke, Sales & Marketing Manager, Clarendon Homes. “A well-proportioned layout that offers open-plan living is what people are looking for — and they want to make the most of their outdoor spaces so they want generous alfresco living areas and seamless indoor-outdoor connections. A touch of luxury is also important as is a home designed to make entertaining easy.
“When you get a brand new home from the ground up, this also includes sewerage systems, hot water systems and the like, and you have a home that is modern and individually tailored to your family’s current and future lifestyle. The other benefit of a knockdown-rebuild, versus a renovation, is that a new home will have a better re-sale value and therefore offer you a better return on your investment.”
The knockdown rebuild process
So what’s involved if you decide to travel down the knockdown-rebuild route with a project home builder? The process employed by McDonald Jones is a great example of how the journey can and should work. Step one is meeting with a Building and Design Consultant and choosing your preferred design. Next, a team member visits your site to check the suitability and look into any restrictions that may apply to your block, road and site access, plus also assess traffic control considerations and check local planning requirements.
This done, it’s time for the knockdown-rebuild tender. A team member gives you a complete quotation and if you decide to proceed with an initial acceptance fee, you secure your tender price for 12 months. The company then orders soil, services and engineering reports for your block. Once your reports are received, your final plans are drawn and an accurate all-inclusive tender is prepared.
The next step is to meet with one of the company’s interior designers to decide on the colour selections, features and finishes throughout your home and put your personal stamp on the final design. After this, detailed plans are drawn up and you’ll be provided with a contract.
Once the contract is signed, you pay the deposit and all the required paperwork is submitted to the council for approval. The final stage is demolition of your old home and the start of building your new one.
Things to consider
As a knockdown-rebuild typically takes place in established streets and built-up areas, ensure your builder uses tradespeople who are respectful of your neighbours to reduce problems with noise and privacy.
You also need to consider parking and access for suppliers and the delivery of building materials. If the site is on a main road or near a bus stop, traffic control may be needed which increases costs and, potentially, time during the application process. Proximity to schools, public buildings and crossings can also affect access and safety controls, and lead to extra costs that you need to plan for.
Location of utilities can also be an issue. In some older areas the utility connections are in the road, which means access to services needs to be opened and resurfaced. If this is the case, additional cost, time and traffic control will be involved.
As with any other new home project, doing your research and choosing the right builder is essential. Experienced knockdown-rebuild builders will be able to guide you through the entire process. They will know what additional costs to factor in and what is involved through their due diligences on the site and their knowledge of council requirements. Experience matters here.
For more information,
