4 Tips For Designing Your Kit Home
Modern kit homes are extremely versatile, multi-optional designs, with a very large range of extras and possible additions. You can literally design your dream home, using the resources of a full range of
design modes and motifs.
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Energy Efficient Homes — Easier With Kit Homes
Kit homes can be your perfect solution to building energy efficient homes. Because so much of the energy saving components come in the design phase you can look and compare methods and alternatives that will suit your family best.
There is also the added advantage of having design experts on hand to consult with and discuss energy efficient features. Kit homes also give you the advantage of being able to see energy efficiency in progress or talk to others about their experiences building energy savers into a home design.
Main Energy Saving Factors of Home Design
Here are many of the concepts you can think about and that will be already in place in many kit home designs:
Kit Home Designs For Sloping Blocks
One of the exciting things about kit homes is that you can use experts for advice and professional opinions to get a home design adapted to the slope of the building block.
Blocks can slope in various ways and are very common and yet some builders can shy away from these builds. A wonderful home can be achieved and take advantage of the land’s natural shape at the same time. There is no need to be spending extra money digging and filling to level a block completely.
These land types may not be without their challenges but they are very rewarding projects if you get the planning stage right.
What About Leveling The Block?
Kit Home Designs — 10 Tips To Getting It Right
Many design features need to be taken into consideration when looking at home design. Kit homes make the process easier with layouts you can customise and advice to help you make informed decisions.
Here are ten design tips that you can get started on when looking making decisions:
1. Good Preparation Is The Key To Being Satisfied
This is possibly the most important factor in any build. Doing your homework and really exploring all options is a key factor in a more relaxed and productive home build. Kit houses have a variety of options at your fingertips but you also have the opportunity to change the layout to suit the way your family functions.
2. Think Ahead For Future Needs
Try to think ahead to how your needs might change in the future. Perhaps you could consider a two bedroom home that can be added to as the family grows. You might want o add on a decking area later for outdoor living, perhaps the kids will leave home and give you options with empty bedrooms. You may even have an elderly relative move in with you and need a granny flat space, or teenagers retreat.
Kit Home Designs – Going Up or Out?
This is a question that will come up when choosing kit homes. In fact, it is always best to think about future needs when in planning stage.
However, each decision must be taken on its individual merits and rarely are two cases the same.
Why Plan Forward?
If this is to be the family home to raise the children in then perhaps a single story home is best. If the kids are all but grown up and you are looking for a teenager’s retreat maybe a granny flat down the back is the answer, but on the other hand if the spectacular view will add value to your home and provide a wonderful place for a relaxing cuppa, then a second story is the way to go.
If you are looking forward to a time when you’ll sell the home, try and get every possible need catered for. Make provisions for building on easily and this is a snap with kit homes. Be sure the foundations and building can take a second story if needed which is also very easy with a kit home.
That way you not only give yourself options but you give options to people buying the home in the future, and that flexibility is a great selling point.
Owner Builder Kit Homes – First Time Tips
Step by step meticulous planning is going to be your greatest asset as you prepare for your first owner-builder kit home project. Patience is a virtue and will reward you in the end with the smoothest process possible. It would be impossible to say that even then you will have no problems because life is life and things almost always do happen.
But as with any major undertaking, being prepared is the key to not losing control when things go a little awry. Get a task list together and work through that on a daily basis, this is the best system to getting to the final goal successfully.
Don’t Get Caught Up In the Emotions
By far the most exciting part in the beginning is choosing a design. But there are so very many kit home designs available it may be very difficult to narrow it down. Of course each company will likely have a little of something you love and little of something you don’t love. Now is the time to think clearly and get a good list going between you and your partner, and even the kids, if that applies.
If you have lived in other homes you may well have a set of ideas of what works for you and your family and what doesn’t. The first job of the owner-builder is to get a list of those things you cannot do without, and those you simply cannot live with. From there you write down any other preferences and get all involved to have their input. The pictures on websites inflame desires and while fun can often have everyone more confused than ever. Take a look by all means, and if you fall in love with one check out the company well.
Kit Homes – Perfect Choice For Small House Plans
Affordability may seem the best reason to look at the small house plans offered by kit home companies. Certainly no one can argue with the fact that the smaller mortgage you need right now the better, so cottages and small houses are back to being very popular in all areas. But affordability is not the only reason; in fact, the savings may well be an added bonus on top of everything compact housing has to offer.
Economic Pressure
In the years from up until now statistics showed that despite the fact that the average household (amount of people in a home) grew smaller, and blocks of land lessened, the actual size of the house increased. That trend may indeed be about to turn around with people feeling the pinch of the world economy squeeze. There are enough of us around to remember the 18% interest rates and low wages of the Keating ‘recession Australia had to have’ days that we get a little nervous when anyone mentions that word, recession.
Now with interest rates at an all time low, it is understood that one day they will have to increase even if just a few percent. This stimulus spending has tided us over much of the way, but there is still a sense of wondering if the worst is still yet to come. Plus there is the added fact that self-funded retirees who live of their interest are feeling the pinch and so are downsizing homes in many instances. So in true Australian style we are playing it clever and not hard. Smaller homes answer a lot of ways to save money. Kit homes extend those savings even further.
Lessen Your Carbon Footprint
Australian Kit Homes and Choosing the Right Builder or Contractor
When looking for the person to construct your chosen Australian kit home, this process will be determined by a few main factors:
- Do you have the desire to be an owner-builder?
- Is there a good choice of experienced kit home builders in your area?
- Are you prepared to owner manage the project under an Owner Builder license or will you need the builder to do this for you?
Some may be able to able to get a good range of quotes while others may be limited to the number of builders in their area and the builder’s availability at the time.
However, there is no reason to cut corners here. You must have exacting standards and ensure any builder has a minimum set of criteria to meet before he will be considered for the work.
What your builder must have:
Australian Kit Homes for Australian Vacations
Australian kit homes are the perfect answer to building that holiday retreat you’ve always wanted. Having a recreational home to go to in a favourite spot is part of the Great Australian Dream.
Because kit homes come in all sizes and layouts there is definitely you could make your home away from home. Plus if you decide to retire to your holiday spot you can add extra space whenever you’re ready, that’s the beauty of a Kit Home. You can start out with a one bedroom beach shack or launch right into the five bedroom place and invite all the extended family.
Because kit home floor plans are completely adjustable you can decide whether you’d like more living space, more bedroom space, or more outdoor living area. There are plenty more reasons why an Australian kit home is perfect for your holiday home.
Low Maintenance
Kit Homes – Are They Better?
The perception of kit homes being a lesser quality than traditionally built homes may have dogged the industry for some time. However, top companies are now proving that their kit homes are often a superior quality, faster to construct, and cheaper than doing it all from scratch.
The times where these homes were thought of as inferior is over and in this tightened economy, kit homes are offering people a real opportunity to have a brand new home under their own terms and within their budget.
Who will construct the home may be the most important step in getting all you can from your build. More opportunities for people to step into the owner-builder role are created by using kit homes. This is an important factor for many who want the thrill and savings of creating their own home.
Using a good quality kit home does save on time and can be tailored to your needs from the best companies. Choosing the best builder you can is another important factor, the kit home supplier cannot be blamed for poor workmanship during the construction, if you cannot be an owner-builder at least try to project manage the build.
- Look for these time and money saving attributes as you look at kit home providers:
- Fantastic variety of floor plans to choose from
- Plans already developed
- Your choice of level of build – lock up, Lining and Fit-out, Floor Systems
- Good range for land type – sloping or flat
- Timber or Steel frames and trusses available
- Lay your own slab if preferred
- Insulation included in fit outs
- Ability to customise
- Do they perform other tasks e.g. plans submitted to council?
- Are there display homes available to see?
- Do they offer a free delivery area?
- Is a kitchen, bathroom fittings, toilet included in fit out price?