Kit Homes
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?
Kit Homes Can Grow With You
One of the best features of a custom kit home is the fact that as your space needs grow, so can your home with no adverse impact on the look of your home. Internal walls and windows positioning can be taken into consideration for later extensions. Discuss your needs with your chosen kit home company at inception and the necessary plans can be worked out.
Cost effective
The ability to easily add on later while maintaining the integrity of the look of your home makes home ownership a lot more affordable. A couple can start with a well priced two bedroom house with provisions to add on extra bedrooms when they want to start a family.
A family with two small children might want the option of a teenager’s retreat as the children grow. An older couple might need the ability to add on a self contained are for an elderly relative or an extra room for the grandchildren to visit.
Anyone might need a home office extension to focus on working from home, or an art studio, or even a photography darkroom. You can save for these extra extensions, learn enough on the original build to put up the extension without assistance, and not spoil the style or outside look of your home.
Kit Homes – Dispelling The Myths
There are still a few preconceived ideas surrounding kit homes. Some are positive and some are negative. As with everything kit homes have advantages and disadvantages but it is important to understand that this industry has come a long way.
Yes, a kit home can save time and money in many instances, but that is not the only focus for companies today. People are choosing these homes for convenience, flexibility, and suitability to Australian conditions.
It’s not always about doing it for less money, it’s about value for money, and getting everything provided on one package, for a set price, and you can see exactly how it will look. This type of time saving aspects are a strong draw card for kit homes. You get to see a good picture of the home you will get and you can tailor that to your individual personality.
Kit Homes Are Not Prefabricated Homes
It’s important not to lump prefabricated homes in with kit homes. Prefabricated homes are pre-built and trucked to the site. You are responsible for the footings and organizing tradesmen to connect water, power and sewerage, and then the already constructed building arrives and is situated on your footings and made secure. Larger buildings come in sections. There are some excellent quality prefabricated homes.
Owner-Builder of Kit Home – Responsibilities and Preparation
If you haven’t had experience in a new home build, being owner-builder of a kit home may seem a little daunting. This is by no means an easy job, and you must consider if the savings will outweigh the learning curve you will need according to your experience.
Being as prepared as possible is a key factor, the better organised you are, the easier you will deal with situations that may arise. Apart from the co-coordinating the actual build, there are professional tradesmen to book, council guidelines to be taken into consideration, and site preparation to get done.
There are a number of things to put in place to ensure the smoothest run possible, and to see you are protected both physically and legally during your build.
Please remember that each state and even each local government area will have their own guidelines so do check this out in your local council area, as well as the state.
Kit Homes for the Physically Disabled
Kit homes can suit many purposes because of their versatility. When you have a physical disability, this versatility can be important. Though kit homes may not be suitable for everyone with disabilities, they should be on your list of considerations for a new home. Many times the existing floor plans can be easily modified to accommodate the need for bigger rooms or easier access throughout the house. When that is possible, it means you can get the style of home you need at a cheaper price than would be possible in an architecturally designed home.
There are two important facts to know about disability in Australia. First is the fact that the term “disability” is inclusive and refers to people with physical, mental, and sensory limitations that can be short or long-term. The second fact to remember is that the physical disability group is the largest segment of the total disability population in Australia.
According to a 2003 Australian Bureau of Statistics survey, there are 3,350,600 million Australians with a physical disability of different severities. There is increasing focus in various industries to accommodate this significant portion of the country’s population with much of the focus on structuring public buildings so they are accessible by the disabled. But everyone must live somewhere, and when a person is disabled, finding an affordable home sometimes turn into one of the biggest challenges faced.
Soil Considerations When Choosing Kit Home Structural Materials
When you decide it’s time to buy a kit home, you will discover there are two types of floor systems, framing and trusses – steel or wood. There are several conditions which impact your choice of materials.
- Climate
- Slope
- Soil Conditions
Australia is a dry continent. It is abnormally dry under the best of conditions, and it has been worse than normal due to ocean currents leading to changes in the weather. Australia is one of the driest parcels of land in the world and this has implications when talking about soil conditions. Drought is hard on everything and that includes the earth itself.
When soil is dry due to drought conditions, its ability to carry a load is impacted. Dry soil is less able to sustain a heavy load which can lead to house shifting unless accommodations are made. One of those accommodations is the use of steel floor systems, and steel frames and trusses in the kit home construction.
Consistently Strong