Knockdown-Rebuild Process: What to Expect

Sometimes even if you live in the perfect neighbourhood, have the perfect neighbours, and are surrounded by the perfect amenities, sometimes you simply fall out of love with your house. If this sounds like you, then a knockdown rebuild might just be the perfect solution to your problems.

Rather than going through the stress of finding somewhere new to settle, why not build your dream home on the piece of land that you already own? In many cases, it ends up being the most economical solution and can also greatly increase the resale value of your property.

To make the process as stress-free as possible, we’ve put together this guide on what to expect during your knockdown rebuild. Let’s get started!

Pre-Requirements

Before getting too ahead of yourself, you need to get in contact with your local council and make sure that your knockdown rebuild can actually go ahead. The majority of councils have strict rules regarding knockdown rebuilds and if your home is in a heritage-listed suburb, chances are you won’t be able to move ahead.

You’ll also need to check if your land is able to be built on and have an understanding of all the permits and approvals you’ll require. Your council will be able to provide you with all the relevant zoning laws and limitations that apply to your land so that you can avoid any unnecessary (and expensive) headaches down the road.

Choose the Right Builder

Choosing the right builder is one of the most important aspects of your knockdown rebuild or home renovation. As it’s up to them to follow council regulations, stay within time and budget, and ensure your new home is well-built and meets all your expectations. We recommend meeting with at least three builders to shop around, get quotes and inspect their past work and display homes.

Once you’ve selected your builder, you can really start to collaborate and start to bring your vision to life. If there are any aspects of your existing home that you want to keep, such as your pool and any landscaping, make sure to discuss this with them. You’ll also have to work closely with them to finalise your budget and figure out the best way to stick to it throughout the process.

Home Design

Now that you’ve been approved by your local council, you can finally get started on designing your new home. Some of the factors you’ll have to consider include:

• Block size, orientation and site condition
• Planning regulations
• Neighbouring properties and accessibility issues
• Council controls

If you’ve chosen a competent builder, they’ll be able to work around any restrictions in place and come up with suitable alternatives if any of your ideas aren’t possible. We recommend inspecting your builder’s past work closely to look for any design inspiration and ideas for colours, materials, floor plans and more.

Finding a Demolition Contractor

Once you’ve signed with a builder and have all your permits and licences in place, the demolition stage can begin. Your builder should be able to recommend a demolition contractor for you and the overall process should be over and done with pretty quickly. Once the final testing is complete, construction will be able to start very soon.

Rebuilding Process

Finally, the time’s come to start your new home rebuild! This process can be a slow one, so make sure you’ve found a temporary home to stay in that’s comfortable, convenient and safe. Throughout the construction process, keep in constant communication with your builder, organise plenty of site visits and always stay in the loop.

Overall, you can expect your rebuild to take between 8 to 12 months, factoring in:

• Researching and getting quotes
• Gathering design and construction documents
• Demolishing your old home
• Dealing with any delays or unexpected issues such as asbestos, drainage, sewerage or ageing water
• The land you’re building on and its impact on excavation and building costs
• Heritage listings or tree preservation requirements
• Potential planning regulations and limitations they cause