Heard the saying ‘the worst house on the best street‘? As times go on, there are more and more people by default living in great areas however in run down old houses.
There is the question, should one renovate the house – which presents further challenges in itself. Or should you knock it over and start again?
If you love the location you live at, but aren’t a fan of the home, then a knockdown rebuild may be the solution. What’s that you ask? It quite literally means we knock down your current house, creating a vacant block of land to construct your new dream home on that same piece of paradise.
Why would you go this route over a major home renovation? There’s a misconception that renovations are the quicker or cheaper option. Although it will depend on the specific circumstances, it’s usually the opposite being more timely and cost effective to carry out a knockdown-rebuild. This is especially the case with older homes where unforeseen circumstances may lie. There are almost always unaccounted for complications, unforeseen delays and the like. By starting over, you also have complete control over your home design, a clean slate to build to suit your family’s needs.
So what does a knockdown rebuild look like?
Councils have fairly strict rules when it comes to knockdown- rebuilds. Before getting too excited, contact your local council’s ‘planning and building’ section to find out:
Some buildings are in heritage overlays and unable to be demolished.
From here, it’s time to make your application for demolition approval. There are many aspects that need to be considered when applying for demolition approval and therefore we highly recommend getting an expert involved. You will need a licenced contractor to carry out the demolition work regardless. They can usually assist in creating your demolition application. To obtain approval, besides lodging proof of ownership and insurance details of your contractor, a demolition plan will be filed outlining details about the building to be demolished and services to be disconnected such as water and sewer. A waste management plan will also need to be filed showcasing how the materials will be disposed of.
Once demolition approval is in hand, it’s time to research and engage an experienced building professional. It’s important to find someone that you can communicate well with, that understands your budget and vision, and of course has in depth understanding of council regulations and processes.
A experienced builder will not only offer advice, but help organise the permits and approvals required for your knockdown rebuild. They’ll know all the ins and outs of your block of land, including any setbacks and easements, covenants, utility disconnection and reconnections, traffic management plans during the knockdown-rebuild, tree removal, and the list goes on. There’s a lot of points that need to be thought through and organised to ensure a streamlined process not just for yourself and council, but the surrounding community. Accordingly, it’s critical to have the right team by your side leading the way.
With your budget in mind, it’s time to finalise your home design. Whether it’s with your preferred designer/architect or working with your builders in house design team, find someone that shares and understands your vision and also the realities of making it happen. We are proud to offer both our Blackwood Selections range of home designs and our Blackwood Exclusive custom home options. Whether we are modifying one of our own home designs or starting from scratch with a one-off home, we ensure the block makes the most of the land, it’s specifications, your budget, needs and desires.
As mentioned, you will need to engage a demolition contractor. We can assist in lining all of this up as it is important to have an accredited demolition specialist on your side. Besides the demolition itself, the utility companies need adequate notice to disconnect and remove their set up prior to the demolition taking place.
Once underway, the demolition specialist is responsible for all of the removal of the house materials. We work with some great teams that salvage and recycle as much material as possible. The demolition and complete removal of all debris can take anywhere from 3-10 days depending on a number of factors. The presence of asbestos can have a huge impact on the timeframe. You should receive an adequate timeframe when speaking with your contractor.
The best part. Seeing your dream come to life. Once the demolition is complete, and council approval is obtain on your new home design, your builders can get underway! The knockdown rebuild process is no doubt a large job, usually taking about a year, but it’s worth it when you have your dream location alongside your dream home.
Considering a knockdown rebuild? Contact us today to chat about your vision!
