Everything you need to know about a Knock down and Rebuild

by Carlisle Homes

If you absolutely love your existing location and can’t bear the thought of leaving, but you’ve outgrown your existing home - a knockdown and rebuild is the perfect solution. Similarly, if you have found the ideal block in your desired location but the home doesn’t match your vision, a knock down and rebuild offers you the opportunity to have the best of both worlds. 

In this comprehensive blog, we will guide you through everything you need to know about undertaking a knock down and rebuild project.

What actually is a Knockdown Rebuild (KDR)? 

A knockdown rebuild as the name suggests, involves demolishing an existing home to create a blank canvas on which you can build a brand new home of your choosing. Over the past decade, this has become an increasingly popular option within the Inner and Middle Melbourne suburbs as land becomes more scarce, and homeowners look to build a more flexible and sustainable home that will see them into the future. In fact, according to the Housing Industry Association (HIA), knock down and rebuild projects represent nearly a third of all new detached homes Australia-wide.

Why choose a Knock down Rebuild?

There are many reasons why a knock down and rebuild is advantageous to homeowners:

Location

Living in the ideal location is often the biggest driver for knockdown rebuild projects around Melbourne. Whether you’re an existing resident wanting to stay in a suburb you’re familiar with and love, or someone looking to move into a neighbourhood with access to quality schools, local amenities, shops and beautiful surroundings, a knockdown and rebuild allows homeowners to achieve all of this without compromising on home design or someone else’s dream home.

Cost-Effective 

Knocking down an existing home and rebuilding a new one is often more economical than undertaking significant and disruptive renovations. Renovations are known for cost blow-outs and compromises due to the challenges of working around existing structures and hidden issues. Conversely, a knock down rebuild provides homeowners with full control over the entire process - with a new home designed specifically to meet their needs and preferences.

Modern Amenities 

When you build a new home you get to enjoy the benefits of everything being brand new. From modern amenities, fittings and fixtures that reflect the latest styles, to energy-efficiency that results in decreased running costs and a comfortable home year round - a new build ensures your home and floor plan is entirely suited to your lifestyle and preferences. Additionally, a new home built by Carlisle Homes comes with a 25-Year Structural Warranty, as well as individual product warranties on all fittings and fixtures.

Increased Property Value

A brand new home can significantly boost your property’s market and resale value. When you build a new home, you not only enhance the desirability of your property but also contribute to elevating the value of the entire neighbourhood. By creating a home that is perfect for your family now and into the future, you’re ensuring it will appeal to future buyers for the same reasons if you ever decide to sell.

Assessing your block for knock down and rebuild suitability. 

Before you jump into a knockdown and rebuild, it’s important to assess your block to determine whether it’s suitable for a new build. Here are some important things to consider: 

Block conditions

The conditions of your block will determine whether a knockdown and rebuild is suitable. If your block is relatively flat, has no large or significant easements or planning overlays, is accessible and has clear setback boundaries - then building a new home with Carlisle Homes is a feasible option. However, if your block is complex, with steep slopes, limited access or restrictive planning regulations, a renovation or custom architectural build may be the way to go. 

It pays to chat with one of our New Home Sales Consultants that specialise in knockdown and rebuilds. This is a great first step in assessing the feasibility of a knock down rebuild for your property - visit us at one of our many displays or contact us today to schedule an appointment. 

Or to understand the entire process a little more, visit our KDR page and download our 60+ page KDR Information Pack.

Understand local planning restrictions

Every local council in Melbourne has a set of planning restrictions, guidelines and regulations. Before commencing a knock down rebuild project, it’s important you understand these rules. Some of the things that need to be considered include:

• Setback requirements
• Height restrictions
• Heritage or zoning regulations
• Easements
• Traffic management requirements 

Chatting with a consultant from Carlisle can help you navigate these requirements and ensure your project is feasible and compliant.

Selecting your dream home design

When deciding on whether to knock down and rebuild, choosing the right design and floorplan is key to ensuring your new home meets the requirements of you and your family both now and well into the future. 

Consider what you need both now and into the future

How does your family use your current home and where do frustrations exist? Do you not have a separate space for young kids and their toys? Are teenagers and their friends occupying the TV area constantly? When you entertain, is there no synergy between the indoors and outdoors? Depending on what life stage you are in, the needs for your new home will change. If you’re looking to scale up, a double-storey may be a better choice. If you’re an empty-nester but want a space perfect for entertaining with all of the finest inclusions, then a spacious single storey design may be more practical. It’s about what you need from your home.

Matching your home design to the neighbourhood

It’s important to choose a facade and home that fits within the existing neighbourhood streetscape, especially if you’re considering selling in the future. A design that complements the surrounding homes will likely have broader appeal. At Carlisle Homes, we offer a wide range of stunning facades - from Hamptons to French Provincial, modern to traditional - so you can find a facade that not only suits your taste, but that aligns with the streetscape. Explore our huge range on our website and by using our online Visualiser.

Orientation is key

Block orientation will determine how light, bright and comfortable your new home will be. For most customers that are building a new home, a bright and airy home usually tops their list of wishes. For example, a home with north facing living areas will receive the most natural light throughout the day, which passively warms the home and reduces reliance on heating and cooling systems. Our home designs at Carlisle have already been designed with sustainability in mind, and meet a minimum 7-star energy-efficiency rating. This not only guarantees a beautiful home to live in, but a comfortable one too. 

Materials and Sustainability

Choosing durable, sustainable materials for both your home and landscaping is key to ensuring longevity and reducing maintenance costs. At Carlisle Homes, we work with Australia’s most renowned suppliers to provide high-quality materials like Hebel, which offers excellent insulation, acoustic qualities, and sustainability.

Understand your finances

With any construction project, it’s important to consider your finances and budget. Carlisle Homes offers an in-house finance team who can guide you through the home loan application process, including bridging loans and comparing home loan products. We offer specialist advice on finance for new home builds including:

• Analysis and comparison of hundreds of home loan products
• Assistance with your financial planning and insights into your needs
• Expert guidance on home loan structure and servicing
• Assistance with any government grants

Working with specialist finance experts will save you time, money and stress throughout your new home build. Contact them for an obligation-free chat whenever you are ready.

Working with a builder you can trust throughout the process

Choosing the right builder is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when it comes to building a new home from the ground up. Look for the following attributes when shortlisting your favourites: 

Proven track record, experience and results

It’s important to see previous work from any builder you are considering to ensure they have proven experience in the industry - especially when it comes to knocking down and rebuilding, as this is much more complex than building within a new estate development. Carlisle Homes has a dedicated team that specialises in knock down and rebuilds, offering industry-leading guarantees and a wealth of experience to guide you through the process as efficiently (and with as little stress!) as possible.

Transparency and trust

Many builders don’t offer pricing and inclusion details upfront - in fact it’s often extremely difficult to get your hands on! At Carlisle Homes, we provide all the information you’ll need to make a sound investment decision upfront, including our base house pricing, inclusions, our latest promotions, site start date, completion timeframe and a 25-year structural guarantee. This ensures there are no hidden surprises. You can also walk through one of our many display homes before you buy to check out construction quality, colour schemes and level of finish.

Consider landscaping design from the outset 

Landscaping is often left a bit too late in new builds, which can result in higher costs and disruption when you’re wanting to settle into your new home. Planning landscaping as early in the process as possible ensures that your outdoor spaces will integrate perfectly with your new home, creating those spaces you’ve been envisioning since forever. 

Consider how the inside of your home will flow into your outdoor space. Do you want your alfresco to become an extension of your living area? Then consider extending your flooring from the inside to the outside to create a seamless flow. Would you like a space where you can get everyone out of the house and into the outdoors? Then add an outdoor kitchen, firepit and pool into your backyard!

Navigating the building process

The construction process is usually what causes the most amount of stress in a new home build. Understanding the process from end-to-end will help reduce this anxiety and contribute to a smooth and successful build journey.

At Carlisle Homes, we recognise the importance of clear communication upfront, which is why we guide you through each step of the process with our personalised customer portal, Carlisle Connect, our comprehensive website and our convenient Home Files podcast which all ensure you are informed and confident throughout the journey.

Be sure to check out Season 1 of our Home Files podcast, entirely dedicated to knock down and rebuild projects.

A knockdown rebuild success story in Boronia

Mitar and Tracey always knew they wanted to design and build their forever home. Along with staying in their existing neighbourhood, an energy efficient and comfortable home was their ultimate priority. After considering over 100 different floorplans from both custom architects and volume builders – they realised the double storey Sorrento Grand Retreat by Carlisle Homes was the only way to take advantage of their block size and build a spacious home that would flex with their family. And they couldn’t be happier, or prouder, of what they’ve achieved!

The better way to rebuild

A knockdown and rebuild with Carlisle Homes is an exciting way to achieve not just your dream home, but your dream home in your ideal location. 

By choosing the right builder, carefully planning your design and considering the long-term needs of your family, you can ensure your new home is everything you’ve ever wanted - and more.  

Contact us today

Chat with one of our dedicated knockdown rebuild specialists today who can talk you through the process, assess your site’s suitability and recommend home designs to suit your lifestyle. 

What do you need from me to get started?

To start the process, we need:

• An accurate and full copy of your Contract of Sale of Land, including your Land Title document.
• Any ideas you have about your preferred home design from the Affinity Collection or Inspire homes.

Read about the entire KDR process here