Kit homes are becoming an increasingly popular choice for Australians seeking a more affordable and efficient alternative to traditional home construction. While the term “kit home” might bring to mind images of old fibro-shacks, modern versions have evolved significantly, offering greater customization and architecturally appealing designs.
Byron Bay-based hairdresser Cherie Ava is currently building a prefabricated kit home for her family of five. The couple has managed to customize their three-bedroom home and estimates they’ve saved around $60,000 compared to using a volume builder for a similar-sized house.
“I designed the internal layout of my entire home to suit our family’s needs. I was able to do some really unique things too, like putting crystals in my slab to create an energetic grid. My builder also allowed me to place the power box on the fence instead of on the house because I wanted a low EMF house,” Ava shared with Yahoo Finance.
“There are so many things I could do that I wouldn’t be allowed to with a volume builder.”
The couple purchased a 430 square metre block of land in Byron Bay after relocating from Victoria. For their home, they chose a kit home from Shed House, drawn to the barn-shaped design. The company offers homes ranging in price from $52,000 for a 58-square-metre dwelling to $175,000 for a four-bedroom 294sqm house. However, this cost only covers the kit itself, not the assembly process.
They began construction in October and hope to move into their new home in the coming weeks. Even with breaks over Christmas and Easter, Ava said the process was set to be much quicker than previous volume builds they had undertaken.
“With our other builds, they were all eight months long. I know they’re longer now because there are fewer trades available and materials are harder to source,” she explained.
What Makes a Kit Home?
A kit home is a type of prefabricated home where the main components, such as the framing, are pre-cut and prefabricated off-site before being delivered to the construction site for assembly. This approach helps reduce construction time, costs, and waste.
These homes can be built by “owner builders” or registered builders, as Ava and her husband have chosen to do. With a growing number of Australian companies offering kit homes, it’s clear there is increasing interest in this alternative housing option.
Growing Demand for Prefab Homes
Shed House founder and director Rhys Uhlich mentioned that the company is building for hundreds of Australians across the country. The business reported a 340 per cent increase in inquiries in January compared to the previous year.
Uhlich said customers are often attracted to the barn shed form and architectural style, but also the “DIY aspect” of these homes.
“The fact they go together so quickly means we’re really attracting owner-builders. It’s delivered on site, pre-cut, pre-punched, and it literally bolts together,” he told Yahoo Finance.
A Necessity Born Out of Innovation
Uhlich revealed that the business was born out of necessity after he and his family returned to Australia from the US. They had a limited budget and couldn’t afford a full architectural build. He also didn’t want to go with a volume builder, which he found uninspiring, or a modular build, which had limitations on size and height.
“It was more cost-driven, but I also loved the benefits the shed gave us, like the height, loft spaces, connected living upstairs and down, and keeping that open feel,” he said.
The Future of Prefab Construction
Prefabricated homes are being seen as part of the solution to Australia’s housing crisis, as they can be assembled in as little as 12 weeks, compared to over a year for traditional builds in NSW.
According to prefabAUS, prefab housing makes up just 8 per cent of homes built in Australia. However, analysis from Mordor Intelligence suggests the market is projected to grow by around 7 per cent annually, reaching $18 billion by 2030.
For those interested in exploring alternative housing options, the rise of kit homes presents a compelling choice—offering affordability, speed, and flexibility. As more Australians consider this approach, the industry is poised for continued growth and innovation.
