Kit homes are pre-fabricated homes designed and manufactured in the factory and shipped onsite with all or most of the materials, components, and even plumbing included. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle with each parts measured, designed, and fabricated to fit perfectly to create a complete piece. Some people think that these are lesser quality homes that have smaller spaces and low-grade materials. However, this is a general misconception because quality will always depend on the supplier or manufacturer. You can get a huge kit home that will last for a lifetime with a reliable supplier that offers high-quality materials, components, and services.
First and foremost, what makes this type of home popular, especially in the Australian market, is the lower cost to build a home. Compared to the traditional approach to home design and construction, a pre-designed and pre-fabricated kit can cost 30% less than site-built homes. The overall expense can be reduced further if you build it on your own without hiring contractors for construction. This works for homeowners who have the skills and some help from family members and friends. The time it would take to finish building a home is must faster because design, materials, and other components are already available and would simply need to be put together for completion. With the help of contractors, it would take 2-3 days to finish building a home. That’s faster than site-built homes that would normally take months or years to be completed. It saves you time and cuts down more costs along the way.
Despite the benefits and advantages a kit home offers to potential homeowners, certain limitations prevent others from availing of this low-cost property alternative. Considering terrain and other environmental conditions, a regular kit home may not always be appropriate to areas with uneven and challenging terrains, which requires a customized home design and architecture. While kit homes are generally popular in Australia due to the availability of land, other countries and states like the UK have limited lots for homeowners to build kit homes.
Furthermore, while kit homes come in a variety of designs from traditional or rustic to modern and eco-friendly, there’s little or no room for modification or adjustments as the design and components are fixed or predetermined. If you prefer your home to be a certain way with a couple of inclusions and alterations, a kit home may not be ideal for you. Homeowners, however, are initially given several options from existing designs by suppliers. While adjustments are not always accommodated by suppliers, you can inquire if a supplier can oblige you with slight modifications to existing designs.
With these advantages and disadvantages, you can now make informed decisions whether to opt for a kit home or not. For such a long-term and lifetime investment, always be an educated consumer and know the pros and cons involved.
