Have you outgrown your old house? Tired of its appearance and dated layout? Rather than renovating or upping sticks and buying or building elsewhere, why not consider demolishing your existing property and replacing it with an energy efficient, brand new home on your existing block of land. A knockdown rebuild can not only be a more affordable option for many homeowners, but it allows you to stay in the area you love and on land you’re familiar with!
Interested to learn more? Here are six smart reasons to consider a knock down rebuild project.
1. A knockdown rebuild can save you money by avoiding unexpected costs
The cost of a knockdown rebuild on your land in Melbourne can actually be cheaper than renovating an existing home. If the renovations needed to make your home more liveable are extensive, demolishing your current house and starting from scratch can be more cost-effective. Often, the demolition and rectification work required when renovating can swallow up a large chunk of your budget before new work even begins.
"Carlisle Homes is dedicated to providing exceptional quality for each and every customer, irrespective of your budget. Opting for a knockdown rebuild means you can save money without having to compromise on the quality and efficiency in your home." - John Doulgeridis, Managing Director, Carlisle Homes
It’s generally cheaper per square metre to knockdown and rebuild a new home than to extend or renovate an old one. With a knockdown rebuild project, you get a fresh, modern and energy-efficient home for less than the cost of a renovation. It’s an increasingly popular choice for families looking to save money on rebuild costs and stamp duty to create their dream home, with a dedicated knockdown rebuild team.
2. You get a home designed for modern living
Old homes have old features that don’t always suit the way we live today. Common complaints include small, outdated showers, closed-off kitchens, benchtops that aren’t wide enough to accommodate appliances and nowhere to escape the sound of the television (or others in the home!). New homes are designed with all the key features you need for a contemporary lifestyle featuring well-appointed, open-plan kitchens, media and rumpus rooms, spacious bathrooms and generous, custom-designed storage so you can move in and start living your best life straight away.
Why knockdown and rebuild? So you can have the perfect dream home for your needs. Explore our complete range of floorplans and home designs suitable for knockdown and rebuild and work alongside the best design consultants in the industry.
3. No compromises - the complete package
Do you dream of an oversized bathroom retreat? Seamless indoor-outflow? A butler’s pantry? An open-plan kitchen/living area where the whole family can congregate? The cost of a knockdown rebuild is much more cost-effective than trying to renovate all these contemporary spaces into your old home.
A renovation often means working around existing structures and having to make compromises, whereas knocking down and building from scratch gives you the freedom to design your layout to suit your family. This could include features such as zoned family living spaces, alfresco dining areas and all the best trends in design and construction.
Make your new house entirely unique
Your dream home should not only cater to your family’s needs now and in the future, but reflect your personal style and the way you love to live.
In our Inspire and Affinity Collection, you’ll find luxury, dream home designs to suit blocks of every size and orientation. And they are all fully customisable, allowing you to choose the perfect floorplan, facade, and finishes to suit your personality and lifestyle.
A fully-qualified interior designer will work alongside you in our state-of-the-art Spectra Showroom to customise your home with key features that reflect your unique style and preferences. From creating an energy efficient home to suit the shape of your block or utilise the latest new materials, our experts will guide you through the entire knock down rebuild process.
4. Less risk and brand new home
Older homes often have dated wiring and pipes and hidden structures which can lead to nasty surprises when works begin. Renovations are known for running over time and over budget – the biggest problem is that you never know what you’re going to uncover when you pull up the floorboards. This ‘unknown’ factor means a renovation is more likely to take longer and run into unforeseen challenges, which can result in extra costs that take you over-budget.
At Carlisle Homes, we’re the experts in knockdown rebuilds and can help you create your perfect home within any of the popular inner-city suburbs. When you build your dream home with us, you benefit from a fixed price contract and all building costs known upfront. Our knockdown rebuild specialists will guide you through the entire knock down rebuild process - from assessing an existing house on your land or a new block, to helping you select a demolition company or demolition contractor and obtain your demolition permit and asset protection permit, right through to allocating you a site manager who will manage the construction process - we will ensure you are empowered through the knockdown rebuild process so that your dream home journey is a seamless and enjoyable one.
A 25-year structural guarantee so you can enjoy peace of mind
Building your forever home is likely to be the biggest and most important investment of your life, so you want it to last. Our 25-year structural guarantee gives you the peace of mind of knowing you’ve built a quality, spacious home that your family can grow and thrive in for decades to come.
5. Stay in a neighbourhood you already love
Moving away from friends, schools and a community you love can be gut-wrenching for everyone in the family. With a knock down rebuild you get the best of both worlds – remain in your community and achieve the house of your dreams. Choosing to knock down and rebuild means minimal disruption to your family and their routine. There’s no need to move schools or re-establish yourself in a new neighbourhood – you stay in the location you’ve grown to love, close to family, friends and amenities.
Explore our many new home designs to suit your neighbourhood - paying particular attention to your facade and its streetscape suitability. Find a display home near you to walk through and experience new home ownership for yourself.
6. It’s easier to make your home energy-efficient
Incorporating smart, energy-efficient features into your new home slashes power costs and makes it comfortable year-round – they’re also a great selling point if you decide to move down the track. Undertaking a knock down rebuild allows you to incorporate the latest sustainable materials, features and fixtures into your home’s design in a way that a renovation often can’t – think thermal and acoustic insulation, window placement to maximise natural light, orientation to optimise winter sun and provide summer shading, cross ventilation and automated window coverings to control indoor temperatures. Knockdown rebuild homes offer a better way to live.
All Carlisle homes meet the Victorian government’s 7-star energy rating requirements. If sustainability is important to you and you want to save money on your energy and water bills, we can provide advice to help you achieve an even higher energy-efficiency rating or simply make your home more efficient - ensuring your new home ticks all your boxes.
Keen to learn more about a knockdown and rebuild? Listen to Season One of our Home Files podcast
Ready to kick off the knockdown rebuild process with Carlisle?
Not every home is suitable for a knock down rebuild so it’s important to do your research. Local council and planning restrictions relating to heritage overlays, setbacks in line with neighbours, overland flooding or excessive slope can all be restrictive to knock down rebuilds. Proximity to main roads and powerlines can also be an issue.
To find out whether your home is suitable, speak to a knockdown rebuild specialist at one of our many Carlisle Homes display homes across Melbourne. You can book an appointment on the Carlisle Homes website.
Ricky D'Alesio
Senior Designer
Rickys expertise is broad, involved in all aspects of design including space planning, structural integrity, and interior floor plan and facade design.
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Carlisle Homes has been managing Knockdown-Rebuild projects for many years so please click here for more advice on your options or contact the Carlisle Homes team on
1300 328 045 or you can send us an enquiry here.