How Much Can a DIY Home Construction Cost?

Most kit home construction projects will take between three and six months to complete and can be way cheaper than using commercial custom home construction contractors; a little less if more time is invested and slightly longer if the tasks are spread out over longer periods of time. As exciting as these projects can be, they can rapidly become impossible if the prospect of costs isn’t considered as early as possible.

Not only are there the costs of any land purchases to consider; the value of the kit itself can vary depending on the size and space that they will offer to their inhabitants.

Is there an average cost per kit?

The first thing to consider is that ready-designed packages can be cheaper to purchase, but might not always be suitable for certain types of land. Secondly, customised properties will often have a small fee applied for the design, as well as any base costs for materials. Most DIY kits will be available in sizes that revolve around bedrooms.

For example, 1 bedroom properties can be the cheapest, whereas 3 bedrooms or more can be two of three times the price.

Then there’s the factor of construction to consider. If you consider the following example, it should provide a better idea of what the initial costs can be:

Laying a Foundation

In order for the house to be constructed, it will require foundations to protect the property from seismic activity and other natural events. The foundation can be made of solid concrete, or rely on columns to raise the house off of the ground (especially useful when building a wooden log cabin). The cost of the foundation can vary depending on the size of the home, but an estimated cost according to construction agencies would be roughly $100 AUD per metre square of concrete.

Purchasing the Kit

The cost of a kit can vary from just $20,000 right up to $80,000 AUD depending on the size and shape of the property. If the buyer is planning on taking care of the construction themselves there may not be any additional erection fees to consider – but the cost of shipping, plumbing connection and electrical installation can also be worth considering (and can cost up to $5,000).

Installing the Home

With the plot of land prepared, the foundations laid and the kit ready for assembly; the final cost can relate to having the property constructed by contractors. Most will charge based on the size of the home, as well as the time that it might take to erect it entirely. When estimating the cost of construction, most agencies will charge 100% of the cost of the property, or 105-110% depending on their particular features and services.

Overall, a 3 bedroom home could cost roughly $200,000 ($800,000 cheaper than a regular 3 bedroom home in Sydney on average). A 2 bedroom can cost up to $150,000 and a 1 bedroom can total $70,000 to $80,000 AUD according to manufacturing and construction companies.