Your three options
Traditional build, overseas prefab, or Australian-made prefab.
Traditional build
A builder puts it up from scratch on your block. Local and to standard, but you've got months of trades in your backyard, the weather gets a say, and the price tends to creep. Many builders also only work in certain areas.
Prefab from overseas
Built in a factory overseas and shipped in. The maker often doesn't know Australian rules, can't help you with council, and isn't around if something goes wrong. What looks cheap can end up expensive.
Australian-made prefab
Most of the home is built under cover in our Australian factory while your site gets ready. Then we install and finish it on your block in about 14 days, for a fixed price. And we're local, so you can ring us or come and see us.
Side by side.
| Compared on | Traditional build | Prefab from overseas | Australian-made prefab (us) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where it's built | On your block, from the ground up | Overseas, then shipped in | Mostly in our Australian factory, finished on your block |
| Price | Variations are common and the price creeps | Looks cheap, but often ends up costing more | Fixed price, signed before fabrication starts |
| Time on your block | Months of trades in your backyard | Quick to place, plus local trades to connect it | About 14 days to install |
| Where they'll build | Many builders only work in certain areas | Shipped to you, but you need local trades to install it | Australia-wide, including remote blocks. Our team drives or flies in for the install |
| Materials and compliance | Australian standards | The maker often doesn't know local rules, and many don't meet requirements like fire ratings | Australian materials, built to Australian standards |
| Build quality | Weather and site conditions vary the finish | Quality can be hit and miss, and can break down after a few years | Built under cover and inspected before it leaves the factory |
| Who you deal with | Architect, builder and trades, separately | The importer, plus your own trades on site | One team, from assessment to install |
| Approvals | Varies by builder | Up to you, and the maker can't advise on council rules | Our town planners assess your block and manage the approval |
| Warranty | Builder's warranty insurance | Hard to claim on from overseas | Builder's warranty insurance and a 6-year structural warranty |
| If you're not happy | Depends on the builder | Not much you can do | We're local. Ring us, or come and see us |
The catch with overseas prefab
Cheap from overseas has a habit of getting expensive.
It’s a high-risk way to buy a home. What starts out as a bargain can turn into a headache and a real disappointment, and once it’s on your block there’s not much you can do about it.
They don't know the local rules
A lot of the time the manufacturer has no idea what Australian regulations ask for, and many homes don't meet requirements like fire ratings.
No help with council
They can't advise you on your council's rules, so the approval is on you.
Quality you can't check
You don't see it until it arrives, and by then it's too late to change much. If your home is already built and needs to go through approvals after it arrives in Australia, it means you'll have to take apart the home. Unfortunately, this happens more than you think.
Nobody to call
If something goes wrong, you're dealing with a company on the other side of the world.
With us
We’re a local company. If you’re not happy, you can ring us up or come and see us.
Why partial prefab
We build your home while your block gets ready.
A normal builder has to finish the slab before starting the walls. We build the home in our factory while the site work happens on your block, so you’re not waiting for one before the other.
The weather doesn't get a vote
Most of the build happens under cover, so rain and site delays are less likely to blow out your timeline.
Consistency beats custom
Most of our homes use roughly the same design and materials and are built by the same team in the same place.
Your backyard stays a backyard
About two weeks of install, not months of trades coming and going.
We'll go where builders won't
Because so much is built in our factory, we need far fewer trades on site. For remote blocks, our team drives or flies in for a set time to install.
Still built for your site
Every home is engineered for the block it's going on, sized from an 18 m² studio to a 70 m² two-bed.
Peace of mind
Covered like any other home.
“I did quite a bit of shopping around and am really happy I chose AnywhereHomes. You simply get the most bang for your buck.”
Chris · Sydney, NSWBuilder's warranty insurance
Your fixed-price contract is covered.
6-year structural warranty
On the structure of every home we build.
Manufacturer warranties
Appliances, roofing and cladding carry their own.
Insurable like any home
Add it to your home and contents policy like any other structure on your block.