Custom Home Builder in Melbourne

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q1. How much does it cost to build a custom home in Melbourne?

Melbourne construction currently runs around $2,100 to $3,900 per square metre for standard to mid range builds, with genuinely custom architect designed homes starting near $3,500 per square metre and premium builds going past $5,500. For a 200 square metre home that is roughly $420,000 to $780,000 in construction before land, demolition, permits, design and site costs. Site conditions such as slope, soil classification, rock and service relocation can move the total significantly, so we assess the site before quoting.

Q2. How long does a custom home take to build?

Most Melbourne custom builds and knockdown rebuilds take 12 to 24 months from initial design to handover. Construction itself is typically 8 to 14 months, with design, engineering and approvals accounting for the rest. Planning permits, where required, are the most common cause of delay, and a heritage or neighbourhood character overlay can add several months. We give you a realistic program at the start rather than an optimistic one.

Q3. What is the difference between a custom build and a knockdown rebuild?

Construction is essentially the same. A knockdown rebuild adds demolition, service disconnection and, on older homes, an asbestos assessment, but it puts you on an established block with mature trees and existing infrastructure. If you already own a home in a suburb you want to stay in, a rebuild is usually the better path than buying land elsewhere. The more useful comparison is rebuild versus heavy renovation, and we will give you an honest assessment of which makes sense for your property.

Q4. Do you handle permits and approvals for a new home?

Yes. Soil testing, structural engineering, energy rating, land survey, planning permit where required and the building permit are all coordinated by us as part of the contract. On a rebuild we also manage demolition permits and service disconnections. You are not left holding four consultant relationships while trying to keep a build date.

Q5. How do you keep a custom build on budget?

By defining the scope properly before contract rather than after. Most overruns on custom homes come from scope that was never fully documented, not from prices that changed mid build. We complete full construction documentation, price site conditions honestly rather than provisionally, issue a fixed price contract, and put every variation in writing with a cost attached before it is actioned. You get regular financial updates against the contract sum throughout.

Q6. Can you build a sustainable or energy efficient home?

Yes. All new homes in Victoria must meet minimum energy rating requirements, and going beyond the minimum is usually a good investment on a house you intend to live in. Orientation and glazing placement are free at design stage and cost a fortune to fix later. Beyond that, improved insulation, double or triple glazing, thermal breaks, solar and battery storage, rainwater capture and efficient heating and cooling are all worth discussing early, because they are design decisions before they are product decisions.

Q7. Do I need an architect, or can you handle the design?

Either works. We can develop the design in house, which keeps design and construction accountability in one place and generally shortens the program. If you would prefer an architect, we work alongside them and price from their documentation. What we would not recommend is starting construction from a concept design that has not been fully documented, because that is where variations come from.

Q8. What warranty and insurance covers a new home in Victoria?

From 1 July 2026, eligible domestic building work in Victoria valued over $20,000 and up to three storeys is covered by the Building and Plumbing Commission's Home Warranty scheme, which replaced Domestic Building Insurance. It covers incomplete, defective or non compliant work where the builder cannot or will not fix it, up to $400,000. Statutory warranty periods for structural and non structural defects apply as well, and a defects liability period runs after handover. We arrange the required cover and hand over every certificate at completion.