A common question we get asked here at Westbuilt is “What are the differences between a modular home and a kit home?”
And we get it, there are certain similarities between these two building methods. However in reality, they are quite a bit different! In this post, we look at the key differences between kit and modular construction.
What is a kit home?
So first up, what is a kit home? Essentially, a construction “kit” is provided to you for you to erect and complete, not dissimilar to the principle of a flatpack Ikea kitchen. You will normally have a choice in the overall style, the fittings, the fixtures as well as some say on the design of the home.
Once you have finalised the design and style of your home, the kit home factory will manufacture and then deliver your kit. It is then up to you to put it through council, organise an owner builders’ licence, erect the kit and organize and external trades such as plumbers and electricians.
So in a nutshell, a kit home is a simple and easy “DIY” way to build your own home.
What is a modular home?
Ok, so now we have the definition of a kit home clear in our mind. Compared to a kit home, modular building is in fact quite dissimilar.
A modular home is manufactured and completed in a factory style environment, split into large modules, and then transported to site. Generally speaking, a modular home builder will organise the engineering, certification, council approvals, manufacture, installation and completion of the home.
Modular building actually has more in common with traditional on site construction, apart from the fact that around 80% of the building work is completed in a factory prior to installation.
Is modular or kit the way to go?
So each building method has its pro’s and con’s. While here at Westbuilt we specialise in modular homes, we recognise that a modular building may not be the best option in some cases. To help guide you, we’ve put together a few situations that might highlight which option is best.
- You want to be fully involved in the build and have time on your side. You’ve got a good DIY background and understand the concepts of building = Kit Home would be a great option for you.
- You’re building on an acreage site, you are time poor and want a quality home within a guaranteed timeframe for a fixed price = Modular building is most likely the better option for you in this situation.
Which option is more affordable?
One of the most common myths is that it is a “cheaper” option to build a kit or modular home compared to going with the traditional on site construction route. And yes, a kit home will most likely cost you less than more conventional methods of building, but you do have to substitute that cost saving with large investments of your time. You will also not be able to accurately predict the final cost of your home at the start of the project.
Meanwhile, modular home building costs are generally on-par with traditional onsite builders. You also benefit from conventional fixed price contracts and government oversight of the building process.
To get an idea of our modular home costs, click here to download our Pricing Guide or on the icon below.
Conclusion
We hope this post has helped to provide you with some insight into the differences between modular and kit homes. Whatever method of building you choose, make sure you do your research to ensure you choose the best option for your needs and your budget.
If you think that building a modular home might be right for you, talk to the team at Westbuilt Homes.
We have been designing and building stunning modular homes since 1993. The construction process of a modular home is very different to that of a conventional home, giving you greater control over the construction time, the quality and the timeframe.
To learn more about modular construction, book a no obligation consultation with one of our modular experts. We’d be happy to answer any questions you may have.
