Knockdown Rebuild
Start with the block you already own and build a completely new home to your brief.
The home you want, on the block you already own
A knockdown rebuild starts with what you already have: the location, the street, the neighbours. You keep all of that and replace the house with something built to your brief, from a cleared site, on a new slab.
The alternative is renovating. Open a wall in a 1970s brick veneer and you might find asbestos, undersized wiring, or a structure that needs restumping before the renovation can start. Those are not rare outcomes in Melbourne's south east. A knockdown rebuild removes that uncertainty: fixed price, clean slab, and a floor plan designed for the actual block, not adapted from something built 40 or 50 years ago.
NE Homes manages the full process under one contract, with no handoff between phases. Site assessment, demolition coordination, design, council permits, construction and handover all run under one scope.
Most knockdown rebuild clients in Melbourne's south east are not trying to fix what they already own. They have been watching a particular suburb for years, know exactly where they want to live, and cannot find a vacant block anywhere in it. So they buy a property with no intention of living in it as is. The inspection, if there is one, is about the land: orientation, street position, block dimensions.
How NE Homes builds knockdown rebuilds
The block you know, the home you want
Volume builders charge a land premium for an untouched block in an established suburb. If you own the land, you skip that market entirely. Three of NE Homes' knockdown rebuild clients in Melbourne's south east built on blocks they had owned for more than a decade.
Director oversight, not an accounts manager
From the first site visit through demolition, permits and construction, NE Homes' director runs the project. On your site within 48 hours at any point during the build. When you call with a question during construction, you reach the people making decisions.
Demolition and utilities managed together
NE Homes prefers to manage demolition directly rather than leave it to the client. This avoids a common problem with buried rubbish that only surfaces after the slab is poured. Every utility must be formally abolished before demolition: electricity, gas and NBN. Most builders hand the NBN step back to the client or miss it entirely. If it is not properly abolished, new occupants wait three to four months for an internet connection after handover. NE Homes handles all utility abolishments as a standard part of the contract.
Fixed price once permits are in hand
Once your design is finalised and building permits are approved, the contract is fixed. NE Homes specifies every item on site, down to individual fittings and finishes. The number you sign is the number you pay.
Our Preliminary Process
Site Assessment
Block check, planning & constraints
Consultation
Director meets client, goals & brief
Proposal
Transparent pricing, inclusions & scope
Preliminary Contract
Clarifies expectations, costings and timeframes for the coming stage
Demo, Construction & Handover
Demolition, build, inspections, final handover
A knockdown rebuild runs 16 to 22 months from first meeting to handover. Here is how NE Homes manages that.
- checkDirector personally oversees every project from the first site visit through demolition, construction and handover. On site within 48 hours at any point during the build.
- checkUtility abolishments, including NBN, are handled as a standard part of the contract. If the NBN is not properly abolished before demolition, new occupants wait three to four months for internet after moving in.
- checkFixed-price contract once permits are approved. Every item is specified down to individual fittings and finishes, and the number you sign is the number you pay.
- checkWeekly client calls from preliminary contract to handover. Good news and bad news, on the same schedule either way.
- checkWe deliberately cap our build numbers. That is the only way to keep the standard.
- checkBuilding Licence CDB-U 62725, registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC).
Questions About Knockdown Rebuilds
How does a knockdown rebuild compare to a full renovation?
Renovations work when the structure is sound and the scope is contained. Open a wall in a 1970s brick veneer and you might find asbestos, undersized wiring or a structure that needs restumping before anything else can start. Those are not rare outcomes in Melbourne's established suburbs. A knockdown rebuild removes that uncertainty: you start from a cleared site, with a fixed-price contract, and design the floor plan from scratch rather than adapting something built 40 or 50 years ago.
What does a knockdown rebuild cost in Melbourne?
Demolition costs vary by site and council, covering new utility connections, council contributions and traffic management. The build cost is comparable to a greenfield custom home of the same size. In some cases a knockdown rebuild is more cost-effective than building on vacant land, because greenfield land in growth corridors can come with fill and drainage issues that add to the build cost. NE Homes provides a detailed breakdown specific to your block and design at the proposal stage.
Do we need to move out during the build?
Yes. From demolition through to handover is typically 12 to 18 months. NE Homes goes through the expected programme at the initial consultation so you know well in advance when to give notice on rental accommodation.
How long does a knockdown rebuild take from first meeting to handover?
The prelim stage runs about 6 months without council involvement: site assessment, consultation, proposal, preliminary contract, design and permits. If a planning permit is required, allow up to 12 months for that phase. Once permits are in hand, demolition takes about a week and construction runs 9 to 12 months depending on scope.
What licences cover NE Homes?
NE Homes is registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC), which manages builder insurance and registration in Victoria. We hold both company and personal domestic building unlimited licences, covering knockdown rebuilds, custom homes, dual occupancy and all residential building work across Victoria.