How to budget for a transportable home in 2023

Don’t like surprises? We don’t either.

That’s why we want you to know about ALL the costs involved in buying a prebuilt transportable home. Because there’s more to budget for than just the price of the home itself.

But don’t panic!

Prebuilt homes (especially Ezyline ones) still represent extremely good value for money, even when all the additional costs are factored in.

We just want to be sure you have the full picture so that you can plan your budget accordingly — regardless of who you buy from.

What you’ll need to budget for:

1. Consents

As well as a building consent for the construction of the home itself (which is included in our pricing) you’ll also need to allow for the following consent related costs.

• In some cases, engineering surveys may be necessary to determine the best approach for building on the land — Geotech assessment, site location, ground condition etc.
• You’ll need to have the site plan drafted for your building consent.
• And then there’s the cost of the building consent for siting/drainage itself with your local authority.

The total costs of preparing, applying for and receiving your building consents can range from $6,000 – $30000+ depending on your local council requirements.

How do you budget for consent costs?

• Talk to your local council and find out what you need to do, and the costs involved.
• Get quotes for any drafting and engineering work required.
• If you’re dealing with us, we’ll help you through this process.

2. Transport and foundations

Next is the cost of physically transporting the house. The cost will depend mainly on the time it takes. And that depends on the route, the size of the house and how difficult it will be to move, and the site access.

Expect to pay between $15,000 and $30,000 for transporting your home. Note this should also include supply and install of foundations, vapour barrier and fixing the home to the foundations. and setting it on its foundations.

Most transport companies also offer limited insurance cover when moving your home, but you may want to arrange extra transit insurance at your own expense.

How do you budget for transport costs?

• If you’re dealing with us, we’ll arrange for quotes from our preferred suppliers.
• But you may also want to get your own quotes just to be on the safe side.
• Decide on your best insurance option too (and get costs for that)

3. Site works

These costs relate to getting your section ready for the dwelling. You’ll need to factor in costs such as:

• Any excavation, levelling or retaining work that may be required.
• Drain laying for your site
• Power and water connections
• Telecommunication connections

For most sites, you’re probably looking at around $10,000 for siteworks.

Note: If you’re living rurally, you’ll need to install a septic tank, water tank and pressure pump to get water into the house, and wastewater out. Allow for $13,000 – $25,000 for this.

How do you budget for siteworks?

• Arrange site visits for the relevant contractors.
• Get quotes or estimates for the work you require.
• If your dealing with us we can help you with this.

4. Landscaping

Once your new home is in place, you’ll have some work to do around the section. You’ll want to factor some (or all) of the costs below.

• Decks and steps (to ensure easy access to your new home)
• Base cladding
• Lawns and gardens
• Fencing
• Driveway and other paving
• Garaging or carport (or utility sheds if needed)
• Letterbox
• Clothesline

How do you budget for landscaping costs?

• Start by making a list of all the things you’d like to do around the property.
• Prioritise the list in terms of ‘must do’ and ‘nice to have.’
• Gather quotes and pricing for your projects.

5. Interior Decor

Once your lovely new house is safely installed on site you’ll want to make it a home that you (or your tenants) can enjoy.
Make sure you allow for the following in your interior’s budget:

• Carpet and other flooring
• Appliances and rangehood
• Heating
• Window coverings
• Any new items of furniture you might need

How do you budget for interior decor?

• Start by making a list of all the things you’d like to do
• Prioritise the list in terms of ‘must do’ and ‘nice to have’
• Gather quotes and pricing for your projects
• Go shopping!

Crunching the numbers

Phew! That’s quite a list isn’t it. That’s why we wanted to bring it to your attention. But don’t be daunted — because transportable homes represent excellent value for money overall. And we’re here to help and advise along every step of the way. Our aim is to make the whole building process as pain-free as possible.

As a ballpark figure, we recommend you allow at least $50-70K in addition to the price of your prebuilt home to complete your project. But we recommend you do your own research and pull together a budget that works for you. Inside our buyers Guide we have a handy budget sheet that you can use to capture all of your numbers and work out your budget.

Keep up-to-date with what’s happening at Ezyline Homes, as well as relevant industry news.