Can Anyone Build a Kitset Home?

One question we often get asked is “can anyone build a kitset home”? Looking back over all the Kit Homes projects in the last five years, the answer would be “no.” We believe that unless you have a talent for DIY or have friends or family who can help or provide guidance, there will be parts of the build that require a certain level of knowledge and skill.

It is also important to remember that plumbing and electrical work will require an expert. The build will need to be checked at different stages of construction and signed off by a council building inspector.

The Journey of Building a Kitset Home

One of our first clients was an electrician by trade. We were in awe of how he set about building his own home. He knuckled down, worked efficiently, and from the time he stood frames to moving in was only around three months. He then went on to build another kitset for a client who had contacted us and was building nearby.

In contrast, we have also had several builds completed successfully by clients who had no qualifications in building or trades. They happened to be talented in DIY, were up for a challenge, and applied for an owner-builder exemption.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Building a Kitset Home

So we thought it would be helpful to lay out the advantages and disadvantages of building a kitset home yourself versus hiring a builder.

Advantages of Building Your Own Kitset Home

• Cost Savings: The biggest reason we hear from people wanting to build a kitset home themselves is the cost savings. Labour costs are one of the largest expenses in a build. Doing all or a lot of the work yourself can significantly reduce the overall costs.

• Speed of Completion: Some clients who worked on their builds full-time managed to complete the project impressively fast. Having the ability to work from early morning until late into the evening can pay off. Many of our kitsets are completed from foundations to painting in just 10-12 weeks. It also helps that materials like frames and roof trusses come pre-nailed, which speeds up construction.

  
  

• Personal Satisfaction: DIY and having control over the end result is another reason clients want to build the kitset themselves. “DIY,” “can-do attitude,” “number-eight wire”—whatever you call it—seems to be ingrained in us Kiwis from an early age. Many clients enjoy a hands-on approach to their build and take pride in the finished project.

  
  

Disadvantages of Building Your Own Kitset Home

• Skill Level Required: As mentioned above, a certain level of knowledge and experience in the trades is necessary to complete the project to a high standard. Fixing errors can be stressful, expensive, and time-consuming. It’s crucial to be aware of your own abilities and limitations.

  
  

• Time Commitment: The time commitment required to build your own kitset can also be a drawback, especially if you have a part-time or full-time job. Managing all aspects of the build—from coordinating tradies for specialised work to following building regulations and sourcing finishings—can be time-consuming and stressful.

  
  

Advantages of Hiring a Builder to Construct Your Kitset Home

• High Standards: Hiring an experienced builder ensures your kitset will be completed to a high standard. Builders are familiar with plans, have experience with potential issues, and know the ins and outs of building regulations. This can speed up the project.

  
  

• Less Stress: Hiring a builder can mean less stress. Builders often take on most of the project management, from site preparation to final details. They are there throughout the whole project and can handle as much of the responsibility and decision-making as you’d like.

  
  

Disadvantages of Hiring a Builder to Construct Your Kitset Home

• Increased Costs: Hiring a builder is not cheap and will significantly increase the overall project cost. It is important to weigh up the cost against the benefits mentioned above.

  
  

• Finding the Right Builder: Some clients have struggled to find an experienced builder in their area or one who isn’t booked solid for months. Finding the ‘right’ builder can be a challenge.

  
  

Conclusion: Weighing Your Options

In summary, we’ve had close to 50 kitset homes completed since we launched Kit Homes in May 2020. Every single project has been managed differently due to clients’ priorities and skills. Some clients have had the time and expertise to manage and build the kitset home themselves, while others have had family members who are tradies take on the project. Others have decided to hire a builder to manage the whole process from start to finish.

It is important for all our clients to take time to weigh up the pros and cons mentioned above. They should get quotes to carefully consider all costs involved, honestly assess their own abilities, and ultimately decide on what will work best for them and their family.

Honest Words of Wisdom

Below are some refreshingly honest words of wisdom from our incredible client Michael (not a tradie by profession). He has taken on the bulk of the work himself on a very challenging site on Waiheke and has thoroughly impressed the team here at Kit Homes!

“We’ve definitely found it one of the most challenging things we’ve done. For us, it would be impossible without some expert advice. We found an LBP builder who had time as a consultant to give us plenty of advice, lots of great tips, and all the many things we need to be aware of to avoid issues as we go.”

“Everything takes longer than expected, and that’s just something we’ve come to understand. It’s always going to take longer, especially these stages we’ve just done—the cavity/wrap and the cladding. Weather is a big factor, and the juggle to get time off work on a nice day as well as arranging help to do those parts where a few pairs of hands are essential.”

“We’re lucky living close to our site and mostly working from home. Even so, it’s never quite as easy to get as much done as we hope. Just simply, it is what it is, and we keep going, little by little. Doing a couple of hours each day and all day on weekends is the best we could do with our very limited budget. A little bit of help from casual labourers here and there for the heavy lifting.”

“Next time, we’d factor in budgeting for more time off work—at least a whole day each week would be quite good, taking into account the cost to cover unpaid leave from the day jobs.”

“We’ve just passed our cladding inspection, so it’s all closed in and lock-up stage essentially. Our builder and council inspectors all say it’s all downhill from here, which is nice. Looking forward to the interior work.”

“Oh, yes, speaking of council inspectors. We’ve found it good to get an inspection now and then before we’re actually ready. They call it a ‘fail,’ of course, but we’ve found it good to keep checking with them, get their expert advice, and avoid any possible issues that might be a big deal later on.”

“Probably lots more we could say once we get closer to the end. It’s just on 12 months since we first started the site setout. Probably another six months to go.”

“We’re finding it hugely rewarding and exciting as our house comes together. Learning a lot along the way. About this, and about ourselves as well.”

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