While a lot of people would expect this to be the case, it’s actually quite the opposite. Statistics show that a knock down rebuild generally costs half the amount per square metre than a renovation! In some cases, repairing major structural damage, sourcing the right kinds of materials, or modernising an old house in terms of energy efficiency and quality has the potential to be expensive.

When you also consider that you are avoiding stamp duty and real estate fees, it makes sense to put that money towards a new, modern and spacious home that suits your lifestyle, rather than merely making cosmetic changes to an old one.

We’ll advise you every step of the way and organise the entire approval process for you.

Council must approve the project before we can even knock down your old home, so we’ll talk you through each stage while managing your submissions. It’s part of the service – we know the system, and are here to support you. Why? Because we believe a knock-down rebuild should be one of the most exciting times of your life, not one of the most stressful.

The Council approval process varies from State to State and even Council-to-Council, so it’s difficult to give an accurate estimate. Councils can vary, but general guidelines are as follows.

• Stage 1 (Planning Rules Consent): 4-6 weeks
• Stage 2 (Building Rules Consent): 1-2 weeks
• Stage 3 (Development Approval): 1 week.

Further information can be located on the NSW Planning & Environment portal.

This Guide to the Building Approvals Process may also help.

As a custom builder, we generally work with clients who already own their land. Some have purchased it purely for a knockdown rebuild, others have been living in the existing home for some time.

However, if you’re looking to purchase an existing home or land as part of a residential development, talk to us as early as possible. We’ll work through your needs and help you identify the kind of land you want to build on. The land you choose may impact on the design, and so it can be advantageous to have a good idea of your ideal house structure when searching for the right location.

And of course, we have a number of house and land packages available too, so make sure you do your research!

We all have different needs, budgets, and lifestyles, so a lot comes down to your situation or personal preference.

Our top tip though, is location location location. Think about what you need now, as well as what may happen in the future.

Do you need access to public transport, schools, or amenities? Are you after a view? Are you keen to be part of a real estate subdivision? Will dual living be a future consideration? What suburbs in your area are offering a great return? Is there a large development in the works? Are your neighbours likely to also invest in developing their homes, or are you in a neighbourhood with limited growth?

Try to picture your neighbourhood in five years. And if you need assistance, we’re here to help. With our finger on the pulse when it comes to property development, we can advise you of the most sought-after locations and explain exactly what makes them so appealing.

Michaelangelo Designer Homes stands behind every home we build. We are a quality-driven company, and so everything from your slab upwards is developed with structural integrity in mind.

Michaelangelo Designer Homes provides all clients with a six-year structural guarantee.

We take great pride in each and every home, and are committed to ensuring that you are 100% satisfied with our work. As a result we have a strong client portfolio and a great name in the industry. We’ll also happily provide you with client testimonials and case studies.

It goes without saying that we are fully licensed – our NSW Building Licence Number is 181646c.

We’re also fully insured, and a proud member of the peak industry body for building professionals, the Housing Industry Association (HIA).

A reputable builder will always take the time to undertake soil testing and a site inspection. This allows us to determine the soil conditions and site formations so that we can design a custom foundation for your new home that works with, and not against, your site.

At Michaelangelo Designer Homes, we undertake:

• A site contour survey, and
• Site soil/borehole testing

This is done at Stage 2 of the process to ensure our design and positioning are based on factual evidence and account for any zoning or other site restrictions.

We’ve done our homework and developed great relationships with our suppliers. We’ve sourced the very finest fixtures and fittings, negotiating great trade deals so that we can provide them as standard.

At the very core of Michaelangelo Designer Homes is our philosophy that quality means everything. We’re not about turning over as many new homes as possible every month; we’re about crafting masterpieces.

Absolutely! However, we must adhere to strict WHS regulations to ensure the safety of both you and our team.

Your Building Supervisor will work with you to schedule site visits at various stages so that you can witness your new home coming together. All site visits must occur during normal business hours, and we’ll first walk you through the essentials of safely navigating a construction site.

Because each stage varies, we’ll work with you to highlight the best stages for young children to be present. We understand they will be excited but it’s important to realise that, at some stages, the risk of injury to a young child on an active construction site can far outweigh the benefits. For this reason, we’ll organise both adult site visitations, as well as family visitations.

There are five main stages we work to when building your new home:

Building Stage 1: Laying the slab

Building Stage 2: Erecting the frame

Building Stage 3: Getting the home to ‘lock up’ stage, where the roof, brickwork, external windows, and doors are completed

Building Stage 4: Fixing out the interior (plastering, skirting, internal doors, built-ins, cupboards, etc)

Building Stage 5: Finishing (painting, tiling, and any final minor electrical and plumbing works)

The timing for each home varies, but generally you would be looking at 10 to 12 months from our initial meeting to final inspection and handover.

Very dedicated. Michaelangelo Designer Homes isn’t your average building company – we’re not a franchise or a large corporation. We’re independent, and Michael leads from the front with delivering unique and personalised service.

Unlike large building companies who allocate you a Building Supervisor but also overload that Building Supervisor with far too many homes, we have a set number of homes that we will take on at any one time. This means that our Building Supervisor is limited with their projects and has the time, energy, and interest to give you (and your home) the focus and individual attention you rightly deserve.

For us, it’s not about churning out homes as quickly as we can – it’s about creating a masterpiece that we will be proud of and that you will love.

Yes! While we do have popular single storey and double storey home designs, Michaelangelo Designer Homes is a custom builder. This means that we design and develop your home, your way.

We can design and construct to any needs, or we can amend one of our popular designs to suit your specific lifestyle requirements.

It also means that we work closely with you to ensure you get the most out of your block. We want to maximise your views, develop the best orientation, and ensure that your gradients are optimum. We consider your neighbours, your privacy, and legal requirements to design a solution that works with your site.

So whether you have a sloping block, require a granny flat or duplex, or just want a custom design to suit your hobbies, lifestyle or family structure, we’re happy to oblige.

We have a six-stage process that we work through will all of our clients. It’s an incredibly elaborate process because you’re making a big investment and we believe that it’s worth taking the time, from the very beginning, to ensure you get it right.

Our initial consultation is quite lengthy, and we cover elements such as:

• The type, size and style of your home
• Your preferred siting on the land
• Design ideas, pictures and sketches
• Land information, lot size, dimensions and specific requirements or restrictions
• Desired inclusions and your options, and
• Your budget, where we in turn can provide suggestions of how to maintain these requirements.

This gives you a great foundation on which to build your dream home.

From here, we:

• Undertake a site investigation and develop an initial design
• Develop and present a fixed price tender
• Undertake construction drawings, and
• Undertake the approvals process,

– all before construction begins.

At each stage, we’ll revise your choices and ensure that you’re happy to move to the next step. Don’t forget that you’ll also be working with our design team as well as recommended architects and colour designers, so you’ll have the support you need to make informed decisions.

A custom-designed home is a complex project but with the right structure and guidance, as well as the flexibility we can offer as an independent builder, you’re in good hands.