Love your Brisbane neighbourhood but tired of your outdated house? A knockdown rebuild (KDR) is a great option if you want to remain where you are but get an upgrade. It allows you to stay where you want while getting a completely modern, custom-designed home.
At Begbie Bentham, we’ve spent more than 22 years helping Brisbane families with their building projects. We design new homes, manage rebuilds, and guide families through each step. So our experienced designers and builders know knockdown rebuilds inside and out.
In this guide, we’ll cover the actual costs you can expect for your knockdown rebuild. You’ll also get an idea of realistic timelines for your project and the process we use to deliver your new home.
Read on to learn what you need to make an informed decision about your knockdown rebuild.
Knockdown Rebuild in Brisbane: Costs and Timeline
A knockdown rebuild (KDR) is when you demolish your existing house and build a completely new one on the same block. The two biggest questions for any homeowner interested in KDR are “What will it cost?” and “How long will it take?”
A Breakdown of Knockdown Rebuild Costs
Your total KDR budget includes main costs like design, demolition, permits, and construction. It’s important to understand the cost components above, because that knowledge is your first step toward controlling your expenses.
In Brisbane, a knockdown rebuild for a fully custom home usually starts at about $800,000 (ouch, but hang on). The final cost can change based on how complex the design is, the condition of the block, and the custom features you choose.
First, you have to deal with design-related fees. These fees cover architectural drawings, engineering work, and the paperwork the council requires.
Then comes the demolition fee, which typically ranges from $20,000 to $40,000. The exact price depends on the size of your existing house and whether you need to remove asbestos from your home.
Sorry if you thought that was everything, as there’s more. Council approvals and permits can add several months of waiting and extra fees, too. The delay happens because the Brisbane City Council needs specific paperwork before it grants approval. These items cover the minimum expected costs.
Pro-Tip: Always set aside a contingency fund of at least 10% of your rebuild budget. Unexpected site issues, like poor soil or hidden service lines, can add costs you didn’t plan for.
The Timeline from Permits to Your New Home
In Australia, most knockdown rebuilds take between 18 and 24 months from beginning to end. Also, your project moves through clear stages, which means you know what happens at each step.
Here are the main stages in a KDR:
- Permits and Planning: Get all the council approvals you need, then work with designers to create concepts and get a fixed-price quote. The approval stage often takes 2 to 3 months because Brisbane’s process involves multiple departments and heritage checks.
- Site Preparation: During site preparation, we carry out demolition and prepare the site for your new foundation. Demolition usually takes 1 to 2 weeks, but sites with asbestos or difficult access can add weeks to the timeline.
- Construction Phase: We build your new structure and give you regular updates through our project management system. New builds follow predictable schedules with fewer unexpected delays, unlike renovations that come with surprises behind walls.
- Handover: After the final inspections, you get the keys to your finished new home. This handover process includes quality checks and builder warranties, which provide you with assurances that do not come with renovations.
If you’ve been wondering why it takes a year or two, now you can see each step has a reason.
The Advantage of an Integrated Rebuild Project
What is an integrated rebuilding project? Well, it involves having the same team handle both your design and the construction, so everything stays connected. This specific approach saves time, reduces confusion, and helps you keep your budget under control.
Why a Single Team Is the Perfect Solution
The thing is, you get way better results when one company handles both your design and construction. That’s because separate architects and builders often create confusion and finger-pointing.
Honestly, nobody wants to deal with “that’s not our fault” conversations when something goes wrong.
Now, the main advantages of an integrated model are that you have one point of contact, one timeline, and one company taking full responsibility. Since designers and builders work together from the start, they keep things efficient.
Not only that, but communication also improves because everyone shares the same understanding. The construction crew knows what the designers intended, and the designers know what is possible to build. This way, you avoid costly surprises like “this isn’t what we expected” during the build.
Achieving Cost Certainty for Your Dream Home
Unfortunately, budget blowouts often happen when multiple companies design a home that ends up costing much more to build. For instance, you might like the architect’s plans but then feel shocked when the builder gives you the true price (welcome to Reality Check City!).
That’s why an integrated process helps with cost control. You see the costs from the beginning, which means fewer surprises and more control over your budget. All of these benefits are possible because the same team designs your home, works out the price, and builds it.
Pro-Tip: Ask your builder for a detailed inclusions list before you sign the contract. A clear list that covers fixtures, fittings, and finishes helps prevent hidden extras from slipping into your budget later.
Partnering with the Right Rebuild Specialists
We can’t stress one thing enough: you need to choose the right experts as partners if you want a successful project. This is because these experts can guide your project properly and ensure your vision becomes a reality.
Let’s look at why working with true specialists works better.
Rebuilding an Existing Home with Expert Guidance
Okay, we know it can sound like a cliche, but specialists always bring real value to knockdown rebuilds. Frankly, these projects have unique challenges that general builders might not know how to handle (we’ve watched too many builds go sideways).
But when you involve experienced teams in your process, you find that they know how to work with your site and your brief, and improve both. Expert guidance also helps you get the most out of your block.
For example, as construction specialists, we look at factors like the best orientation for natural light, how to beat tricky site challenges, and ways to avoid problems that come with older properties.
In reality, you might have narrow access, sloping ground, or heritage rules that need careful handling by a qualified team. We manage these issues for you.
The Begbie Bentham Design and Construction Process
We don’t just disappear after you sign the contract. Rather, you’re part of the team the whole way through. In other words, you stay involved at every stage with clear updates and easy-to-use tools.
This is how our system keeps you in the loop at every stage:
- Visualisation Tools: We use 3D modelling and walkthroughs for you to see and understand your design at every stage. It means you never wonder what your finished home will look like, since you can walk through it virtually before we build it.
- Constant Communication: You get access to our online project management system for 24/7 updates on progress and your selections. So check in anytime to see what’s happening with your build, chat with our team, or review your choices.
- Personalised Service: Our in-house designers and builders fully commit to your vision and work directly with you. We don’t pass you around between different companies or subcontractors. This setup means you deal with the same dedicated team during your project.
Your Next Step: Start Your Brisbane Knockdown Rebuild
A knockdown rebuild gives you a clear path to your new home once you understand the costs, the timeline, and the value of using one integrated team. It also lets you stay in the neighbourhood you already love while creating a home that fits your lifestyle.
In this article, we’ve walked through the actual KDR costs you can expect in Brisbane and the 18 to 24-month timeline for your project. You’ve also learned why choosing an integrated design and construction approach saves you time and money.
If you want to start your knockdown rebuild project, don’t hesitate to contact us today at (07) 3899 2500. At Begbie Bentham, you can partner with our specialists who have the experience and expertise required for KDR.
We are ready when you are.
