Cost-Efficient and Sustainable Housing: The Future is Here with Modular Homes

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Whether you call it a country or a continent, Australia has plenty of land left to inhabit. But this does not mean it’s inhabitable because of the harsh conditions present in about 40% of the territory which would explain why as far as housing goes, big cities like Sydney and Melbourne as well as the surrounding areas, are the most popular.

This being said, it shouldn’t come as a surprise the cost of living is constantly on the rise since some areas are largely underpopulated while others, as is the case with the coastline, are densely populated. Simply put, it doesn’t matter whether you’re buying a property, paying the mortgage or opting to rent instead, Australia is one of the countries with the most expensive housing. Even when compared with other developed countries, there’s much bigger of a gap here in terms of average income and house prices. And the two aforementioned cities are the world’s top five in high property prices.

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Certainly both supply and demand have a say in this, however, we can’t forget to add the high construction costs resulting from too many expenses regarding materials, the shortage of skilled construction workers and lack of competition in the construction market. Hence, many who dream of owning a home in the Land Down Under but don’t have the budget to build from scratch, have turned to modern modular homes.

Gone are the days when modular was used as a synonym for prefabricated home designs with few material options and repetitive styles. Prefab no longer implies poor quality and design. Thanks to the implementation of new technology and innovation, in terms of design and structural material, modern modular homes are unique and sustainable. Moreover, they give new homeowners more modern options than ever. Simply put, modular is slowly but surely shaping the future of construction.

Why Choose Modular?

As mentioned, building a home can cost you a fortune having in mind the average is $1270.80 per square meter according to the ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) as of June 2018. This price, however, does not include additional costs of permits, design, site work and other miscellaneous expenses which could easily come as a result of the weather, site conditions, or mistakes either with the design or the construction. The modular concept, on the other hand, also called prefabricated, allows you to know the whole price beforehand. No surprises.

This is possible due to the level of precision involved. Everything is planned to the last detail, even how much of the material is going to be used, such as the amount of paint, wood, and nails for example. No more, no less.

With modern modular homes, there’s no such thing as on-site costs and delays because there are set conditions. All the planning and building work is done offsite in a factory. Why is this, you may ask? Mainly because to ensure a central place which is organised and weatherproof (relying on the help of latest machinery and techniques, so the weather elements can’t interfere with the process or the materials as they do when work is carried out on-site).

Having the peace of mind all these aspects can surely cut down the stress level usually involved in home building and that’s more than something to appreciate nowadays.

Likewise, there’s the matter of timely construction as the procedures used to turn the designs into reality ensure greater control for every step of the way. This is essential for preventing mistakes from happening (an incorrect material custom order, unforeseen construction conditions, etc.), the main culprit for delays. Since this is also in direct connection with the final outcome in terms of ensuring higher standards of quality, no wonder prefab is getting its buzz back. And it’s no surprise prefabricated building and construction industry is expected to grow to 15 percent from the current 5 in the upcoming years.

Instead of taking months for such homes to be built and installed as soon as the building permit is issued, it usually takes only weeks to build and get a modular house move-in ready. Furthermore, the reduction in construction time, less time spent on the site and less mid-construction changes aren’t at the expense of safety and quality either. When you get your own prefab home, you can expect to have its longevity improved and at the same time count on minimal expenses maintenance-wise.

Let’s not forget the vast flexibility aesthetically speaking. Since clients have a say in the style and finish options, you get the kind of personalized design created based on your preferences, budget and the specific site requirements, showing no two modular homes are the same.

Sustainability is the Future

You don’t have to be that much into the trend of sustainability to be aware of the benefits it brings. This goes both for the environment and the quality of living.

There’s no doubt modern modular homes are sustainable. It’s easily noticeable from the materials used in the construction of such building structures, such as low VOC adhesives, sealants, and paints, the carbon-wise construction and installation process, plus energy-efficient systems revolving around solar power and rainwater collection. 

Building in factory conditions, companies have more control, monitoring the whole process thus reducing the improper use of natural resources and the amount of waste too (there’s no excess material which can reduce waste by almost 55%). 

This provides the opportunity to also adopt reusing and recycling habits which is a bonus knowing how big and costly the problem of waste can be nowadays. Having the chance to cut down on the waste on-site means there’s less waste to clean up and transport. To sum it up, modular homes are less expensive (depending on the design and size), quicker to build and less of a hassle. So if you want to get your beautiful dream home without breaking your bank and be able to diminish your carbon footprint, invest in a house like this!

Remember, building a house (read: creating a home) is more than just the number of bedrooms – it’s about discovering who you are and how you want to live.