What, exactly, are transportable homes?
Homes that are not on built on site but rather made in a factory are called transportable homes. They are typically constructed from vinyl weatherboard, wood, gyprock, and steel. Using these types of materials ensures the home to become undamaged when they are moved around. Concrete and bricks are not the materials used for homes built in the factory such as transportable homes.
The difference between transportable homes and mobile homes
Once delivered to a site, transportable homes become permanent because utilities are connected and stamped to them. This is the main difference of transportable homes between mobile homes.
Referred to as relocatable homes or manufactured homes, transportable homes are usually located in manufactured home parks. Transportable homes Western Australia have communities wherein the home is owned by a resident but leases the land.
Transportable homes can be easily moved even when they are considered a semi-permanent home.
Depending on the builder and the intention of the home, different names are given to transportable homes. They are called relocatable homes, factory-built homes, modular homes or prefabricated homes.
Advantages and disadvantages of transportable homes over site-built homes
The advantages factory-built homes have over site-built homes include:
- The low cost and less time spent in constructing factory built homes is the main advantage of transportable homes over site-built homes
- The construction of transportable homes are more friendly to the environment
- The homes are the perfect options for mining towns where there are shortages of labour
- The latest architectural technology has made it possible to construct factory built luxury homes
Like everything else in this world, transportable homes have their share of disadvantages, to include:
- Less flexibility in design compared to homes that are built on site
- Home financing issues
Areas in Australia popularly using transportable homes
Rural and regional areas in Australia popularly use transportable homes. This is because city suburbs in the cities can’t fit in transportable homes. Yet, this type of home is a cheaper and easier home to build compared to homes built on site.
The mining boom happening during the last couple of years have seen significant demand for transportable homes in rural areas. The rising demand for affordable housing has been capitalised by developers when people started to move to rural areas.
Filling the housing gap was quickly resolved by transportable homes. Transportable homes were seen as the perfect housing alternative to the costly on-site homes.
The Western Australia regions have seen significant growth in transportable housing to accommodate the demands of the mining community. Some other areas leading the transportable housing boom include NSW Central Coast, Queensland, and other regional towns in Australia.
What is the actual cost of transportable homes?
Transportable homes cost significantly cheaper than site-built homes. This is due to the bulk material purchase and the uniform style of factory design.
Depending on the size and quality of finishes, cabins and granny flats cost around the range between $30,000 to $80,000.
A luxurious homestead to include a study and three bedrooms can cost up to $300,000. There are other possible costs included in a builder’s quote to cover DA, utility connections, and more.
A council bond is also a requirement when your transportable home is located in Western Australia and Queensland. Once the home is constructed, the bond is refunded.
Now that you know all about owning a transportable home, you should now focus on searching where to find transportable homes in WA. An online search for reputable sellers in your area is your next best step.