What’s the difference between modular homes and conventional homes?

The major difference between modular homes and conventional homes is the way they are built. While conventional homes are built 100% on site, modular homes are built in a factory environment and then delivered to site for installation and fit-off. Plus, as the name suggests, modular homes are built in ‘modules’ for ease of transportation.

Are modular homes the same as kit homes?

No. While the end result may be similar, the way that modular and kit homes are purchased is quite different. When you purchase a prefabricated modular home, you are buying a complete home, installed onto your site and ready to move in to. When you buy a kit home, you are essentially paying for the working drawings and the raw materials – the owner is then required to handle the labour aspect of the build, including project management.

Where do you deliver your homes?

Our modular homes can be transported and installed almost anywhere within our area of service, which covers Victoria and parts of southern New South Wales. Please refer to the map on our home page to see if your land falls with our service area or contact our team directly to discuss.

How much does it cost to transport the home to my site?

The cost of delivery for your home to site is included in the base price. This is based on the most common route from our facility to your site, however, occaisionally it’s not possible to take the most common route as our trucks must take the over dimensional route. In these cases there may be additional delivery fees.

Are the permits and legal requirements the same as conventional homes?

Yes – the permit process is very similar whether you’re building a modular or conventional home. Depending on your circumstances you may require a planning permit – from our experience they are required in around 70% of builds. A building permit is required for all new homes that are built – both modular and conventional.

How long does it take to build a modular home?

Modular homes are fast to build – from the time construction starts in the factory until you move in usually takes around 14-18 weeks. This timeframe includes the factory building phase (8-10 weeks in the factory) and the on-site fit-off phase (6-8 weeks on your land).

Why should I consider building a modular home?

There are many benefits to building a modular home. They are faster to build, are often more affordable and have less of an environmental impact on your site. You have flexible options when it comes to design and it’s easy to up the energy rating and create a sustainable and eco-friendly home. You also get a complete package – your home comes with many inclusions and will be ready to move in and enjoy on completion.

Will I need to hire a local builder to complete the process or do you take care of this?

You won’t need to hire a local builder – our site team will take care of everything. While the production team are constructing your home in our factory, our site team will prepare the footings and connections on your site. They’ll get your home ready for delivery and when it arrives will spend 4-6 weeks on-site finalising the installation and adding the finishing touches.

How do I go about connecting electricity and other utilities?

This will depend on your site and is an important factor when choosing your land. If the block is serviced, consider the distance from your where your home will be built to the connections. If the land has no connections in place, you’ll need to include the added expense of connecting in your budget. Our team can visit your site to offer advice, and connections to services can be included in our scope of works.

Can I get finance on a modular home?

Yes. More than half of our clients require finance when building their new home. There can however be some challenges to obtaining finance for modular homes. Lenders can find it hard to progress payments while the home is being built off site, and may not want to release funds until the house is completed. This often comes down to a lack of understanding of modular homes, and can be overcome. Our team have helped hundreds of customers in a similar situation and are happy to share our knowledge, chat to your lender or recommend a broker who has experience with financing modular homes.

Can I alter or change standard plans?

Yes. While there are certain design parameters that need to be considered with our modular homes, we have over 40 standard modular homes designs that can be modified to better suit your requirements if required.

Do you build custom design homes?

Yes. We can custom design and build your dream home or adapt your existing design to our prefab modular home building system.

Are installation and footings included in the price?

Yes. Installation onto concrete footings up to 600mm depth is included in the base price given that your site is flat +/- 300mm over the building footprint.

What permits do I need for my home?

All new homes require a building permit and some will also need a planning permit. Planning permits, which are known as development applications in NSW, are compulsory in certain situations and must be obtained before construction begins. If your property is subject to any planning overlays, is within a bushfire zone or an area that is prone to flooding, has more than one dwelling on the block or has heritage considerations, it’s likely that you’ll need a planning permit. Building permits (or Complying Development Certificates in NSW) are issued once your home is built, inspected and found to be safe and built in accordance with the building code. All new homes, whether modular, kit or conventionally built, must have a building permit.

What is a 7 Star Energy Rating?

As part of the process to obtaining a building permit, new homes must have a minimum 7-star energy rating. Energy ratings on homes range from 1 to 10 – 1 being the least energy efficient, and 10 being the best. An approved energy rating consultant calculates the rating based on a number of factors including size, building orientation, insulation, shading, windows, and energy efficient lighting. Our homes are all built to a minimum 7-star energy rating, and there are many building sustainability upgrades that you can choose to include to further increase this rating.

What is a BAL Rating?

If you’re building a new home in Australia, it’s highly likely a BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) rating will be required. There are six BAL categories ranging from low to extreme. A BAL report can be completed by a fire assessor or engineer and they’ll base their findings on the Fire Danger Index, slope of the site, the type of vegetation surrounding the property and how close it is to your home. Your rating will impact on a number of factors when it’s time to build – if the BAL is over 12.5 there will be special requirements relating to materials used. Our standard modular homes are built to a BAL 12.5 rating – if a higher rating is required further upgrades can be added to meet the BAL rating for your site.

Can you build on BAL 40 & Flame Zone rated properties?

Yes, we can build to BAL 40. BAL 40 construction levels are achievable with modular homes, with substantial upgrades to construction materials, which are compliant with the provisions of the Australian Standard for construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas, AS 3959. No, we are not able to build to BAL FZ (Flame Zone).

What is a Bushfire Management Statement?

A Bushfire Management Statement (BMS) is a document required for building in areas at risk of bushfires. It outlines how your home and property will meet safety rules to reduce the risk of bushfire damage. This includes things like building materials, vegetation management, and access for emergency services. It’s an important part of the planning process to help protect your home and meet local council and CFA requirements.

A Land Capability Assessment (LCA) is a detailed assessment and report that is applicable if your property is located in an area that is not connected to sewerage. It identifies site features that will assist you in developing a management plan for your on-site wastewater management that will enhance long-term sustainability and minimise environmental impacts. The LCA will determine the best place for the installation of a waste water treatment system including the location of an effluent field.

How do I know if I can get a modular home onto my property?

Our friendly team are available for advice on access and location, plus, planning and reporting requirements too. We can perform a desktop assessment from our office or physically visit your property to report on its suitability. Assessment pricing is site-specific, and you can contact our team for a quote for your property.

Do you build on concrete slabs?

Unfortunately, because our homes are prefabricated in a factory, our building system requires our homes to be built on a steel floor frame therefore we cannot build a modular home in a concrete slab.

What type of warranty do your homes have?

All Anchor Homes come with a 7-year Home Owners Warranty. Plus, we also offer a 3-month building maintenance period after handover.

How do I know if I am eligible for the First Home Owners Grant?

To be eligible for the first home owners grant you must not have previously received a grant in Australia, not owned residential property before 1st July 2000, the property must be occupied as a home for a continuous period of 12 months within the first 12 months, plus, you’ll need to meet the residency requirements. If you have a partner or spouse, they must also have not received a grant or purchased property previously.

How do I choose the best facade for my project?

When choosing a façade, focus on harmonising with your home’s interior style while also complementing the surrounding environment. At Anchor Homes, our skilled team will help guide you when selecting your façade, cladding materials, and colour scheme to work with your overall vision for your dream modular home.

Can Anchor Homes create a custom facade for my project?

If you have a few creative ideas of your own, we can work with you to bring your own unique facade to life with our in-house architect.

What is the standard ceiling height for the Cubehaus facade?

The Cubehaus facade allows for 9ft ceilings throughout.

What is included in the Hamptons facade upgrade?

The Hamptons façade is an optional upgrade for the Avoca 12, Avoca 14, and Avoca 18 modular house designs. This upgrade includes: Double aluminium French doors, upgraded front door and handle, fretwork with cement sheet backing, painted timber window trim and ledges (3 sides of the home), additional area to home (1.8m2), additional gables, a portico, unlined skillion verandah, stacked stone piers, merbau decking (90mm) and linea cladding to all external walls (180mm).

Are your facades compatible with solar panel systems?

Yes, at Anchor Homes, all our standard facades are compatible with solar panel systems.

Do you design and build custom prefab modular homes?

Yes — Anchor Homes specialises in the design, construction, and delivery of fully custom prefab modular homes. With over 20 years of expertise in modular home design, we have proudly helped hundreds of clients across Australia realise their vision of a beautifully crafted, bespoke prefab modular home.

Do you have an in-house architect?

Yes — Anchor Homes is proud to have Chris Stoik as our dedicated in-house architect. With an impressive depth of experience in custom modular home design, Chris works closely and personally with each client to understand their vision and translate it into a refined design that performs beautifully within our modular building system.

Can your architect help me create a concept from scratch if I don't know what I want?

Yes — and this is where we truly excel. Many of our clients arrive with a lifestyle in mind rather than a finished design, and that is entirely welcome. Our in-house architect Chris Stoik will work closely with you through a thoughtful and collaborative design process. He will take the time to understand how you live, what you value, and what you aspire to achieve before developing a bespoke custom modular home design from the ground up, tailored entirely to your vision, your site and your budget.

How do I start the process of building a custom modular home with Anchor Homes?

The first step is to reach out to our team via the contact page on our website or give us a call on 1300 946 815. One of our experienced project consultants will be in touch to personally guide you through the custom modular home journey. To ensure we can direct you as efficiently as possible, we encourage you to share as much detail as you can. This includes your vision, block location, and any inspiration you may already have. From there, we take care of everything!

Can you work with my own architect or designer?

Anchor Homes primarily works with our in-house architect on all custom modular home projects, as designing a prefab modular home demands an intimate understanding of our construction methodology as well as transport and structural requirements. That said, we are happy to work alongside your architect or designer. Due to the nuances of modular construction, our team would still prepare the final drawings and documentation to ensure everything meets our precise building standards. The good news? Everything you need is right here under one roof.

Can you convert my architect's plans to modular construction?

Yes — if you have existing drawings, whether for a traditionally built home or a modular design, our in-house architect will carefully assess and adapt those plans to suit our modular building system. Some modifications may be required to ensure the design is fully optimised for our construction methodology, and our team will walk you through any changes with complete transparency. Throughout the process, we are committed to staying as true to your original design intent as possible.

Will my custom modular home look any different to a traditionally built home?

No — A custom prefab modular home designed and built by Anchor Homes is virtually indistinguishable from traditional site-built construction. Our homes are crafted and finished to the highest standards, with the full breadth of architectural styles, premium materials, and refined interior finishes available to you.

How much does a custom prefab modular home cost?

As every custom modular home is entirely unique, pricing is tailored to each individual project. The best way to understand costs for your project is to submit an enquiry on our website. From there, one of our project consultants will arrange a dedicated discovery call to understand your vision, design aspirations, and build location, before preparing a clear and transparent sales estimate for your review.

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Article

Client Testimonial: Modular Home Delivery Day in Wildwood, Rural Victoria

Projects

May 29, 2026

Written by

Alana McNab

Prefab Modular Homes · Modular Home Projects · Barn-Style Home Designs · Newhaven 21

There's a moment that every Anchor Homes client dreams about — the day their home arrives!

For our clients, Leal and Tim, that moment arrived this month at their rural property in Wildwood, Victoria. We recently had the pleasure of joining them on site to capture that experience on camera, standing on site watching their new modular home come together right before their eyes. Wildwood-Project-Anchor-Homes-Prefab-Modular-Homes-Barn-Style-Clients "When it turned in the drive, it looked like a little village coming! We were staggered!" - Leal, Wildwood Project

That reaction says everything! This is the story of how Leal and Tim went from a vision to the delivery of their stunning contemporary modular home in Wildwood, and why they chose to build with Anchor Homes.

The Story Behind This Modular Home Design

Design: Newhaven 21 (Modified) • Bed: 4 • Bath: 2 • Modules: 3 • Area: 209.2sqm

Set in Wildwood in Victoria's outer northwest, the property called for a home that could hold its own in an open rural landscape: something with presence, proportion and a timeless aesthetic. The answer was our Newhaven 21 design with a Modern Gable facade, a design that blends contemporary clean lines with the classic pitched-roof silhouette of traditional Australian farmhouse architecture. Wildwood-Project-Visual-Anchor-Homes-Prefab-Modular-Home-Builder-On-Site-Back

“I've always been interested in the H-shape design. I discovered that Anchor offered a floor plan like that, and I love the concept of a modular house. I think that's the way buildings gotta go.”- Leal, Wildwood Project

The result is striking. The home features bold vertical cladding, symmetrical gable ends with feature windows, and a confident roofline that sits beautifully against the open sky.

Why Modular? Leal & Tim's Case for Prefab Construction

For Leal and Tim, choosing a prefab modular home wasn't just about the floor plan. It was a genuine belief in the modular construction method.

"I think it's a much more efficient way of building. You can spec it up as much as you like — nothing's been a problem." - Leal, Wildwood Project

They also appreciated the financial transparency that comes with modular construction, something that traditional building methods often struggle to offer.

"If you start from the ground up [traditional construction] , things can go wrong and prices rise — and guess what, it's the owner who pays in the end. We've had none of that with this [modular construction]." - Leal, Wildwood Project

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It's a perspective shared by many clients who come to Anchor Homes after experiencing the unpredictability of traditional construction. Prefab modular building offers a different path: greater financial clarity, a controlled build environment and a more certain journey from design to completion.

The Anchor Homes Building Experience

If you're new to modular construction and Anchor Homes, here's something that might surprise you...

While your site is being prepared, your home is already being built. Inside our manufacturing facility in Stratford, Victoria, every detail of your home takes shape in a controlled, precision-driven environment: walls, windows, rooflines, interiors, all coming together under one roof.

"It's just been very controlled and we've known exactly where we are all the way. So why wouldn't you do it?" - Leal, Wildwood Project

For Leal and Tim, that process took just 15 weeks from the moment construction began in our facility to the day their four-bedroom home arrived in Wildwood. For a home of this scale, that's a remarkable achievement, and a reflection of what a controlled, purpose-built manufacturing environment makes possible.

Next came delivery day. The modules made their way from our Stratford facility to the property in Wildwood, and for Leal and Tim, seeing their home arrive on site for the first time was a jaw-dropping moment. From delivery to installation, the entire process was completed in just two days!

"It's an incredible job to bring it all the way from Stratford to here — in one piece, or in several pieces... [we] can't wait to get in!" - Leal, Wildwood Project

From the very first conversations with our pre-construction team, Leal and Tim felt informed and supported every step of the way. Every question was answered promptly, every milestone clearly communicated, and the team was proactive in keeping things moving.

"If we come up with a suggestion, they then either tell us exactly at that moment or get back to us. I think that's one of the outstanding things. The pre-construction team — they certainly were right onto it and kept everything rolling along." - Leal, Wildwood Project

With the home now on site, the final stage of the journey is well underway. Our team are on the ground working hard to complete the on-site installation works, including the carport, garage and all the final touches. We can't wait to hand over the keys to Leal and Tim!

Stress-Free Planning and Permits

For many clients, navigating local council requirements and building permits is one of the most daunting aspects of a new home build. With Anchor Homes managing this process, Leal and Tim could stay focused on the exciting parts, like watching their dream home take shape.

"That's a massive advantage, because if you're not used to dealing with all that sort of stuff and the owner had to do it — it really is onerous." - Leal, Wildwood Project

What Stood Out: Clarity, Communication & the Anchor Team

When reflecting on their experience, Leal and Tim highlighted 3 things that defined their build journey:

• Financial clarity. Modular construction gave Leal and Tim confidence in their budget throughout the process, with far greater cost predictability than traditional builds.

• Responsive communication. Every question was answered quickly, every suggestion considered seriously. The pre-construction team kept the project moving without Leal and Tim ever having to chase anything.

• A team they could trust. "The Anchor team — can't fault any of them. Our experience right the way through has been excellent." Our team are committed to delivering an exceptional build journey for every client, from the first conversation through to handover.

Is a Modular Home Right for You?

This project is a great example of how modular construction can exceed all expectations.

Leal and Tim's story is a compelling case for modular construction, particularly for those building in regional or rural Victoria. Here are some of the key reasons people choose to build modular:

🤝 Financial transparency — a clear picture of costs throughout the build process

⏰ Faster build timelines — construction happens in a factory environment while your site is being prepared

🌿 Less site disruption — ideal for rural blocks or properties with challenging access

✅ Managed council and planning process — Anchor Homes can handle compliance on your behalf

✏️ Flexible design options — modify an existing floor plan or develop a custom brief with our team

🔨 Quality-controlled construction — a factory environment means consistent, high-quality results throughout

Whether you're building a family home, a rural retreat or a lifestyle property in regional Victoria or New South Wales, modular construction with Anchor Homes offers a clear and supported path to getting there.

Interested In Building A Modular Home?

If you're looking to build a new home, modular is the way forward.

Leal and Tim's Wildwood project is a beautiful example of what becomes possible when the right design meets the right builder. The Newhaven 21 with Modern Gable facade delivered exactly what they envisioned: a home with character, a process with clarity, and an outcome that left them staggered in the best possible way.

We're now on site in Wildwood, working through the final stages to get the home ready for handover. It's one of our favourite parts of the journey, and we can't wait to hand the keys to Leal and Tim and see them move in.

If you’re ready to explore what building with Anchor Homes could look like for you, get in touch with our team. Whether you’re starting with one of our designs or have existing plans you’d like us to review, we’re here to help.