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, lifestyle, and block.

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

The first step is to submit a project enquiry through our website. 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 everything!

Can you work with my own architect or designer?

Anchor Homes works exclusively with our in-house architect on all custom modular home projects. Designing a prefab modular home demands an intimate understanding of our construction methodology as well as transport and structural requirements. By maintaining the entire design process in-house, we are able to deliver exceptional outcomes with the efficiency and quality our clients expect. The good news? Everything you need is right here under one roof.

Barwon Modular Home Design

Bed

4 Bath

2 Area

244m²

Dimensions

19.6 X 9

Modules

4

The stylish two-storey Barwon design is one of our largest homes, with plenty of room for the family to get together or enjoy their own space. The ground level includes the open living zone that flows through to the optional deck, a designer kitchen with butler’s pantry, plus a valuable second living room.

Upstairs you’ll find four bedrooms, a study and bathroom. The master bedroom includes an ensuite, walk-in robe and private deck to admire the views. This clever design allows you to zone off the bedrooms to save energy, which makes a big difference in a home of this size.

*Please note: Total dimensions and floorplan may vary depending on the chosen facade type. In addition, this floorplan & the windows shown may be subject to changes to align with 7-star energy rating requirements and liveable housing design guidelines*

Standard inclusions

Optional additions

Premium upgrades

Sustainability upgrades

10-Year structural guarantee

Domestic building insurance (6 years)

3-month building maintenance period

Building permit

Concrete footings up to 800mm depth, with solid concrete block piers

Termite barriers installed in accordance with the BCA

Engineered galvanised sub-floor frame

Finished floor height of 600mm

Plantation pine structural timber wall frames and roof trusses

7mm structural plywood bracing to all exterior walls of modules

22mm particle board flooring

Colorbond® roofing, facia and gutters

90mm PVC downpipes painted to match wall colour

Lightweight external cladding from standard Range.

BAL 12.5 rated construction

N2 wind-rated structure

R 4.0 insulation batts to ceiling

R 2.5 insulation batts to external walls

R 1.9 under floor insulation

R 1.4 reflective thermo-cellular insulation to roof

Vapour permeable wall wrap

Aluminium double-glazed awning windows & sliding doors

Bathrooms, WC & laundry windows single-glazed with cathedral glass

Flyscreens to all openable windows & sliding doors (excluding 4-panel stacking door)

Timber door to entrance from standard range

Aluminum framed fully-glazed door to laundry

Timber landing and steps to front and rear doors, up to 600mm in height

Timber ramp with Merbau decking to entrance up to 600mm in height

10mm plasterboard to walls and ceilings

Villaboard to bathroom walls

67mm skirting and architraves from standard Range

75mm cove cornice

2040mm Flush Panel internal doors

Smartrobe sliding door units to built-in robes

Laminate shelving and hanging rails to built-in robes

Lane lever door furniture

Cushion door stops to all doors opening onto walls

Floor tiles to bathrooms and laundry from standard range

Vinyl planks to kitchen, meals, dining & living areas from standard range

Carpet to bedrooms, study, lounge and theatre rooms from standard range

Melamine cabinets with laminate benchtop as per standard design

Overhead cabinets

Fridge cabinet

1 x nest of pot drawers

1 x nest of 4 drawers

Soft Close drawers

1 ½ bowl Stainless steel sink

Chrome water saver flickmixer tap

Tiled splash back

Westinghouse stainless steel 60cm under bench electric oven from standard range

Westinghouse stainless steel 60cm gas cook top from standard range

Westinghouse stainless steel 60cm pull out range hood from standard range

Laminate 2 door vanity unit to bathrooms

Wall-mounted mirror above vanity

Ceramic basin from standard range

Chrome finish tapware from standard range

Ceramic water-saving toilet suite with soft close lid

Chrome finish double towel rail and toilet paper holder from standard range

Tiled shower base

Semi-frameless shower screen

Melamine cabinets with laminate benchtop to laundry as per standard design

Stainless steel inset laundry trough

Waterproofing as per AS 3740-1994

Floor tiles from standard range

Bathroom wall tiles from standard range to 2.0m height in shower recess and 1.0m height to remainder of walls

Skirting tiles and tiled splash back to laundry & WC

Electrical meter box and switchboard fitted externally

LED downlights throughout home

External lights to front of home from standard range

External light to laundry / rear door from standard range

2-in-1 Light & Fan combination light fitting to bathroom & ensuite

1 x external waterproof power point

1 x TV point

1 x telephone point

2 x double power points per bedroom

3 x double power points to Bedroom 1

Double power points throughout remainder of home

Smoke detectors hard-wired with battery backup

315L Rinnai Sunmaster evacuated-tube solar HWS, gas or electric boosted

1 x external garden tap

High quality paint to all external painted surfaces

High quality low VOC paint to all internal painted surfaces – 3-coat system

One colour throughout internally

Delivery to site is included in the base price specific to your project location. Please note, every project needs to be assessed on its own merits, and in some instances the delivery component of the base price may need to be reviewed to take into account over-dimensional truck routes & local road laws.

Carports & garages

For size, there’s the choice of single or double, and for style, you can select attached or detached.

Decks & alfresco

Enhance your home with custom decking, verandahs, or alfresco areas. All options can be seamlessly integrated into any Anchor design.

Service connections

We can arrange water, power, gas, and sewerage connections, as well as septic systems, for any project upon request.

Heating & cooling

Customise your climate control with options including split systems, ducted systems, wood heaters, and hydronic heating and cooling.

Upgraded external cladding

Facade upgrades

Stone bench tops for Kitchen/Bathrooms

Splash back upgrades to non-standard tiles, stone or glass

Dishwasher

Full height wall tiling in wet areas

Premium fixture upgrades

Floor covering upgrades

Window coverings (Blinds)

Decorative light fittings

Insulation

Increased wall & ceiling bulk insulation

Solar Hot Water

Solar hot water services (may be required for 7-star Energy Rating / BASIX compliance)

Rainwater Tanks

Slimline tanks or sizable water storage options for your main water supply

Window Insulation

Thermally broken aluminium window frames & high-performance glazing

Carports & garages

For size, there’s the choice of single or double, and for style, you can select attached or detached.

Decks & alfresco

Enhance your home with custom decking, verandahs, or alfresco areas. All options can be seamlessly integrated into any Anchor design.

Service connections

We can arrange water, power, gas, and sewerage connections, as well as septic systems, for any project upon request.

Heating & cooling

Customise your climate control with options including split systems, ducted systems, wood heaters, and hydronic heating and cooling.

Upgraded external cladding

Facade upgrades

Stone bench tops for Kitchen/Bathrooms

Splash back upgrades to non-standard tiles, stone or glass

Dishwasher

Full height wall tiling in wet areas

Premium fixture upgrades

Floor covering upgrades

Window coverings (Blinds)

Decorative light fittings

Insulation

Increased wall & ceiling bulk insulation

Solar Hot Water

Solar hot water services (may be required for 7-star Energy Rating / BASIX compliance)

Rainwater Tanks

Slimline tanks or sizable water storage options for your main water supply

Window Insulation

Thermally broken aluminium window frames & high-performance glazing

Discover facade styles for your Barwon Modular Home Design | Anchor Homes home

Facade:

About facades

Completed projects featuring the Barwon Modular Home Design | Anchor Homes design

Daylesford

Frequently asked questions

Do you have any questions about modular home building that aren’t covered here? Get in touch with our friendly team – we’re happy to help.

All Faqs

Barwon

Bed

4

Bath

2

Area

244m2

Dimensions

19.6 X 9

Modules

4

Access our brochure

View our full range of modular home designs, view all available floorplans and explore a clear guide to the modular home building and buying process.

Standard inclusions

Optional additions

Premium upgrades

Sustainability upgrades

Carports & garages

Decks & alfresco

Service connections

Heating & cooling

Insulation

Solar Hot Water

Rainwater Tanks

Window Insulation

Standard inclusions

Optional additions

Carports & garages

Decks & alfresco

Service connections

Heating & cooling

Premium upgrades

Sustainability upgrades

Insulation

Solar Hot Water

Rainwater Tanks

Window Insulation

Discover facade styles for your Barwon Modular Home Design | Anchor Homes home

Facade:

Completed projects featuring the Barwon Modular Home Design | Anchor Homes design

Daylesford

Frequently asked questions

244m²