How We Run a Knockdown Rebuild
A knockdown rebuild can be a great option when you love your location but the existing home no longer suits your family, or when renovating it extensively simply doesn't make sense.
At Manning Homes, we start by understanding what you're hoping to achieve and assessing the existing home and site before determining the best way forward. Sometimes that means renovating. Other times, starting again gives you greater freedom to create a home that works properly for your family, block and budget.
A knockdown rebuild also involves more than simply demolishing the existing home and starting construction. Demolition, existing services, site access, planning requirements, reports, approvals and site preparation all need to be considered before the new home can begin.
These requirements are investigated progressively through our planning process, with the relevant consultants and information brought together as the project moves through Concept and Preliminary. This allows us to properly understand the site, develop the design and accurately price the known requirements before presenting your fixed-price knockdown rebuild contract.
Once the decision to knock down and rebuild has been made, the focus shifts to what comes next. Working alongside our designer, we develop a custom concept around your family, lifestyle and the opportunities presented by your block, including orientation, views, natural light and how you want the home to function.
From there, the project progresses through our Preliminary Stage, where the design is developed in detail and the engineering, selections, reports, approvals and pricing are brought together before moving to a fixed-price building contract.
Once construction begins, you'll have 24/7 access to our online client portal, where you can follow progress through photos, schedule updates, selections and project information, as well as communicate directly with our team. Jake remains closely involved on site throughout construction, supported by our in-house carpentry team and trusted local trades.
The result is a completely new home designed specifically for your family and your block, without having to give up the location you already love.
What's Included
End-to-end service, from the first conversation to handover:
Initial site assessment and project discovery
Concept design developed with builder involvement from the beginning
Preliminary planning, documentation, engineering and required reports
Coordination of planning approvals and demolition requirements
Selections and inclusions coordinated before final pricing
Detailed pricing and a fixed-price building contract with inclusions clearly defined before work begins
Demolition and site preparation coordinated as part of the project
24/7 client portal with progress photos, schedules and project communication
Jake’s direct involvement throughout construction
Experienced in-house carpentry team and trusted local trades
Quality checks throughout construction
Handover and ongoing maintenance support
About Manning Homes
Manning Homes is a family-owned custom home builder based in Forster, helping homeowners across Forster, Tuncurry and the NSW Mid North Coast replace existing homes with custom new homes designed specifically for their block. Led by Jake and Emily Manning, we're a hands-on local team with a strong focus on careful planning, clear communication and direct builder involvement throughout your project. Manning Homes is a licensed builder (461639C) and member of the Housing Industry Association (HIA) and Association of Professional Builders (APB).
Our Process
Six clear stages, from first conversation to handover
1. Initial conversation
A first discussion about your block, your existing home, and what you’re hoping to achieve
2. Discovery
We meet on site to understand the existing property, your priorities and the initial site considerations that may influence the project.
3. Concept design
Working alongside our designer, we develop a custom concept around your family, lifestyle, block and budget, without being limited by the layout of the existing home.
4. Preliminary agreement
The project is developed in detail through final drawings, engineering, selections, required reports and approvals, while demolition and other site-specific requirements are investigated and coordinated.
5. Fixed-price contract
Once the project is fully documented and priced, we present your fixed-price building contract with the scope and inclusions clearly defined.
6. Demolition, construction, portal access and handover
Once the planning and approvals are complete, we coordinate demolition and site preparation before construction of your new home begins. Throughout the build, direct builder involvement and 24/7 portal access keep you connected through to handover.
Frequently Asked Questions
A renovation works with your existing home, keeping and improving parts of the structure that are already there. A knockdown rebuild clears the block entirely and starts fresh, which means the design isn't limited by the old footprint, but it does add demolition and site works to the process. The right option will depend on the condition of your existing home, your block, budget and what you're ultimately hoping to achieve. If you're unsure which approach makes more sense, that's a conversation we're happy to have with you early on.
Yes, demolition will generally require the appropriate approval before work can begin, with requirements varying depending on the property and approval pathway. As part of the planning process, we'll coordinate the relevant demolition requirements and approvals before work commences.
You'll need to arrange alternative accommodation for the demolition and construction period. We'll discuss expected project timeframes with you throughout the planning process so you can make arrangements ahead of time, and you'll receive a construction schedule once your build is ready to commence.
One of the advantages of a knockdown rebuild is that you're no longer designing around the existing floor plan. Working alongside our designer, we can develop a completely new layout around your family, lifestyle and block, while considering things like orientation, views, planning requirements and budget.
You'll deal directly with the Manning Homes team throughout your project. Jake remains closely involved on site during construction, while Emily and our office team help keep everything coordinated behind the scenes. You'll also have access to our client portal for project communication and updates.
Every client receives 24/7 access to our online client portal, where you can view progress photos, schedule updates, selections and important project information, as well as communicate directly with our team. It gives you a clear view of how your project is progressing from demolition through to handover.
There isn't one answer that applies to every property. It depends on the condition of the existing home, how extensive the proposed renovation would be, the site, structural requirements and what you're ultimately trying to achieve. In some cases, a renovation makes perfect sense. In others, the extent of work required means a knockdown rebuild may provide better value and a better long-term outcome. We can help you explore both options before committing to either direction.
