So you’ve decided to add a granny flat to your property – now, you must decide who will perform the installion. Well, I’ve done the hard work for you and provided a summary of 10 builders who offer granny flat packages across Australia.

So, What is included in a Granny flat package?

 

Everything you can think of which is in a completed house. However many items such as, landscaping (driveways), plumbing (external) finishings, such as stone bench tops, air conditioning and external painting is commonly excluded.

 

Also, commonly excluded in granny flat packages are council fees and upgrades such as detailed paneling inside and out.

 

So, get ready to check out these builders below:

 

Summary of 10 Builders Who Offer Granny Flat Packages Across Australia

 

NSW

 

• Granny Flats Australia

 

Granny Flats Australia will build your project from start to finish, with standard to luxurious inclusions.

 

They have over 50 designs to choose from, which can be personalised for you.

 

 

• My Granny Flat Sydney

 

My Granny Flat Sydney have designed three granny flat design packages, for any budget, although if these don’t suit your needs you can head over to their customer package estimate calculator and design your own.

 

Package options are below, but after they have finished constructing your new granny flat, they will provide stylish and modern inclusions free of charge.

 

 

WA

 

• Summit Homes

 

Summit Homes have a range of granny flat options available for you, from traditional to contemporary and everything in-between, and a dedicated team of builders who will work with you throughout the entire construction process.

 

They have an extensive range of designs they can customise for you.

 

 

• Dale Alcock

 

Dale Alcock Home Improvement Perth will build a granny flat to suit your needs, space and budget, with superior craftsmanship, insulation and energy efficiency.

 

 

QLD

 

• Australian House Designs

 

Australian House designs strive to provide fast and reliable services by reducing the amount of time spent designing a new home and having structural engineering drawings completed.

 

They have a range of fast, creative and innovative designs, can easily obtain building approval and build your project, and are happy to cater to your individual needs.

 

Although not actual builders themselves, they offer ‘design packages’ across Australia and you can then take them to a local builder.

 

 

VIC

 

• Premier Homes & Granny Flats

 

Premier Homes understand how overwhelming taking on a new building project can be, which is why they do all the hard work for you – including obtaining the necessary paperwork, drafting plans, and liaising with your Council.

 

ACT

 

• ACT Granny Flats

 

The ACT changed its Granny Flat rules in 2014, and the ACT Granny Flats is passionate about providing secondary dwellings to improve the life of Canberrans – they want the process of building a granny flat to be fulfilling, and have a team that have the skills and experience to manage the process from beginning to end.

 

 

TAS

 

• Homes4You

 

Homes4You is a a granny flat  building company that is willing to work with you to create your personalised plan that best suits your budget and building location, and will install the building on your block.

 

They prefabricate the building in their factory, and then pass the savings on to you through faster construction times.

 

 

You have the flexibility to customise every feature of their designs, from exterior cladding to interior fittings and fixtures.

 

 

NT

 

• Forrest Building Co.

 

Forrest Building Co. provide a range of free standing granny flat designs that comply with the Northern Territory building regulations, and can visit your existing home or block of land to help you choose the right granny flat design to suit you.

 

If you choose to customise one of their granny flat designs, they will assist you by introducing their team of preferred architects and engineers, who will work with you to ensure your granny flat meets your needs.

 

 

SA

 

• Austral Constructions

 

Austral Construction granny flats are custom designed to incorporate your needs and requirements.

 

 

They incorporate a wide range of materials and styles, and will liaise with your local council and prepare and submit full documentation for the development application and building approval process.

 

 

What is Commonly Included in Granny Flat Packages

 

Check your quote carefully, and to ensure you receive a fair price it helps to be specific about exactly what you are looking for.

 

You should find the below costs commonly included in granny flat packages.

 

EXTERNAL

 

• Base floor.

 

• Concrete slab (using waffle pod roughly 325 mm high) OR Steel bearers and joists, with yellow tongue flooring and posts on concrete piers.

 

• Termite Control.

 

• Wall, Ceiling & Roof Framing.

 

• Roofing, Eaves, Verges & Guttering.

 

• Insulation.

 

• Windows, with security locks and fly-screens.

 

• Entry doors, & 1 sliding door with security screen.

 

• External Walls.

 

• Down-pipes (if charged line).

 

• Metering – Electricity Meter (typical allowance $500, subject to quote by Electrician), Water flow reader (to measure usage between main home & granny flat).

 

• Full and final clean inside granny flat and around external.

 

• Home Owners Warranty (typically up to 6 years).

 

• Public Liability and Builders Insurance.

 

• Site cost included within the allowance of the package (usually 8m of Service connections).

 

INTERNAL

 

• Waterproofing.

 

• Wall & Ceiling Linings.

 

• Cornices throughout (typically up to 90mm).

 

• Some flooring may be included (such as tiles to bathroom, tiles to kitchen, living & dining area, bedroom either carpet or floating laminate).

 

• Wardrobes.

 

• Mirrored or plain sliding doors with melamine shelves & drawers.

 

• Joinery.

 

• Skirting-boards.

 

• Architraves.

 

• Internal doors.

 

• Separate Laundry, with laundry tub and tiled splash back, tiled floor & skirting, hot & cold taps for washing machine.

 

• Kitchen with cabinets, pantry with microwave space, laminate bench tops, oven and sink.

 

• Bathroom with high wall tiling, back to wall dual flush toilet, toilet roll holder, vanity with basin and mirror, towel rails, enclosed shower, light, fan and heater combination, hot water system.

 

• Electrical – Hard wired smoke detector, internal distribution board controlling all internal power, up to 10 power points (and 1 external power point), energy efficient lighting fixtures, 1 x aerial point for TV, 1 x internal phone point, standard connection of services (electricity is connected to a meter box up to 15m).

 

• Water – Connection to sewer up to 15m, connection to existing storm water.

 

• Engaging a draftsman/architect to take a brief and draw up plans for custom requirements.

 

• Providing an experienced and trusted Master Builder to lead and supervise your project from start to finish.

 

• Soil Report and Contour Survey.

 

• Independent Energy-Rating and Engineering.

 

• Standard Cladding.

 

What is Commonly Excluded in Granny Flat Packages

 

KITCHEN

 

• Splash back.

 

• Stone-top bench tops.

 

• Dishwasher.

 

LIVING AREAS

 

• Reverse Cycle Air conditioning.

 

• Interior and exterior painting.

 

• Window treatments.

 

• Your choice of quality floor coverings, stone bench-tops or LED lighting.

 

EXTERNAL

 

• Front porch with roof, down-lights and floor tiles.

 

• Your choice of a high-quality facade, such as brick or timber.

 

• Driveway.

 

• Garage with roller-door, down-lights and window.

 

• Plumbing.

 

Are there fees associated (further costs)?

An additional fee is a BASIX certificate – this is to ensure you have met the government requirements for water commitments, insulation and energy commitments.

 

To learn more about why this is important, see our article “BASIX Energy Requirements for Granny Flats”.

 

Are council fees included in these packages?

Typically, you require approval from your local council for granny flats in most areas.

Approach your council before beginning any work, prepared to provide them with detailed drawings of your granny flat and you will most likely be required to pay a council fee, which can reach up to $20,000.

This may be included in your package – it is generally up to the draftsman and builder to take the stress out of Development Approval (DA) and coordinate all Building Approvals and certificates.

However, I strongly suggest you check with the regulations with your local council against the Terms & Conditions of your quote, and see if they cover;

• Development Approval

 

• All required Building Approvals and certificates

 

• Section 94 Contribution Fee (if applicable)

 

How Much Should Granny Flat Landscaping Cost?

 

Your landscaping options for a granny flat may actually seem quite limited, as regulations exist in some areas – for example, you can’t put a boundary between it and the main house.

 

However, with a bit of creative thinking, you can use outdoor decor to enhance the appeal of your granny flat at an affordable price.

 

Turf is a good place to start, at an average price of $30sqm and a settling time of 8 weeks, but research your options as to whether your granny flat is in the sunshine or a shaded area.

 

Your granny flat shares a yard with your main home, so its landscaping could be an extension of the primary dwelling – though you want the residents to have their privacy.

 

So, another great and affordable feature for landscaping is a water feature, if you have the space.

 

A large water feature may cost up to $3000 while a mini-water feature may only cost $300, so this is roughly how much you should look at spending on landscaping for a granny flat.

 

If neither turf or a water feature is an option, you can consider planting some flowers for a touch of greenery – and if space is an issue, then buy flower pots instead.

 

Conclusion

 

There you have it – a range of 10 builders who offer granny flat packages across Australia, and what you should expect to see in their quotes, as well as any additional costs you should expect to pay.

 

Happy building!