Kitset considerations

What you need to know about kitset homes

By Polly Nichols

Kiwis have a reputation for throwing themselves into the thick of things, whether it’s traversing the world or settling down. Much like the use of number eight wire, New Zealand has a history of ingenuity which shows even in the housing industry through the construction of kitset homes.

You can find catalogues for kitset homes as early as the late 1800s. By the 1950s, a few New Zealand kitset home manufacturers cropped us as well, which saved time and money on importing from overseas.

Previously, many relied on the use of kitset homes because of little access to building materials and the convenience of transporting materials to remote parts of the country. Although Kiwis can still enjoy these benefits, there are others to consider as well.

Kitset homes are often confused with prefabricated and transportable homes. Still valid options, prefabricated homes and transportable homes differ from kitset homes because they are built off site, while kitset homes are built on the land in which it will reside. For kitset homes, Fraemohs Homes development manager Amanda van der Kley says the main benefits are cost savings and the opportunity to build your own home – with Fraemohs’ solid timber kitset homes at least.

“The method of construction or the way that you can construct them is quite simple, so you don’t necessarily need to be a what I would call a ‘qualified person’ in order to do it.

“Saying that, that’s not the case for all kitset homes, but that is one of the benefits of our solid, timber one.” Amanda also notes that kitset homes afford people with the desire to build their home with their own hands the time they need to build at their own pace. Still, before making any major decision it’s best to consider its pros and cons but especially when it comes to our homes. Some drawbacks to buying and building a kitset home include the financing. To explain, Amanda says, “Generally, it’s down to finance requirements. As you can imagine, there’s nothing really for the bank to leverage against. “There’s no land or anything like that, and because you’re having to pay up front for a kitset home, that’s quite a significant cost if you can’t find it yourself. “I think the biggest issue our customers have is the financing because the lending requirements are a lot stricter.”

An open and clear line of communication with your bank is helpful with any home purchase, but even more so with kitset homes.

Amanda’s advice for kitset home buyers: secure the land first. That way, the bank has something to leverage when coming up with your financing options. Additionally, before going through the process of purchasing and building a kitset home, buyers should talk to necessary trades and their local officials early so they know what the land and build require. When home buyers do their homework, they are sure to reap the benefits a kitset home brings. With Fraemohs’ solid timber option, home buyers are able to save on costs by building their home themselves and simultaneously building a bit of their family history as well.

Photo by Fraemohs Homes.