The start of a new year is the time where many homeowners look at how they can make their home work better.
It might be you need more living space for your growing family, an update to a kitchen or an extra bathroom, however moving house is not on your wish list.
Because when you love your neighbourhood, the local shops, your school and wider community, it’s a hard pill to swallow that the home you bought many years ago no longer serves your needs.
This dilemma has many homeowners embracing the Knockdown Rebuild trend, and G.J.
Gardner Homes are the experts in helping homeowners realise this dream and start over.
Why more Australians are choosing to rebuild, not relocate
With limited housing stock on the market, and the delivery of new homes not meeting building targets, many people are realising rebuilding could be the solution.
“Established suburbs often have limited land supply and strong capital growth,” says G.J. Gardner Chief Operating Officer Chris Thornton.
"In today’s property market, staying put spares homeowners the stress and costs of listing your home for sale."
It means paying no real estate agent fees, no stamp duty and no moving suburbs reluctantly because of market conditions, Mr Thornton explains.
For young families, the stress of children starting over at a new school is also avoided.
“You keep the lifestyle you love - commutes, school runs, weekend routines and familiar
amenities all stay the same,” he says.
Jessie and Nate are two G.J. Gardner customers who, together with Jessie’s parents Edouard and Donna, turned the family's Deception Bay bungalow into a purpose-built multi-generational home.
For them, a Knockdown Rebuild project on Edouard and Donna's property was the pathway that made sense.
“If we were to look to buy in a neighbourhood like this, by the time we would save the deposit the property prices would be well out of our purchasing power,” Jessie says.
“If you had asked us five years ago, we’d probably just say we were lifetime renters in this market.”
Instead, they were able to build a home they love in an area that already means so much to them.
Nate, Jessie, and Jessie's parents worked with G.J. Gardner to create a Knockdown Rebuild home.
How Knockdown Rebuild works - and why clarity matters
Enlisting the services of a professional site assessment early in the process is vital.
“A builder, structural engineer or planner can assess soil, foundations, slopes, drainage issues, setbacks and potential constraints before you invest time or money,” Mr Thornton says.
Working with a local builder is also important, as they have the expertise and insight of council regulations and what's possible in the area, making the process smoother with more realistic, personalised advice.
It is also important to compare a renovation versus a rebuild realistically.
“Renovations often come with hidden costs, structural surprises and long timelines,” Mr Thornton highlights.
Mr Thornton emphasises G.J. Gardner offers fixed pricing once the design, engineering and site assessment are complete and that demolition, earthworks and service relocation are all clearly itemised.
“Pricing transparency is a core part of G.J. Gardner's philosophy. Clients receive documentation outlining inclusions, exclusions and allowances before signing,” he explains.
"This can make for a smoother build as customers can see the costs clearly outlined ahead of time."
Working with an expert team like G.J. Gardner makes a Knockdown Rebuild project come to life.
Design freedom that fits real family life
With a huge array of award-winning designs that can be personalised extensively, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting your new home design.
“Unlike builders who limit variations, G.J. Gardner offers true flexibility - moving walls, re-orienting spaces, adding rooms, adapting to multi-gen living, or designing completely from scratch,” Mr Thornton notes.
“The process is collaborative: clients work closely with a building consultant and design specialist to match the home to lifestyle goals, future needs and site conditions.”
For Jessie and Nate, that collaboration was important as they designed their multi-generational home and set G.J. Gardner apart from other builders.
“We were talking to other builders at the time and often they would just be like ‘oh, that’s not really what we do’ or they’re just trying to sell you a cookie-cutter house that they’ve built before,” Nate says.
“G.J. Gardner were really open to innovating, which I think was key to that transition to a multi-generational home,” Jessie adds.
G.J. Gardner's range of home designed can be customised to suit each individual client's needs.
Ready to rebuild your next chapter? Here’s where to start
A block is usually suitable for a Knockdown Rebuild unless it is heritage-listed, or subject to restrictive overlays, and demolition is permitted under council rules.
It is also important if the land can support footings or slab structures based on soil testing, and access is available for demolition machinery and construction vehicles.
Getting in touch with an expert builder like G.J. Gardner Homes can be the most important first step to making your Knockdown Rebuild dreams a reality.
If a Knockdown Rebuild project is on your wish list for 2026, find out more by visiting the G.J. Gardner Homes website.
English (US) · 