How much does it cost to build a house in Tasmania?

If we had a dollar for every time we were asked that question, we would be able to build all of your houses for free! But seriously, whether you're building your first house or your tenth house, it's essential to work with your builders to define a budget for the project's potential cost – this will ensure you have a clear idea of how much you need to save or borrow to bring your project to life! In this blog we’ll show you some of our recent builds, and share how much their construction cost was per m2 (square metre), what was included and what was an additional extra.

So, where do I start with my budget?

At Platinum Pro, we know how exciting it is to start your building journey (we get excited too!). So, we have designed our pre-planning process to be simple, easy, but most of all, detailed, so you know exactly what each stage looks like and what it will cost you. We use our process as a roadmap for your build, clearly communicating our fixed costs and estimated labour and materials costs, so you're prepared.

Our process starts with the initial consult and feasibility where we meet with you to discuss your vision and, of course, your budget. We can then start to plan what your home will look like and run a budget feasibility - this will give you some clear expectations, but more importantly, align your expectations with your budget.

As you can imagine, different homes vary in price substantially – it’s all dependent on whether you want to build on a tight budget or whether you're happy to splash more cash on your home for some extra luxury. There are numerous elements that will affect the final price of your build, including the level of finishes, fixtures, and quality of materials. Don’t stress though - we'll talk you through each of these options so you can make informed decisions.

Below we have a range of homes that Platinum Pro have built on various budgets, to give you an idea of what different prices per square metre will get you. Our plans come with a wide range of inclusions and options, ready for personalisation to suit your style. Don’t forget to review the exclusions to ensure you understand that these will have to be factored into the final price.

Calthorpe - $2,000 - $2,050 per square metre

Calthorpe is a stunning Hamptons-style home built on a flat, fully serviced block.

South - $2,300 per square metre

South is a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home designed on a sloping block. Building costs on a sloping block is typically more expensive as they require more grunt work initially, as well as more intricate designing and engineering than a flat, fully serviced.

Pepik - $2,300 - $2,400 per square metre

Pepik is a modern industrial home designed on a flat, fully services block.

Lillian - $2,400 - 2,500 per square metre

Lillian is modern coastal design that features a split-level due to the sloping block. If you have a sloping block, there are various factors that can influence whether it’s more cost-effective to build a split-level home or a flat home. Building a flat house on a sloping block would require excavating the land to flatten the slope, building retaining walls, and other additional features which can affect the price. If you are looking at or have purchased a sloping block – contact our team of pros who will talk you through all your options and guide you through the process.

Extra costs you should take into consideration

Except for cost per square metre, there are a couple of other costs that should be considered when defining a budget for your build.

Soil quality is one of the things that can increase labour and material costs. If the soil at your property is difficult to work with, you can expect the price to increase. The best-case scenario is to have ‘S’ classification soil and a perfectly flat block, so there will be no additional costs.

If your block is considered rural and isn’t connected to the common town services (which applies to numerous blocks in Tassie), additional costs involved are AWTS (Aerated Wastewater Treatment Systems, to treat sewage and liquid waste, which is approximately $20,000) and also managing onsite stormwater disposal (usually between $5,000 and $15,000).

Many blocks in Tassie are susceptible to bush fire, which means your block could be exposed to bushfire management requirements. Bushfire Attack Level, or BAL, is a method for rating the intensity of a locations potential exposure to bushfire. If you have a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) attached to your property, you will have extra costs involved to keep it safe during bushfires. Similarly, if your property is located in a flood-prone area, it will be necessary to take additional measures to prevent hazards in case of flooding.

Platinum Pro’s pre-planning

As part of our pre-planning service, Platinum Pro will conduct the relevant soil tests and site surveys to get your plans ready for Development Application at council (permission from the local council to build). At this stage of the building process, we only require a small deposit fee of $2,000 - we will cover the remaining approx. $15k required to design, engineer, certify and approve your plans so that your hard-earned cash can continue to be saved. Saving this money can reduce lender's mortgage insurance and potentially increase your borrowing capacity up to $100,000!

While we’re here, we should also let you know that Platinum Pro can achieve Building Approval in 4-6 months - this is up to 6 months quicker than the industry average pre-planning timeframe.

Interested in designing your dream home?

If you’re interested in designing your perfect home and want to know how much it costs, get in touch with Platinum Pro Construction, and our team of professionals will help you through the whole process.

Platinum Pro's typical build time is 4-6 months. This is 9-12 months quicker than the Tasmanian industry average! If you’ve read this far, you’ll realise that this efficient timeframe is not due to any shortcuts or scrimping on quality – but a result of our streamlined processes.

Our award-winning builders at Platinum Pro Construction will make your dream come true. We‘re a local, reliable team who are here to guide you through all the home build phases without hassle or hidden costs.

Contact us for your new home or unit development project, and we can assist you in the design process, or you can choose from our pre-designed plans!