A starting price helps identify a product range. It does not, by itself, price an approved, installed and connected home on your land. Equally, not every package excludes installation or site work: the written scope for the particular model matters.
Use this guide to compare quotations, then use our Permanent Homes budget guide for NSW and Victoria for location-specific planning.
Identify what is being priced
| Quote basis | Check the listed scope | Confirm separately |
|---|---|---|
| Building supply | Structure, layout, finishes and fixtures | Freight, installation, site works and connections |
| Supply and installation | Installation work and site assumptions | Ground conditions, access limits and additional work |
| Broader project package | Itemised work and responsible contractors | Exclusions, allowances and completion conditions |
These are comparison categories, not standard package definitions. Request a written inclusion and exclusion schedule rather than relying on the word "turnkey".
Build a scope checklist
| Budget line | Ask for | Avoid double-counting |
|---|---|---|
| Home and finishes | Model revision, specification and upgrades | Fixtures already in the base price |
| Site and foundations | Site assessment and engineering assumptions | Included standard installation |
| Delivery and lifting | Route, distance, crane and access conditions | Freight covered by the package |
| Services | Power, water and wastewater connection scope | Internal versus external services |
| Design and approvals | Documents, professionals and fees | Supplier-provided documents |
| Completion | Stairs, decking and external work | Optional items shown in images |
A difficult access route or unresolved wastewater solution needs investigation, not a generic national allowance. Keep a separate contingency, recording which unknowns it covers.
Compare GST and payment terms
Put quotes on the same tax basis and ask suppliers to identify GST treatment explicitly. Record the date, expiry, payment stages and provisional sums. A lower price may describe less work or different finishes.
For NSW residential building work, the NSW Government contract guidance explains written scope, terms and progress payments. Confirm the requirements applying to your contract and location with a qualified professional.
Discuss factory-stage payments with your lender before committing. Do not assume its drawdown arrangements match the supplier's schedule.
Compare the product, then the site
The Haven and The Meridian currently display product-only price notes. Other packages in Permanent Homes may describe different installation scope. Read each model's current notes and request a dated quotation.
Product images are not an inclusion schedule. Decks, landscaping, furniture and finishes need written confirmation when they affect your decision.
Use the NSW guide or Victoria guide to prepare site questions. Floor area alone does not prove eligibility for an approval pathway.
Request three documents
- Step 01Itemised scope: the model, inclusions, exclusions and assumptions.
- Step 02Site-cost schedule: work included, separately quoted and still unresolved.
- Step 03Project programme: approvals, manufacture, site readiness, delivery and completion dependencies.
For investment planning, carry the complete cost into the rental cash-flow model. For staged procurement, use the developer project process.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a modular home cost in Australia?
There is no single complete-project figure. Model specification, included work, location and site conditions determine the quotation.
Does the starting price include installation?
It depends on the package. Check the current product note and written quotation; models do not all include or exclude the same work.
Are modular homes always cheaper than site-built homes?
No universal percentage saving applies. Compare equivalent scope, finishes, tax treatment and programme assumptions.
How can I get a more useful estimate?
Provide your address, intended use, preferred model, site photographs and known access or service constraints. Start a Planning Assessment or see How It Works.
Sources and further reading
Requirements change and can be applied differently by site and local authority. Check the current official sources and confirm your project with the relevant council, certifier or qualified professional.