FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. What areas do you build in?

A. The areas which Drake Bros Homes and Willow Grove Builds are approximately Melbourne metro, Whittlesea area, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Cardinia Shire (including along the Sth Gippsland Hwy towards Warragul), and the Yarra Ranges Shire. If you are unsure if we build in your area, contact us and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Q. What hours are your Display Centre open?

A. We are open:

Mon – Fri – By appointment only
Weekends – By appointment only

OR You can Contact Us to arrange to meet one of our staff by appointment.

Q. Who obtains all the plans and permits?

A. Drake Bros and Willow Grove will get all the plans and permits that are necessary to start building your new home in Melbourne.

Q. What sort of guarantee does a granny flat come with?

A. As with all new homes there is a 10 year structural warranty.

Q. What do I need to do before the you start my granny flat?

A. Initially, we need to conduct a Feasibility Study, which includes a Site Inspection and the purchasing of relevant information, to determine whether building a Granny Flat on your property is possible. Once this process has been completed and has been deemed viable, we will commence to the Offer to Purchase stage and begin preparing a full set of plans and gathering relevant information.

Q. How long does it take to build a granny flat / relocatable home?

A. Once we have obtained all the plans and permits for your new cottage, the construction time is approximately 12-16 weeks.

Q. Do you build the granny flats on site or transport them to our property?

A. For most of the time we build the granny flats / homes on-site in Melbourne, simply because we do not need as much access and in the long run it is cheaper for our clients.

Q. Do your granny flats / relocatable homes accommodate disabled facilities?

A. Yes, we do cater for disabled amenities. Some of the options are as follows:

  • Stepless shower bases
  • Safety grab rails
  • Handheld showers
  • Wider doorways
  • Raised toilet
  • Ramp with balustrade instead of steps

Q. Are the granny flats fully relocatable?

A. Yes, all our granny flats are fully relocatable.

Q. Do you offer a choice of colours that I can choose from?

A. If our standard granny flat / relocatable home plans are not quite right for you, we will work with you and your requirements to build you a home which you will love.

Q. Can I make design or floor plan changes?

A. If our standard granny flat / relocatable home plans are not quite right for you, we will work with you and your requirements to build you a home which you will love.

Q. Do you have a colour room office or designer who can help with colours and design etc?

A. We have qualified colour specialist and designer will work with you to obtain a scheme for your new home that best suits your surrounds, personalities and lifestyle.

Q. What should I consider when hiring a granny flat builder?

A. First, one of the most important aspects to consider while hiring a professional granny flat builder is whether the work is done by registered builders, with the correct qualifications and insurance to be working in the area. You also need to clarify whether the builder will arrange your building permit requirements. When you pick the right builders for your granny flat, all the plans and permits should be arranged by your builders. You’ll also want to check that your granny flat builder is a specialist. Choosing a builder that specialises in granny flat will often give you greater peace of mind that you’re likely to be happy with your new transportable home.

Q. What restrictions and laws should I consider when building a granny flat?

A. When you’ve decided on a builder, you’ll then need to work alongside them to arrange any required plans or permits that meet relevant regulations and laws associated with granny flat construction. Your builder will help clarify any restrictions on the size of land that you want to build your granny flat on, as well as specific local requirements regarding layout. Since granny flats are governed by the National Construction Code of Australia, building must also stick to the Australian Standards of construction. Victoria in particular has very strict regulation on building granny flats so it’s advised that you speak to a professional who can give you all the accurate guidance necessary.

Q. How much does it cost to build a granny flat?

A. When it comes to construction, you often get what you pay for. Granny flats are available in multiple layouts and sizes, right from cosy one-bedroom variants to luxurious three-bedroom options. Granny flats can provide a great return on investment and as such, when you are planning to spend on building a granny flat, quality, durability and low maintenance should be factors you consider. These will all influence the price of building your relocatable home. As an example, a 2-bedroom granny flat with one bathroom can start from $134,000, however it depends on the size and extras needed.

Q. Will my council allow me to build my granny flat where I want?

A. The Council regulations relating to the building of a Granny Flat are uniform throughout most Councils. It is a relatively straight forward procedure to get your Building Permit.

Q. Will the council want to send notices to my neighbours?

A. Only if a Town Planning Application is needed that the Council may want to send notices.

Q. What are your standard payment terms?

A. The payment terms are the standard HIA stage payments, as follows:

  • Deposit: 5%
  • Base Stage: 10%
  • Frame Stage: 15%
  • Lock Up Stage: 35%
  • Fix Stage: 25%
  • Handover: Balance of Contract Price

Q. What materials do you use? Are your granny flats sustainable?

A. We use a range of high-quality first-grade materials from reputable Australian suppliers, such as Colorbond roofing, Fibre cement cladding and high-grade timber.

Q. Do you have any energy ratings?

A. Yes. All our granny flats have an energy rating of 6.0.

Q. Do you build on stumps or concrete slab?

A. It is our standard method to build on stumps. Using stumps holds the advantage of being able to accommodate for building on elevated blocks and is also the practical choice for our moveable buildings.