Summer tends to be when plans start taking shape, and if you’re thinking about a knockdown rebuild in Geelong, it’s a great time to start lining things up. A knockdown rebuild means taking down your existing home and building a new one in its place. It gives you a fresh start without giving up your location. At Built By Hammond, we offer knockdown rebuild services across Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula for clients who want to stay in the areas they already know well.
But this kind of project comes with steps that need to happen in the right order. Getting those sorted early helps everything run smoother from start to finish. Our team manages the process from early planning and permits through demolition and new construction, so each stage links together smoothly. Here’s how we usually guide people through the early part of the process so they know what needs to happen and why it matters.
Before calling in surveyors or sketching floor plans, we like to pause and ask why now feels like the right time. There’s usually a reason behind it. Maybe the current house just doesn’t fit how you live anymore. Maybe you’ve outgrown it or it’s showing its age.
Understanding the reason helps shape what the new place should become. Think about things like:
• Which spaces are too small, too dark, or just not working
• Where more open plan living might help
• If you need room for older kids to have their own areas
• How the outdoor space should work with the indoor layout
Once that’s a little clearer, we can walk the site and chat through what might work on that specific block. Every lot has its own quirks and opportunities. It helps to talk things over with someone who knows the local area and its building conditions.
Geelong is made up of different zones that come with their own planning overlays. Some homes are in bushfire-prone areas. Others have restrictions about how high you can build or how close you can go to a boundary. Figuring out what rules apply to your site is one of the first things to check.
It’s common to need reports or extra reviews before a knockdown rebuild can be approved. Since each council has slightly different steps, it’s good to get that sorted before finalising designs. Otherwise, parts of the plan might need to be redone later.
A few things to look into from the start include:
• Local zoning and whether you can rebuild on the same footprint
• Heritage listings or restrictions that affect demolition
• Planning permits and what needs to be submitted with them
• Whether the area is in a flood, bushfire, or erosion overlay
Making sure your design fits what’s allowed saves time and avoids delays down the track.
Once approvals are moving along, the next step is preparing for demolition. Sounds dramatic, but this part is mostly about staying organised. Before anything comes down, all services need to be disconnected properly. That includes water, gas, and electricity. It often requires bookings with providers ahead of time.
Hiring the right people for demolition makes a difference too. You want people who understand local sites and can remove materials cleanly, without damage to neighbouring properties or leaving behind pieces that could slow the new build.
When clearing the site, it’s worth thinking about:
• Salvaging timber floors, old brick, or metal features for reuse or recycling
• Removing asbestos safely, if it's in the old home
• Protecting the fencing, trees, or shared driveways nearby
A good clean site makes the next phase of the build easier and helps things get off to a stronger start.
A knockdown rebuild isn’t something to figure out after the fact. Builders who know these projects well will help you shape decisions at the right time. That includes things like home orientation, how to use the slope of the land, cross breezes in summer, and privacy from next door.
Bringing a builder in early doesn’t mean rushing into a contract. It just means you get better advice before the plans go in. You’ll also have someone who can help work through approvals, timelines, and how each step fits with the next. As a design-and-construct builder, we manage the process from design and documentation through to permits and construction under one system, which helps keep a knockdown rebuild organised and on track.
When we meet on site, we usually look at:
• Where the sun hits and how that could heat or cool the new home
• How much of the previous structure needs to be removed or retained
• Which trees can stay and which might need trimming
• Where access is available for trucks and materials
Having all of this mapped early takes pressure off later decisions and helps everyone stay on the same page.
Once plans are finalised and the site is prepped, construction can begin. But before it does, there are a few more things you’ll want to have sorted. Most people won’t be living on-site during this period, so working out a place to stay is usually needed.
It also helps to have key paperwork kept together. That way, approval letters, drawings, and insurance details are easy to find if questions come up.
Here are a few simple tasks to keep things moving:
• Organise where to stay while the new home is being built
• Set up a folder or digital record with all building documents
• Make a list of key dates and walk-throughs with your builder
This stage takes time, but with good planning, you’ll know what to expect and when it's likely to happen.
Doing a knockdown rebuild in Geelong means you don’t have to give up your block or your street just to get a new home. It lets you hold on to the location you love, while starting fresh with a home that fits how you live right now.
Early planning goes a long way. Talking things out, getting the right steps in place, and making steady progress helps avoid surprises and keeps the big picture in focus.
By the time the first frame goes up, most of the hard stuff will already be behind you. What’s left is watching the new home begin to take shape. And when it’s done, you’ve still got your own patch of Geelong, just with a whole lot more to enjoy.
Planning a knockdown rebuild in Geelong is a significant step, and our team at Built By Hammond is here to support you from the initial stages right through to construction. We bring extensive local experience with blocks of all shapes and sizes, ensuring each project is managed with attention to detail so your new home suits your lifestyle and neighbourhood. To discover what’s most important when planning a knockdown rebuild in Geelong, get in touch with us today.
