Modul homes are innovative – prefabricated homes manufactured offshore as a single unit and shipped into the country. It's leading-edge technology and a first for New Zealand, so we know you'll have a few questions.
What makes Modul different from other prefabricated homes?
Usually, prefab houses are made up of pre-built ‘components’, which are transported to a site and the building is assembled from the individual units. Modul homes are different. They are precision-manufactured offshore, arrive in New Zealand fully constructed and placed on pre-prepared foundations. Many prefab homes are seen as ‘tiny houses’, sheds or as temporary buildings. However, Modul are three-bedroom, 2 bathroom, two-storey terraced homes.
Can I choose the interior fittings such as appliances and bathroom fixtures?
Every Modul home comes with the essential fittings already installed: carpet, tiles, oven, rangehood, bathroom fixtures and even landscaping. You’ll bring your own washing machine, fridge and there’s space in the Modul kitchen to install a dishwasher. You can also choose to have a heat pump installed.
Can I buy a Modul home and put it on a section I already own?
Not at this stage. Modul homes are currently only available in developments in northwest and central Auckland: Hobsonville Point, greater Mt Roskill area and Owairaka.
If I buy a Modul home off the plan, how soon can I move in?
As Modul homes are arriving in planned development sites around urban Auckland, the timeline depends to some degree on the progress of the developments. However, the idea with Modul is that it can be as little as six months from signing your sales contract to move-in day.
What are my customisation options with Modul?
Interior colour schemes: Modul homes are available in 3 different interior colours. When purchasing a Modul home off the plans, you may be able to select your interior colour scheme.
However, as the homes are available on a stock basis (meaning the homes are not manufactured “to order”), Modul determines the number of homes that will be manufactured and shipped. This means that sometimes your preferred colour scheme may not be available at the time of purchase. The earlier you enquire, the more likely you are to get the colour scheme of your preference.
How can a prefabricated home offer improved quality?
By constructing Modul homes in a factory environment using top-of-the-line computer tech, workers and resources can be efficiently managed. This results in greater quality control: faults can be identified early and addressed. Strict manufacturing standards cover everything from materials supply to construction and compliance. For Modul, SGS New Zealand monitored quality throughout the manufacturing process.
How does a prefabricated Modul home save time?
Because Modul homes are manufactured off-site, the site can be prepared at the same time as the home is being constructed. The weather won’t create delays either, as the homes are built indoors. Due to this more efficient manufacturing and site process, Modul is well suited to new housing developments in established residential areas. It can take months of construction chaos to build a traditional home. A Modul home arrives at the site fully complete and within four weeks it can be installed and ready to move in.
How does a Modul home save money?
For New Zealand home-buyers wanting a new-build home, a key consideration is the cost of building materials. By manufacturing its homes offshore, Modul is able to utilise the same or higher quality materials than New Zealand builders for a significantly lower cost – and that advantage is passed on to the buyer through a lower price point.
Do all Modul homes look the same?
Each Modul home follows a similar or identical design to other Modul homes. So, while there are some differences to the exteriors of the homes (i.e. pergola or cladding solutions) in the different development areas around Auckland, every Modul home is essentially the same. Because Modul homes are manufactured, not built, the identical design provides standardised quality.
Isn’t a prefabricated home more flimsy?
Modular construction is being used around the world in residential housing, hospitals, schools, offices, hotels and retail. While ‘prefab’ has often been associated with smaller homes or temporary buildings, that’s no longer the case. These days, permanent prefabricated construction offers innovative, world-leading tech. It’s increasingly becoming the solution for quality affordable housing.
Every home built in New Zealand must comply with the New Zealand Building Code, including homes that are constructed overseas and shipped into the country, like Modul. Modul received an NZ government-approved Multiproof consent. It’s the consent builders apply for when building 10 or more of the same, or similar, designs over a period of two years. The local council assess the plans and specifications, conduct inspections both onsite and remotely in the factory, and later the completed Modul home receives its code of compliance certificate.
When is the best time to consider buying a Modul home?
Modul is ready when you are. At this stage, all the Modul homes available in New Zealand are for sale in Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities developments around Auckland.
What makes a Modul home a more sustainable construction option?
A factory-built home can be significantly more environmentally friendly than traditionally built houses. In New Zealand, 40% of waste to landfill comes from the construction industry. Modul homes reduce waste by manufacturing and assembling all components off-site to precise specifications.
This manufacturing process allows for better quality control, use of labour, materials and the reduction of waste. And there’s another kind of pollution to consider with a typical building site, noise pollution. Modul homes are craned onto the site for final finishing, and neighbours are spared the weeks and months of hammering, sawing and jackhammering of on-site construction, as well as the high number of truck movements.
Modul homes (excluding Hobsonville Point) are rated at 6 Homestar by the Green Building Council – significantly above the New Zealand Building Code, which only requires a 4 Homestar rating to comply. A 6 Homestar rating or higher provides assurance that the home is better quality – it’s drier, warmer and costs less to run.
