PREFAB PROMISE
There’s a sea-change going on in the building industry. Once considered cheap, nasty and temporary, people are now looking at prefab houses with fresh eyes. These days they are increasingly viewed as a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and stylish alternative to traditional building methods.
As it happens there have been prefab options of various types in New Zealand for many years. That’s because the prefab sector covers any part of a building that is made away from the final construction site, whether it’s a single component or a complete building.
Despite this, New Zealand has been slow to adopt the concept en masse – until now. But that’s changing and one major reason for this is that prefabs have been touted as one of the answers to New Zealand’s housing crisis, and accordingly, thrust into the spotlight.
But what do prefabs have to offer investors? Are they a good option for investors looking at doing a subdivision or small development, or who are keen to boost the value of a property by adding a secondary dwelling? We talked to some industry experts, as well as some investors who’ve been down the prefab path, to find out about the pros, cons and possibilities that come with prefabs.
CONFRONTING ROADBLOCKS
It’s the Government’s troubled KiwiBuild programme that is a key driver behind the current focus on prefabs. They have
