Who they are
Express Portables sells expandable homes, cabins, pods and other portable buildings from a display village at 9 Upton Street, Bundall, on the Gold Coast. The trading company is Hix Investments Pty Ltd, ABN since 2012, and the site claims customers since 2016. Its buildings are made by overseas manufacturing partners and inspected at its Gold Coast warehouse before dispatch.
What they make
Fold-out expander homes that arrive packed down and open to about 36 to 75 m², in one and two bedroom layouts. A separate Class 1a range (30 ft and 40 ft) uses an engineered galvanised steel frame, 75 mm polyurethane panels, a 2.4 m ceiling and an N3 wind rating. Its own table says the standard expanders do not meet the building code in some respects.
What the price covers
Prices are published and include GST: the Class 1a expanders are $84,500 (30 ft) and $104,000 (40 ft), standard expanders from $32,750. The Class 1a price includes footing design documents, certification paperwork and an install guide. Delivery, footings, installation, connections, certifier and council fees are extra.
Installing one in Queensland
Express Portables does not install. A licensed builder or an owner builder with a permit installs the home on engineered footings, connects services and completes the fix-off, and a private certifier approves it before and after. In Queensland the builder holds the QBCC licence and home warranty insurance for that work.
Who it suits
Owner builders or buyers with their own builder who want a published, low entry price for a small permanent dwelling, using the Class 1a range only.
Worth checking
Only the Class 1a range is presented as code compliant for living in; the standard expanders are not. The warranty is one year from delivery and excludes installation.