Who they are
VanHomes, the trading name of Expanda Van Homes Pty Ltd, builds relocatable homes on a towable chassis at Berkeley Vale on the NSW Central Coast. Vito Russo founded it in 2008, and the company ABN dates from October 2008. It says it has grown to more than 100 staff and runs a display village with several models to walk through.
What they make
Studio suites and single and double expanding suites, from about 17 to 60 m2 and one to four bedrooms, built on a chassis with wheels, brakes and lights. The expanding suites fold out on site and fold down to 2.4 m wide for the road. Every home is a registrable caravan built to caravan standards, not a Class 1a building.
What the price covers
Model prices for Queensland run from $66,980 to $139,050 plus delivery; the separate pricing guide shows lower 'from' figures, so get a written quote. Set-up is quoted at 2 to 8 hours depending on the model. Drainage to sewer or septic needs a plumber at the buyer's cost.
Installing one in Queensland
The home is trucked from New South Wales and set up on site in a few hours, with no footings or crane in the usual sense; the site does not spell out who does the set-up, so confirm it is in the quote. Its own council page says New South Wales is the only state with a blanket caravan exemption, so a Queensland buyer needs to check council rules for living in a caravan on a residential lot. It also says renting one out triggers building approval.
Who it suits
Buyers who want a home that stays on wheels and can move later, such as for a parent close by, and who have checked their council's caravan rules first.
Worth checking
The homepage says no council building approval is needed, while its council page says that only holds statewide in NSW. In Queensland, check with your council, and note the two sets of prices on the site.