Lock-Up vs Turn-Key Tiny Homes: What's the Difference?

When exploring tiny home options, one of the most common questions we receive at Iconic Tiny Homes is: What's the difference between a lock-up and a turn-key build?

Both options offer great flexibility depending on your budget, requirements and how involved you'd like to be in the building process.

What Is a Lock-Up Tiny Home?

A lock-up stage tiny home is essentially the completed external shell of your home, providing a fully enclosed watertight structure, ready for you to take over the internal fit-out.

This includes the trailer, structural frame, roofing, external cladding, windows and external doors, creating a fully enclosed, weatherproof structure.

The internal finishes, such as kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, plastering, painting, plumbing and electrical fit-off, are left for you to organise and complete.

A lock-up build is a great option for those with building experience, access to their own trades or anyone wanting greater flexibility over their interior finishes and budget.

What Is a Turn-Key Tiny Home?

A turn-key tiny home takes things one step further, with our team completing both the external construction and internal fit-out.

This includes your kitchen, bathroom, flooring, wall finishes, electrical, plumbing and other fixtures and fittings outlined in your chosen design.

Essentially, your tiny home arrives fully finished with only the required positioning, external service connections and any applicable site requirements remaining.

For customers wanting a streamlined experience without the responsibility of coordinating multiple trades, turn-key is often the preferred option.

Which Option Is Right for You?

While a lock-up build generally offers a lower upfront cost it's important to consider the additional time, trades and expenses involved in completing the home yourself.

A turn-key build offers a seamless, stress-free experience with all construction and finishing works completed by our experienced team, leaving you with nothing to worry about but moving into and enjoying your new tiny home.

At Iconic Tiny Homes, we offer both lock-up and turn-key options across our range of designs, including custom builds. Whether you prefer to take on the internal fit out yourself or have our experienced team manage the entire construction process, we can help you choose the option that best suits your budget and level of involvement.

Not sure which option is right for you? Our team can walk you through the inclusions and exclusions of each build stage, explain the pricing differences and help you make an informed decision.

Interested in learning more?

Get in touch with Iconic Tiny Homes to request our latest brochure, discuss lock-up and turn-key pricing or arrange a visit to our factory.