What is a Turnkey Home?

A turnkey home (or turnkey house) is a new property sold at a fixed price and completely move-in ready at handover. Everything needed to live in the home is included, such as flooring, appliances, driveways and landscaping, so true to its name, the buyer simply turns the key and moves in.

What does turnkey mean?

The term turnkey describes something that is fully completed and ready for immediate use. The phrase comes from the idea that once a project is finished, the only thing left for the owner to do is turn the key and begin using it.

While the term is used across industries including business, franchising, IT and construction to describe a fully delivered solution, in residential property it refers to a home that is sold with a defined list of inclusions, so all you have to do is add your furniture.

What’s included in a turnkey home?

While inclusions vary between builders, a genuine turnkey package generally includes everything you need to start living in your new home. This means buyers can move in without having to arrange additional trades or complete unfinished work.

1. Essential connections

A turnkey home will typically include all essential service connections, including water, sewerage, electricity, gas (where applicable) and NBN or telecommunications conduit and provisioning.

2. Interior fit-out

Floor coverings come standard in most turnkey homes, whether that’s carpet, tiles or timber-look laminate, and light fittings are typically fitted throughout as part of the package.

3. Appliances

Kitchen appliances are generally included, with most turnkey packages covering an oven, cooktop and rangehood. Many builders also include a dishwasher as part of the package, although this can vary.

4. Climate control

Heating and air conditioning are commonly included, either as a split-system or ducted solution depending on the builder and the specific home design.

5. Outdoor works

A turnkey package often extends beyond the home itself to include external works such as the driveway, pathways, fencing, turf and basic landscaping. Many packages also include a letterbox, clothesline and remote-entry garage door where specified.

What’s not always included in a turnkey package?

While the term turnkey suggests a home is fully finished, it is not a regulated industry term, and inclusions can differ significantly between builders. For this reason, it’s important not to assume every turnkey package contains exactly the same features.

Items that commonly vary include window coverings such as blinds and curtains, the extent of landscaping, driveways and pathways, clotheslines, letterboxes, dishwashers and whether air conditioning extends to every bedroom or only selected living areas.

Before signing a contract, buyers should be aware of the full list of inclusions and compare it carefully with other providers. It’s also worth checking how long the advertised fixed price is guaranteed, as some builders only hold pricing for three to six months before requiring a revised quotation.

Is a turnkey home the same as a house and land package?

Not always, although the two often go together. Turnkey simply means the home is fully finished and ready to move into at a fixed price. A house and land package might be turnkey, or it might be a standard package where items like landscaping and driveways cost extra. Equally, a townhouse or an off-the-plan home can be turnkey if it is delivered complete.

The table below highlights some of the key differences between a turnkey home, a standard house and land package, and an off-the-plan purchase. Understanding these differences helps buyers compare homes more accurately, rather than assuming every new-build purchase offers the same level of completion.

	Turnkey home	Standard House & Land package
Price structure	Fixed, all-inclusive	Base price plus optional extras
Condition at handover	Move-in ready	May exclude landscaping, driveways, window coverings
Customisation	Minimal; builder pre-designs	Moderate; floor plan and finish options
Buyer involvement	Low; builder manages end to end	Moderate
Best for	Cost certainty, investors, first home buyers	Buyers wanting input into design

Turnkey vs off the plan

The terms ‘turnkey’ and ‘off the plan’ describe two different aspects of buying a home.

Off the plan refers to when a property is purchased before construction has been completed.

Turnkey describes how it will be delivered at handover.

A townhouse purchased off the plan can still be a turnkey home if it is completed with all agreed inclusions so that it is ready for living once complete.

What is a turnkey townhouse?

A turnkey townhouse is a townhouse sold at a fixed price and delivered fully finished with all the finishes and appliances that a homeowner needs. The builder pre-designs the home, manages construction from start to finish, and includes all the features that mean no further work is required after handover.

The turnkey model is particularly well suited to townhouse developments because homes are designed as part of a cohesive streetscape. Facades, external colour palettes and many inclusions are selected in advance to create a consistent look throughout the development, making a fixed-price, fully finished home a natural fit.

Although many turnkey townhouses are sold within residential developments, the purchase structure can vary. In many cases, buyers enter into a separate contract for the land with the developer and another for the construction of the home with the builder, with progress payments made throughout the build. Turnkey refers to the level of completion and fixed inclusions at handover rather than the contract structure itself.

Turnkey townhouses also appeal to buyers looking for a lower-maintenance lifestyle. Smaller lots generally require less upkeep, while completed landscaping removes the need to organise external works after settlement. As new homes, turnkey townhouses are also built to current Australian energy efficiency standards, including a minimum 7-star energy rating and, in many cases, features such as double glazing and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems.

Across Melbourne’s growth corridors, turnkey townhouses have become an increasingly popular alternative to detached house and land packages as they offer a more affordable pathway into home ownership while providing greater cost transparency. Sienna Homes is one of a number of Victorian builders specialising in turnkey townhouse developments.

Who are turnkey homes best suited to?

Turnkey homes appeal to a wide range of buyers because they offer greater certainty around both cost and completion. For first home buyers, knowing what is included from the outset can make budgeting easier and reduce the likelihood of unexpected expenses after handover. Busy professionals and downsizers often value the convenience of moving into a home that is already complete, without needing to coordinate additional trades or organise finishing works.

Turnkey homes are also popular with investors. Because the property is ready to occupy as soon as settlement is complete, it can typically be advertised for rent sooner. As a newly built home, buyers may also be eligible for depreciation benefits, subject to their individual circumstances and professional tax advice.

The trade-off is that turnkey homes generally offer less opportunity for personalisation. Floor plans, facades, fixtures and finishes are chosen from a selection provided by the builder before construction begins, making this style of home better suited to buyers who prioritise simplicity and cost certainty over extensive design flexibility.

FAQs

Do turnkey homes include landscaping?

In many cases, yes. A genuine turnkey package commonly includes basic landscaping, turf, fencing, driveways and pathways. However, the extent of landscaping varies between builders, so buyers should always review the schedule of inclusions before signing a contract.

Can you customise a turnkey home?

Customisation is usually limited. Because turnkey homes are generally pre-designed, buyers may have fewer opportunities to change floor plans, fixtures or finishes than they would with a traditional house and land package. Available options vary depending on the builder and the stage of construction.

Is a turnkey home the same as move-in ready?

All turnkey homes are move-in ready, but the two terms are not interchangeable. Move-in ready can also describe an established home that is immediately liveable, whereas turnkey specifically refers to a new home delivered fully finished under a fixed-price package.

Do turnkey homes include window coverings?

Not always. Window coverings such as blinds and curtains are among the inclusions that commonly vary between builders. Buyers should check the builder’s inclusion schedule to confirm whether window furnishings form part of the advertised turnkey package.

Turnkey Townhouses by Sienna Homes

Sienna Homes designs and builds turnkey townhouses across Melbourne’s growth corridors, combining fixed-price inclusions with thoughtfully designed homes that are ready to move into at handover. Buyers are supported throughout the journey by a dedicated Project Coordinator, providing a single point of contact from contract through to completion.

Explore Sienna Homes’ current turnkey townhouses for sale on new developments to learn more about available locations and designs.