Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum Re: Owner building out of surburbia, need help 3Mar 19, 2017 6:19 pm The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Owner building out of surburbia, need help 4Mar 19, 2017 9:39 pm I would have solar hot water service, bottled gas for cooking & wood for heating. I have found that one bottle of LPG for cooking only lasts me 3 years.(the rental charges on the bottles are higher than the actual gas charges) Where I built is in a remote part of the country and the restoration time for electricity after a power failure is 2 to 3 days Fire wood for space heating in the country is free, one just has to chop it up, stack it and dry it. I found the Utility connection charges for an all electric house in a remote location is very expensive. Re: Owner building out of surburbia, need help 5Mar 20, 2017 12:34 am We currently use only tank water, have a septic, use a wood fired heater and use LPG for gas and HWS. LPG costs increase all the time as does electricity. Our next house will be independent of any utility (gas, water, elec, sewerage). We will have an all electric house powered by solar and batteries (& a small generator for emergencies). We will retain our gas BBQ and gas camping gear so in an emergency these can be also be used. If everything fails and we have no electricity or gas then my view is simply BIG DEAL, ADAPT & GET OVER IT. So that's our approach and if you and your family are also that way inclined I recommend the same for you. Hi VK, I am now retired however I have stood beside over 300 owner builders in the past 18 years that have successfully built their own homes. First of all a building… 10 18931 While i was across this behavior's pre appointing my (the builders) surveyor, I did tell the builder i was aware what they were doing and while i disagreed with it, they… 13 11869 i wouldn't be worried, you'll definitely miss something, no matter how many times you review. we've spent close to 5 months ensuring everything got reflected in the… 5 9432 |