Probably a silly question, but does the new stamp duty concession it come into effect as of the first of JULY 2008? http://www.sro.vic.gov.au/sro/SROWebSite.nsf/attachments/Budget/2008%2009/2008-09%20Budget%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Homebuyers.pdf Milt,

Thanks for the responses guys, much appreciated. We are in the middle of having plans drawn up at the moment so things are starting to get interesting! VJ which builder did you settle with? I'd have to agree Alton beach is one of the nicest beaches over this side of Melb. Milt,

MJ, We are having a friend do our plans and i also had the plans qouted elsewhere, these are the commercial figures we ended with for a 34sqr double story home. Drawings $3500 E ngineering report $2000 Energy report $400 Building surveyor $1500 Building permit $1500 Cheers Milt,

Excellent ideas "god I love this site" I think what I'll do is move the ensuite to where the WIR is, move the WIR to that little useless area by the master. The ensuite wil them become a retrest area after i resize the master to make it smaller and manageable. Thanks Milt,

I'm having a friend who is an architect look over the plans this week. Any one else have any suggestions? Milt,

What is the difference in overall cost in your experience Colourbond v's Concrete tiles v's teracotta? Milt,

D&S The plan looks good :P The only thing I'd do is swap the living area and the theatre room around . It would allow you to make the theatre room slightly bigger if need be. I'd maybe swap bed 4 and activity room as the afternoon sun will belt down on the western side of the house where the bed...

Jeepers its not cheap building a house??? Is there anythng else we need to do? Most importantly any way of saving a few $$$ by doing any menial tasks ourselves? Prepare Schematic Design Drawings (includes: site visit, preparation of floor plan, front elevation) $1400 plus GST Prepare Contract Docume...

Allan, Point 1. yes I think yoiu have a valid point there we may increase the ensuite slightly and add a door :wink: Point 2. that space in front of bed 4 will be a walk in linen closet for blankets etc, games etc. We had a spa in the old house and the novelty quickly wore off Point 3. we definitell...

Budz the top floor encompasses the study, lounge, kitchen, meals area, laundry linen closets and pantry. All walls line up once the second story is shrunk to size with the exception of the wall above the meals area and the small wall near the front porch. We will be getting plans drawn up in the com...

Sorry oznow i've just increased the resolution for you all. The plan is bits and pieces and our own ideas that i have created with Microsoft Visio drawing program. We ahven't yet had plans drawn up thats te next step :wink: vpande, the small space near the master bedroom may be used as a kids comput...

Walking you through the house: The house is North facing hence our reasoning to have most of the bedrooms on the eastern side of the house. Bathrooms on the western "warmer"side of the house? A good sized garage to comfortably fit two cars ans have a good little storage area as well as a small works...

Hey guys back to the drawing board for us again going down the road of a custom designed house to our liking. For those of you who have gone down that path what was the cost of having plans drawn up by your draftsman? We have been quoted $2500 "mates rates" for our double story 35sq home. Does this ...

Any idea of the cost of one of these vents??? Milt,

Thanks Casa, i didn't think of a ceiling fan to relay the warm air downstairs :wink: if its warm enough up there that is. Milt,

Our block is 19 x 39m and has an easment running 3m accross to the rear of the block. How deep is at normally run at and what exactly is the function of an easement "is it sewarage related"? My intention is to plant several smalltrees in the two back corners and to place a few garden beds straight o...

I intend on having black or a dark shade terracota roof tiles installed on our house when we build, are they better with regard to insulation and longetivity? Our plan is to install a couple of domestic whirly birds to release the hot air in the roof space in summer preventing the hot air from leach...

Thanks for sharing Hardy it looks the goods :P Milt,

Matt can i ask what you were charged extra for the garage extension and what size is it now? Milt,