Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Feb 10, 2015 9:28 pm We are looking at a KDR in Western Sydney and I have been visiting all the major builders to get ideas and also rough prices to see what we can afford. I am just a little confused where to go next, we have 3 easements on our land, overhead power lines ( we have an 1100sqm block and only building on half of it ) underground power line easement and also a rear sewer easement with an exclusion zone we know we cannot build on. Should we get our own survey first so we know the exact measurements of where we can build around these easements or narrow it down to 1 builder now and ask them to proceed with the initial site survey ? If we do this, do WE own the report and we can take to another builder, should the their design not suit? I think we have shortlisted 4 potential builders/designs to suit us, but need to make sure it's really going to fit. I have my own Endeavour Energy survey of the block too, which is very complicated for us to understand the exact restrictions. Thanks in advance from any past project builder that might be able to give me some advice. Sarah Re: Researching Builders, starting the process 2Feb 10, 2015 10:06 pm Im not a builder, but someone that has just finished building…. I would recommend getting your own survey done…. It will be cheaper as you will be dealing directly with the surveyor and the survey plans will be yours to keep should you require them down the track for any reason. If you get a building company to do it and you don't end up going with them it might be a bit difficult getting it off them and even if you do build with them… it still might be difficult to get it off them…. just my 2cents… Plus… with my experience even if they do give it to you it usually takes a few days and few request before they hit the send button… this way you will always have it on hand….. Re: Researching Builders, starting the process 3Feb 11, 2015 2:29 pm Hi sarah Some of these wont apply to you but just in case (these are things that cropped up with our land) 1) I would definitely get independent survey done - we have used it numerous times already and haven't even chosen a house yet. If you have any questions you can also call the surveyor to ask as well after they have done it.. And yes, you own the report, so you can use it with any builder - (but I am not sure if some volume builders will request their own survey...) Don't forget if you are going to get a survey done, and you haven't got a soil test yet, get them to do the contours as well so you have confirmation of the slope of your block... 2) If you want to make any changes to the setbacks, check your section 32 /contract of sale and look at the planning restrictions for your lot. You need to check if the planning restrictions apply only to your stage of the development or link through every stage. That way if you want to make any changes to the setbacks, you will know if you need the approval of just the lot owners in your stage or the entire lot owners in the whole development. Its complicated - I needed local council help to understand but they were very good... 3) I know this sounds crazy but if you have any manholes or sewer pits on your block, check that it is an actual pit and not a concrete lid on the ground (we had a concrete pit on our block marked as underground pit by the surveyor - spent a long time looking at house plans trying to avoid the pit until a plumber mate inspected it - lifted it up and sure enough it was just dirt underneath.. 4) If there design guidelines for the estate as well, grab a copy so you can read more detail on the setbacks etc... 5) If you have the energy company, water company (sewer) and local council (stormwater) details, ask them to confirm via email the depth of the pipes in the easements so you will know more about exactly where you can build - its got to do with the zone of influence with the pipes... I found this out from bashworth who is a great contributor to the forum - see below bashworth Yes don't build over the points! Another thing to think about is keeping the house foundations (and the pool) away from the Zone of Influence of the Main pipes. See this link for an explanation http://www.anewhouse.com.au/2012/01/bui ... -close-to/ Re: Researching Builders, starting the process 4Feb 11, 2015 3:58 pm I found it better to get your own survey done (its going to save you some $$) but also get a peg out and a "sewer pegout" for your pipes. It will give you the accurate measurement of how deep the pipes are and a good idea of how close you can build to them. I'm currently building and we are 800mm off a sewer pipe and the builder had to have deeper piers to comply with the zone of influence. I had my surveyors report but had to pay for the peg out as well as the sewer peg out as I didn't know that I needed them. I found it was easier to approach builder with my our surveyors report. All the best for the building. Re: Researching Builders, starting the process 5Feb 13, 2015 7:21 pm Thank you so much for the replies, this forum is fantastic for gathering information and sharing experiences, I look forward to another weekend of planning at Homeworld ! I apologise for any confusion, but your understanding is correct. We approached our situation differently based on advice from… 11 53226 Thanks very much! And would the landscaper/contractor generally involve the engineer or is that something the client would do? Thanks for your help 2 10036 |