Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Sep 19, 2008 8:12 pm Hi all,
so we're pretty much decided to build in the Highlands estate. Since it took us more than 3 weeks to make a decision, the lot we liked has been sold. The only ones left are just either corner lots or a smaller (but wider) lot. The non corner lots still available, are all 14x25, and they are facing south-west. Is there anything wrong with a house facing south west?? Somehow I always thought (correctly me if I'm wrong) that north facing lots are better (don't really know why it's better though...) The house that we like at the moment is 11.1 x 18.3, so it should fit perfectly on the lot. What do you guys think? Should we take it or draw all my power to have patience and wait for the next release? I feel like since the interest rate drop, there are more and more people ready to buy a house (like us) and the land developers are ready to increase the prices... so I'm hoping to buy a land before they increase the prices... thanks in advance for any advice. Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 2Sep 19, 2008 8:41 pm Is there any reason you do not like the corner blocks.
We have been luck and found a gem 605m2 - $150k only 2 months ago. We do have to do a corner treatment but that has only cost us an extra 2k and it was something we were considering in the first place. I think that you can make the most of any block - might just take a little bit more thinking and planning. Good luck with your seach and kepp us updated. Sharon & Paul ********************* Creating Youngs Castle Heywood 29 in Craigieburn http://youngscastle.blogspot.com/ Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 3Sep 19, 2008 8:50 pm If the front of your house will face south- west that's good as it will be easy to find a house where you can get your living areas to face north. That's the goal.
I personally don't like corner blocks.... I grew up on one. Much harder to maximise your yard area and more upkeep, nature strips etc. Also when you have kids.... corners are a pain in the ar*e if you want to play out the front. Street cricket was a nightmare! Shazburger...605m2 for 150k in Craigieburn? I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 4Sep 19, 2008 9:38 pm I have lived in a corner block for 22 years. its a big block, just over 1000m2. and no problems, we do have a front fence so there's no cutting across our front yard by people walking around the corner and higher fences on the corner side for privacy from the street.
If the block is the right size and shape to fit your proposed house, I would take it. Corner blocks are often bigger for the same price which could be an added bonus Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 6Sep 20, 2008 9:31 am I think its about seeing where the driveway is and getting the right kind of house that give you the feel you want working with the southerly aspect...
You can always add blinds etc to cool the house. I personally like the corner block as it means you only have one side neighbour to worry about and for us it means that all our living in on the street side. We also have more land for a cheaper price.. Joles - yep that was our price...do you think i paid too much??? Anyway i think all builds are about compromise, in the end though as long as you get something that you are happy with that is all that matters... You make a house a home...its not created by the buiders... Sharon & Paul ********************* Creating Youngs Castle Heywood 29 in Craigieburn http://youngscastle.blogspot.com/ Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 7Sep 20, 2008 10:27 am Hi Shazburger... no I wasn't meaning you paid too much ... we bought land in May '07 and we looked at Highlands then..... just surprised at how much the blocks have gone up.
They've gone up everywhere since then. Jo I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 8Sep 20, 2008 12:01 pm DH and I are the sort of people who always hated the idea of corner blocks. Thought the wasted area a pain, the extra landscaping etc etc.. BUT we have bought a corner block for our new build. Surprised ourselves. It really does depend on the layout of your house, the layout of the block and it's setout within the estate/roadworks . It works perfectly for us. Something I'd never have believed I would say about a corner block. We can't wait to move in.
Good luck to you. Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 9Sep 20, 2008 12:37 pm kexkez DH and I are the sort of people who always hated the idea of corner blocks. When we first started looking we only looked for corner blocks. But over time we just couldn't get the one we wanted and so we settled for a normal block. I think it was due to the fact we had to only deal with 2 neighbours instead of potentially 5. Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 10Sep 20, 2008 12:51 pm That's a good point joeygbh we had 6 neighbours at our last house because we were at the end of a cauldersac. It made getting fencing sorted out a bit of a mess to start with when not everyone wanted to agree on fencing type. Towards the end of our time at the house annoying neighbours were driving us batty and it was a huge reason why we sold. I love the idea that we will have 2 neighbours only this time. For the moment we have a plum farm as a back neighbour( for at least the next 6 years) and to our right one block unsold like more around us. ( Looking towards the house from the front) We are on a 3/4 of an acre block so near neighbours aren't a big a concern. We have lovely views from the long side of our block looking across the road where our games, family and future patio will be and a lovely view at the back across the plum farm. Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 11Sep 20, 2008 2:32 pm OK South West not the best - we have been living in a west facing house in Syd for the last 9 years & loathe it. I don't like the look of bushy trees covering the front windows - not to mention the thought of SPIDERS being that close to my bedroom windows. So we tend to suffer in summer.
So we went looking for a North facing corner block & we found one! North facing: best if you can put your garage on the west side - as that takes in all the heat (well the side wall does) so the heat isn't going into your living room. South West Facing - 1) prob best to not have everyday living or your bedrooms at the front - unless you have tiles to help cool the place down. 2) Limit's your window coverings - we had to go curtains to block out the sun. 3) May need blockout shutters 4) Drive around areas that have houses facing S/E & see how many of them have tried to stop the heat coming in. Corner Block: 1) We specifically wanted side access for a pool for the rug rats later, be mindful that you have to pay for the whole fence on the corner side 2) You may have to mirror image your floor plan. You can't have your driveway on the side that the corner is on. We had to flip our house - which is weird compared to the display home! 3) Mowing the other street side - well that's hubby's prob 4) Graffitti on the fence - we are in syd and it will be inevitable (blank canvas for the no hopers - cream colourbond) so I am going to grow super hedge along it. 5) THE BEST THING we tend to be the centre of the neighbourhood - we know all the people who have built on both streets & chat regularly - to the point we have already established that the brick letterbox needs to be wide enough to accommodate my butt & a bottle or cask of wine! (to share of course) Also look at the site - is it level - will you need retaining walls, are the surrounding blocks higher or lower & don't choose your block because of views if they are going to build on the whole estate! Good luck but you mus be happy! 1st time bldrs, fussy and impatient! Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 12Sep 20, 2008 2:48 pm Quote: North facing: best if you can put your garage on the west side - as that takes in all the heat (well the side wall does) so the heat isn't going into your living room. But this really depends on your floor plan - our new block is North facing and we deliberately flipped plan so garage is on the east side as area behind the garage is the alfresco and has 2 double slilding doors opening onto it, we did NOT want this facing west and getting the brunt of the afternoon sun. Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 13Sep 21, 2008 9:26 pm Helyn [ we deliberately flipped plan so garage is on the east side as area behind the garage is the alfresco and has 2 double slilding doors opening onto it, we did NOT want this facing west and getting the brunt of the afternoon sun. Good point - the prob is that everyone has a west side, and to use your house as a shelter is very effective. It just depends on how hot it gets in your area too Good luck with your decision and let us know how you go Sereza! CHeers 1st time bldrs, fussy and impatient! Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 14Sep 22, 2008 8:38 am thanks for everyone with the advice
an update... we put the initial deposit on a block yesterday!!!! It's the south-west facing one. The problem is because of the crossover, we can't flip the house we wanted so the living area faces the east. all the blocks that are currently available are south facing with the crossover on the same side as ours. There are north facing blocks, but they won't be titled until at least April. Should we wait? uhmmmmm decision.... decision Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 16Sep 22, 2008 12:09 pm North facing block is NOT a good thing.....
Our block is north facing and it's bad for solar passive design. You want your living areas to face north and unless all your living areas are at the front of your house... (which they never are) north facing is no good. So there's not point holding out for one. As for the crossover... change it if you need to. If the best orientation for your house is to flip it suck up the costs of changing the crossover. It's a short term loss for a long term benifit of better orientation. Sireza.. start anothert thread with the block and orientation and the house design... the gurus will be able to guide you towards the best outcome. Jo I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 17Sep 22, 2008 12:11 pm Donuts,
not necessarily, the alfresco and the living area is on the left side of the house there are not much space at the back... I just emailed the sales person from Highlands and apparently they can change the cross over which means I can flip the house and have the living area and alfresco on the right side of the house. Perfect! The engineers needs to have a look if it is feasible, so finger crossed! Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 18Sep 22, 2008 6:26 pm Again, this all depends on your floor plan - our block faces North, we have 2 rooms at the front, a living room and a bedroom, other 2 bedrooms and family room face east and dining/kitchen face west. We have no back windows facing south at all, one did on original plan but we changed it to face east.
We were not charged for changing the crossover as it was a re-development area, no cross-over there to start with anyway so we could put it either side as we wished. The whole house is sort of L shaped and east facing windows open onto long alfreso. Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 19Sep 22, 2008 6:37 pm sireza Donuts, not necessarily, the alfresco and the living area is on the left side of the house there are not much space at the back... A-ha, yep get it! I was just presuming back yard at back so north would be best... in a perfect world I'd have a nice deep (and wide!) north facing back yard and all my living area at the back too. Our 'side' faces north too - so we're putting our living area running down thar side of the house and an alfresco there. Re: Choosing a lot in Highlands 20Oct 02, 2008 11:30 pm almost forgot to update the thread..
we bought the block!!! last week actually. Also we decided to ditch Henley as they won't budge on the price at all while Simonds is more accommodating. Land won't be titled until apparently December, Highlands sales person actually says it is scheduled to be November but December is more likely. I'm trying to get the whole building part of it before the land titles so they can start right after settlement (fingers crossed!) Wish us luck!! p,s Highland did offer to change the crossover at no charge since they haven't build it yet. just in case if anyone else is wondering. Thanks for the reply. Had a look at the suggested lot and found other problem on easement, which i will asked in separate thread. 2 16550 In Qld it is a requirement that a builder must have a cost breakdown, for building a home to the same specification, with the same inclusions and the same finish. So ask… 1 1670 Would anyone on this forum know of a builder/company in Brisbane with house designs for a shallow block. I have a block 20 x 20 so with front and rear set backs I need a… 0 4716 |