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that master bedroom window is epic. Only thing I'm not sold on is the fireplace set up.
The window is gorgeous.
With the fireplace I agree. The owner's found this electric fireplace on ebay and it suits the market in the area, but I wouldn't have it in mine.
This is our set up exactly. the stone however will be a different product. something nicer than this cheap stacked stone. Cultured stone, country ledgestone with a drystack is what were currently doing.
Now that's a proper fireplace! Very nice and great taste
The window is amazing! I also really like the master ensuite.
Hi Everyone,
Quick update.
Got some great news last night, my CDC should be approved next week, and with settlement tomorrow I am on track to get demolition completed and slab down by Christmas. We only started the design 2 1/2 weeks ago, so that's a really fast turn around.
Next steps are organising quotes, and putting together a construction program. I will post that when done.
Cheers
Simeon
Hi Simeon,
Great progress! Do you plan to post your running costs here?
BTW, do you know why they don't allow duplexes in Hornsby Shire?
Hi Simeon,
Great progress! Do you plan to post your running costs here?
BTW, do you know why they don't allow duplexes in Hornsby Shire?
Hi Alex
Yes I am going to post my budget v actuals. Just waiting for my engineering plans then I will finalise my budget and post the link.
Not sure about Hornsby, but I know Willoughby and Kur-ring-gai also dont allow them. You can build them you just cant subdivide ( in Willoughby they make you wait for 5 years in certain pockets). I think it's to try and preserve the character of the street scapes.
Hornsby may be similar
cheers
Simeon
Hi Everyone
Settlement day is here! yay Booked for 2pm this afternoon.
Have a 9am pre settlement inspection with the agent to make sure the vendor hasn't loaded the house with junk. This will actually be my first inspection inside the house so keen to see what it looks like.
Just thinking about what needs to be done:
1. Book gas disconnection
2. Temp fencing and toilet
3. Construction Program
4. Demolition quotes
5. See if i can sell anything from the house pre demo
There is not much else I can do until I get the engineering drawings next week.
Cheers
Simeon
Hi Everyone
I managed to score myself a free set of stairs last night!
Apparently the client didn't like them so rather then throw them in the bin, I get them!
That will save me around $12,000 or so ( there is a very interesting backstory, but it's not my client and not my job site so I wont publish why they didn't like them, but it's roughly along the lines of not complying with Feng Shui). So my win.
Just need to transport them to site and store for a few months.
Other than that, settlement went well yesterday. Got to inspect the house for the first time. Was hoping there would be some stuff I could sell pre demo, but internally it is pretty average.
The terracotta roof tiles would be worth a few thousand but I would have to pay labourers to take them down and stack them, so that wont be happening.
Just getting frustrated that my engineering plans aren't here yet as I need to send out to concreters and framing companies for quotes.
Anyhow, onwards till next time
Simeon
Wow! What a score! I’ve those stairs in my new build and recall they were eye wateringly expensive (with jarrah treads).
Hi Everyone
The sun is sort of out in Sydney this morning and I am hoping that this is a sign that this week will go better than last week.
I did promise a warts and all account of my journey, and last week was definitely full of warts namely dealing with Dodo to get my gas meter removed for demo, and dealing with flood engineering issues.
I took a calculated risk buying a flood affected site, and whilst at this stage I don't believe that my plans will be effected, I can't lodge CDC until I get a flood report from council. And they seem to be running extra slow at the moment. To be honest I kind of messed up. The former owner had a CDC approved for a house last year and I thought I could use that, turns out I can't, need a new one, so my bad.
On a positive note I met some of the neighbours on Saturday and told them about my plans, they seemed supportive. It's always good to try and get your neighbours onside before a build. Not always possible but its worth a try.
The outlook from the rear of the property is absolutely gorgeous. The bush view, the privacy, the sounds of birds and the running creek. Compared to all of the other duplexes in the area with no backyard privacy, I think my site has so many advantages, just have to deal with some extra hurdles.
Interestingly, speaking to the neighbours, these properties haven't flooded for 20 plus years, they believe the reason is that someone, assume it was council, cleared the creek downstream and it now flows a lot better. But the problem is that the flood reports that are used are very expensive so only get updated once a generation or so, so the information we are working on is most likely outdated.
Anyway, fingers crossed we will make some progress this week and I will get to provide some happy updates.
Cheers
Simeon
Hi Everyone
The sun is sort of out in Sydney this morning and I am hoping that this is a sign that this week will go better than last week.
I did promise a warts and all account of my journey, and last week was definitely full of warts namely dealing with Dodo to get my gas meter removed for demo, and dealing with flood engineering issues.
I took a calculated risk buying a flood affected site, and whilst at this stage I don't believe that my plans will be effected, I can't lodge CDC until I get a flood report from council.
Out of curiosity, should the flood affected site information available in the contract?
And they seem to be running extra slow at the moment. To be honest I kind of messed up. The former owner had a CDC approved for a house last year and I thought I could use that, turns out I can't, need a new one, so my bad.
On a positive note I met some of the neighbours on Saturday and told them about my plans, they seemed supportive. It's always good to try and get your neighbours onside before a build. Not always possible but its worth a try.
The outlook from the rear of the property is absolutely gorgeous. The bush view, the privacy, the sounds of birds and the running creek. Compared to all of the other duplexes in the area with no backyard privacy, I think my site has so many advantages, just have to deal with some extra hurdles.
Interestingly, speaking to the neighbours, these properties haven't flooded for 20 plus years, they believe the reason is that someone, assume it was council, cleared the creek downstream and it now flows a lot better. But the problem is that the flood reports that are used are very expensive so only get updated once a generation or so, so the information we are working on is most likely outdated.
Anyway, fingers crossed we will make some progress this week and I will get to provide some happy updates.
Cheers
Simeon
Hi Everyone
The sun is sort of out in Sydney this morning and I am hoping that this is a sign that this week will go better than last week.
I did promise a warts and all account of my journey, and last week was definitely full of warts namely dealing with Dodo to get my gas meter removed for demo, and dealing with flood engineering issues.
I took a calculated risk buying a flood affected site, and whilst at this stage I don't believe that my plans will be effected, I can't lodge CDC until I get a flood report from council. And they seem to be running extra slow at the moment. To be honest I kind of messed up. The former owner had a CDC approved for a house last year and I thought I could use that, turns out I can't, need a new one, so my bad.
On a positive note I met some of the neighbours on Saturday and told them about my plans, they seemed supportive. It's always good to try and get your neighbours onside before a build. Not always possible but its worth a try.
The outlook from the rear of the property is absolutely gorgeous. The bush view, the privacy, the sounds of birds and the running creek. Compared to all of the other duplexes in the area with no backyard privacy, I think my site has so many advantages, just have to deal with some extra hurdles.
Interestingly, speaking to the neighbours, these properties haven't flooded for 20 plus years, they believe the reason is that someone, assume it was council, cleared the creek downstream and it now flows a lot better. But the problem is that the flood reports that are used are very expensive so only get updated once a generation or so, so the information we are working on is most likely outdated.
Anyway, fingers crossed we will make some progress this week and I will get to provide some happy updates.
Cheers
Simeon
Out of curiosity, should the “flood affected site information” mentioned in the contract?
Hi Everyone
The sun is sort of out in Sydney this morning and I am hoping that this is a sign that this week will go better than last week.
I did promise a warts and all account of my journey, and last week was definitely full of warts namely dealing with Dodo to get my gas meter removed for demo, and dealing with flood engineering issues.
I took a calculated risk buying a flood affected site, and whilst at this stage I don't believe that my plans will be effected, I can't lodge CDC until I get a flood report from council. And they seem to be running extra slow at the moment. To be honest I kind of messed up. The former owner had a CDC approved for a house last year and I thought I could use that, turns out I can't, need a new one, so my bad.
On a positive note I met some of the neighbours on Saturday and told them about my plans, they seemed supportive. It's always good to try and get your neighbours onside before a build. Not always possible but its worth a try.
The outlook from the rear of the property is absolutely gorgeous. The bush view, the privacy, the sounds of birds and the running creek. Compared to all of the other duplexes in the area with no backyard privacy, I think my site has so many advantages, just have to deal with some extra hurdles.
Interestingly, speaking to the neighbours, these properties haven't flooded for 20 plus years, they believe the reason is that someone, assume it was council, cleared the creek downstream and it now flows a lot better. But the problem is that the flood reports that are used are very expensive so only get updated once a generation or so, so the information we are working on is most likely outdated.
Anyway, fingers crossed we will make some progress this week and I will get to provide some happy updates.
Cheers
Simeon
Out of curiosity, should the “flood affected site information” mentioned in the contract?
Yep it was in the contract. The 10.7 certificate mentions it, and I have been doing a bit of work around the area over the last 6 years, so I went in with my eyes open. Just hoping I haven't missed something, which is always a possibility.
Happy Monday Everyone!
Great news to start the week, I have my flood report!!!!!
We have to lift the floor levels slightly but only by 200-300mm. My designer Abraham, says it will take 2 days for revised drawings and engineering then off for CDC.
Revised goal now is to get the demolition done pre Christmas and launch into the slab in January.
I had my free steel stairs delivered last week which confused my neighbours. A few of them came out for a chat wondering why I was craning in a set of stairs to the front yard of a single level brick bungalow.
Oh well, it gave me a good opportunity to introduce myself. It's a very tightly held pocket where the neighbours have lived for 30-40 years, so I am very conscious of not wanting to disrupt their lives too much.
Till next time
Simeon
Happy Monday Everyone!
Great news to start the week, I have my flood report!!!!!
We have to lift the floor levels slightly but only by 200-300mm. My designer Abraham, says it will take 2 days for revised drawings and engineering then off for CDC.
Revised goal now is to get the demolition done pre Christmas and launch into the slab in January.
I had my free steel stairs delivered last week which confused my neighbours. A few of them came out for a chat wondering why I was craning in a set of stairs to the front yard of a single level brick bungalow.
Oh well, it gave me a good opportunity to introduce myself. It's a very tightly held pocket where the neighbours have lived for 30-40 years, so I am very conscious of not wanting to disrupt their lives too much.
Till next time
Simeon
Great New Simeon !! Raising 300 mm mean Less Cut & More Fill (or) additional SLAB Layers to the current Finished Ground Levels?
Happy Monday Everyone!
Great news to start the week, I have my flood report!!!!!
We have to lift the floor levels slightly but only by 200-300mm. My designer Abraham, says it will take 2 days for revised drawings and engineering then off for CDC.
Revised goal now is to get the demolition done pre Christmas and launch into the slab in January.
I had my free steel stairs delivered last week which confused my neighbours. A few of them came out for a chat wondering why I was craning in a set of stairs to the front yard of a single level brick bungalow.
Oh well, it gave me a good opportunity to introduce myself. It's a very tightly held pocket where the neighbours have lived for 30-40 years, so I am very conscious of not wanting to disrupt their lives too much.
Till next time
Simeon
Great New Simeon !! Raising 300 mm mean Less Cut & More Fill (or) additional SLAB Layers to the current Finished Ground Levels?
My guess is more fill. Although waiting to see the plans and how the engineer deals with the max allowable fill. Not sure if the certifier can give dispensation for flood zones. Might have to be piers with a suspended slab. hmmm. will report back when I know.
Any updates on yours?
Happy Monday Everyone!
Great news to start the week, I have my flood report!!!!!
We have to lift the floor levels slightly but only by 200-300mm. My designer Abraham, says it will take 2 days for revised drawings and engineering then off for CDC.
Revised goal now is to get the demolition done pre Christmas and launch into the slab in January.
I had my free steel stairs delivered last week which confused my neighbours. A few of them came out for a chat wondering why I was craning in a set of stairs to the front yard of a single level brick bungalow.
Oh well, it gave me a good opportunity to introduce myself. It's a very tightly held pocket where the neighbours have lived for 30-40 years, so I am very conscious of not wanting to disrupt their lives too much.
Till next time
Simeon
Great New Simeon !! Raising 300 mm mean Less Cut & More Fill (or) additional SLAB Layers to the current Finished Ground Levels?
My guess is more fill. Although waiting to see the plans and how the engineer deals with the max allowable fill. Not sure if the certifier can give dispensation for flood zones. Might have to be piers with a suspended slab. hmmm. will report back when I know.
Any updates on yours?
Waiting for my external & internals selection appointments….
Belated happy new year everyone.
The update is that we now have our CDC approved, but in December we encountered a significant issue which nearly derailed the project and we learnt a very big lesson, that is definitely worth sharing.
To refresh everyone's memory, the site backs onto a creek, it was subdivided in the 1950's and is meant to be 150 feet (45m) deep.
It falls from front to rear and at roughly the 35m mark has a high chain wire style fence which is covered in vines and behind the fence the area between the fence and the creek is literally like the amazon jungle, totally inaccessible without a machete. This is relevant as prior to purchasing or even with the survey, no one had accessed this area for an inspection.
What we had all missed was that the original subdivision plan had the rear boundary ( ie 150 feet from the front boundary) being to the edge of the creek bank, it's completely obvious when you look at it now!
Anyway, over the last 70 years the creek bank in my portion had suffered a significant amount of erosion and we have lost approximately 8 meters of our site.
So the result/solution was:
1. We lost a month over Christmas getting specialist surveying advice and then redesigning.
2. We lost roughly 1,000mm of the ground floor - I don't think this will make a difference
3. Unfortunately we lost 8,000mm from the first floor to comply with the setback from the new boundary. So this means no balcony from the master bedroom, we lost our large rumpus and a 2nd ensuite from bed 4.
We have been working really closely with our agent making sure that we still have a saleable product, and we believe we do ( we have a major trick up our sleeves suggested by the agent for the rear yard that will make our property unique - I'll share this during construction).
The reality was that the original design was for 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms which was probably too big anyway, we are now down to 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 2 living areas which is still larger than most of our competition.
So now that we have the CDC approved we need to submit our stormwater plans to council for approval as we need to drain directly into the creek. The goal will be to start construction next month.
In summary, if you have have a creek behind your property, double check if your boundary is to the creek line and get your surveyor to double check that it hasn't eroded!
Anyhow, all is well that ends well.
Till next time
Simeon
Belated happy new year everyone.
The update is that we now have our CDC approved, but in December we encountered a significant issue which nearly derailed the project and we learnt a very big lesson, that is definitely worth sharing.
To refresh everyone's memory, the site backs onto a creek, it was subdivided in the 1950's and is meant to be 150 feet (45m) deep.
It falls from front to rear and at roughly the 35m mark has a high chain wire style fence which is covered in vines and behind the fence the area between the fence and the creek is literally like the amazon jungle, totally inaccessible without a machete. This is relevant as prior to purchasing or even with the survey, no one had accessed this area for an inspection.
What we had all missed was that the original subdivision plan had the rear boundary ( ie 150 feet from the front boundary) being to the edge of the creek bank, it's completely obvious when you look at it now!
Anyway, over the last 70 years the creek bank in my portion had suffered a significant amount of erosion and we have lost approximately 8 meters of our site.
So the result/solution was:
1. We lost a month over Christmas getting specialist surveying advice and then redesigning.
2. We lost roughly 1,000mm of the ground floor - I don't think this will make a difference
3. Unfortunately we lost 8,000mm from the first floor to comply with the setback from the new boundary. So this means no balcony from the master bedroom, we lost our large rumpus and a 2nd ensuite from bed 4.
We have been working really closely with our agent making sure that we still have a saleable product, and we believe we do ( we have a major trick up our sleeves suggested by the agent for the rear yard that will make our property unique - I'll share this during construction).
The reality was that the original design was for 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms which was probably too big anyway, we are now down to 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 2 living areas which is still larger than most of our competition.
So now that we have the CDC approved we need to submit our stormwater plans to council for approval as we need to drain directly into the creek. The goal will be to start construction next month.
In summary, if you have have a creek behind your property, double check if your boundary is to the creek line and get your surveyor to double check that it hasn't eroded!
Anyhow, all is well that ends well.
Till next time
Simeon
Excellent Start to the year indeed !!
Belated happy new year everyone.
The update is that we now have our CDC approved, but in December we encountered a significant issue which nearly derailed the project and we learnt a very big lesson, that is definitely worth sharing.
To refresh everyone's memory, the site backs onto a creek, it was subdivided in the 1950's and is meant to be 150 feet (45m) deep.
It falls from front to rear and at roughly the 35m mark has a high chain wire style fence which is covered in vines and behind the fence the area between the fence and the creek is literally like the amazon jungle, totally inaccessible without a machete. This is relevant as prior to purchasing or even with the survey, no one had accessed this area for an inspection.
What we had all missed was that the original subdivision plan had the rear boundary ( ie 150 feet from the front boundary) being to the edge of the creek bank, it's completely obvious when you look at it now!
Anyway, over the last 70 years the creek bank in my portion had suffered a significant amount of erosion and we have lost approximately 8 meters of our site.
So the result/solution was:
1. We lost a month over Christmas getting specialist surveying advice and then redesigning.
2. We lost roughly 1,000mm of the ground floor - I don't think this will make a difference
3. Unfortunately we lost 8,000mm from the first floor to comply with the setback from the new boundary. So this means no balcony from the master bedroom, we lost our large rumpus and a 2nd ensuite from bed 4.
We have been working really closely with our agent making sure that we still have a saleable product, and we believe we do ( we have a major trick up our sleeves suggested by the agent for the rear yard that will make our property unique - I'll share this during construction).
The reality was that the original design was for 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms which was probably too big anyway, we are now down to 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 2 living areas which is still larger than most of our competition.
So now that we have the CDC approved we need to submit our stormwater plans to council for approval as we need to drain directly into the creek. The goal will be to start construction next month.
In summary, if you have have a creek behind your property, double check if your boundary is to the creek line and get your surveyor to double check that it hasn't eroded!
Anyhow, all is well that ends well.
Till next time
Simeon
Excellent Start to the year indeed !!
thanks Ramesh
any update with yours?