Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 07, 2009 1:24 pm Time to share our progress... or lack there of. Location: Picnic Point - Sydney NSW Block size: approximately 2500m2 (after we subdivide and sell off 900m2) Architect: MDA Architects Builder - TBA Stage: Tender Building DA Approved We purchased the block in December 2009, with a view to subdivide and build our dream house. The block is located on the Georges River, with 30m of reserver between us and the river. Previously we have built a project home, but we could not have done this block justice by putting a standard project home on it. Also the challenges of flood levels and the sloping block added more challenges, that we felt would add complexity. We looked around at Building Designers and Architects, and found an Architect that we felt understood what we were trying to achieve. They were not the cheapest, but we felt they understood the project the best in our initial meeting and discussions. My biggest mistake to date was not pushing though the subdivision earlier, I have now been informed by council, we are best to wait for its DA approval before we submit the DA for the house. The land needs to be subdivided and sold to fund the build. As soon as the DA for the house is submitted to council, I intend to get quotes from custom builders. So here we are living with the parents with my target date to be in still Decmeber 2010. Fingers Crossed. (now renting and revised target of Dec 2012 - or Divorce Proceedings will begin) Picnic Point - Subdivision and DA Approved -On Hold - March 2012 Georges Fair - Moved in Dec 2013 PP - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25747 Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 3Feb 21, 2010 7:15 am Hi Bel, Still meeting and discussing our plans with a few builders. I initially sent off an expression of interest letter including enough plans, basix, contours, etc to approximatley 25 builders (whom all claimed to do custom builds). My aim was to identify who was in this space and available to take on the work and what our true costs will be. A few never even responded, most responded that the job would require more supervision time than they have available. One quote was $3000 per sqm! (needless to say that over our budget) Had one real good session the other night with a builder, that you might want to talk too (I noticed you had not finalised your contract), they are a national franchise (so have buying power, but are a reall a small business based in South West Sydney). They are really easy going about us supplying PC items, and site access etc. They are definitely custom builders, but at the moment the pricing looks right. Picnic Point - Subdivision and DA Approved -On Hold - March 2012 Georges Fair - Moved in Dec 2013 PP - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25747 Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 4Feb 21, 2010 7:26 am Land Sold! Just before Christmas we put the subdivided section of land (900sqm) on the market (subject to subdivision approval). It sold within 2 weeks! However, to pass cooling off, and required for council, I had to revise a few things on the survey and get acid sulpate soil and geotech reports completed. The good news is we have cooled off, so buyers a locked in (as long as council , land and titles don't take over 6 months). This sale was to fund the entire build...but it looks like it will not be enough. Picnic Point - Subdivision and DA Approved -On Hold - March 2012 Georges Fair - Moved in Dec 2013 PP - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25747 Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 5Feb 21, 2010 7:41 am Hi J & K, Wow what a location to build a home! It sounds challenging but will be worth it in the end. Many years ago (before M5) we would travel through Picnic Point & I would think to myself. . .one day I'm going to live here. . .ha ha couldn't afford it now! We are renting at Illawong atm & it's the same thing would love to buy here but it's to expensive!! Good luck with finding a builder. . .our one does do custom builds but not sure if they would build in your area they are Cavalier Homes Macarthur. Look forward to following your build, Loretta Built The Jenmark with Cavalier Homes Macarthur. http://camdenacres.blogspot.com/ Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=17870 We are in - front landscaping begins Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 6Mar 13, 2010 7:57 am Well we got DA Approval on the Subdivision this week. Only a 9 page letter of conditions The most frustrating part is that we need to build a reinforced concrete slab for two car spaces for the existing house (that I have sold pending subdivision) as it does not have a garage or parking spaces. This house will also be demolished as soon as we sell! The other funny one is that the old house is now part of the Inner Protection Area in relation to Bushfire threat, so I also need to put bronze wire mesh fly screens and gutter guards on the old shack! Talk abour bureaucracy gone too far. Unfortunately since we are an intergrated developement, flood, fire and waterways, we cannot use the state laws to speed things up. Picnic Point - Subdivision and DA Approved -On Hold - March 2012 Georges Fair - Moved in Dec 2013 PP - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25747 Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 7Jun 11, 2011 7:49 am Well it took over a year to satify all of the subdivision requirements, but the subdivision plans are now in the Dept of Lands, and I should be allocated a separate lot number and title deed in 4 weeks! Needless to say the purchases of the land will be happy to get this finalised. They waited all this time. During this time, I have been battling with council about the house DA, challenges have included Hydraulic plans being changed six times, couple construction drawings for the driveway and retaining walls, and the pool being removed from the project for now (s was due to it's impact on the flood zone, I intend to just lodge a separate DA later for the pool, and basically tell a pool builder, if they want the sale, get it through council. Picnic Point - Subdivision and DA Approved -On Hold - March 2012 Georges Fair - Moved in Dec 2013 PP - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25747 Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 9Jun 11, 2011 8:20 am Thanks Bel, persistence seems to be a common theme on this website. I have kept up with your build... Great to see you moving along, at least you know that you will be spending this Christmas in your new home! I will be happy if we have cleared the site by then. Picnic Point - Subdivision and DA Approved -On Hold - March 2012 Georges Fair - Moved in Dec 2013 PP - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25747 Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 10Jun 11, 2011 10:41 am Wow! This is turning into a long process for you. I hope it's smooth sailing from now on. Do you have plans yet? Casey + Gary + 5 kool kiddos + 1 funky Frenchie + 5 happy hens = barrels of fun in Muswellbrook Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 11Jun 11, 2011 5:30 pm Hi J&K - thanks for your PM. Wow 450 sqm is HUGE!!! I would love to see your floor plans that you mentioned. Please do post them up! As for your thinking about Westminster, I am sure they will come in reasonable as they are very well priced. What sort of work do you do in the building industry? SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 12Jun 12, 2011 8:04 am OK I guess it is finally time to share some plans Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Sunshine - I work in IT, but have worked for a number of major contruction companies (not home builders) and now work for a building products manufacturer. There are a few mods I am already considering as we move to contruction plans with our chosen builder. Picnic Point - Subdivision and DA Approved -On Hold - March 2012 Georges Fair - Moved in Dec 2013 PP - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25747 Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 14Jun 12, 2011 8:48 am Thanks Bel, only a few changes that we are thinking about. Adding a wardrobe into the study (in the space that is currently Balcony and a cupboard). This enables it to be a 6th bedroom/Full Guest room (also in case of more children). If this was to become a bedroom, then a study would be required, thinking about a semi open one in the entrance, where the storage is. This is the part I am struggling with, as although I am not happy with this wasted space, the entry will be nice, as it has a lot of glass, and you look straight out to trees and the river. Orientation - The property does not have street frontage, it is already a battle axe, with a duplex on the road to the north (right of plan).The existing house is being subdivided off on the north east, leaving a shared driveway to our property. It is on the river but has 30 meters of reserve between our proerty and the river to the south west (left of plan). So the whole house was oriented towards the view to the south west. The Pool has temporarily been removed from the Lower Ground Plan (it was a rectangular pool off the outdor dining) to get past council. Picnic Point - Subdivision and DA Approved -On Hold - March 2012 Georges Fair - Moved in Dec 2013 PP - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25747 Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 15Jun 12, 2011 9:33 am Picnic Point - Subdivision and DA Approved -On Hold - March 2012 Georges Fair - Moved in Dec 2013 PP - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25747 Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 16Jun 12, 2011 1:46 pm very clever design. Love it. Thanks for explaining the orientation. I was looking at your north orientation (which is one of the first things I look at with plans) and was wondering why you had your decking on the South. And things like your laundry on your north. But now I understand - riverviews. Nice. Good to get as many windows on the north though. Looks like a very modern & contemporary design. That tender price you PMed me with is pretty incredible. I would have expected in the higher range of $500K closer to $600K - on the basis of $1000 per sqm (min) of living area, plus extras for garage, alfresco, additions etc. I was discussing this with Bel yesterday too, but there is a point where we get worried if it is too cheap... We are going to counter possible concerns with being too cheap by paying extra for independent inspectors (around $1000 for two inspections - frame stage then completion). T SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 17Jun 12, 2011 1:48 pm ps: you may already know this, but Tullipan specialise in sloping blocks. Based in the Central Coast but are moving into Sydney. Building one just near us at the moment. We aren't going with them though... holding out for Zen... SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 18Jun 12, 2011 3:03 pm Oh wow!! Looks fantastic. Can't wait to see your progress!! Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 19Jun 12, 2011 11:46 pm Love the design, J&K!! The facade is like a dream house... With whom you're going to build, by the way ? Re: Custom Design in Picnic Point NSW 20Jun 13, 2011 7:48 am Thanks T - yes there were many challenges in the design, south facing orientation, flood, bushfire, height restrictions, easement, acid sulphate soils...Our architect was great. Thanks for the update on Tullipan, 18 months ago they weren't interested in building on the southern side of Sydney, but I will check again. I know what you mean about the price, great idea on the inspections, my brother-in-law is a builder, so he might have to do inspections. Thanks for the vote of confidence Tamara...progress is slow, but hopefully about to get a move on. Willcres, yes the facade looks great, but now my challenge is to keep the costs under control, without destroying the look. We haven't chosen a builder yet, we did preliminary pricing over 12 mths ago, so are bout to go to tender with a couple, plus one or two other builders that have moved into this custom build space. Cheers J Picnic Point - Subdivision and DA Approved -On Hold - March 2012 Georges Fair - Moved in Dec 2013 PP - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25747 Landscape Design Parramatta We have been doing a large amount of landscape design work in Sydney… 0 3 ideal house depends on the site and location as much as internal floor plan....what is the distance from the house to all four boundaries, where is north, describe your… 3 15165 Building Standards; Getting It Right! Hi All, We have a fall from road to garage front. 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