Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 07, 2007 9:17 am Hello,
I have been trolling these boards for a few months now and have never posted. So this my first post! So here is my story.....We out a deposit down on a block of land back in July. The block is in Berwick and won't settle until January. This is our first home and I am scared witless! I should feel excited but mostly I feel fear, lol. I fear that we would choose a bad builder and get a crap house. I fear the mortgage repayments. I fear that this means I can never go back to my home country...I migrated here 3 year ago. So what spurred my first post? Well I saw Phoenix's post about Berwick and H*n*l*y. We are considering the Cottlesloe also and I thought that maybe this is more than a coindence! We actually have been to the display home 3 times, lol. I was checking Phoenix's pictures to see if we have been caught in a shot, lol. Am I the only one who fears the building process? How did everyone know that thier house and builder was the right one for them? Any advice is welcomed! Right know my knees are knocking together so loudly that I can harldy type, lol. Take care! Re: Confidence in the Building Process 2Nov 07, 2007 10:10 am Hi Jewel47, welcome to Homeone.
If you are settling in January, have you bought in The Chase? You need to be confident that you want to go through this process. You can look at it two ways. 1. you can get excited about the whole process, find out as much information as possible. Joining us here on homeone is a great step. We have plenty of stories and experiences here to share with you and help you along the way. Do a search (using the search function in the discussion tools menu) on the builder of your choice and get some addresses of houses that they are building. Be 100% happy with the house and get excited about it. I have to say, yes it is stressful, but think of the rewards... You will a home that you have helped create from nothing!!!! 2. you can think that it all is too daunting, thinking that you can't do it, think of the negatives.....but my advice is if you really want it you will do it. You mention that you are scared of getting a crap builder, but you need to be comfortable and speak to plenty of people about their experiences with their builders.... Be aware of the process as much as possible. You mention that you are scared of mortgage repayments, but you need to know your financial limitations - prepare a budget (a REALISTIC one) that includes savings for an overseas trip so that you can take a trip back home too.... Being a first home buyer, you have some Government bonuses available to you that others don't so use them to your advantage. Having a home, does not mean you lose your life, you are creating a NEW lifestyle for yourself... Personally, we are excited to be moving to Berwick, everyone that we know who has moved there, says they wouldn't move back in to the Melbourne inner suburbs. If you need to chat PM me, happy to talk. You never know we could be neighbours????? Thank you 3Nov 07, 2007 10:47 am Thanks for the encouraging words Phoenix. I really do appreicate them. Yes, we are building in the Chase. We went out there on Sunday to look at the construction site. No road yet but there was gravel, lol.
I want to be excited but fear is a stronger emotion, lol. As far as setting a budget is concerned we have gone through that process. When we put the deposit down on the land we decided to start living as though we are already paying a mortgage. Right now we are renting but we calculated our expected mortgage payment. Then we take the difference between our rent and our expected mortgage payment and put in the bank each month. So each month, a mortage payment is taken out of the salary. So we are leaning to live within this new budget and hopefully we will have ever thing worked out and settled by the time we actually do start the mortgage payments. I think once we have a chosen a house and builder, I will better because I will have passed the point of no return. But I need a kick in the butt to get moving. My husband is more excited and has started to get into the process. I will definately keep looking at these boards. There is so much great advice here and so many wonderful people who are very helpful. It is also comforting to know that others are going to or have been through the same process. Re: Confidence in the Building Process 4Nov 07, 2007 11:22 am ooooo... More neighbours for us Phoenix.
Welcome to the forum Jewel. Hope that whatever choice you make in builders is a good one & one that you are happy with in the end. Feel free to ask as many questions as you like & I'm sure there will be someone out here that can answer them for you. Cheers, Mike. My Blog... http://ahouseonthehill.blogspot.com/ Re: Confidence in the Building Process 5Nov 07, 2007 11:45 am That makes 4 of us now in The Chase!!!
Woo Hoo!!! Re: Confidence in the Building Process 6Nov 07, 2007 12:26 pm Hi Jewel and welcome to the forum!
We haven't chosen a builder and are in the process of "interviewing" potential builders, getting quotes from them and asking lots of questions, making notes along the way... of course it is very hard to compare apples with apples in this industry so be sure you have a realistic approach to looking at different builders and obviously take into account that the smaller builders may not have the fancy brochures and marketing stuff, but may still be the better builder - conversely if you find a plan you like which requires little/no changes from one of the big boys then go for it - if the budget fits and you like the quality then there is no reason not to jump on board!! Fear is a very legitimate feeling in this process as you are probably making the biggest investment of your life and relying on a business (that is there to make a profit) to do it for you....the way I see it - you can let them do it all for you, or you can do it WITH them! That is, be informed and ask lots of questions, stay in constant communication and let them know that you are doing lots of research, make them feel accountable without being overly intrusive....thats our plan anyway! All the best, look forward to following your progress! Ruth -Bought house in Melbourne inner burbs, knocked it down & now...we are owner builders! Completed OB project and moved in to our new home with our new baby in May 2009! Re: Confidence in the Building Process 7Nov 08, 2007 9:10 pm Jewel you have chosen a very nice estate in a good area. If we had had the money we would have built there but had to settle for Pakenham. That dont worry us as we are going to be living in a very nice estate. Yeah choosing a builder is a daunting experience but i think by checking out the quality of their homes and going by reputation you cant go wrong. As for mortgages budget well and dont over commit yourself. We are renting at the moment and building will be starting soon. The rent is nearly the same as what the future mortgage repayments .So are getting a taste of it. So far we are managing ok. Good luck Thanks all! 8Nov 09, 2007 10:51 am Thanks to everyone and there advice. I am trying to get past the fear. Building is very daunting and I had never expected it to be so such a task. We keep pouring over designs and builders and I can't make a decision.
In the meantime, all of the builders are raising prices and that is stressing me out! Between the interest rate hikes and the rising house prices, I am feeling less secure. I want to get this right so I am probably over analysing every decision. So we are stuck. I wish finding a builder was as easy as finding my wedding dress was. I walked into the store, told the sales lady what I wanted in a dress and she came back with a few selections. The third dress I saw I flipped for and knew it was THE ONE. With houses, nothing makes me flip. We just have to keep looking. Thanks again! Re: Confidence in the Building Process 9Nov 09, 2007 2:22 pm Hey Jewel,
I haven't really experience much so far as I'm still waiting for settlement on my land end of this month in Point Cook. The whole home building idea I would agree is pretty scary. Its worse for me as I'm juggling everything on my own. My partner and family is at least 4000kms away so my job now is to get the house ready before they join me here. I'm building with H**l** as well but a little worried now that the booking fee to hold the price of the house has expired. The Cottesloe design has already risen about 8k. How does it normally go for this situation if someone could help me out. I hope I don't have to pay the full 8k difference. The sales lady in the display homes wasn't really helpful when I inquired and just said to come back when the pegs are in so they could do the soil test. The pegs are suppose to go in before the land title is released right? Re: Confidence in the Building Process 10Nov 09, 2007 3:25 pm I feel for everyone building for the first time!
Yes it is daunting…. And yes it is a big commitment personally and cost wise. Remember through your selection stage, to go with the selections you feel strong about. If it doesn’t grab you straight away……this may be how it will always be for you, so take your time, and work it out WAY ahead of the selection schedule with the builder. Choose a builder that builds the house you like…..then stay on the ball with the whole building proses! Threaten death, if they bugger up……… Building a house is more than just leaving it in the hands of someone else. Get in there and make your power known….FROM THE START! jewel47…..take a deep breath, look within yourself, and bring out of you what you want. I have had many projects (commercial) that have been very challenging. The best way I have found to deal with this, is to do a colourboard up, stick it right under my noise, and look at it day and night. The changers soon come to me, and I move ahead. This is a challenge we all have to go through at some stage of our lives…..don’t let it get you down, be confident in yourself! Cut photos out of magazines of Kitchens, bathroom, so forth that you like. Put them in a folder, and work from there. I will add here, that I know most of us don’t fall into this category, but some do. There is ALWAYS the thought in the back of our minds…….if I stuff up…..what will people think? WHO CARES!!!! Build your house how YOU want it, don’t worry about the lasted trends….or what your best friend has! If you want advice on anything….just ask! I hate to see people in a pickle over building. Welcome to the forum…..hopefully we will help you get through this!! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com 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 11147 The most definitive answer to your question James is this taken from the James Hardie Axon Cladding Installation Guide - i just happen to have it… 5 4819 Hi all, we're at the start of the process. Trying to get a response from the downstream neighbours (x2) regarding negotiating an easement for the stormwater. How long has… 0 1102 |