Build new home...on my own.... recommended / or not????

Raz · Jan 02, 2008 9:49 pm

I am thinking of building a project home in Sydney... but I am female on my own. From the little I have heard it seems that women are kind of not treated the same in the building game.

I would like to know .... is this too crazy or can I really do it?????? I dont have any real experience with any renovation either.

And if you think it is doable... then what checks and balances should I put in???

From what I ve been reading on this fantastic website. there's nothing quite like a new home but I dont want to sink in deep waters

Casa2 · Jan 02, 2008 10:26 pm

Raz,

There will always be some hitches, but my suggestion is read as much as you can, both here and books (eg. Building Your Own Home by George Wilke or Not Just Bricks & Mortar by George Kallidis). If a builder can see that you have a good understanding they are less likely to pull the wool over your eyes. And if they try, you'll be well armed.

Cheers,
Casa

islandgirl · Jan 02, 2008 11:14 pm

Hi Raz,

Your not alone....I am also a female on my own about to take the plunge on a block of land and project home. One thing I've noticed so far is that everyone has presumed that I have a complete understanding of all the ins and outs which of course alot of can only be learnt as you take the journey! Suffice to say I'm learning as I go through asking alot of questions and doing alot of research and of course having the fortunate luck of coming across this fantastic forum! One thing I have noticed though is that I feel like I'm being completely pushed by the home builders - suffice to say they didnt get my signoff before christmas as I'm still "researching"! Best advice I can give from a fellow novice is do your research in areas your not sure of before the big signoff to make sure your completely happy with what your getting!

KJ

Raz · Jan 02, 2008 11:39 pm

Hi Casa & Kj

Just wonderful to hear from you. Will try to get the books casa reading your posts your research seems extensive...Wow!

KJ This site is absolutely great... it put me in touch with you like in minutes ... so fantastic to just hear someone else is contemplating the same thing. Good luck with everything ... I wish you smooth success.

I was hoping to find like a builder or someone like Kevin ( Melbourne) who can overlook the plans before I sign off...someone who can "see" the things that I might miss. (Sizes, details, calculating stuff..)

Also i was thinking to get someone to inspect before every payment and measure everything up.

Raz

Raz

lrhodes1 · Jan 03, 2008 12:13 pm

Hullo!
Another single young female building in Sydney!
I've just signed my contract, and its been a 12 month journey to this point and I probably won't be building til late Feb at least.

I've had some less than savoury incidences - a bad sleazy trady tiler in my old flat, a carpet salesman sold my carpet from under me and it took 4 months to get my $200 deposit back, a male salesperson at a certain project home company was absolutely atrocious in his behaviour toward me, so rude and condescending - and withheld a contour survey I had paid for for 4 months, council demanding more and more expensive time consuming consultant reports, additional site costs mounting -demolition, huge retaining wall -took the contractor 2 1/2 months to design the wall and its so simple, reinforced slab, months of tense waiting and chasing up contractors who don't seem to take me seriously.

All in all it will be worth it, I will have something concrete and valuable.

Good luck and ask your questions here, everyone is here to help. :-)

VJ · Jan 03, 2008 9:50 pm

Hi Raz,

Welcome to the forum.

My husband is a draftsman here in OZ and an overseas-trained architect.
Even so, we went to a builder to build our 1st house.
This is our 1st.. so we're hoping to get it right.
Probably in the future, we'll build our own.

I've been hearing people building their own houses.
Some are women, most are men though.
For me, it doesn't matter what your gender is.
Just do lots of research before you do it.

Yak_Chat · Jan 05, 2008 7:17 pm

Have a read of this publication too.

While it relates to owner builders - it will highlight some items to be aware of for you.

http://www.wst.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/74951/owner_build_kit.pdf
Main Page
http://www.wst.tas.gov.au/industries/building/owner-builders/ob_kit

Steve

Yak_Chat · Jan 06, 2008 12:44 pm

I've bumped this.

It helps if one actually inserts the link as well

http://www.wst.tas.gov.au/__data/assets ... ld_kit.pdf

Main Page
http://www.wst.tas.gov.au/industries/building/owner-builders/ob_kit

Here you go Raz.

Steve