Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 25, 2012 10:59 am We were looking at building a house since late last year. In November we found one display house that we liked and it was in our price range. We were pushed to secure the price tag since our titles aren't due until June. Since then nothing was happening, not much of communication from sales person (I guess they've done their job and now don't really care). However we didn't sign any plans or contracts so we can walk away with losing 2k. Now that 6-7 month passed we were looking at other display houses but nothing really strikes us (except one house that was 1.2mil ). Feels like the more time is passing by the more we doubt ourselves that we made the right choice. Our block is 510sqm and the house takes most of the block leaving 1.9m at the back of the house and about 9m by 5.5m area on the side of the house. We were thinking about adding pool in that area and now concerned that there is not much space left for the future dog run around or kid to play. Now we're doubting our decision. Don't really think we can go 2 storey to add extra room at the back as it will add another 100k on top (our house is 265k). Should we look for something smaller but then again the house we chose had everything we wanted (kind of) as we didn't really plan to sell and build again. Does anyone have any regrets about there choices down the line? Re: Do you have any regrets? 2Apr 25, 2012 11:12 am If you love the plan you have now, could you modify it to make it a bit smaller and increase your yard space? Remove a bedroom, the second living room, that kind of thing? Tender /1/12 Contract 14/6/12 Planning 12/10/12 Site 23/10/12 Piers 27/11/12 Slab 12/12/12 Frame 15/12/12 Trusses 17/1/13 Roof 24/1/13 Bricks 13/2/13 Plaster 1/3/13 Re: Do you have any regrets? 3Apr 25, 2012 11:22 am Ribbon If you love the plan you have now, could you modify it to make it a bit smaller and increase your yard space? Remove a bedroom, the second living room, that kind of thing? Our block was actually one of the largest in our estate so we couldn't get any bigger. We liked the design the way it is, we chose display version of the house as we could see what the final product will look like. We have quality fitting so are happy with it. Of course we want to upgrade few things but reducing the size of the house is not really something that we thought of. House is 4x2 so it had everything we wanted. The only solution is either sell current land and move 30 minutes further afield to get larger 800sqm block for the same price or go for a smaller house. Re: Do you have any regrets? 4Apr 25, 2012 11:26 am MY only regret so far is that we didn't sell our house before we started building. It's for sale now, and that combined with building and me job hunting is just a bit more stress then I like to have at once.. Re: Do you have any regrets? 5Apr 25, 2012 11:44 am Our last house was way too big. We could afford it but the space we didn't use seemed such a waste. Although we had one of the biggest blocks on the estate and plenty of garden we found it harder to sell compared with neighbouring houses when we downsized. The feedback from the agent was this was because it was one of the more expensive houses in the area. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Do you have any regrets? 6Apr 25, 2012 12:22 pm How important is the backyard space for the dog (medium size one) I guess that is the question for the dog owners. Does your dog use the backyard to run around or your pup rely on you walking him/her? Re: Do you have any regrets? 7Apr 25, 2012 12:56 pm We have a bit of both with our kelpie X as she likes to have a bit of a roll in the grass and run around the yard with her rope or a tennis ball or even a partially deflated footy (especially if she is copping a chase from one or both of us), but she also likes to get out on the lead and check out her "turf" when we walk her as well of course. If only she wouldn't decide to "mark" it in that special way dogs do every other day - we never leave without a couple of plastic shopping bags nowadays. Dogs are surprisingly adept at entertaining themselves with their toys when they don't have anyone to play with, but they need a bit of space to do so in I reckon - of course if your dog isn't as active a breed as ours is then the bigger yard might not be so much of an issue - they do need somewhere private to go to number two's though (our dog always disappears around behind the bungalow of the rental we are currently in). Some people apparently have nothing better to do than comment on other people's sigs. Re: Do you have any regrets? 8Apr 25, 2012 3:25 pm I think it depends on whether you see this house as the one you are going to have children/dogs in... I don't know if it would be fair on a dog to have such a small area to play in. It is fine if there is always someone home to take it for walks, but they do need space to stretch their legs otherwise it seems cruel (depending on the breed). If this is going to be your 'forever' house you may want to weigh up how much of an inconvenience moving further out would be compared to the losses from downsizing your proposed house plan. Re: Do you have any regrets? 9Apr 25, 2012 5:20 pm We did a KDR, and after living in a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom single storey rental for 12 months I regret building 2 storeys given we had a large block to play with. I also wished we had chosen a different facade without a parapeet wall. This was a slight oversight that I wished we had picked up before plans went to council. Oh well, next house will be our "dream" house....And I think we will be using an architect next time around Re: Do you have any regrets? 10Apr 25, 2012 5:40 pm AubinGroveFan Ribbon The only solution is either sell current land and move 30 minutes further afield to get larger 800sqm block for the same price or go for a smaller house. Risk with selling again is that you will lose more $$$ in the double sale transactions, when that money could be spent on putting a room upstairs and taking away from downstairs (and therefore giving more yard space). Kids and dogs do love a bit of grass. Can you show us your plans? (or rather, the plans you originally liked?) 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: Do you have any regrets? 11Apr 25, 2012 5:47 pm nglbuilder I think it depends on whether you see this house as the one you are going to have children/dogs in... I don't know if it would be fair on a dog to have such a small area to play in. It is fine if there is always someone home to take it for walks, but they do need space to stretch their legs otherwise it seems cruel (depending on the breed). If this is going to be your 'forever' house you may want to weigh up how much of an inconvenience moving further out would be compared to the losses from downsizing your proposed house plan. I grew up in an apartment in Europe (60sqm in total) and we had a dog (Labrador) and he seemed to be ok with it. I know Australian lifestyle is asking for backyard and all that stuff, but i'm not sure what we'll be happy with bigger house or bigger backyard... Re: Do you have any regrets? 12Apr 25, 2012 6:14 pm wow a lab in a 60sqm apartment!!! We have a lab and she would go crazy if she didn't have a yard to run around in. I think its really about balance, which is much easier said than done. Re: Do you have any regrets? 13Apr 25, 2012 7:34 pm Regular walks are far more important to a dog then a large backyard. The average time a dog spends running around the yard by themselves is minimal (and if you are going to play with them then you may as well take them for a walk) which is MUCH more exciting due to new sniffs and so on as well as getting to spend more time with you. Often times the only running a dog will do in the backyard is to go to fences in order to bark at people/cars/cats. Many dogs do apartment living and are happier then dogs who get stuck in a large backyard and left to entertain themselves - so often people feel that a large backyard is enough stimulation for a dog so don't bother to take them out of it at all - whereas apartment dogs are generally exercised regularly. Yes some grass is good for your dog to have, but a more important factor is activities and toys being available to prevent them from being bored whilst in the backyard- and often not much space is required for this at all. *Removes qualified behavioural dog training hat and returns to being someone excitedly watching my house being built* Re: Do you have any regrets? 15Apr 25, 2012 8:16 pm well said greenfish. just checked out your blog - bet you are excited about your shed finally up! 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: Do you have any regrets? 17Apr 25, 2012 9:36 pm We have a big golden retriever, and from puppy to old man he only uses the backyard when our daughter is out with him, and then he only plays with her for 10 mins max before he heads back to being at my feet. He sleeps inside, (I know, terrible habit but it is that or he whines at the door non stop and wakes up everyone on the street...we have tried it!), when we are home he is inside, and we know that when we are not at home he sits by the gate waiting for us to come home. Does he need a big backyard??? Noway!!! We do walk him daily, let him off for a run at the park and he is happy and healthy! In the house we are building, we will have 10m from back of house to fence, in that area we will have a patio, garden, shed (eventually) and enough grass for trampoline and maybe a swing set, and a bit of room for daughter to run about in. We will also have a dedicated sand spot for him to dig his hole in summer as he tries to escape the heat and dig to Antarctica! Backyard is more for child then dog though. In our rental we have about 2m from paved patio (which is the entire length of the house) to fence of grass, and there is a shed too, and it is ample for the trampoline and grass to play! no swing set though! We are probably just being greedy in the new house! We have 628sqm land, as opposed to about 500sqm in the rental. I think it is really what you want, what is more important to YOU. Don't do it for a dog. Dogs adapt. People don't! Re: Do you have any regrets? 18Apr 25, 2012 10:02 pm greenfish Regular walks are far more important to a dog then a large backyard. The average time a dog spends running around the yard by themselves is minimal Often times the only running a dog will do in the backyard is to go to fences in order to bark at people/cars/cats. Many dogs do apartment living and are happier then dogs who get stuck in a large backyard and left to entertain themselves Yes some grass is good for your dog to have, but a more important factor is activities and toys being available to prevent them from being bored whilst in the backyard- *Removes qualified behavioural dog training hat and returns to being someone excitedly watching my house being built* I totally agree with Greenfish & the Vans, how boring, stuck in the same environment day after day. So many people say to me "you don't need to walk your dogs" because they are of the smaller, non-working variety, but they love the smorgasbord of smells, sights and sounds. It satisfies their pack and hunting instincts as well. When owners are not around, it's been proven that most dogs just sleep. And besides, why wouldn't you walk them? That's part of the fun of owning a dog. Getting out into the fresh air is great for everyone!! Re: Do you have any regrets? 20Apr 25, 2012 11:42 pm Thanks for replies. I think it might be cold feet or midlife crisis showing up. I'm 32 and this is going to be our first build (yes, I'm old and still don't have to show anything for my life although I had my reasons). We're torn between rock and a hard place... we put down the deposit for the block of land and deposit to secure the price with the builder (that was 7 month ago though)... Now what to choose: build a big house with stuff we want and get normal mortgage or forget about building and get already established small house without extras we want and have a very very small mortgage... The other question is if we want to build a house what will that be... reasonably big (covering most of 510sqm block) single storey house without backyard or small two-storey house... Another problem or rant is we've chosen the display version of the house but personally I don't see what the extra moolah are being spent on... I think I want to see that extra 50-60k that separate basic house from its display version but I'm struggling to see it. I understand that in the end all builders are the same and the cost will line up either way... We thought we have chosen the builder but now have our doubts (don't feel like our sales consultant wants our business as much as we want them to build our house)... When we signed up we thought that it's what we want but now we started to think about future: kid and dog. What would be the best for both of them and ourselves... I feel like if we didn't have these 7 month to think about our build and stuff and went right in and built straight away we wouldn't be having these issues right now and doubting every decision we've made so far... A question. Im in Queensland and building a new home. We managed to reach practical completion 6 weeks ago but we haven't heard any date for handover yet. Who should we… 0 5800 Thanks mate. Yeah good points! 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