Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Mar 09, 2008 1:41 pm Hello,
We are currenlty looking for an old established home to knock down and build. We have a design with 'M' picked out and have had some initial talks with them. We have been informed that our soil will be a 'P' due to the home being demolished and they have estimated that our site costs will be anywhere from $16000 - $35000 (with 35000 being worst case scenario if our land in not flat etc) Most of the homes around where we are looking appear relatively flat, however, we are looking at one at the moment and I have enclosed the link below...to me it appears to be on a slight slope going from right to left (pic 10 shows this the best) What I'm wondering (for those willing to check out the link - does this look like a substantial slope to you? Do you think it will add significant costs to our build?) Thanks in advance http://www.domain.com.au/Public/PropertyDetails.aspx?adid=2007000769 Belinda Re: Advice please 4Mar 09, 2008 3:04 pm If you're really worried you can always get yourself two sticks and go and measure the slope. Can't find the URL I used but this one will do:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distributi ... D6982.html Re: Advice please 5Mar 09, 2008 3:58 pm To say that the soil classification will be Class P due to the existing house removal is not correct. Peter Clarkson - AusDesign Australia www.ausdesign.com.au This information is intended to provide general information only. It does not purport to be a comprehensive advice. Re: Advice please 6Mar 09, 2008 5:07 pm Thanks everyone!
I drove past the house and its definatly a slight slope - nothing substantial - I just wanted to check that M would still build on it, and not increase the costs heaps because of it... Rachelle - Funny you should mention that - the house in sinking!! Well looks that way anyway - definatly a knock down job Virgin-builder - thanks for the link - will check it out!! Ausdesign - I too think M were a bit quick to say that my soil was a P before running any tests - why are they still hitting me up for the money for the soil test if they already knows it a P ( ) ....Funny that they have quoted me a max of $35,000 for site costs though - I was of the understanding that a P class site would bring site costs in excess of $50,000 Hmm will give the real estate a call and see if they can give me some measurement idea of the slope and then get onto 'M'.... Cheers Re: Advice please 7Mar 09, 2008 5:41 pm Belinda,
When we first dealt with M and paid the initial $1K to start the soil test, the classification that went back was 'P'. AS a result, if I remember it right, the site cost that was quoted was around $17K- $18K. Then, we went from one builder to another, all their classifications were 'H', and so the site cost quoted was from $7K to $12K (depending on the builder). When we went back to M, they did another soil test (to their expense) and the classification went back as 'H'! Hmmm... wonder why it happened like that. So our site cost went down to $8k+. I noticed that the companies that did the soil tests were different (1st and 2nd). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Built the Nevada 42 Next project - landscaping! Re: Advice please 8Mar 09, 2008 5:45 pm V - Hmm very interesting. I found it weird that they could quote my soil type without even seeing my land!! Funny too - that they thought my soil would be the worst!!
So do people thinks its worth getting an independent soil test (for say an extra $1000) even if we know we are going to build with 'M'....just so that we can go back and show them what we have found... I'm thinking though with the current house thatis on the land and the fact it looks to be sinking, maybe the soil isn't the best Re: Advice please 9Mar 10, 2008 2:35 pm hi haywgl,
I agree the block looks pretty flat. Looks like a great block and location by the way! Is that quite close to the Lakes area? Good luck, I hope you get it! Is it going to auction or are you putting in an offer? donuts Re: Advice please 10Mar 10, 2008 3:59 pm Hi Haywgl,
I had an independant soil test done before I bought my land it only cost $250.00. I am now in the process of having an independant surveyer do the lay of the land for fall etc and was quoted $300-400. maybe it would be worth getting your own soil test to start with. Paula Re: Advice please 11Mar 10, 2008 4:09 pm Hi donuts!
Thanks for your reply - its going to auction but we are thinking about putting in an offer, we don't want to go over $410k really so i am pretty sure it will go for more, most of them do around here...its a great size block, about 13.5m x 42.1m It is right near the lakes, actually we currently live in a new townhouse that backs onto the lakes - beautiful location It means we add an extra $400k+ to our build by staying in the area instead of moving 'out' to other suburbs but it is something we really value.. I'm glad people think it looks quite flat - even if their is a slight slope I am praying site costs don't exceed $35,000...just out of interest if the sales consultant at 'M' has quoted '17,000k-35,000k (only if there is fall on the land) she has even gone as far as to write it on some paperwork we have (not a contract) does this mean it can still go outside of these figures - or is this highly unlikely? (I know legally she is not bound to these quotes - but I guess what I'm asking is surely they wouldn't underquote that much??) Thanks guys Re: Advice please 13Mar 10, 2008 4:34 pm I know what your saying Paula = that is some HUGE difference in costs....that's why I am thinking of getting independent soil tests done and if they come back different to M's asking what the deal is....
I'm assuming they will either stick to their quote and be happy to lose buisness or meet us somewhere in the middle... When I mentioned to the s/c that I heard site costs around $50k in established area she laughed and said it would be no where near this amount.... Re: Advice please 14Mar 11, 2008 7:31 am That is a good idea. also check with other builders if they do a 'monolithic' slab as opposed to waffle pod. most volume builders cut and fill to level the slope and then put a wafflepod slab. in effect u lose the 'height' of the home, some views and later on need expensive retaining walls.. I think costwise it still works out the same in the end. I wish I had known this as our house is on a slope between 2 houses and sits a bit 'low' because the others have had 'monolithic' slabs whereas M cut n filled to level our land..we will also be needing retaining walls all along the 35 m depth of the block Re: Advice please 16Mar 11, 2008 8:03 am Thanks Vpande...I'm getting really worried my site costs are going to come back well over $50k even though M has quoted $35k and said this is worst case scenario if the land has ahuge amount of fill....
The property is very close to naighbours and the street is narrow - so I know they will add costs for 'access', the underground powerpit I will probably have to get to as the closet powerpole is across the street Oh well it will all be worth it in the end Re: Advice please 17Mar 11, 2008 8:23 am I doubt if they dig accross for the nearest powerpole as digging ashphalt is tricky. in our case they dug the naturestrip all along. Luckily our RHS neighbour has the powerpole.cost us 1k where as M had quoted 3.5K.
Drive along the street and I am sure there will be a pole on your side of the road as well. Re: Advice please 18Mar 11, 2008 11:27 am Thanks vpande (and everyone else who replied in this thread) we are actually not looking at this block anymore - so are keeping our eyes out for something else
If anyone knows/finds any old houses/land for us in Newport we'd be glad tto have a look Thanks again belinda:) Re: Advice please 20Mar 11, 2008 6:03 pm Quote: also check with other builders if they do a 'monolithic' slab as opposed to waffle pod. most volume builders cut and fill to level the slope and then put a wafflepod slab. in effect u lose the 'height' of the home, some views and later on need expensive retaining walls.. I think costwise it still works out the same in the end. I wish I had known this as our house is on a slope between 2 houses and sits a bit 'low' because the others have had 'monolithic' slabs whereas M cut n filled to level our land..we will also be needing retaining walls all along the 35 m depth of the block vpande, good thing we're building a double storey and the 2 houses to the side and rear of our house were all built by M. I also noticed that our house is a bit higher than the other M double storey house.... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Built the Nevada 42 Next project - landscaping! Versaloc is a mortarless besser block system that still needs a properly engineered footing. If you just do a 400x200 footing it will fail in time. At 17m long you need it… 1 25305 This is the external unit of an evaporative cooling unit in an apartment block. Wondering if it is the calcium in the water that has caused the damage and if it is… 0 4359 |