Browse Forums Building A New House 1 May 18, 2012 3:33 pm Hi Everyone, I'm new so please be gentle! We have bought land (Shorehaven, Alkimos) and are almost set on who we are building with (Dale Alcock - ? Nautilus) but I am completely overwhelmed with how much or little you can do yourself to reduce the costs. The temptation is to just let the builder do everything - pay the extra (I know it costs more that way) but we able to just walk in with our furniture when we get the keys. Friends have suggested doing some bits ourselves but I don't know where to draw the line. So (and forgive me if there are threads dealing with this already but my search skills didn't find any), what bits of the build are you doing yourself (assuming you aren't a sparky, plumber, builder by tarde as we aren't)? I think if it only saves a few $'s then I would take the safe option rather than have to source tradies / materials etc but if there are big savings to make I would love to get your advice Thanks in advance Emma Building the Nautilus with Dale Alcock follow my thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=58854&p=909574#p909574 14/8/12 Pre-start! Re: What bits would you get done yourself (not by the builde 2May 18, 2012 3:44 pm Tiling / floor coverings can save a lot. The builder must do the wet areas (bathrooms, laundry) before completion, but we arranged with them that we can use the same tiler to do the rest of the tiled areas and we also paid the same tile supplier directly for the additional tiles. Same arrangement for electrics. We had a very basic electrical plan in the contract but then added a load of lighting, data points, GPOs directly with their electrician, avoiding the builders markup on these. Just depends whether your builder is flexible enough to allow this. Our Homebuilding Thread 17th Nov - 1st meeting with PJB architect 27th Feb - Signed contract 23rd Mar - Plans approved 3rd Apr - Slab laid 18th Apr - Roof On 10th May - Lock-up 26th June - Handover Re: What bits would you get done yourself (not by the builde 3May 18, 2012 3:47 pm we're building with Red Ink, but i think most builders are the same when it comes to the trades and arent really keen on letting you supply your own...which i can understand, because if they have trades on their books, then they are obviously going to expect to get supplied work from the builder. the only thing we are doing is arranging site works and our power run-in. But our sales guy said RedInk are more than happy for us to do that as we on rural block. [????? of the reasoning, but hey, works for us coz its cheaper] our site works are only $8000!! which i am really happy with. [mind you, that doesnt include the electric run in from the road - 60meters, which the electrician is charging $2500] but still way cheaper option. we are happy for builder to organize all the trades and let them work out any problems if they arise. unless your tradie you want to use is a friend/relative who would do it cheaper for you, i dont think there would be a huge savings. for us, its just not having the hassle of organizing someone, then getting the timing right with them and the other trades - rather let RI have the hassle of dealing with them but if you are having carpets, blinds etc by builder....then i would say def organize that yourself, you will get better quality furnishing/fittings for your dollar. good luck with it all....its a rollercoaster ride set in amongst a minefield experience but worth it in the end...we're doing it for 2nd time. What bits would you get done yourself (not by the builder)? 4May 18, 2012 3:48 pm Not only what you can do but also look at things you can get done after hand over by a pro. Our quote for tiles through the builder was $16,500 we got the same tiles from the same supplier and even after paying someone to lay them it is costing us $$9,500. We also had a quote of $10,000 to cement the driveway and a 1m border around the house, we went with pavers and the cost of pavers and a guy to lay them is costing approx $4,000 for the driveway and $1500 for the border around the house, we will lay those ourselves and save a few more dollars. We got the builder to do a few things that cost us more but it was more convenient then us arranging someone after handover, plus we are already saving on other things so it worked out ok. Jasmin Hickinbotham Belmont - modified Signed: February 2011 Slab should go down before 2012 My build thread https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=52310&p=799483#p799483 Re: What bits would you get done yourself (not by the builde 5May 19, 2012 2:13 am Thanks everyone - DAH has a great offer on at the moment to include air on, flooring, painting and smart wiring in the build - they are happy to give you the allowance if you want to upgrade and just pay the difference so will probably do that. I'm very excited at the prospect of building but very nervous at the same time!! Happy weekend Emma Building the Nautilus with Dale Alcock follow my thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=58854&p=909574#p909574 14/8/12 Pre-start! Re: What bits would you get done yourself (not by the builde 6May 19, 2012 6:28 am emmanewman Thanks everyone - DAH has a great offer on at the moment to include air on, flooring, painting and smart wiring in the build - they are happy to give you the allowance if you want to upgrade and just pay the difference so will probably do that. I'm very excited at the prospect of building but very nervous at the same time!! Happy weekend Emma I am building with Simonds and they quoted 7k for the base model air con and I did some checking around and found the company that supplies and installs the air con for Simonds and he quoted me 4,500 for the to of the range air con. Needles to say I am getting it installed after handover. Re: What bits would you get done yourself (not by the builde 7May 19, 2012 8:14 am Garden paths Rotary hoist Feature walls Curtains and blinds Shelves in Wardrobe I'd just have the basic rail and single shelf and then go to Ikea 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: What bits would you get done yourself (not by the builde 8May 19, 2012 12:53 pm Hi emm. You do know that they just add the price of their "giveaway item's " into the contract... Re: What bits would you get done yourself (not by the builde 9May 19, 2012 11:03 pm Yeah - I know it pay for it anyway in the price but as they won't give me the $32k in cash I'm happy to keep the 'bonus' inclusions! Building the Nautilus with Dale Alcock follow my thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=58854&p=909574#p909574 14/8/12 Pre-start! Re: What bits would you get done yourself (not by the builde 10May 20, 2012 3:41 pm We are doing most of the work ourselves after handover (or at least that is the plan). -Driveway -Landscaping -Fencing -Painting (Father in law is a painter ) -Rendering -Tiling (except in the wet areas for warranty purposes) (DH's mate is a tiler) -Carpets -Letter box -Clothes line -Window coverings -Decking of portico and alfresco We are just getting the bare minimum with our electrical since it's a single story it won't be too difficult to upgrade later. So we are getting baton lights to each room and the minimum number of power points. It sounds like we are getting nothing done, but we figure doing it this way will save us a couple of thousand and we get much better quality then in the builders range. Fingers crossed and I will let you know in a few months when our build starts how it all goes :s Re: What bits would you get done yourself (not by the builde 11May 20, 2012 7:21 pm 8acon - wow - you are so organised - please keep us posted with how it goes! Building the Nautilus with Dale Alcock follow my thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=58854&p=909574#p909574 14/8/12 Pre-start! Re: What bits would you get done yourself (not by the builde 12May 20, 2012 8:30 pm If you are going the single batten and installing down lights later I would consider the following Ask if you can get the batten installed in one of the downlight positions. That way you don't need to get the centre batten hole patched and re painted Re: What bits would you get done yourself (not by the builde 13May 20, 2012 8:44 pm one step ahead of you hack we sound organised, but only time will tell .... I will keep you posted. 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