Browse Forums Building A New House 1 May 19, 2012 8:34 pm Alright, we have a block of land that we favour, it's 19.075m x 29.9m.
Our most favoured house won't fit on it, so we have gone for our second most favoured house, and a consultant has drawn the plan onto the block so we would have a rough idea as to how it will look on the block. He also added a small plunge pool for illustrative purposes as we intend to have a pool put in. I don't know the dimensions of the house, but the consultant assures me that this is all to scale. [Image removed for privacy.] Ok, so it doesn't really leave much room between fence and house, which isn't too bad as we don't actually want a very big backyard, just enough for a plunge pool and perhaps for a small play area for our two girls. Our only 'issue' with the small amount of side access is getting a pool in, is this actually going to be an issue here? Another thing is, there doesn't really appear to be much room for a clothes line, unless we were to put it near the garage, say, but that's a long distance from the laundry. Fiancé would also love a shed, to store fishing rods and that sort of manly related stuff but it's not essential. Is there anyone that can maybe offer advice/thoughts/solutions? Fiancé is really starting to get disheartened and I really need to keep his motivation up or this just isn't going to happen. We are considering other blocks, but they are all either too expensive, too narrow and long or too wide and short, or in an area where we don't fancy living. This block pretty much ticks all our boxes, well, more-so than all the other possibilities. Re: I need to pick someone's brains.. 2May 19, 2012 8:40 pm Re the shed: is it possible to extend the garage area for storage with a parapet wall if necessary on fence line?
Also, since the longest part of the block seems to be the laundry side, would it give you more space for the pool area if you mirrored the plan? If this is a dumb suggestion sorry... but you need to compare measurements. Re: I need to pick someone's brains.. 3May 19, 2012 8:45 pm Meg You will need to check your setbacks as the back of the house is close to the fence. In regards to the pool you need about 2.4 to get a bobcat up the side to dig it out. It looks like you can move the house further left which would give you that space. It looks like you have about 1.5 meters up that side. Honestly first I'd look up the council requirements for front side and rear set back and progress from tat Re: I need to pick someone's brains.. 4May 19, 2012 8:52 pm Yeah, you need to know setbacks before you do anything else. If the plan and block is all to scale, photocopy then cut your house out then move it around on the block (make a few copies and whiteout the house) then you can play around with it. Re: I need to pick someone's brains.. 5May 19, 2012 9:01 pm My input on the clothes line (know nothing about pools, setbacks etc) is can you change bed 4 window so you it is on the back wall? then you have space on that wall. Or you can also choose to have a free standing one, so you don't need wall space. how far away from the fence is it? And of course it depends if you need a double one...with two girls I suspect you do! Where abouts in Baldivis are you building? Your plan looks very familiar so I am thinking you are building with the same company as us (we didn't go with this plan though as we wanted our bedroom at the back!). If you are building with the same builder, and in Baldivis, and you had the same sales rep, he is very good and knows what he's talking about! You will be on a winner. Not saying it will be smooth sailing, but it is still good! I need to pick someone's brains.. 6May 19, 2012 9:21 pm Ok great , thank you so much for the replies. Any idea what document I will need to look for for the setback information? Had a quick look with no success, maybe I will need to call the council on Monday.
I need to pick someone's brains.. 7May 19, 2012 9:29 pm Treeseachanger Re the shed: is it possible to extend the garage area for storage with a parapet wall if necessary on fence line? Great idea, actually. I could even extend a small block out to, say, the kitchen window? That would be perfect! Re: I need to pick someone's brains.. 8May 19, 2012 10:03 pm You can't move the house any further to the left as this will also push the house back to keep the 4m setback. To allow a bobcat to get through you could extend the width of the garage by 1m and put in a single rear roller door. This would give hubby a 1m x 6m (length of garage) work/tool/fishing rod space. Re: I need to pick someone's brains.. 10May 19, 2012 10:29 pm Wouldn't they dig the hole for the pool first then do the foundations for the house 2nd? You might also be able to extend the garage to the (right side) boundary and have a back roller door. Larger garage is a bonus for hubbies fishing stuff. I need to pick someone's brains.. 11May 19, 2012 10:50 pm d@n Wouldn't they dig the hole for the pool first then do the foundations for the house 2nd? My fiancé wondered the same thing, is this something that can be done, or has been done? Does anybody know? Re: I need to pick someone's brains.. 12May 19, 2012 11:18 pm Yes, you are building with the same builder, but different sales rep. I think the sales rep we had has moved to alkimos! So a south of river guy is up north and north of river guy is down south....that so makes sense!!! We are nearly at key stage, and whilst we have had issues, we look at the quality of the build, and it is fantastic! we also know that when we have an issue, it is dealt with appropriately...no arguments, it is just fixed (and replaced!). You have chosen a good builder...on my thread I whinge about certain things, but I also give credit where credit is due...and if you possibly can...ask for my SS and CLO...PM me for names...they have just been fantastic! The SS is generally the one in Baldivis anyway, so you will no doubt have him. I think you have made a good, no GREAT, choice in builder! I think with the pool, you have two basic options. dig it before, or after. If before, space doesn't matter! When are you looking at getting the pool??? How come you can't have your garage right up to the fence line?Our rep said not to do a parapet wall, but just inside the boundary and then you have a fence that almost touches. his reasoning is, when you have a parapet, the neighbours feel like they own the brickwork that is on the fenceline. So they might want to drill a hole to put a basketball board in, or a planter box or whatever. Whatever you have on your internal wall could be knocked off with the movement, drilled into, damaged or whatever. If you have that wall slightly on your wall with the fence, they have no access and therefore no interference. apparently they have no right to access when it is a parapet wall, or so I was told! If you have the garage pushed out more, then have a roller door in the rear of your garage. Extending the garage by 500mm, expect about $3500 (thereabouts!). I would certainly look at storage in your garage. Even think about raising your ceiling height in garage and getting a mezzanine floor built after to store fishing stuff and whathaveyou. In regard to block, have you looked in parkland heights??? Good size blocks, and really not that far from everything...close to 68rd which is close to karnup road for freeway access south, close to old manurah road to go to rockingham/mandurah/beach...closer to train...will have school eventually and close to settlers ps and tranby ps 9yes further away from the public high school though, but not that far)....and also look at avalon estate...better sized blocks and cheaper too then the ridge. Not that far from everything...but you can't walk to the shops...but a short drive, especially when the road is finalised (and it is being done now!)...consider you estate options...baldivis is huge with more then stockland offering land!!! I am quite sure that you have to have an average of 4m frontage...so with ours, at one point we are 3m, but another point 5m from the front verge which averages out to 4m. so you can play around with the frontage a bit! I need to pick someone's brains.. 13May 19, 2012 11:34 pm I highly doubt anyone can build a house with no complications or issues, so it's good to hear that while you have had some issues, that they have resolved those issues with no questions asked and no hesitation.
Might print the plan and block space off tomorrow and have a bit of a play around with the design and placement. Re: I need to pick someone's brains.. 14May 19, 2012 11:57 pm I totally get the not living with sand and tradies etc... We have only just got the sand hill next to us removed.. and we still have the smaller hill behind us which wont be developed for maybe 1 or 2 years (please don't let it be more!!!) but we got a great size block for a good price!!! We have been renting in baldivis whilst we have been building (well since we decided to build) and I must say, it is a lovely area! Put on a fair bit of weight due to the relaxed lifestyle!!! Very jealous that your daughter is at Makybe Rise. We are at Settlers, and to put it frankly...it is CRA*P. We brought our block thinking it was in boundary for Makybe Rise but boundaries hadn't been put in place yet. We then found out we were one major road back from boundary....if we had chosen the other block we were looking at...we would have been in Makybe boundary...and after experiencing 6 months of Settlers...I am so jealous! I know a teacher or two and admin or two at Makybe and that makes me jealous even more!!! If you love your block...stick with it! Find a plan to suit the block. We had Jeremy as our sales rep, and he was amazing. he was determined to find the perfect house....he found a house, changed it to suit our needs and block size....we were all go, but then our house sold at a lot less then we wanted so we started again...went through the whole process and now we truly have OUR HOUSE! We love it, and we know it is unique (not many homes have master at back and kitchen in "two" pieces). They can find the house for you block...don't settle for anything less than what you want!!! Please have a read (if you have the time and you can put up with my rants!!!) of my thread....and PM me with any questions...I have had the ups and downs of building...but I would still build with DA. We painted our new house today (sealant at least) and our helper asked "would you build again?" I said "NO! We are building our perfect house NOW, so I don't need to do it again!"...but if it wasn't our PERFECT house...the answer would be yes, and with the same builder....i have really connected with our SS and CLO and I wouldn't want to deal with anyone else! I need to pick someone's brains.. 15May 20, 2012 12:10 am We currently have the master at the back (in our current house) and we hate it, mostly though because Fiancé works night shifts and it just doesn't work for us having him sleeping when the girls and I are awake. Not to mention the neighhbours and their loud cars interfering with the girls' sleep.
Re: I need to pick someone's brains.. 16May 20, 2012 12:46 am I am sure there are more plans that would suit! On Dales website, there used to be 4 pages of homes...now there are only 2. they are in a real transition at the moment with new home designs! You need really need to speak to someone in person! If you go to the DA website and homes...you can put in your block width and it comes up with what homes will fit on that block. Even then, a slightly bigger home should be able to be adapted to suit your block. for example a 1m width comes up with 6 homes...a 13m frontage is 3 homes (none of which are the ones you are considering). Depending on your requirements and frontage....there are a few that might be suitable and easily changed. My friend is building the avoca and from the website, it is smaller then the riva or suca as far as frontage goes, yet is still a 4x2 plus study. so still a big house! They have also just deleted a few homes from their range, to make way for the new range, which might be suitable. Depending on your sales rep, they may show you these older designs! Isn't it funny how different people want different things! We cannot wait to have our bedroom off the front of the house! I hate the noise! the light! the everything! In our new house, we are at the back we have our own private sanctuary, and it means our daughter is away from the noise of the house when we get up for breakfast etc!!! We have had so many homes with our room at the front and one house with our room at the back and that is the house we love and remember....so the newhouse, we are having the main bed at the back! Yes, schools is a BIG issue with me. I know the school officer at Makybe, very well, very good friends with her, and even she couldn't get us in! I even know the principal, although not as well, but I know her, go out to lunch with her, and I still can't get her in!!! if your friend in singleton has her child in, I am assuming they are in year 1,2 or 3...not k or pre....where boundaries matter! I was in Makybe, until boundaries were put in by council and then I wasn't in boundary, If I wasn't in settlers early enough, then we could have gotten into makybe, but we had to sign a form stating we acknowledge it is only for a year, and after that we would go to another school. Once you are at a public school for a year, they have to keep you! unless you sign the declaration! i am devestated as I am really unhappy with the academic and social learning going on at settlers. it is very much teach to the lowest common denominator....so any student who is slightly higher or slightly lower is totally ignored...they just do what every one else does. home buying/building...isn't as easy as it used to be! Re: I need to pick someone's brains.. 17May 20, 2012 1:47 am I just had a quick play around on PhotoShop and made a few small changes
[image removed for privacy] I added storage to the garage, I moved the window in bedroom 4 and in the Activity room too. Small changes but already it looks a bit better. I need to pick someone's brains.. 18May 20, 2012 6:41 pm I emailed the pool place we intend to get our pool from and asked them what our options would be. They said if council and builders permit, they can put the pool in first (and board and mesh it for safety). Otherwise, they can get a mini bobcat in, or use an excavation digger and wheel barrow if need be. Re: I need to pick someone's brains.. 19May 20, 2012 7:06 pm Cool, I'm glad things are looking more do-able for you!! Re: I need to pick someone's brains.. 20May 23, 2012 1:59 pm I would also move the window in bed 3 so it is along the back. you might not need to then change the window 4. something that i would be concerned about with the window overlooking the pool, and it depends on your situation, but if i had my daughter in that room, she would constantly be looking out her window at night to see what is happenign in the pool, which would mean I couldn't go in for a late night dip! Might be too distracting! Looks good though! Nice storage area in garage! Could you extend garage to fence line so you have more storage and have a roller door at the back for rear access? You may still have a case, but your next step is to speak to a lawyer. 3 1651 Hello It is good to have a planned bathroom reno to suit your budget and design, living for 10 years I think you need a bathtub 4 10384 Looking to start the journey of becoming an owner builder in SA. Feeling pretty (overly) confident on the building and construction details, but really struggling to find… 0 8424 |