Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 23, 2013 12:25 am that is the question! We have land in Caversham (WA), and a house plan with Redink. However, it's been dragging on for so long and we're now wondering whether to just give it all up and buy established, and I was wondering whether people who have built could give me the benefit of their experience and opinion? We signed our expression of interest in July 2011, at which point titles were supposed to have been released the next April/May (this suited us as we had to do our house up a bit and sell it in order to buy the land and build the house). We then signed our formal paperwork for the land in February 2012, and sold our house and moved into a small unit in not a very desirable part of town shall we say, in March 2012, thinking we would be here 9 months. 11 months and one burglary later and titles haven't even been released yet, let alone the build been finished! The date for titles changed to July/August, then October/November, then I think December (I'm losing track!), then Feb/March 2013, and now March/April 2013. Every time we get a delay it really knocks us. I know that these things are never on time, but this development seems to be taking it to the extreme! (It's Taylor's Private Estate by the way, incase you are building there or thinking of doing so!) We're in our mid-late 40s, so we really don't want to be hanging about - maybe it would be different if we were in our 20s. We feel life is on hold, as we're in a small place and a lot of our stuff is in storage -we could rent somewhere bigger but of course you want to save as much as you can when you're building. If the current timetable is adhered to it will have been about 2 years since we initially signed up! So, my question is, having built, do you think it's worth the wait, or should we cut our losses and buy something? I've looked into it quite a lot, and we could buy something a bit bigger for a little bit more money, but of course it wouldn't be brand new, and I would really like a pool, which might not be possible if the house is more expensive than the planned build. It would mean that we're moving on and getting settled though. We don't really know what to do for the best. Any thoughts anyone? We would lose $4k with Redink but should get the land deposit back. Thanks for listening! Re: To Build or Not to Build 2Feb 23, 2013 12:31 am I should have said two other things, one on each side of the fence - a) we do really like the idea of building our own home; b) we expected to have been in the new house by Christmas 2012 and now there's a chance that we won't be in by December 2013! (As soon as titles are issued the land will be good to go, as the developer will have done all the necessary work before then, but still time is tight I think?) Re: To Build or Not to Build 3Feb 23, 2013 12:59 am Hi Mandy Welcome. Sorry to hear about the delays! I am glad the land that we bought was already titled, but we signed up in September last year and are just waiting n a slab at the moment, were in our early 30's and have moved in with my mom something I never thought I would do. I had a friend in a similar situation, they were in stage two of brookleigh. They sold their house and moved in with her sister, then she got pregnant and they didn't have their house finished till their son was 6 months. I think you have to weigh up what is important for you. I know she says she didn't regret the decision. I know that we are looking forward to having the house just as we want it. But you have waited a long time for this already! Good luck with the decision! Re: To Build or Not to Build 4Feb 23, 2013 1:11 am Thanks fmac. Your friend sounds in the same boat as us! (Although younger if she's having babies! ) Must be something about the land in Caversham - or something about the the City of Swan requirements! Where are you building? Lots of luck with it, once it starts. Re: To Build or Not to Build 5Feb 23, 2013 1:23 am I think it's a general development thing. There seem to be a lot of people who bought untitled land and it didn't title when it was originally meant to. I sometimes wonder if developers k ow full well it won't title but want to get some deposits and people committed, because would you have committed to the land at the time if the titles weren't due till 2013? We're building in pearsall. We seriously considered caversham, we loved it out there and checked it out a few times, but my family all live around , I grew up in the area and the land we could afford ought in caversham would have been a similar size but from what I have heard the site works would have been much more. Re: To Build or Not to Build 6Feb 23, 2013 5:40 am try and hold off your decision for a little longer dare to say hubby and i are in our 50s and with daughter we are building at the moment and selling family home of 26 years. it can be very daunting thoughts of am i doing the right thing and should have just stayed found a established home etc we started our journey feb 2012 and after one builder we are now in the final stages of building and yes it has been worth it. we have all our stuff in storage and living with the bare . selling our home occasionally as we drive to our new house we wave to our stored stuff and laugh and say soon you will be with us . even at our age it is exciting to watch the build.plus we know that if we bought an existing home it probably would not have suited us as much as the new home will Re: To Build or Not to Build 7Feb 23, 2013 10:51 am Your so close now. What if you give up and then titles released.. would you kick yourself? Considering its been almost 2yrs whats another few months in big scheme of things. A brand new house you can then settle into and possibly get that pool you want Re: To Build or Not to Build 8Feb 23, 2013 3:25 pm You've already done so much waiting, kind of seems like a waste to give up now. For me, I kind of regret building. My story is that we chose to build coz it was cheaper, but now I compare a) high ongoing levels of stress b) extra year of renting c) we have actually saved up lots more money in that year of waiting that we could afford to buy a really nice established house in the same area, or a more standard house closer to CBD. So yes, we regret building. It's not actually that enjoyable picking all the things because of budget restrictions and the stress of wondering whether you made good choices etc. However in your case you've already done half the waiting.. GOODLIFE - Bravo - BUTLER http://getmistyfied.blogspot.com.au Display 20/02/2012 PPA 01/04/12 Prestart: 25/07/12 Settlement: 31/07/2012 Contracts:August Slab 19/11/12 BRICKS 10/11/12 Roof 16/01/13 Re: To Build or Not to Build 9Feb 23, 2013 4:02 pm I only see a point to building if you have requirements which you won't find by buying something already estabished. I'm kinda sick of the messing-around, and I'd just go & buy a place and sell our un-celubrious shack if I could find something with enough garaging in this area. We went in with high ideals of energy-efficiency & the like; the costs of non-project-builder & inflexibility of project-builders have worn us down, so we've ditched all those ideals & are basically just getting a house with enough rooms & garages; yet it's dragging on forever (started Feb 2012, hoping to get final plans some time in the next few weeks, and trying to move things as quickly as they would move that whole time). Re: To Build or Not to Build 10Feb 24, 2013 3:43 pm Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Small world fmac - I have two friends who live in Pearsall (and two years ago I hadn't even heard of the place! ) One built, one bought. The one that bought has building happening behind her house too, so you might even be neighbours to one of my friends! We're in a similar position as you by the sound of it turtleschell - we've saved up more than we thought we would, due to the extra time. Annoys me though every time we get a delay and people who are trying to make you feel better say, "At least you will be able to save up more money" - if I hear that one more time I think I'll hit someone! I would much rather just be in my lovely new house. I'm also not good with trusting my decisions! But I guess this process will cure me of that - hopefully! Yes we probably would kick ourselves LeanneR. If we gave it up the land would be title moments later! And then we'd see someone else building on OUR land! We do have requirements that are not easy to find in an established house Forg, but you're probably right, there's not much point if you just want a standard house - except for the fact that building can be cheaper. Anyhoo, thanks again everyone. We are still going with it, for now at least! We have a meeting with our (free) Interior Designer on Wednesday, and pre-start on Thursday, so I suppose that makes it feel like things are progressing! Wish us luck! Re: To Build or Not to Build 11Feb 24, 2013 11:11 pm Good luck, 2 days in a row of choices, best pack some energy drinks. Have a real good look at display home pics online to give you an idea of what colours look good, what you do or don't like. My interior designer had opposite taste to me so I found it all really difficult. GOODLIFE - Bravo - BUTLER http://getmistyfied.blogspot.com.au Display 20/02/2012 PPA 01/04/12 Prestart: 25/07/12 Settlement: 31/07/2012 Contracts:August Slab 19/11/12 BRICKS 10/11/12 Roof 16/01/13 The HIA contract, in the term & conditions section states that "Commencment" is deemed when the drainage is started or the piers are dug or the slab is formed up (incase… 2 6178 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair But if it is a ground level open pit, then it is not a charged system. No surprises there. The pipes have obviously been altered and there would be a reason for this.… 3 31282 I work with owner, he/she is my man on the ground and I instruct them when to visit the site and take photos and I have other tools in the bag. 4 15276 |