Sterling custom on 10 acres Adelaide.

claypot · Oct 24, 2014 11:56 pm

Hey all,
I’m starting this thread to share our build process with others. It is partly due to the wealth of info we have got from others, and I’m hoping to give something back.
We have signed with Sterling Homes.
Our plan is our own design, layed out to capture the Northern aspect to the living areas.
We have a 10 acre block. The property already has a small cottage on it, we had intended to extend it when we brought the place. But after a couple of years of deliberation we have decided it was better to build a new home.
The old house is right where we want the new house ( landscaping ) so we will be knocking it down prior.
We felt that we could have a blow out on the reno and still have half an old house to show for it. Not to mention the poor insulation quality of the old part.

The main reason's for going with Sterling was the price and flexibly. Like any of the big building companies I have heard of a few bad experiences with them. We have had other friends use them and are still happy with the house 10 years later too.
Our consultant was excellent, he always had plenty of time for us and I'm sure I must of been a PITA tweaking things all the time. Thinking more on it, and reading of other peoples drama's, we were lucky to have such a good consultant. The last of the good ones I reckon.

What I’ve taken from this is do your home work, then do your home work again. Don’t trust them trust you. If at all possible use a good independent building inspector at as many stages as you can afford.
I believe none of the large builders are immune to admin and building errors.
I think a lot of the bigger companies issues are their administration / site supervisor work loading and lack of good tradies. Given the current slow in the industry I think it’s a great time to build.
Having said all of that I have still strapped ourselves in and braced for the worst!
Due to wanting approval prior to demo of the old house we have to submit a non complying application to council. It is done in two stages which we have a private planner to sort.
So unfortunately it will take longer and cost more to get the approval.

So at this stage, we’ve signed and payed deposit, plans and submission is at council.
Selections are in a couple of weeks.
Cheers for stopping in.

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TomCat · Oct 25, 2014 5:06 am

Great plan Clay. 10 acres sounds lovely, do you have special plans for that?

Your assessment of build quality/processes/management sounds logical to me - I agree it's a good time to build. Though we started the process with another builder - McCracken - 2 years ago and they went broke. It was at the stage we are now with our current builder. This new house is $80k more! I don't know how the heck that happened

We considered Sterling. Love their Lightsview displays. Looking forward to following

claypot · Oct 25, 2014 1:44 pm

Cheers TomCat,
No plans for the land but to enjoy the space.

We also had a failed start over a year ago. Pulled the pin just prior to starting due to a couple of reasons. Didn't feel right so pulled out and now very happy with the way forward.

I'm well aware of the reasons our builder can do things cheaper than others. So yeah we will take a hit on quality vs someone who spent more with a smaller boutique builder . I guess we all know how quick the price rises when you want extras.
I wanted sisalation under the colorbond that in other States is mandatory, termite treated timber, up specked bricks etc. So doesn’t take long to add more $ for not much show!

Treeseachanger · Oct 25, 2014 4:06 pm

Posting to follow

Perth_Euro · Oct 25, 2014 5:28 pm

As above

FairmontSAcustom · Oct 25, 2014 5:55 pm

Looking forward to following your build

boosta · Nov 04, 2014 12:13 pm

Following

Mclaren · Jan 13, 2015 3:43 pm

Any progress?

sebeva · Jan 13, 2015 4:41 pm

Posting to follow your build

We are just about to start the building of our home with GJ Gardner on our 35 acres property we bought 2 years ago. Good luck with everything!

Bonnie_p · Jan 13, 2015 4:49 pm

following, love acreage builds

claypot · Jan 14, 2015 10:09 pm

Hey All,
No progress as yet. Still waiting for approval. Painful.... Council is supporting it but needs State approval?? We have got selections out the way so that's good.

Roof & Gutters - Colorbond Gully
Fascia and Barge boards - Shale grey
Bricks - PGH Bluestone
Window frames - silver
Panel lift door - Shale grey.

Cheers,, will be sure too post when the demo crew turn up!!

Treeseachanger · Feb 16, 2015 12:22 pm

Hi Claypot, are you still waiting on approval? Fingers crossed things start for you very soon

claypot · Feb 16, 2015 12:43 pm

Treeseachanger

Hi Claypot, are you still waiting on approval? Fingers crossed things start for you very soon

Yes still waiting….. Has become ridiculous to be honest (resisting urge to type what I really think…)
Maybe I could try taking my time to pay my rates….

Bonnie_p · Feb 16, 2015 5:55 pm

Im in the same boat Claypot, waiting sucks!

nikkis2000 · Feb 17, 2015 1:48 pm

I feel your pain!
We have just come out the other side of the approvals process having submitted at a similar time to you by the looks of it. It's sooooo frustrating!
Love the look of your plan - can't wait to see those demo pics! Will you do before and afters?!

claypot · Feb 17, 2015 2:04 pm

nikkis2000

I feel your pain!
We have just come out the other side of the approvals process having submitted at a similar time to you by the looks of it. It's sooooo frustrating!
Love the look of your plan - can't wait to see those demo pics! Will you do before and afters?!

Yip sure will.
Will have mixed feelings as have 4 years of good memories in the house with the kids growing up.
Not good memories of plunging the toilet, tiny kitchen, front door not opening.....
Might have to do some burn outs on the moto prior also, when else are you allowed to ride your bike in the house!

claypot · Mar 12, 2015 11:08 pm

Woo Hoo, Planning permission has been granted. So just need the building and septic approval and were on! Word on the street is it should only be 2 - 3 weeks for this, and no real possibility of any show stoppers. Our tenant in the rental property has given notice also, so looks like we wont be looking for somewhere to live. Demo crew should be here in a month... Pics to follow..

TomCat · Mar 13, 2015 10:03 pm

Good news claypot, bravo!

Treeseachanger · Mar 16, 2015 11:41 am

Cool, progress at last!!

claypot · Mar 28, 2015 5:10 am

So received our building approval from council in the mail woo hoo good times.
Had a look through thinking the septic approval must be in there also….
No not in there well I submitted it 3 weeks ago, better give council a call. Oh yeah was just about to send you a letter regarding some extra information required she say’s. Oh #### here we ####### go again!
I haven’t mentioned in this thread, that shortly after submitting the building application we got a letter stating we are now in a 1 in 100 year flood plain. I thought great this isn’t going to end up going well. Sure enough another letter followed, council wanted a list of impractical things done. So back to the private planner we went he managed to put council back on the straight and narrow. However we needed to raise the FFL 500mm = 500 ton of fill = more footing engineering = lots more $$. So what can we do, had no choice really.
Site plan and engineering was redrawn and the variation was sent out.
So any way SA legislation states a septic system ether can’t be put on a site affected by a 1 in 10 year flood or must be engineered in such a way to with stand one. So I’m told that the flood zone needs to be addressed in the waste water engineers report. To which I reply we are in a 1:100 zone not 1:10 the legislation doesn’t call for that. Well yes your right but we don’t have flood mapping for 1:10 only 1:100 she replies. So now this is my problem not theirs.
It appears the waste water engineer has selected the wrong sprinklers. Even though they are the ones supplied by and recommended by the septic company and even though he is a waste water engineer and it is his job to know these things. We discuss 3 other points that are equally frustrating. I try to keep a cheerful responsive tone, difficult.
I am offered to have the letter emailed , yes please. I receive the letter it’s dated 1 week earlier, really? What if I’d not called them how much longer would it of been sitting around.
So I’ve hand balled all this to the waste water engineer and hope he can sort it. So no septic approval no new house… I imagine it should all pan out o.k should be as simple as stating septic tank hatches to be located above an agreed level.
It is frustrating to of gone through all this to have a minor possiblity of the septic throwing a spanner in the works.
It took longer to book the power disconnection than I thought so that’s booked for May 4 and demo crew straight after. So hoping the septic application is sorted prior. I’m a bit reluctant to knock the house over till that’s sorted.
I guess at the end of the day I should of submitted the septic application earlier. But The council planner sugested I waited untill the non complying application was granted, so we didn't lose any more money if it wasn't.