Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 05, 2008 12:09 pm Hi guys,
my partner and I are looking to buy a block of land and build a house. We've contacted some builders, got brochures and so on. The bank is offering us over 1m$ loan but no way we're taking such a big mortgage even if we're high income earners. We're thinking of around 500k$ +- 50k for a land & house, rather less than more. Budget for land would therefore be around 300k and 200k for house. With such loan we could easily afford it and wouldn't suffer with monthly repayments even if the situation changes, ie. one of us is temporarily out of work or if interest rates go even higher. We found totaly acceptable lots in a nice location, the area will probably develop but still it's not in an ideal location for us. So we started looking for a different location and found some lots for sale in an ideal location. The problem is they're only 20x20. What fits on such lot and which builer has ready made designs for such lots? AVJennings for example has some fantastic small house designs but they're for narrow and long lots rather than small and square. We'd like to build a small max 3-bedroom house (definitely don't need bigger), doesn't matter whether it's one or two storey. It's for us, our first home, not an investment property and since we're from Europe we'll probably live there until the rest of our lives Re: Design for a small lot 20x20m 2Jul 05, 2008 12:27 pm Might work out easier (and possibly cheaper) in the long run to engage an architect and have it designed how you want.
Think of the basic advantages: 1. Iit will be designed to your requirements (not many standard plans suit many people) 2. Maximum use of the sun can be used without compromises (unlike off the shelf plans that must face the street) 3. Ability to re-arrange your primary living areas around other needs like a garage or backyard/courtyard. If you go for a standard plan from a volume builder, the costs will soar with every change you make - putting the cost of an architect designed home squarely back into the competition I reckon. Re: Design for a small lot 20x20m 3Jul 05, 2008 2:14 pm Ditto commodorenut.
We are building on a very small block - 11x26 - and hence have looked at many small block designs and I can't honestly remember seeing any that were designed for a square block (don't know why). 'We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.' - Winston Churchill Re: Design for a small lot 20x20m 4Jul 05, 2008 3:30 pm Hi kittycat
We have a similar sized block -- although we've to a 8sqm easement to content with on top that. M has some designs that fit but they're not all on the website, so go have a look at the display centers. The biggest problem is that even if you do manage to fit a building on the site the orientation is usually not to our liking... In the end we decided to get an architect to draw up some plans and we're waiting for them to appear. Hopefully I'll be able to tell you in a couple of weeks what the price difference will be Re: Design for a small lot 20x20m 6Jul 05, 2008 6:09 pm Hum... how much approx does an architect cost? And if you present a builder with a design of your own... don't they charge a lot more to build a home according to you plans?
Also... a question for Paula: what do you mean by reversing the budget? Do you mean rather spending 300k on the house an only 200k on the land? Land around Brissy, reasonably close to the city is really expensive and so far I haven't found anything for less than 220k. Also... what does "8sqm easement" mean? I really appologise, I'm not a native english speaker and therefore have problems understanding building/realestate terminology. Re: Design for a small lot 20x20m 7Jul 05, 2008 6:14 pm Quote: I'm not a native english speaker and therefore have problems understanding building/realestate terminology. Hey, I'm Australian born and lived here all my life and so do I !!! Your'e not alone Re: Design for a small lot 20x20m 8Jul 05, 2008 6:32 pm Hi kittycat,
Here are some links to previous discussions about architects' fees. We used a building designer. They can be cheaper than architects, but not always, and not in our case . https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.p ... +architect https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.p ... t&start=30 https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.p ... +architect Yes, sometimes it can be more expensive to build a one off design, but that may be because you don't usually go through volume builders and I suppose the smaller builders don't have the same buying power as the volume builders. Good luck 'chelle We have a hand-over date...15/10...but I won't hold my breath! http://people-in-glass-houses.blogspot.com/ Re: Design for a small lot 20x20m 9Jul 05, 2008 8:02 pm kittycat Also... a question for Paula: what do you mean by reversing the budget? Do you mean rather spending 300k on the house an only 200k on the land? Land around Brissy, reasonably close to the city is really expensive and so far I haven't found anything for less than 220k. Also... what does "8sqm easement" mean? I really appologise, I'm not a native english speaker and therefore have problems understanding building/realestate terminology. Hi Kittycat, Yes I mean spending more on your home. It seams that everyone tends to blow the budget. The easement means that there is an area that they cant build on as it needs to be accessible to the council. Quote: An easement allows another person the right to use your land for a specific purpose. Paula Re: Design for a small lot 20x20m 10Jul 05, 2008 8:11 pm Kittycat,
Just bear in mind that to build a home for $200k, the house itself would need to be around $130-$140k (flooring, a/c, fencing, driveways, etc will make up the rest). That doesn't include things like pergolas as well. Chris Re: Design for a small lot 20x20m 11Jul 06, 2008 11:37 am There are PLENTY of designers in Brisbane with experience in 20m x 20m blocks. Look up some building designers in the yellow pages to get an idea. Re: Design for a small lot 20x20m 13Jul 15, 2008 8:50 pm You won't find any decent standard designs for a 20m x 20m block.
Get an architect or building designer with proven experience with this type of allotment (there ARE plenty of 20m x 20m blocks in Brisbane, it's not that uncommon) and get a design that is appropriate for the block. The 400m2 block will trigger the Small Lot Code under the Brisbane City Plan 2000, which is quite a prescriptive and detailed code. It's not something that can be readily achieved with an off the shelf plan from any builder. Another warning, check if you are in a Demolition Control Precinct, even if the block is vacant it will trigger the Character Code, which adds another set of regulation over the building design. Don't be scared off a small 20m x 20m block by the above requirements. They are standards that can be reasonably accommodated in the design of a new home. Just don't go into it expecting your Joe Bloggs Constructions No 14 to be allowed on the block, because it most likely won't comply with the Small Lot Code making it impossible for a building certifier to sign off. Would anyone on this forum know of a builder/company in Brisbane with house designs for a shallow block. I have a block 20 x 20 so with front and rear set backs I need a… 0 5203 You must be new to the internet. You're also the only person anyone here has ever heard of washing their garage wall. I hate to break it to you, there are insects and… 6 5186 I am building in claymore NSW and this is shown in the building envelope plan. … 0 10785 |