Building with SJD Homes in 2020 - Charleston 310 customised

murtaza.sh · Jan 18, 2020 6:54 pm

We started our search to buy our first home but couldn't find any for 3-4 months that ticked all the boxes. So we finally decided to build our own. Selected a block of land in Berwick, Burnley Gardens estate and finally bought it. Our block of land is 15mx38.5m (578 square metres). Been to several display houses by both volume & custom builders in several estates including SJD display houses, Kaduna Park in Officer South and one of their display houses appealed us due to its nice connectivity of kitchen with alfresco and few other things https://www.sjdhomes.com.au/display-homes/charleston/. Below is our timeline.

01-11-2019 Selected the block of land and got it on hold
15-11-2019 Got the first building quote from SJD
26-11-2019 Paid deposit for the block
04-12-2019 Made initial payment to SJD for soil test and survey
20-12-2019 Land settled
09-02-2020 Got first initial drawings
01-03-2020 COVID-19 started

23-06-2020 Color Selection
04-09-2020 Second Deposit to SJD
10-10-2020 Engineering Done
19-10-2020 Plans Finalised
10-11-2020 HIA Contract Signed
17-11-2020 5% Deposit Paid to SJD
18-11-2020 Construction Loan Approved
23-11-2020 Building Surveyor Appointed
03-12-2020 Building Permit Received
07-12-2020 FHOG Approved
08-12-2020 Stamped Plans Received
11-12-2020 Official Site Start by SJD

As our block of land is 15 metres wide so we decided to widen the whole house by half a metre.

I am going to share my whole journey and experience with SJD so stay tuned.

murtaza.sh · Jan 18, 2020 7:20 pm

Here are the pictures of the house and plan we selected

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SD3 · Feb 01, 2020 6:56 pm

murtaza.sh · Sep 22, 2020 6:07 pm

Wow, what a long journey and delays due to COVID-19. When we've bought the land in Dec 2019. We were thinking we would select the builder and start construction in maximum a month or two. But have been gone through several plan changes and delays due to COVID19 restrictions. Now we've paid the second deposit and about to sign the contract. Here is how our new house plan looks like. We've slowly increased the size of our house form 31sq to 35sq.

Adding the canopy rangehood in alfresco by the builder as it will be vented through the roof and will make an outdoor kitchen after handover.

Also added another Master Bed 2 (5th bed) + ensuite at the rear, with independent entry. Thinking to rent out this Master + ensuite (5th bedroom) which will help with the mortgage in the long run. We have a 1500mm wide pathway from the bedrooms side of the house to get to this room and the alfresco kitchen to use for this bedroom. Keeping our house independent of any interference. Not sure if this idea will work or not. What do you think? Any suggestion to make it work better?

Apart from the 5th bed. any suggestion for rest of the plan?

Regarding SJD Homes, so far the experience and dealing with SJD is pleasant. Our building/sales consultant is Philippa (in Officer South, Kaduna Park) is very professional, experienced and accommodating. She knows all bits and pieces. Whenever we got to see her, even after hours, it feels like she just took a double espresso shot, lol, very active and always welcomed us with a nice smile. There have been few pricing issues for few things but those got sorted by our consultant. Looking forward to having the same level and cooperation throughout the build

I will definitely keep sharing my experience with SJD Homes.

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gogo65 · Sep 22, 2020 8:23 pm

There is absolutely no way that 5th bedroom would work to rent out independently. Whoever rents it will need somewhere to store food, somewhere to cook (not outdoors, what if its raining etc etc, or you’re entertaining) access to a laundry, somewhere to sit and have friends over etc.
In fact I’d be surprised if it wasn’t illegal, to rent something like that out.

murtaza.sh · Sep 22, 2020 9:09 pm

gogo65

There is absolutely no way that 5th bedroom would work to rent out independently. Whoever rents it will need somewhere to store food, somewhere to cook (not outdoors, what if its raining etc etc, or you’re entertaining) access to a laundry, somewhere to sit and have friends over etc.
In fact I’d be surprised if it wasn’t illegal, to rent something like that out.

Thanks for your valuable feedback. To store food, we are thinking to provide fridge in the room, and lower and overhead cabinets in alfresco. We have grand covered roof alfresco so thinking rain won't be an issue. Also thinking to provide microwave in the room. And provide access to laundry when required. Would that make it better?

Ozshaz · Sep 23, 2020 11:39 am

murtaza.sh

gogo65

There is absolutely no way that 5th bedroom would work to rent out independently. Whoever rents it will need somewhere to store food, somewhere to cook (not outdoors, what if its raining etc etc, or you’re entertaining) access to a laundry, somewhere to sit and have friends over etc.
In fact I’d be surprised if it wasn’t illegal, to rent something like that out.

Thanks for your valuable feedback. To store food, we are thinking to provide fridge in the room, and lower and overhead cabinets in alfresco. We have grand covered roof alfresco so thinking rain won't be an issue. Also thinking to provide microwave in the room. And provide access to laundry when required. Would that make it better?

I agree with gogo65 with regards to the independent renting of the 5th Bedroom. I remember I read similar discussions elsewhere and the real estate agent mentioned that it will become as a second dwelling for which the Building approval from council is not valid. This is one of the reasons builder don't like to build a "second kitchen" as it then becomes 2 dwellings and I am sure your land contract will specify how many dwellings you can build on your land. There can be some actions from the council if they come to know about this arrangement. You may need to apply for permission from council and I am sure they will ask the same questions as highlighted above, I guess for health and safety there are some minimum requirements which need to be fulfilled.

You may look into option of Airbnb style leasing but I would suggest you check that as well.

Just my 2 cents. All the best !

murtaza.sh · Dec 04, 2020 12:39 am

we are about to get the building permit. Desperately waiting for the construction to start. We requested for any of the following S.S.
1. Anderew/Andy
2. Shane
3. Aaron

Would be happy if we get from the first two.

Anyone recently built with SJD Homes? Please share your experiences and who is your Site Supervisor?

Our sales consultant is Philippa and she is very responsive. We have a very positive experience with the sales so far.

murtaza.sh · Dec 10, 2020 6:03 pm

The good thing is which I've never seen before, they've gone to the site to start work a few days after getting the work permit.

However, the first disappointment from SJD Team as they have not assigned our project to any of the three supervisors we have been requesting for the whole year. We remind them several times, even before signing the contract to make sure the availability of any one of the three supervisors that we preferred. They saw this coming, even then, now they are saying that the requested site supervisors are fully booked and assigned us a supervisor who has recently joined them. I am very worried about how the build will go.

MBX3 · Dec 10, 2020 8:13 pm

murtaza.sh

The good thing is which I've never seen before, they've gone to the site to start work a few days after getting the work permit.

However, the first disappointment from SJD Team as they have not assigned our project to any of the three supervisors we have been requesting for the whole year. We remind them several times, even before signing the contract to make sure the availability of any one of the three supervisors that we preferred. They saw this coming, even then, now they are saying that the requested site supervisors are fully booked and assigned us a supervisor who has recently joined them. I am very worried about how the build will go.

You will be alright I think given they seem to have good systems and processes. You never know if the new site supervisor may be even better than other 3!

Are you going to engage private building inspections? I have been strongly recommended to do so but thinking of getting them for slab, frame & lock up stage only.

murtaza.sh · Dec 11, 2020 8:58 pm

mbx3 Yes, We are thinking of using Darbecca as our private building inspector.