Owner Builder : Need some help

Vaisakh VK · Jul 15, 2023 2:44 pm

Hi,
I am Vaisakh(VK) and I am a newbie as far as building a house. The house I want to build is a steelframe with Hebel cladding near Ipswitch, QLD. Am weighing my option either to go through Owner builder route or through a traditional builder route.

I kind of know the basic building process, and am confident I will be able to learn things along the way. We have drawn a rough sketch of the layout of what we want.

Can someone who had been through the similar path could help me in the following with regards to owner builder path.

1) Understand the steps, what to be done when?
2) best strategies to ensure the building codes are met, to be on schedule and within allocated budget.
3) I would like to select a steel kit home manufacturer, and ask them to build it up to lock up stage and do the rest with trades that I can arrange. Anyone can suggest a good Kit home manufacturer?
4) What are the paper works involved.
5) How to spot and select good tradies?

Am bit confused about the whole process, is there anyone that can give me some advise in guiding me about you process and strategies.

Thanks for your time and reply in advance.
VK

Ardo · Jul 15, 2023 6:53 pm

I'm owner building at the moment. I have renovated 2 houses, worked for a builder, plasterer and roofer. It was all 20 yrs ago. With supplies seemingly at their fingertips, I feel like the skill level of trades has dropped. They are not efficient at what they do anymore. They waste time and materials. They are not whole project orientated. Unless you are on-site every day looking over the shoulder it simply doesn't work out any cheaper then getting a builder to give you a contract for the whole build.
Eg. I'm doing squareset. So the carpenter gets his apprentice to tie down the trusses with cyclone ties, but on the inside of the framework. Eave sheets are fitted. I have to cut the ties out and fit truss screws.
He knows I'm doing squareset, but more worried about getting the frame inspected.
And your stuck, no one available for 3 months to replace them.... it goes on and on.

alexp79 · Jul 16, 2023 2:23 pm

I feel your pain guys, also owner builder.

Hiring a great project manager with building experience is a must.

As I can see, the only thing which can save building industry in Australia by significantly improving the quality and consistency is offsite manufacturing coupled with the usage of new technologies and materials.

Bimbob · Jul 16, 2023 4:30 pm

VK, if you are asking these question you are unlikely to be in a position to proceed down the owner builder route.

Pulse · Jul 17, 2023 10:12 pm

VK you need to ask yourself why, unless you can finish it yourself from lockup ie build half the house you won’t save money and the stress will kill you. Why would a tradie work for you when there is heaps of other regular work, they know things will be out of order and your job will be a pain compared to their regular builders. They will either not do it, over quote or you will get bottom of the barrel quality. The best owner builders are tradesman or engineers etc who know the process and have the contacts.

building-expert · Jul 17, 2023 10:39 pm

People go to school to become builders and spend years for experience, what makes you think you can do it?
Sure you can but every school costs, sure it's a free country and you can be brave and foolish but can you afford it?
Even if you go with a builder there will be risks, but there are building consultants that can help you and guide you.

agent0387 · Jul 23, 2023 5:48 am

Ardo

I'm owner building at the moment. I have renovated 2 houses, worked for a builder, plasterer and roofer. It was all 20 yrs ago. With supplies seemingly at their fingertips, I feel like the skill level of trades has dropped. They are not efficient at what they do anymore. They waste time and materials. They are not whole project orientated. Unless you are on-site every day looking over the shoulder it simply doesn't work out any cheaper then getting a builder to give you a contract for the whole build.
Eg. I'm doing squareset. So the carpenter gets his apprentice to tie down the trusses with cyclone ties, but on the inside of the framework. Eave sheets are fitted. I have to cut the ties out and fit truss screws.
He knows I'm doing squareset, but more worried about getting the frame inspected.
And your stuck, no one available for 3 months to replace them.... it goes on and on.

You’re not a builder, go back to school and study to become one.

People think it’s easy to be an owner builder but then come on this forum for help on how to do things, so shocking.

Go find and pay for a licences contractor to do the job, keep your day job sunshine.

Vaisakh VK · Aug 01, 2023 11:17 pm

Hi All,
Thanks everyone for the valuable perspective.

Learned lot of things after the initial post. Points from 1 to 4 is kind of in progress.Kind of learned the time lines and made some progress in terms of drafting. Point 5, still a question, I am thinking of using a reputable building inspector who can guide me and inspect the work as well.

Yes, I am not a tradie or a tradie, and wont be fast on the work as they do.
My intention is is ascertain if it will be worth to go through that path, provided I am willing to spend time on a daily basis and put in efforts to complete some of the works. Learning the skill on the go. Might take a longer time to finish, but is that worth the saving at the end? Is it worth it?

I am now at the drafting stage and after that would like to take some quotations through the OB route, and also getting quotation from a builder that I know.

My intention is to get opinion from those who have been on this path and to get their opinion on this issue. If anyone can put their perspective, it might help me.

Thanks,
VK

Ardo · Aug 02, 2023 9:04 am

Trolled.

ponzutwo · Aug 02, 2023 10:32 am

you already got the opinion of those on this path. They are telling you you dont have the requisite knowledge or time to make this work.

Its quite obvious to me that as you start forging ahead, the number of roadblocks you encounter will be enough to scare you straight. And if not, I hope you have deep pockets.

Strawman · Mar 13, 2024 1:39 pm

Hi VK,
I am now retired however I have stood beside over 300 owner builders in the past 18 years that have successfully built their own homes.
First of all a building surveyor is engaged to ensure the construction complies with regulations and engineering. Not to guide you through the building process. If you ask them for guidance they will know you don’t know what you’re doing which will cause all sorts of complications.
In general construction there are many things ask’s that require competent skills so these should be contracted out.
My specialty was straw bale construction which is very owner builder friendly.
I trust this helps

strangerr · Apr 25, 2024 5:59 pm

Hi VK,

Think it's worth investing time in an Owner Builder course to equip you with basic knowledge on Australian Building Industry and its regulations.

Also, I suggest you read the publication "Your Home" - Australia's guide to environmentally sustainable homes, refer links below -

https://www.ownerbuildercentre.com.au/q ... er-course/
www.yourhome.gov.au

Eyespy · Jun 26, 2024 5:46 am

Vaisakh VK

Hi All,
Thanks everyone for the valuable perspective.

Learned lot of things after the initial post. Points from 1 to 4 is kind of in progress.Kind of learned the time lines and made some progress in terms of drafting. Point 5, still a question, I am thinking of using a reputable building inspector who can guide me and inspect the work as well.

Yes, I am not a tradie or a tradie, and wont be fast on the work as they do.
My intention is is ascertain if it will be worth to go through that path, provided I am willing to spend time on a daily basis and put in efforts to complete some of the works. Learning the skill on the go. Might take a longer time to finish, but is that worth the saving at the end? Is it worth it?

I am now at the drafting stage and after that would like to take some quotations through the OB route, and also getting quotation from a builder that I know.

My intention is to get opinion from those who have been on this path and to get their opinion on this issue. If anyone can put their perspective, it might help me.

Thanks,
VK

Looking for a update how did you go

building-expert · Jul 01, 2024 12:57 pm

In my opinion there are further obstacles to owner builders. Many experienced trades will not work for owner builders because they literally are blind captains. Many times nothing is ready or complete, there is no direction if there is a problem, previous tradies may have done a poor job which then is a poor base to continue, so instead of a smooth ride it may be stop start with variations along the way, the expectations may not align with reality and the higher chances of disputes escalating on the job leading to tradies not being paid.
Many good tradies prefer to work for good and well organised builders where they can come in, everything is ready, supervision is there for guidance if required, they can do and finish their job and move on.
Some years ago I was in a VCAT dispute where renderer was not paid and was blamed for poor appearance of finished external walls but the problem was that that timber walls were never straightened by the owner builder's carpenter and had peaks and bows.Owner builder had no clue.
So if you are owner builder you may not be able to attract best tradies or if you do they will load risk premium, you pay.
As I said every school costs.
If you have a well paid job you will probably be better off sticking with that.