Hi all,
Simple question maybe not a simple answer as i would like.
Will i save money doing a home as an owner builder compared to a project home?
Physically i will do waht i can ie: Tiling, painting.
Thanks.
Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum Re: YES or NO? 2Jan 06, 2009 9:01 pm Maybe yes, maybe no.
It all depends on what you want to build. With a 'kit' home you've got quite a few limitations, plus whoever you buy the kit home off is really just a middle man adding their mark-up to the products. If you know what you want, I would get it priced up (frames, windows, internals etc) and then compare that with kit prices. Either way, I think you'd still be classed as an owner builder with a kit home anyway. One of the construction dudes will prob be able to give you a better idea. Re: YES or NO? 5Jan 07, 2009 12:07 pm Over the last 9 months I have done the costings to build my house via a Volume Builder, via a Boutique Custom Builder and as an owner builder and I would have to say that no, project builders are for the most part cheaper as the owner builder costing was even more than the boutique. A lot of it is due to the lack of volume discounts that the big guys get, but also the lack of certainty with tradies and the need to have to guesstimate a lot of the costs.
However you will get a totally different house as an owner builder than one done by a project builder. Hopefully the house will be a lot better than the project builder one due to the love, time and effort that has gone into it - but this forum is littered with horror stories and it comes from both sides of the fence - and unfortuantly a lot of them stem from trying to do something on the cheap. Sure with every build theres going to be extra costs, headaches, disappointments, quality issues and unforeseeables. As an owner builder though every single issue, phone call, decision, movement, tile, document is your headache and I personally think you need to WANT to do that role and have that much control rather than just doing it to save $$$. Building Upside down house in Wantirna VIC Current Stage: Procrastination... it's just all too hard.... Blog: http://thereluctantbuilder.blogspot.com/ Re: YES or NO? 6Jan 07, 2009 4:38 pm For me on paper at least it appears to be a yes but I havent finished building. My home is not your typical volume built home as it is split level (one story at the front then two at the back) and designed by myself and its not being built like most other homes.
From the few builders that would take on the job their quote was approx $350k and thats with their standard inclusions and typical build structure (brick & wooden frame, also wood floor between levels) I am building owner builder using concrete filled blockwork all the ay around, blocwork internal walls downstairs and steel frame internals upstairs & steel roof truss' al using hebel soundfloor between the levels on steel joists. house will be rendered, tile roof quality pc items all the stuff builders would charge a far bit more for. we estimate about 250-300k to build it and thats with no background or contacts in the building industry, with alot of effort & time you can get things done at the right price but you have to calculate the time you put into it as if you work fulltime you will struggle. Re: YES or NO? 7Jan 07, 2009 7:49 pm we are owner builder a so called project house and our savings will be around the 40-50k range.so yes you can save money doing it yourself however we have been planning this for years.so far its been fun but im sure the further we get the more stressful im told it will get also we are doing all the work ourselves.your best bet maybe to get a builder to build it to lock up stage and you go in and finish the interior. Re: YES or NO? 8Jan 09, 2009 6:18 am As a guide, these are some of the costings that I have developed over the last few years.
Note that the owner build costing is based on the specific UBuild package that I have previously talked about (http://www.ubuild.com.au) The advantage with that package as it delivers specific construction management tools, 24/7 advice, access to excellent purchasing power direct to you that all adds up to taking a lot of the worry and expense out of the owner building process. The following figures are indicative for a 200m2 home and would be similar ratios for larger builds Owner Build (Ubuild, basic finish, doing lots yourself) - $170,000 Owner Build (UBuild, basic finish, doing all with subcontractors) - $200,000 Project Home (standard basic finish, no changes, flat block) - $220,000 Custom Home (smaller builder, your design) - $300,000 Boutique Home (high end, architectural design etc) - $500,000 One area to watch with some project home builders is that the initial quoted (or advertised) price is sometimes nothing like the actual final build price. The figures above are based on the final build price - not the initial quoted or advertised price! Remember, none of this is an exact science as every job and site is different but in general terms these numbers are good ballpark guides Builders are people too.... Re: YES or NO? 9Jan 09, 2009 1:41 pm Simple answer NO you won't. To save you will need to do every trade (except licenced trades ie Plumbing and Electrical) and you will need to be very proficient in them and achiving a good finish. Re: YES or NO? 10Jan 09, 2009 4:10 pm Rod1949 Simple answer NO you won't. To save you will need to do every trade (except licenced trades ie Plumbing and Electrical) and you will need to be very proficient in them and achiving a good finish. The reality is that many Owner Builders DO save lots of money and achieve a great result but usually with some sort of professional guidance somewhere along the line. My feeling is that the industry needs to accept this reality and work with owner builders, after all over 30% of all domestic building contracts in Vic are done by Owner Builders. Yes, that is an astonishing percentage and keep in mind that those numbers would not have remained consistent over the last few years if Owner Building was as unsuccessful as you seem to be suggesting. Builders are people too.... Re: YES or NO? 11Jan 09, 2009 10:50 pm Hi everyone
My two cents... We know few owner builders in Perth, and all of them saved a lot of money, and the end product is completely different to what you might get through a builder. One thing you have to remember: building has 3 components to it: time, money and quality. One has to give. I am yet to meet an owner builder who achieved all three!!! so my answer is yes, if you have enough time to run the project and do it properly. Nina "The fearless are merely fearless. People who act in spite of their fear are truly brave" - James A. LaFond-Lewis Re: YES or NO? 12Jan 12, 2009 8:58 am builda Rod1949 Simple answer NO you won't. To save you will need to do every trade (except licenced trades ie Plumbing and Electrical) and you will need to be very proficient in them and achiving a good finish. The reality is that many Owner Builders DO save lots of money and achieve a great result but usually with some sort of professional guidance somewhere along the line. My feeling is that the industry needs to accept this reality and work with owner builders, after all over 30% of all domestic building contracts in Vic are done by Owner Builders. Yes, that is an astonishing percentage and keep in mind that those numbers would not have remained consistent over the last few years if Owner Building was as unsuccessful as you seem to be suggesting. G'day builda. Hey don't get me wrong I'm all for OB's. I'm currently one myself it the true meaning apart from Plumbing and Electrical. I'm also a Carpenter and Joiner (of the old school). It's just that when I hear of people say they are OB's but they have engaged or will engage a contractor/s for every tradeand they are not going to do any of the building work themselves, then to me they are not OB's. Maybe the title of Project Manager might be more appropriate. Re: YES or NO? 13Jan 12, 2009 9:29 am Hey Rod1949,
i know what your saying however the term "builder" no longer refers to someone who goes to site with hammer and nails if you know what i mean. a builder these days is 1. A business man 2. A project manager 3. A sales Person 4. A OH&S officer 5. A dispute resolutions officer. 6. A people Manager Now if you a smaller builder you will do all the above yourself. Larger companies seperate the work. Now if you are building a house and you are the owner then by definition your are a "Owner Builder" Re: YES or NO? 14Jan 19, 2009 6:45 pm I guess you don't know til the end...... for us (we still have heaps to go) the answer to date is 'yes'.
But our builder has sourced products/prices for us, & passed on many a healthy discount (he did the ordering - ie- frames etc, we did the phone around comparrison, & we paid for the order direct, so the builder did not have to fork out any of his cash). You definitely have to be prepared to put in the hours.....for research, to be available when tradies are on site, etc, etc. I would think every OB would have a differing opinion! Re: YES or NO? 15Jan 20, 2009 9:09 pm Hammerhead, this is a typical construction management type arrangement where the builder actually runs the job for the owner who has registered as an owner builder.
These contracts are fairly tight and give lots of protection to the Owner Builder. The advantage is that if it is managed properly then you will save money and you won't get stiffed for variations. Many owner builders I work with love the transparency of a CM contract because all the budgets are laid out etc, the builder in effect is working for the OB as a consultant ie: we are on the same team and it is very effective if done properly. Unfortunately there are a lot of cowboys out there who take advantage so beware and be careful and get references! Builders are people too.... |