Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Sep 06, 2009 11:20 pm Hello, new member here so pls be gentle. I have an approved plan for an extension of my existing house in Sydney. I got a few quotes from some builders & costing average $140k for about 100m2. The new addition will be cladding with concrete tiles, including 2 rooms & 1 ensuite. I'd need a new concrete slab for the extension bit, demolition of the back wall, and the house will be double in size. I have been reading a couple of hours on this OB threads & been talking to friends who were OB themselves, most advices do recommend to let a builder to do the work rather than taking it on as a OB. I called up a few places to get some quotes so that I have an ideal of what possible costs are & they dont llok too bad: 1. Concrete slab & plumbing job including excavation - 20k 2. Trusses & frames, demolition & installation including ext windows & doors - $20 3. Doors & windows supply - $5k 4. Cladding, fascia, eaves & guttering - $10k 4. Roofing - $5k For lock up, $60k & even with 20% unforseen extras, $72k is not too bad. I also plan later for ensuite, plastering, plubing, electrician & flooring for about $30k. All those quotes are from licensed trades including GST. As I am not in the building industry, so would have no ideas whether the slab is square or not? and etc ... would you guys suggest me to become an OB? The main reason is I believe that I might be able to save $30k which is a bit hard to save or find now adays. thx for any tips cheers ttn Re: Owner Builder or Not? Advice needed 2Sep 07, 2009 7:52 am I'm new here as well ttn I probably shouldn't even be posting here, but just wanted to let you know you may have to get Owner Builder's Public Liability Insurance (approx $1400 - depending on cost of reno/rebuild). We've just pulled our whole Victorian home down, leaving only 3 bedrooms A total rebuild basically & we are classed as Owner Builders. I guess you have factored this into your costings or maybe you aren't required to take it out signed dumb & dumber Jazzie Life is like a lolly, suck it and see Re: Owner Builder or Not? Advice needed 3Sep 07, 2009 8:21 pm Hi ttn, We built a new home as owner builders, and would never recommend this option, particularly if you have no trade / building experience. We engaged a Project Manager, (semi-retired builder) who for all intents and purposes acted as the builder, and he oversaw the complete build. We had very detailed specs from our architect, none of which were followed. Most of the tradespeople he brought onto site were unlicensed and did really poor work - despite us paying top dollar. The costs associated with all of the mistakes he made had to be borne by us. The home came in 35% over budget, despite having the project costed by a quantity surveyor. After terminating the Project Manager's services, we were left with a huge mess to sort through regarding sub-standard work, and dealing with the so called "tradesmen". We were very unlucky, and we do know of other friends who have gone down the owner/builder road, with mixed success. Some of their renovations cost less than going with a builder, but took double the time, and a lot of work in co-ordinating the job - almost like having a second job! Another friend did it as an owner builder on a "cost plus" arrangement, and the job ended up costing them 40% more than estimated. We could never put a price on the stress and anxiety we experienced in building our home - we would pay double what we paid to a builder if it meant avoiding the incredible stress we endured! Sorry to sound so negative, but I recommend you preserve your sanity, and engage a good builder, recommended to you by others who have used him / her. Best of luck! Re: Owner Builder or Not? Advice needed 4Sep 07, 2009 10:43 pm thanks Jazzie & Julesi. If i am building a new house, i'd not dare to be an OB. However, as an extension from the back, i think I have some real good chances if i can segment my building to builders in multiple bulk work. The main problem is that most of the builders do not really want to do just some of the segmented work like concrete, frame, wall & roof - just for locked up as they would call that - the dirty work & I do understand what they meant by that or they ask at very high prices for those works compare to individual ones from each trade. Now i know why people like myself are stress when facing those situations 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… 11 22721 Hi all. Anyone know when the $11,000 limit was set in legislation for renovations in QLD? Ive been renovating for 5 years now and this was the limit back then. As we know,… 0 4249 |