Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Oct 08, 2009 8:27 am Hi all, I just joined the forum after committing to owner build on our 120 acres in Kilmore. Although I work in industry, (New Home Sales) I would really like the basic process of how to get things started. THis is a whole new ball game! Hubby has been chatting to trades on the job and pricing, and we have tinkered with plans and know basically what we want, and hope to apply for power shortly. Then we need a planning permit.... Any ideas on the process, or pit falls? Ideally Id like to start work with a good Draftsman and dont have any one in mind?? Suggestions welcome! Regional owner builders in Mitchel Shire encouraged to reply!! Re: Advise On Getting Started... 2Oct 08, 2009 9:06 am Hi Nrook, As a first time owner builder I would recommend that you work out were your weakness is going to be and also your strengths. Then try to tackle these weakness early. An example may be you cant get the same prices as a large builder. So to tackle that problem you start buying left over hardware from ebay at 50% off to offset an premium in other items that you can get discount on. Also my advice would be just because you are in the trade it doesn’t automatically mean you can build a house. I have seen successful people with very good business and product management skills build better houses than trades people. From my experience trade people only have experience in there trade and to not see the full picture of the house build. Sometime comments from trades in other areas can leave you a stray. Re: Advise On Getting Started... 3Oct 08, 2009 9:46 am Hi nrook and welcome, Not knowing the full details of your employment (New Home Sales) you may be able to ask various people at work such as Area Managers/Supervisors, maybe even some of the other office staff such as estimating. They may be able to put you in contact with the suppliers/trades that you use?? This is how I've approached my build, although I'm trade qualified I now work from the office which has been very useful. Good luck with the process Dirk Re: Advise On Getting Started... 4Oct 11, 2009 7:34 am Hi Borg and Dirk Thank you for the answers... I am a new poster and never joined a forum. I was recommended a Draftie which is great so I will give them a call Monday. I would be happy to feed the forum with our progress and hope to draw from the experience of others as I go along. I have lots of contract in the industry but was hesitant to use my work as contacts as I was concerned it would be seen as a conflict. However I will ask for any help they can give me Monday... Wouldnt it be awesome to have some of that buying power, thanks for the ideas!! Ill keep you posted as to the response and how we get on with the Draftie.. I am a huge networker in my work environment and it would be great to carry that on it this forum! Looking forward to hearing from more like minded people Cheers! Re: Advise On Getting Started... 5Oct 11, 2009 11:30 am [quote="nrook"] I have lots of contract in the industry but was hesitant to use my work as contacts as I was concerned it would be seen as a conflict. However I will ask for any help they can give me Monday... Wouldnt it be awesome to have some of that buying power, thanks for the ideas!! nrook, Use the buying power if you can, one sure way of saving a few thousand $$$'s. We managed to save in excess of $7k on our colorbond roof I've tried using our buying power as much as I can but always explained to suppliers what I was doing though. More often than not they offer the same deal if not better. Looking forward to reading about your progress. Dirk Re: Advise On Getting Started... 6Oct 12, 2009 4:54 pm I need advice for my property investment and also build up any commercial complex. Thanks for your advice. Re: Advise On Getting Started... 7Oct 31, 2009 2:34 pm UPDATE: Owner Building: We have started the process on our acreage and as we have creek frontage have been looking into pumping rights for the creek. It is looking quite promising. Also we were recommended to speak to Vic Draft in Lancefield. They charge $2200 for single story plans and $2800 for double story, and they are very helpful. SO far so good! We have started to put our ideas forth and will meet drafties again next week.... We applied two weeks ago to have the power put on as the proposed location for the house is 300 meters from the nearest power pole. We expect a quote back for around $25,000... So far everyone has been helpful. I also approached my company to allow me to use thier buying power to purchase my materials. No response as yet...Fingers crossed! Will report when more info comes to hand... Re: Advise On Getting Started... 8Nov 01, 2009 6:43 pm Hi, and welcome can I offer the following basic advice 1. Cash can get you a good discount (dont accept the less 10% GST price - as the tradesmans biggest saving is on income tax in the order of 30%) Cash flow is the biggest downfall for many contractors, so a cash upon completion may help there cash flow situation and save you sone money. 2 Get numerous quotes, some quotes are large because the trademan dont really want the job, but if you accept their inflated price its worth there time. I had numerous quotes for a 250m power run and was starting to believe that 17-25k was the going rate. Turned out that if a local with an excervator dug the trench, and I purchased the cable, the electrician only wanted 4K (and took less than a day). Total cost around 9k. 3. Plan ahead. EG - when we dug the eletrical trench, we also dropped in the phone line and a 2 inch water pipe to a nearby dam. 4. The more you can do yourself, the more you save. But if you dont have the skills you may slow down tradespeople if you offer to be their labourer. 5. Dont forget to factor in costs such as the driveway, septic, drainage etc (dont believe the estimates from the builder) The estimates we were given were significantly under the real price, which streched the budget. 6. Have a budget and plan for a worse case senario. Our home took 2.5 years to get through council, and close to 1 year to build (nearly finished). Budget for delays and aditional costs. Hope this helps. Guy Re: Advise On Getting Started... 9Nov 03, 2009 3:19 pm THank you Guy! I will take advise on board, and I really appreciate the time taken to respond. UPDATE: Have been looking at getting a bore so we have water. So far we are weighing up the pros and cons of windmills versus solar power. Looking at borer $150 per meter, which will go down up to 60 meters...then the windmill to pump, another $8,000... We are also exploring the possibility we have pumping rights from the creek at the bottom of the property...We will still need to pump the water so may need an additional solar pump any way... Re: Advise On Getting Started... 10Nov 06, 2009 12:14 am nrook THank you Guy! I will take advise on board, and I really appreciate the time taken to respond. UPDATE: Have been looking at getting a bore so we have water. So far we are weighing up the pros and cons of windmills versus solar power. Looking at borer $150 per meter, which will go down up to 60 meters...then the windmill to pump, another $8,000... We are also exploring the possibility we have pumping rights from the creek at the bottom of the property...We will still need to pump the water so may need an additional solar pump any way... Interesting issue - not sure if the following helps. Wind has a capacity factor of around 30% (ie produces around 30% of its rated capacity over a year). Solar has a capacity factor around 20%. Both of these vary depending on the area you are located in - it is most likely the capacity factor of wind will be lower in your location as people dont generally build their houses in windy locations. Wind blows most during the winter. There tends to be little wind on very hot days. It also tends to be windier in the evening and overnight and less windier during the middle of the day. Solar is obviously correlated with daylight and clear skies. So hot days are good but cloudy and rainy winter days are not so good. So timing as to when you want the water may help your decision. Re: Advise On Getting Started... 11Nov 09, 2009 1:29 pm Wind versus solar stats very interesting! We are leaning towards a windmill and have had one contractor out so far. He is suggesting "SOuthren Cross" brand windmill, with a 5" bore and we should be able to pump out more than we will ever need... Looking like bore and windmill may hit $16K. Water in the area ranges from drinking to brackish, and I am hoping for nice mineral water...fingers crossed. Plans are coming along! Delay for power is looking like 6 to 9 months but we will hire a generator if we have no power when we get to site. The nearest power pole is on a neighboring property and we have to get permission to connect as a new easement will be involved... Re: Advise On Getting Started... 12Nov 09, 2009 1:50 pm If you work in new homes, and know one of the supervisors well (and they live near where you are building), I would have a talk to them about keeping an eye out on the house build. Maybe dropping in before or after work and giving you some pointers, or advice as you go along. You could offer them some cash for the assistance, which would be done outside of company time, and you will reduce your chances in missing anything (which always costs money later), as well as getting some opinions along the way Blog is now up - http://www.jbdave.blogspot.com/ Re: Advise On Getting Started... 13Nov 09, 2009 3:35 pm Yes I do work in New Homes...not sure I know the supervisor THAT well, but maybe... We actually used Darbecca when we built and we thought about getting him to inspect each stage...costs a bit more but worth the price... Re: Advise On Getting Started... 14Nov 21, 2009 1:31 pm It was suggested I speak to the company I work for regarding using their buying power to fund our owner build job, and despite launching a good argument the word on the Buying Power was NO! My company wont assist me in that way. Disappointed because I hear around that some companies do. Drafties have had my job for 2 weeks and floor plans are under way but not finished. Who ever said shop around was dead right. Got three quotes from water borers. Both at $150 per meter. The third one said $125 or $100 for cash. All have the same type set up... BIG saving over 66 meters (average bore in our area) I am looking for someone who might have tackled a similar issue as me. I have a few rendered interior walls, the surface condition is hardly flat. I can see all the bumps… 0 7964 Use a product like Equisol's Vitalise to clean the deck then coat with a penetrating timber oil. It will look 10 years younger and add value to your home. Visit for… 1 15795 How much are you ahead in payments compared to where the build is at? Have you fully drawn down the loan? 5 11917 |