Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Jan 25, 2010 10:59 pm Hi everyone I have been following your threads from behind the scenes with much interest. DH and I have finally decided to take the jump (leap...plunge!!) and OB. Design drawings are done and we are up to getting the engineer drawings done, followed by council approval etc etc - so just at the very beginning of this adventure. Any tips and tricks are much appreciated and I look forward to keeping you updated with our progress as well. The build will be a 387sqm split level house custom designed - brick, cladding and colorbond roof - my appologies up front that I am not up with all of the lingo yet - it is a whole other language!! I am currently trying to decide whether to get a QS or not done to help with the budgeting (i have been getting verbal quotes so far) - any direction from others based in Brisbane would be appreciated. Looking forward to many months of informative banter on this forum!! Mel - jumping in feet first to my first owner build!! Land settled 12/08/09 Design finalised 21/01/10 OB permit 26/03/10 Re: Feet first into OB 2Jan 26, 2010 1:31 am congratulations reading others good and bad experiences definately help so just read read read im sure you will be fine gl cant wait to see it come together stay safe happy building Re: Feet first into OB 3Jan 27, 2010 8:08 am Congrats!! Sounds like a good size OB! Make sure you keep us updated with pics etc. "A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality" -John Lennon Re: Feet first into OB 4Jan 27, 2010 1:00 pm Thanks. I have just given the designer the 'go ahead' to get the structural/engineer drawings done and then i can get going with some more accurate quotes - yey!!. The whole bank/finance thing is freaking me out a bit but fingers crossed it should all be ok. Mel - jumping in feet first to my first owner build!! Land settled 12/08/09 Design finalised 21/01/10 OB permit 26/03/10 Re: Feet first into OB 5Jan 27, 2010 9:29 pm The main advice I would offer is to get your budget done now - even off your concept plans because if it costs too much then you haven't wasted all the final drafting and engineering costs if you need to change something. Notwithstanding, definitely engage a professional to give you a full transparent cost plan from start to finish. Be wary of engaging directly with a QS as often they are way under on their estimates in the real world. If you contact http://www.ownerbuilderadvice.com.au then there is a guy in Qld that can point you in the right direction. I cannot stress the budget issue enough - it is THE most important consideration as it is very unfun if you run out of money 3/4 through your job and the bank are breathing down your neck and suppliers and trades are screaming for payment. A bit of clear thinking at this stage can well save you a LOT of grief down the track. You are right with banks, they will make it hard as an OB but there are solutions to this dilemma and they all revolve around a professionally prepared Cost Plan. In addition, you should ask yourself the question - Why are banks so hard on Owner builders? If OB's were so reliable and safe then the banks would be banging down your door to finance you to 90% of build cost but the reality is the banks do the complete opposite so you don't have to take my word for it, think about why the banks take this approach! Builders are people too.... Re: Feet first into OB 6Jan 27, 2010 10:15 pm Thanks Builda I have been ringing around and emailing as much as I can for quotes (rough guide prices) based on the design plans and I hope to firm up these prices once I can get formal quotes on the engineers drawings. So far I am in budget but I understand how easily things can blow out!! I am lucky in that my father has owner built twice (last one finished 12 months ago) and I will be using all his good tradies!! Budget and costs just seem to be taking over all of my thinking and brain space at the moment!! I'll post an update on the progress with the bank (hopefully an uneventful experience ) Mel - jumping in feet first to my first owner build!! Land settled 12/08/09 Design finalised 21/01/10 OB permit 26/03/10 Re: Feet first into OB 7Jan 28, 2010 4:18 am Ok, good to hear the budget is occupying all your headspace.....it should! The problem with getting rough quotes etc from builders at this stage is that they are too rough and unless they are prepared to sign a fixed price contract with you NOW on that number then the number is useless. Yes, granted the 'quotes' are free but they are not worth a cracker. The ONLY way to get a real independent Cost Plan at this stage is to pay someone to prepare it for you. This is an investment in your sanity and future financial viability! Also, (and I have made this mistake myself in the past) the industry will tell you that you can only get an accurate price once you get all the engineering and final drafting done. So, what does everyone do? We trot off and spend thousands of dollars finalising something that may be so far over budget that it will never be built. I used to see this all the time and it is devastating for home owners as they are forced to start again. It is also devastating for builders because we have just wasted 3 or 4 weeks quoting a white elephant - for free! The reality, proven from more recent experience is that a 95% accurate cost plan CAN be developed from concept drawings if systemised in the right way and if you talk to people that are experienced in the Owner Builder sector then you will have a far better chance of success. One advantage of a QS is that at least they will identify the items that will actually cost you money - from there at least you can get all your quotes from trades and suppliers which could be anywhere from 25 - 45 in total. Hope this makes sense! Builders are people too.... Re: Feet first into OB 8Jan 28, 2010 8:01 am Well done and congratulations. All the info "builda" has given you is really helpful information and spot on . From the finance perspective, with Owner Buidlers, how much equity you have in your land, where your land is and what size block or acerage you have will determine to some respects how hard or easy you will find getting the finance. Have you approached any lenders at this stage? Re: Feet first into OB 9Jan 28, 2010 4:47 pm ^ Equity in the land made no difference in our case - we had hoped it would but their regulations changed. They wanted to know about any equity in other real estate we had etc instead Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: Feet first into OB 10Jan 28, 2010 8:46 pm Thanks again for all of the helpful info - it is good to know that I am doing the right thing...I have been to the bank 3 times to date to discuss my borrowing power and the process to get the OB loan approved...so far so good, but I know that nothing is a done deal until the ink has dried!! I am also in a fortunate position in that my parents will guarantor any shortfall in deposit that the bank requires (I couldn't have done this without them!!)...this doesn't stop from stressing about the finance side of things though - I still have a tight budget to work in. I have been getting some written quotes back (eg. timber flooring, roofing etc) but not for the big ticket items...i was under the impression that 'they' would only do quotes from strucural and engineer drawings...thanks for the advice, I will start chasing these now. I will keep you posted - thanks again for the advice. I tried to attach some pics to show what i am aiming for - hopefully the end product will match!! but had the message come up that 'the board attachment quota has been reached' - is it me getting it wrong?? Mel - jumping in feet first to my first owner build!! Land settled 12/08/09 Design finalised 21/01/10 OB permit 26/03/10 Re: Feet first into OB...some fun stuff 11Jan 31, 2010 10:46 pm After all of the stress of budgets, quotes, design etc etc etc I decided I needed to do something that was going to motivate me to keep going...we met with a colour consultant!! In 1 hour we were able to decide on ALL colours for the house (internal and external!!). The colour consultant was awesome!! He pushed my comfort level a little but not to the extreme. He is sending me the swatches and colour breakdown with A4 samples in the mail this week. Best money I have spent to date!! He had all of the samples in the back of his car (colourbond, caesar stone, paint swatches, laminate, glass splashback etc) and we just went through each area of the house and pulled the colours together. We met at the block of land so that he could get a feel for the area and the colours used by the neighbours. I am sure this whole process would have taken me weeks trecking between suppliers and showrooms to choose what I wanted (plus I have no idea about colour so would probably have chosen some pretty bad combinations!!) - so saved me a lot of time and money.... ....and I am now re-energised and enthusiastic to keep charging on. Mel - jumping in feet first to my first owner build!! Land settled 12/08/09 Design finalised 21/01/10 OB permit 26/03/10 Re: Feet first into OB - now with pics!! 12Feb 25, 2010 11:29 pm Finally got some pictures to post - hopefully this is what the final product will look like!! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Mel - jumping in feet first to my first owner build!! Land settled 12/08/09 Design finalised 21/01/10 OB permit 26/03/10 Re: Feet first into OB 13Mar 01, 2010 9:03 pm Love your plans and design. Which of the kids will get downstairs?? Looks like a nice little self-contained area down there! Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: Feet first into OB 14Mar 02, 2010 7:53 am Thanks Bam. Only have 2 kids so they will both have a room upstairs and down stairs will be for the inevitable guests/family that will come and stay - I am sure that when the kids are older they will be fighting to get the room down there!! Mel - jumping in feet first to my first owner build!! Land settled 12/08/09 Design finalised 21/01/10 OB permit 26/03/10 Re: Feet first into OB 15Mar 02, 2010 9:11 am We've had banglows in the backyards of two of the houses we lived in and there were 4 of us kids..... imagine the fights we had! Any progress?? Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: Feet first into OB 16Mar 02, 2010 9:49 pm Plans are supposed to be back from the engineers sometime this week - fingers crossed!! I am putting in my application for the owner builders license tomorrow and then hopefully the plans can go to council. We are hoping to start the foundation work by the end of April - but I am sure this will blow out a bit as everything else has done!! Sounds as though you are just a few steps in front of me - how's it going?? Any further luck with the carpenter quotes? Mel - jumping in feet first to my first owner build!! Land settled 12/08/09 Design finalised 21/01/10 OB permit 26/03/10 Re: Feet first into OB 17Mar 03, 2010 2:53 pm We might end up starting at the same time (Im assuming something will be wrong with our plans and we'll get knocked back at council or something ) I dont think the other carpenter I rang was interested when I said frame and trusses only Will need to find a few others to contact Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: Feet first into OB 18Mar 03, 2010 8:56 pm It'll be great to compare notes along the way - do you have your plans on a thread anywhere (nothing like a good stickybeak ). I will keep using this thread as my progress/pic updates. Mel - jumping in feet first to my first owner build!! Land settled 12/08/09 Design finalised 21/01/10 OB permit 26/03/10 Re: Feet first into OB 19Mar 04, 2010 10:45 am Hi all yesterday my partner received his OB permit so now it time to tackle council approval and he is already pulling his hair out. I could use some help to get the paperword started and that would give him the motivation to hopefully realise thats its going to be ok. cheers Re: Feet first into OB 20Mar 04, 2010 1:21 pm Hi, Love your design - I am doing owner builder out in Ipswich. Some of the paperwork can be a drama - and not intuitive at all. We have had some close calls with stuff - not having fire ant permit, who does the effluent plan (council does.. unless they've outsourced this... which Ipswich has) sometimes it can be a bumpy ride - but so far we are loving it. Even though we have just dug foundations and it hasn't stopped raining. I would agree with getting a cost plan - we don't have a complete one, we have most items but not the complete cost. Having a good idea of what its going to cost would probably avoid sleepness nights - like the ones I am having Denise I use Tramex moisture meter and it will tell me instantly if the wall is cement sheet or plaster or masonite but most people dont have the equipment. 5 7095 the step up is 30mm and wanting it to be flat . how much does the concrete have to be lowered .we plan on removing bath and lenghten shower and adding seat. the old bath… 0 11838 8 6156 |