Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Oct 19, 2011 9:10 pm Hey Guys, As ive mentioned, ive been looking at buying land in Yass and found a block i really like (3 acres but not a flat block). Just wondering how people can buy land without knowing soil ratings, potential site costs due to slope etc. Am i missing something here or is it normal to buy land knowing its a bit of a lottery? Any advice on things i need to look for that will blow out costs beyond what is manageable? Regards Rob Building the Bronte Executive with MJH Latest News: Slab down, frames were to be delivered 30/5 http://escape2country.blogspot.com// Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 3Oct 20, 2011 2:53 pm eyspy Why not put an offer in on the lans subject to a soil report In my case, the vendor didn't want "subject to satisfactory soil report of 'M'" in the contract. He wanted me to do a soil test before signing the contract. A lot of people were vying for the land, so I didn't have a choice but to do the soil test before contract. 13-08 Moved in 13-05 Build restart 13-04 VMIA compensation 12-08 Builder liquidation 12-03 Fixing 11-12 Lockup 11-11 Frame 11-09 Slab 11-09 Start 11-07 Contract 10-11 2K deposit 10-06 Titled land Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 5Oct 20, 2011 3:19 pm For many people they have no idea that a poor soil report could cost them in excess of $50k. No one is obliged to let them know either. We (the ones who have had to pay more for upgraded foundations) may make more noise about it than others deem necessary but we just don't like seeing others go through the sh1t storm we have. Another thing to think about is soil tests can be expensive if you have 10 blocks you might think about putting offers on. Its a balancing act to get the right amount of caution and grabbing an opportunity when it presents itself. Perhaps you should take the out look of anything in that particular area is going to be of like soil and will need extra foundation work? You could put in offers a little lower and explain the reason. You may not get anyone to accept but at least you'll have a reason. Honestly, I think the only solution is jump in and make an offer on a block if you really like it. If you like it enough you have to wear the soil conditions what ever they be. You may get 50 soil tests and find they are all problem soil. Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 6Oct 20, 2011 6:51 pm wow this is pretty scary stuff! that plus the slope on the block is sounding like its adding up! the only reason im so keen is that is acreage with town water, sewer and power! I need to balance these costs as my wife is insisting on the Richmond or Franklin from PAAL... expensive doesnt even begin to describe the costs coming up Building the Bronte Executive with MJH Latest News: Slab down, frames were to be delivered 30/5 http://escape2country.blogspot.com// Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 8Oct 21, 2011 7:18 am ok the soil test is bothering me... Im gonna make an offer on the land but i want to do soil tests. How do you order one of those? can someone point me to a thread of soil classifications please? How much does it cost (roughly) and who does them Sorry bout all the questions Regards Rob Building the Bronte Executive with MJH Latest News: Slab down, frames were to be delivered 30/5 http://escape2country.blogspot.com// Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 9Oct 21, 2011 7:54 am I'm pretty sure ours was less than $1k (something like $600ish) It might be more for you depending on how far out they have to go from their location. I found a name and number on Google, not sure if they are the closest but its a start. I'll PM them to you. There is one near Canberra and 2 in Turmut. When looking for these just go to Yellow pages and put in Soil Testing near you area. Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 10Oct 21, 2011 8:48 am Geotech Engineers are the guys who do this and if you have a rough idea where you are going to plonk the new house they will do holes with a hand auger to find out what type and how far down different stratas of rock/soil are. Of course it also depends hugely on what sort of house you are building too as to the type of foundation and construction required. Brick veneer home on a raft slab ? Timber federation, country style or Queenslander house elevated up off the ground on piers? etc etc Stewie Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 11Oct 21, 2011 9:27 am Yep ive looked them up so (thanks for the link chrisandkate) im looking at building on a concrete slab (1 story) and wife is looking at richmond or franklin with PAAL.. (im actually looking at something more realistic budget wise like the camden). Im making an offer today regardless (just decided and rang my offer through) so my offer has reflected the lack of info on soil and slope. Wish me luck! lol Building the Bronte Executive with MJH Latest News: Slab down, frames were to be delivered 30/5 http://escape2country.blogspot.com// Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 13Oct 22, 2011 7:53 pm ok then! my first offer failed on the land but the real estate agent suggests i have a good chance at 5k more so im keen but i have 1 more question before i buy. For power, the next door neighbour has tapped into a transformer on the power pole across the road. Can i tap into the same one or does that belong to the neighbour? I imagine if i have to get my own transformer (the other poles dont have the transformer as far as i can see, it would be quite expensive to buy one? Hoping i can tap into the neighbours.. can anyone tell me the go here? Thanks in advance Rob Building the Bronte Executive with MJH Latest News: Slab down, frames were to be delivered 30/5 http://escape2country.blogspot.com// Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 14Oct 23, 2011 9:24 pm In Yass the ASP is Country Energy If the power pole is a private pole, then wether or not you can use it is upto the asp and your neighbour. Usually a private pole is on the property of the person who owns it, but sometimes the providers will run a pole through other land. Alot of private poles will have it marked on the pole as private pole, but some dont. If its a public pole it will depend on the load on the pole, it may need to be upgraded to cope. All this information is available through the network provider. My husband tells me that it is something that is hard to sort out before you buy land because it takes time. If it needs to be upgraded then with everything you need, design work, poles, transformers, connection ect then it usually costs arount $20 000 - $30 000. Best to ring the asp and they will give you a better idea of what you are up against. Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 15Oct 24, 2011 10:48 am So i went to the block yesterday, walked all over it, fell more in love with it, and after meeting the neighbour (only 1 neighbour at this stage) and finding out loads of info (like the power pole not being private and lots of other info) i decided to up my offer. Came into work this morning and the offer has been accepted! Im still in shock and excited and i can see a mountain of research and work ahead of me. Gotta find out my next steps, like finding a solicitor, finalising some loans and finding out about stamp duty exemption if i start building in a certain amount of time, costs of hooking up from the power pole to a pole on my property and trenching it 40 metres back to where i want to build. So many things to do but exciting! Building the Bronte Executive with MJH Latest News: Slab down, frames were to be delivered 30/5 http://escape2country.blogspot.com// Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 16Oct 24, 2011 11:47 am Congratulations escape2country, once you live on acrerage it's hard to go back to suburbia, a smaller house is worth it to have the space, views and freedom that acrerage allows. We do give up somethings to have that freedom because it cost more to setup in the country. My power pole in rural WA cost $13,000 and the power to dwelling cost an extra $6,000 and that was a few years ago. Now we are building a new house on the same land and the site costs are about to come in, scary times but worth it. We pay this sort of money because we love the views and lifestyle, I have found it important to have lots of different out door areas eg. Alfresco in one direction veranda in another so you can enjoy the outdoors in the different seasons and times of day. You then get different views and the comfort to go with it. You do spend more time out doors even if it's just to have a cuppa tea, why be stuck indoors when you can soak up the land you love. Enjoy the journey Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 17Oct 24, 2011 12:57 pm oh no! $13000 + plus $6000? Am i looking at this kind of cost even though the power pole already exists (across the road) and has a transformer on it? Do you have a breakdown of that cost? And yes im very excited (the costs im sure will kill me..) about living in the country. Its only 3 acres but better than my 543sqm block that im used to Building the Bronte Executive with MJH Latest News: Slab down, frames were to be delivered 30/5 http://escape2country.blogspot.com// Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 18Oct 24, 2011 3:47 pm We had to go across the road, a new pole and we upgraded so we could use more power if ever we wanted to build another house on the property, plus to ensure my husband could use a welder ect. On the farm. I remember at the time we were thinking "how could they justify $13,000 for a pole" It was just a pine tree once... It's because we only have one power company in WA so they can charge what they want, I hope your cost are nowhere near ours but It was still worth every cent. Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 19Oct 24, 2011 6:45 pm thanks excited! well i rang country energy and told them the situation.. which is pole already exists across the road. They said roughly 1600 dollars to hook it up to the front of the property.. getting the wiring 40 metres back to where i wanna build.. well i guess thats where the big cost will be! Building the Bronte Executive with MJH Latest News: Slab down, frames were to be delivered 30/5 http://escape2country.blogspot.com// Re: Buying Land, traps and tricks? 20Nov 01, 2011 2:54 pm 10% is down! new build thread coming! So hard finding a house i wanna build... oh and owner builder no longer an option, bank wont give me the money unless i at least owned the land outright... oh well, looking at Mcdonald jones, Mellross (yass builder), masterton and beechwood for acreage type homes Building the Bronte Executive with MJH Latest News: Slab down, frames were to be delivered 30/5 http://escape2country.blogspot.com// Yeah I don't know why I came to a forum. Place is full of wierdos/pedos thought internet may help but I suppose I'll try my luck with someone in person. Cheers. 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