Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 May 17, 2011 1:12 pm I almost am loathe to start a new thread as there are so many others in the same situation as we are. There may be an introduction thread (Havnt found it) but I would like to introduce myself to the "Adventurous Breed" known as Owner Builders. Please bear with me as I will describe our circumstances and the reasons why we have chosen to operate as Owner Builders to undertake our construction project. We are both 43 and have a 2 YO and a 6YO(Hmmmm yep late starters). We have been living in the North in company accomodation for 4 years. We chose not to return to a home we own in Warnbro/Perth and have made the move to Northam. Number one son is at St Joesephs school and we are happily ensconced in the town where my wifes Family originate from. We originally purchased a 2185m block in Fairways green Estate in Northam. Recently we purchased an additional 4400m block because we thought the aspect and elevation were superior. I also came to the conclusion that 2185 was really just a "double block". Good start for the project...wrong block...ah well, spose it will sell when the worst real Estate slump in 20 years blows over. Buy in haste and repent at leisure. We brought the first block on a whim a year and a half ago and when we actually relocated to Northam we could really have a think about what we wanted to do and what possibilities were available. Northam has a goodly number of well located Federation style homes which immediately appealed to us. Prizing the better ones out of the owners hands is impossible(on my budget at least). What does surface on the market quite often are homes with the antique appeal and commesurate antique wiring,roofing,heating and useless little rooms which require complete remodelling to remove the detrius of ill advised 1980's renervations done on a limited budget. The price of admission to these exciting games is now in the order of $600K plus.The days of prices in the order of $250k to $350K are just a memory extending back over 8 years now. My entusiasm for the restoration of a hundred year old home combined with the difficulty in finding one suitable has ruled this prospect out. I figure the cost of a fully removated "Grand Old lady" would be $900K. In the town are a couple of local buliders and a branch of a larger statewide company. The glee with which they pitch their Brick vannier palces and the commesurate prices is disturbing. They want to build brick vannier because from their point of view they want to build the same house over and over at the maximum possible margin. Every departure from this basic concept is to be penalised with "extra charges". Any possible difficulty or obstruction is already factored into their pricing even if it proves not to exist. Standard margins would in the order of 100% by my best estimate. All they want to know is how much money do you have? I put forward the concept of a substantial home and the circuit boards in their heads start to slip into CPU meltdown. I dont think I'm unreasonable. Three years ago I Built 2 new homes in the States Booming North West. At that point I tollerated the "take it or leave It" and the shoody workmanship that was the result of building with one of the Pilbara's "better " builders. Those homes were fit for purpose but as you know you always "loose some skin". For our own home its a chance for us to employ some concepts and some ideas of living that we have been "compiling" for 25 years or more. These concepts have me in "computer jargon" with a different operating system than the dominant "microsoft" of the establised builders. The easiest thing to do is dance the dance with the established builders. I mean not to do so places me in the realm of discriminatory finance from lenders and a gypsy lifestyle as we move from one rented property to another during the life of the project .Ive formed the conclusion not to build our own home as an owner builder would be a "cop-out" My brother in law recently was an owner builder in the town. Its his encouragement and success that has me seizing the concept with some gusto. I know theres some potential complexity here and I am expressing a degree of caution. He's a tradie.....I am not. I do however have life experiences that include a bit of wheeling and dealing and some exposure to construction projects,delivery and commisioning through various employers in the mining industry. Ok! The Blocks 4400m. Not much point going two storeys I wouldnt have thought. I do however have a love of two storey houses. It seems to add some interest. I Guess I'm just desperately wary of the Boring Garbage that passes as house design for most of the production line properties. The concept of building the home accross a couple of levels to add interest is very appealing. Ceilings need to be high. Heres the big one.......Rammed Earth, I love it. I however am not sold totally on it. I could listen to arguments that included concrete, Limestone, Stone etc. I mean cost wise theres not a lot wrong with a good strong nicely rendered double brick wall with possible features. Will post further when I have the time. I look forward to using the forum as a valuble resource and will be happy to use my experiences to the benefit of others travelling down the same path............so once again,simply Hi Re: Project:NorthamWA: 2May 17, 2011 7:34 pm HI and welcome. I look forward to reading about your journey. Will you be trying to owner build while FIFO? or will you hope to take time off during the build or are you fully Northam based now? I ask because it seems OB is a full time commitment from what I've read and see. Will you have a project manager? I'm sure there will be a number of OBer's who will be able to give you lots of practical advice and suggestions for a starting point. Re: Project:NorthamWA: 3May 17, 2011 9:30 pm HI there Welcome!! Loved your intro. If it makes you feel any better we bought a block of land after arrived back in WA two weeks before GFC! We paid top dollar. To date blocks next to us have sold for 100k less! Oh well what can we do. Would we be whinging if we had gained 100k? I so hear you when you talk about the building industry being a total rip off. Just talk to Mrs Green who is a newbie to this section! We have adopted the philosophy however that whilst we are not spending any less money we are getting a substantially better home. Looking forward to seeing some of these concepts on paper. Welcome Kay Re: Project:NorthamWA: 5May 18, 2011 10:37 pm Hi and good luck with it all. And nothing wrong with being a late starter. I am 44 with a 3yo and 5yo in tow. Keeps you young at heart and that's all that matters I love the Country style rammed earth places you are considering. Nice big wrap around verandah, beer out the front after a hard days work - hard to beat, and with 4400m2 I'd be going single story myself. The novelty of stairs soon wore off on me when I rented a 2 storey place 15 years ago and my knees haven't got any better since then! https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=44762 My Owner builder journey extending a 1930's Bungalow Re: Project:NorthamWA: 6May 18, 2011 11:12 pm hi welcome to h1 try looking at www.stonekithomes.com.au not sure if ive got right www but google it they have some lovely sandstone homes and reasonably priced considering getting supplies in northam will cost you in the end for deliverys good luck stay safe happy building Re: Project:NorthamWA: 7May 21, 2011 11:26 am Thanks for your input guys. Bingoshelley:The Sandstone is simply Stunning...............the vaneer concept..well. Im yet to fully explore the site but I like what i see. Thanks for the link. Kexkez:Owner Builder /Time management:My Bro in Laws housing project was constructed while he was project managing for an Electricity supply company. He would be one of the busiest guys I know in a work-load sense. His wife primarily wheeled the tradies. I know Im tempting fate here but he said it was easy. I have no option but to consider the project while FIFO. If that results in complications and delays .....well than so be it. Kayandandy: Im riding the great property see saw as well. We brought the 4400 block for less than the 2185 block. Other property assets are suffering as well. The Result: significant equity has been put to sleep by the current enviroment. Time to hang on; Hold and wait for the inevitable Sun to shine again(3 years away I reakon). Kmax: Northams like me....Country and unassuming(I like it) docker_rob: Good advice I suspect on the upper story. Im thinking bush pole etc on the verandahs. As for Beers,yep Ive already had a couple just standing on the Block. Re: Project:NorthamWA: 8May 21, 2011 12:07 pm Well I am looking forward to see how you go. I love reading the OBing threads on here. Very envious. PLease post a pic of your block so we can all drool. DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair That laser level looks lovely! We bought one for less than a quarter of that price off eBay. It worked really well for us and it's still going now, five years later. After… 1 16711 If you need to pay for a project manager you would be well advised to just engage a builder who would take full responsibility for the build. As opposed to you OB where… 5 15079 |