Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 61May 20, 2014 9:51 am I'm so pleased you are still working out how to proceed, and not just giving up. I can't get over how many emotions it is possible to feel during the whole building process. Wow, those fences are going to be amazing. It will be so satisfying down the track when they are complete to be able to look out and think 'we did that'. Good luck with your meeting with the builder. Be really upfront with him and ask where you can cut costs. Does he have a plan already in place that you can use that is close to what you are after. Just make sure he doesn't cut costs and compromise quality. Also consider the capital value of the property all together. I get you don't want to borrow more money, but you may do yourself a disservice in the long run by undercapitalising on the house as far as future capital value appreciation goes. Good luck though. I really hope you can meet in the middle with the builder and work it out. Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 62May 20, 2014 4:11 pm m-sass I'm so pleased you are still working out how to proceed, and not just giving up. I can't get over how many emotions it is possible to feel during the whole building process. Wow, those fences are going to be amazing. It will be so satisfying down the track when they are complete to be able to look out and think 'we did that'. Good luck with your meeting with the builder. Be really upfront with him and ask where you can cut costs. Does he have a plan already in place that you can use that is close to what you are after. Just make sure he doesn't cut costs and compromise quality. Also consider the capital value of the property all together. I get you don't want to borrow more money, but you may do yourself a disservice in the long run by undercapitalising on the house as far as future capital value appreciation goes. Good luck though. I really hope you can meet in the middle with the builder and work it out. Thanks I'm really feeling the pinch with time so just want to get it going with the banks and then council! Hopefully we can get most of the front fence timber section completed, then we need to add the wire and mesh. Got some more friends and family coming to see the place this weekend, so hopefully they don't mind lending a hand also. The builder has sent through a plan that they have - but the garage is on the south east side and there is an extra bedroom/study. I would also want to change dining/lounge area around. We were thinking we could put in a pantry and linen closet partly into the study, as it doesn't need to be the same size as the other bedrooms. Whilst I prefer the more complex roof line of my own design - I think the extra bedroom/study would probably bring better value in the long run? I'd really prefer to stick with our budget, as I know that during and after the build there will be other cost blowouts to contend with. So difficult though Me too - the builders own design is pretty much on budget - that is dependent on site costs though Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 63May 20, 2014 5:42 pm The budget is the worst. We were on such a narrow one though (and dictated by the bank no less) that the builder had no choice. It was either stick within our budget or they didn't build our house, simple as that. It's good to be able to walk away if you don't get what you want, it's probably easier to have to walk away because you have to though Very lucky we didn't have to. As for the plan, it's probably better to stick with floor space over aesthetic. Complex roof lines look great but every different angle or change means more money. You won't get that money back at resale on the roof line but you will with an extra room. It is hard though. Blog http://tobuildahomeimprobable.blogspot.com.au/ Settlement Apr Council Jul Contracts Dec Earthworks Dec Frames Jan Trusses Feb Roof Feb Windows Mar Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 64May 20, 2014 11:16 pm Bigblock7 Thanks 1rocky Have emailed the builder again and set up a meeting for this week. Looks like we can make of the existing plans work for us as it has a simpler roof line, or change my plan and that should bring the cost down. We are considering completely moving the garage to the SE side of the house as a relative of mine who lives down there thinks we will need to try and get as much north and westerly sun in winter as possible and he thinks blocking it with the garage instead of a pergola would be a shame and a waste of the suns energy. Changing it would make a lot more plans work and would also improve the view from the living areas. Also it's a good thing to factor in the direction of the prevailing winds and rain during winter- because a shed can act as a buffer to protect the worst from the house, this way you can maximize its positioning to your advantage.. Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 65May 23, 2014 12:51 am Thanks guys met with the builder today and might have a solution. Also looked at a few other builders who are more project home, and we may be able to get more sqm for our $! Hard to know what to do, would be much more satisfying to owner build but concerned re living over an hour away and being time poor as it is - even if we employed a builder to manage the build. Will wait for final figures and go from there. Looking forward to spending the weekend down there fencing Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 66May 26, 2014 8:55 am Had a productive weekend with the land, got most of the posts in for the front fence, looked at a few display homes in the local area and chatted to a few people who have built in a development around 15-20kms away to see what they thought of the project home builders who service the area (lots local to me on my current place won't build at our new place due to distance). We have narrowed our choice down to considering 3 builders, 1 who we were originally looking at going custom with, one who is a smaller but long time builder and another who is a newer builder. Waiting for costings to come back but after hearing all the feedback we are leaning towards the more established building company, their clients we met in the development were all over the moon with the process and quality, which couldn't be said for some of the other larger well known ones. Our budget is only small so that is the biggest limiter, but will see what they come up with. Here's some photos of the fencing Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We met some more neighbours, and also spending so much time there just confirmed how much we love it, so quiet and peaceful and everyone has been so lovely, lots of invites for cups of tea and lunch. Everyone so far is more my parents age or older, which suits us just fine! We decided on the sink and taps for the ensuite Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 67May 26, 2014 9:12 am Fingers crossed for you re costings and well done getting all those fencing posts in <!-- l --><a class="postlink-local" href="https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=62083">viewtopic.php?t=62083</a><!-- l --> Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 68May 26, 2014 10:01 am Great progress Bigblock. That post hole digger looks like a handful. Just think of the muscles you will develop with all the work. Sounds like you are making progress on your plans which is great. Love you choice of sink & Tap!! I think that is essential in all new builds. Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 69May 26, 2014 5:35 pm I haven't seen that before, real "vintage" taps... levers are great for when your hands are dirty! Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 70May 26, 2014 9:14 pm Thanks It was good fun getting into the fencing and just spending time there. Thankfully the digger is easy to use much easier than the handheld augers! It helps that the soil is amazing - would be a totally different kettle of fish I think if it was clay or shale I'll try and get the plan up with the established builder, as I'd like some ideas and feedback Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 71May 26, 2014 10:09 pm My parents in law live in that area of the world. It's so so beautiful. So quiet! I love visiting them because it's just so peaceful and green. Am very jealous! Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65085 Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 72May 26, 2014 10:40 pm EmyN My parents in law live in that area of the world. It's so so beautiful. So quiet! I love visiting them because it's just so peaceful and green. Am very jealous! We have loved it down there for so long and really thought we'd never be able to afford it, so we are compromising on the land size and the house size so we could do it Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage First time Building Southern Highlands NSW 73May 28, 2014 8:22 am Wanted some ideas if anyone would like to check our these plans. Firstly the main bedroom and WIR and ensuite. I'd love a bath in the ensuite and would even go a shower over bath to get one. So I was trying to figure out a way to configure the robes and ensuite. This is the current setup Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And my edit Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Also originally bed 2 was coming off the living dining room, and the dining room was where bed 2 is. I've swapped it and made it into a rumpus room (we'd put the TV in there). It now leaves me with no hallway going to the bedrooms and bathroom. I'm not a fan of hallways so I could just omit it all together, but would love it if anyone had any ideas other than what I've drawn up here Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 74May 28, 2014 10:48 am Hi BB, I'm afraid I didn't quite follow your second changes about the hallway etc.. The first changes about the master look okay but I'm not a fan of a door opening randomly into a room - normally they open against a door or something, this tends to tuck them out of the way if you want them left open etc. And where are your robes now for the master? Are they the rectangles either side of the bathroom door? One of my major concerns is - have you measured everything up and is it to scale? It looks a little squashy i.e. even the robes look too shallow for a normal depth robe. And remember the loo can't actually be squashed in like that, you need a good space either side of a loo for elbows and legs etc. Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65085 Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 75May 28, 2014 11:09 am EmyN Hi BB, I'm afraid I didn't quite follow your second changes about the hallway etc.. The first changes about the master look okay but I'm not a fan of a door opening randomly into a room - normally they open against a door or something, this tends to tuck them out of the way if you want them left open etc. And where are your robes now for the master? Are they the rectangles either side of the bathroom door? One of my major concerns is - have you measured everything up and is it to scale? It looks a little squashy i.e. even the robes look too shallow for a normal depth robe. And remember the loo can't actually be squashed in like that, you need a good space either side of a loo for elbows and legs etc. Thanks for your reply I'll post the original as it may explain the hallway better - there wasn't one, I've drawn it in on the plan. Re the wardrobes yes they are either side of the entry into the ensuite. No none of that is to scale as I just drew it up to try and illustrate what I was visualising to see if anyone had any ideas. The actual overall space is the same, but the internal items are not to scale. Yes I see what you mean re the door opening randomly, not sure how I could get that to work! Will play around. I may have to give up on my wish for a bath in the ensuite just thought there may be some way around getting one in there Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 76May 28, 2014 11:23 am Build thread http://tinyurl.com/llgc7yk Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 77May 28, 2014 11:36 am Ah I see now what you mean. Is there a particular reason why you swapped Bed 2 and Rumpus location rather than making the existing "dining room" into the rumpus? It's just that the original plan seems to make better use of space in terms of a little hallway to help with bedroom separation from living. I reckon you might still be able to get the bath but I think it would mean having a wall of sliding door robes instead of a WIR. But you could see what a draftsman comes up with when it's all done to scale. Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65085 Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 79May 28, 2014 2:08 pm Intersting thoughts you are having BB. We have a similar design to what you are thinking re the WIR/ENS. We have the WIR behind the bed. Have a look at our plans (I think about page 1). I think it has dimensions also, which might give you some idea. Our 'bedhead' wall is measured to fit a king bed + 2 x bed side tables. If you put some measurements of the master space you are dealing with we might be able to come up with some suggestions. Re: Acerage 1st time Building S Highlands *Ensuite &Hallway 80May 28, 2014 3:44 pm Hi Bigblock7, I too love a bath so I had a play around and managed to squeeze one in. If: * you don't mind losing a bit off the bedroom but gaining that space in the WIR & en-suite * accessing the en-suite via the WIR * perhaps making the shower slightly smaller more like the one in your bathroom then you could try http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx82/lunar62/ENSUITE_zps1a1b696b.jpg Building a Wisdom Majestic 40 at Gardener's Ridge My blog: http://majestic40atgardenersridge.wordpress.com/ Hi It will obviosly be cheaper to do it yourself, and with your background, building a single story property on acreage would be so easy, especially at the moment with… 1 891 In Qld it is a requirement that a builder must have a cost breakdown, for building a home to the same specification, with the same inclusions and the same finish. So ask… 1 4354 Hi there, We’ve recently had plans approved to add a 1st storey addition to our existing house for a growing family in Sydney. With the current cost of building… 0 4298 |