Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum 1 Jul 16, 2008 10:46 am well i just noticed this section and thought I'd do the honour of first post so here is a quick run down of our situation.
My long time girlfriend and I moved from Perth to Bris 5 years ago we bought a house 2 years ago which we recently sold through red direct (saved about 10k in commission), we sold after deciding to build. We actually looked for land and ended up buying a 917sqm block in brookwater about a year ago, I designed my own house plans as since we are building figured we might as well build exactly as we want it not a 'stock' design. This proved an expensive decision as from the builders quotes we couldnt afford it, Keen on the design I figured the only way to afford it is if I build it myself (with very limited actual building on my part) I am not in the industry and dont really know anyone who is but I can be resorcful and have a can do attitude. Next hurdle was finance, we got the land sorted but lenders arent keen on owner builders, it wasnt looking promising but with the help of a good mortgage broker and some leverage we got approved last week. Plans have been drawn and quotes are still coming in but I figure I can save about 80-100k doing it owner builder and this isnt by cutting corners quality material will be used its going to be a very sturdy house. An ambitious project that we have only really just begun I hope we can get through it within budget and start/finish actually building very soon, here are some 3d pics of the house. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: My ambitious owner builder project brookwater qld 4Jul 16, 2008 1:34 pm nice! do you have golf course frontage? After 4 years - we're in! Re: My ambitious owner builder project brookwater qld 5Jul 16, 2008 1:45 pm Good luck.
We looked into being owner buliders at one stage...but couldn't face it. One bit of advice we got was to not be afraid to pester the sub-contractors. As owner builders you tend to be bottom of the pecking order, and will need to keep on their backs if you want anything done. I'm sure you will get lots of advice from the other owner builders on the forum. 'chelle We have a hand-over date...15/10...but I won't hold my breath! http://people-in-glass-houses.blogspot.com/ Re: My ambitious owner builder project brookwater qld 6Jul 16, 2008 2:03 pm thanks, No couldnt afford golf course frontage and not too keen on tolerating stray balls in my yard, dont think I'll see much of the golf course with a 5k a year membership required.
the rear of the block does overlook a nice little park with a little creek. not long after we bought this block they released the next stage of the estate the blocks were half the size and cost a bit more however they were flat. Although having a sloping block has created more expense it has allowed me to design a unique split level house on it and the decent size block means plenty of yard. As soon as work starts on site I will be taking many photo's and posting them as I always enjoyed looking at pics of others build. I will tak a photo every day from one exact spot and create a time lapse video of the build ground up. Re: My ambitious owner builder project brookwater qld 7Jul 16, 2008 2:18 pm I know what you mean chelle just getting quotes is hard enough most just dont get back to me no matter how many times i try to contact them. Its odd they seem happy to do the job when i first contact then I send them plans and dont hear from them, its not as if its a small house not worth their time. Re: My ambitious owner builder project brookwater qld 9Sep 18, 2008 12:14 am Hi paranah, if u keep having trouble getting quotes, drive around the developing/building areas and don't be frightened to stop and have a chat with a brickie or chippie working on a site, or write down their phone number & give them a call in the evening (not after 8pm) sometimes they know of others in the trade who may be between jobs - if u do this ask if u can see a job they have done - any tradie who takes pride in their work will love to show off what they have done. i also like to get 2 or 3 options on the table for each trade - i talked to 3 brickies back in June, all 3 were busy, but all 3 were interested & said wouldn't be able to start till Jan next year - i left my phone number, then we had a bit of a turn down in building down here, 2 then rung me back in August - now i have a brickie & the bricklaying (12,000 bricks 290 X 170 x 90) should be finished well before Xmas!
just an idea it might work for u - cheers Tony Hi all. Anyone know when the $11,000 limit was set in legislation for renovations in QLD? Ive been renovating for 5 years now and this was the limit back then. As we know,… 0 4242 As a tradesmen get a private inspector although I don't think there worth it in their profession themselves the reminder they serve to the tradesmen doing the work is… 3 27359 |