Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Bought a block in SA- now to find a builder! 2Feb 08, 2011 9:39 pm The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Bought a block in SA- now to find a builder! 4Feb 09, 2011 9:20 am https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43937&start=0 Bought a block in Golden Grove - Jan 2011 Finally finished our design, Mar 2012, *yay* Signed with ADH council consent June 12 Re: Bought a block in SA- now to find a builder! 9Feb 09, 2011 7:36 pm https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43937&start=0 Bought a block in Golden Grove - Jan 2011 Finally finished our design, Mar 2012, *yay* Signed with ADH council consent June 12 Re: Bought a block in SA- now to find a builder! 10Feb 09, 2011 10:17 pm Why are priates scary ? Because they yaargh.. Re: Bought a block in SA- now to find a builder! 11Feb 10, 2011 3:49 pm Hi Debbie Hope you don't mind me jumping in on your thread. Your thoughts seem so much like ours We got ourselves a block just last month so, yet to settle on it even but like you, we've been "researching" reputable builders and have also since visited a number of display homes. Had sort of narrowed it down to about 3 builders from those display homes but then from having spoken to a few others (not from this forum though) is now likely to go with an architect first. We've got a fair idea of what we want and don't want in our new house so it was going to be a custom built in the first place but need help in having it all put together and fleshed out. Thus, would love to follow your journey and see what you end up deciding on. We'll be renting out the property we've purchased in the first instance while we do further research and all the subsequent preparation work that goes with building. Re: Bought a block in SA- now to find a builder! 12Feb 10, 2011 9:05 pm Hi babygirl03 I have tentatively narrowed down to: 1) Adelaide Designer Homes - because I read they are willing to do a true fixed price footing before signing on the dotted line. They seem to be more of a custom build company. They sound like they have good communication. I have yet to talk to a consultant myself, hopefully on the weekend. 2)Format Homes - because we have built a rapport with the sales person who lets us know about the block when it came back on the market without obligating us to build with them. (The consultant was honest in that the land was owned by Land SA and not Format). They have a lot of inclusions that we would otherwise have to add at selections. They seem to have a good reputation on here. 3)Dechellis - purely for the posts and threads on this site. Will talk to a consultant. Also interested in the Kersbrook building company after reading posts here. There are a couple of other possibilites but it is early days... I have heard architechs can be expensive and sometimes their plans are so radical that builders won't touch them. It was suggested to me to go to a plan drawer rather than an architect but I haven't looked into this at all. My understanding is that an architect is good if you need/want an unusual design/environmently sustainable or have an awkward site. We are preparing to sell our current home and then rent closer to the build to keep a close eye on it. Likewise I would like to follow your experiences. Re: Bought a block in SA- now to find a builder! 13Feb 10, 2011 9:11 pm Also, thanks for your tips Captain Morgan particularly the dimensions on the handouts. McCracken are also on my list of 'check them out' due to your posts. I believe you are also building at GG? https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43937&start=0 Bought a block in Golden Grove - Jan 2011 Finally finished our design, Mar 2012, *yay* Signed with ADH council consent June 12 Re: Bought a block in SA- now to find a builder! 14Feb 10, 2011 9:48 pm I visited a lot of show homes, and in the end chose one that was more to my budget. Some builders had a double garage included in the price. Some didn't. Im not sure if it is with all builders, but i was able to change any internal wall, with no cost. So if you like the general shape of the house, but a few things bug you about the internal plan, you should be able to move walls at no cost. I extended part of the house frame about 2m by 3m, thinking it was going to cost a fortune, it was only $5,000, and totally worth it for the extra space. So dont feel limited in what you see in the plan - most can be modified to how you want them. Mine looks nothing like the original plan and barely cost anything! Re: Bought a block in SA- now to find a builder! 15Feb 10, 2011 10:57 pm we have built in golden Grove. Others have had a great experience with Dechellis, but we had endless issues regarding pricing and that with them. we got out of it a week before they were going to start. long story. We built through Fairmont. Some issues, but you will have that any way. Our product is absolutely AMAZING. I cannot say anything bad about our house We didnt move to go to a cheaper house at all, but we ended up saving a bit of money and we believe we have ended up with better inclusions. Re: Bought a block in SA- now to find a builder! 16Feb 11, 2011 10:08 am Hi Jessie and Chel Jessie, I have read of your experience with Dechellis and have just been reading Robbie C's thread with the air con problem. Seems there will always be problems with any builder. Our current home (of 11 years) is a Fairmont home and mostly went ok with minor problems (some never did get fixed) and I would consider them again especially as they seem to be building so many in Golden Grove. In regards to picking a design and changing it, there really isnt a design that comes close. We have two adult sons still living with us (18 and 27) so we want to have an almost separate area for them at the front of the house behind the entrance/lounge/media room. This area will include the main bathroom and laundry. Back to the hall and past the 'spare' room (will be a room for me and DH and our hobbies/computers). Then into a large open plan family/ kitchen/dine. A small hall will lead from here to our ensuite (which can also be accessed from the back garden and from the family room to save having a third bathroom) and our bedroom. An alfresco area will be to the side of the family area and in front of our bedroom, which will hopefully give the bedroom a B'n'B feel to it. All rooms except the spare room and lounge will be almost north facing which I'm planning to do 600mm eaves for. The north facing aspect also has great views of the hills. The house will most likely be split level at the family room (we may not need to have a split but will put one in anyway to bring the room up higher for the view; only a couple of steps, and maybe another couple for the bedroom area). We had considered an activity type room for the boys to have a tv but they spend so much time in their rooms that DH would prefer to just make their bedrooms extra large, that way they can do their own thing. https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43937&start=0 Bought a block in Golden Grove - Jan 2011 Finally finished our design, Mar 2012, *yay* Signed with ADH council consent June 12 Re: Bought a block in SA- now to find a builder! 17Feb 11, 2011 10:24 am Oh, and we want to use timber-style panelling (not sure of the name) instead of brick https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43937&start=0 Bought a block in Golden Grove - Jan 2011 Finally finished our design, Mar 2012, *yay* Signed with ADH council consent June 12 Re: Bought a block in SA- now to find a builder! 18Feb 11, 2011 1:25 pm dreamcometrue Oh, and we want to use timber-style panelling (not sure of the name) instead of brick If your after a lightweight home you might want to look at rivergum or sarah homes. They build lightweight homes all the time. Also check with council that they will allow the type of cladding you are after. Just PM me if you want to have a peek at my Rental, just remember its still under construction and it is a brick home. If you want another builder who is trustworthy and honest to build you a lightweight custom home I know of a good builder. BUT he is so busy and hard to deal with, that you have to constantly chase him and hope that he will answer the phone. I had him do a extension for me @Kersbrook and I currently having him do a build for me at Mawson Lakes - I have been waiting for a quote for about 5 weeks now. Re: Bought a block in SA- now to find a builder! 19Feb 11, 2011 6:13 pm dreamcometrue Hi Jessie and Chel In regards to picking a design and changing it, there really isnt a design that comes close. We have two adult sons still living with us (18 and 27) so we want to have an almost separate area for them at the front of the house behind the entrance/lounge/media room. This area will include the main bathroom and laundry. I remember seeing this plan with Rossdale. Im not sure about them as a builder, but the plan has bed 2/3 up the front of the house in their own little area with a retreat, with the master bedroom and bed 4 at the back. http://www.rossdalehomes.com.au/home/franklin Re: Bought a block in SA- now to find a builder! 20Feb 11, 2011 10:25 pm Debbie, your 3 tentative candidates are certainly popular builders with many on the forum here. In fact, Format is building on the property across the road and just one house down from us atm. Saw them putting their slab down this Monday. We were originally going to steer clear of architects for the exact same thoughts you mentioned, ie. expensive and radical. Hence, why we went as far as having narrowed it down to 3 potential builders. They are on the higher market end though (Alan Sheppard, Samuel James & Scott Salisbury). Even then, like you again, we found none who really have a ready design that came close to the floorplan of what we have in mind although all 3 were more than happy to custom design for us when we did our initial queries with them. The floorplan / layout we want is as basic as it can get - sleeping areas all in front and open plan living at the back but we need help in putting it together and fleshing it out further and we also want that person to be able take into account some of our lifestyle needs eg. bedroom for my dd to have a wir and study area. As we have a good block as well - rectangular size block with a direct northerly rear aspect we want to take advantage of that too so want the house to be solar passive with hydronic heating / cooling. Thus, having done a bit more homework and spoken with a few more people who had renovated / built before, indication is that we should at least talk to an architect first. Purportedly, not all are way out there with their design but feel the right architect would be able to design specifically for our needs rather than what is easier for them as in the case of builders. More importantly, they seem to think that we would have copyright to the drawings and we can then shop around with it. Joe, it depends on your certifier but we are noticing the ones we deal with are really cracking down. So i would recommend you follow your approved landscaping plans to… 4 10961 Hi Simeon, Thank you for laying it down for us. Makes sense. Appreciate it very much. Have a nice day. Cheers 2 9003 My land is 260m2 (10m x 26m) located in claymore NSW. Under campbelltown council. I know in general the following setbacks would apply ground floor side setback =… 0 6908 |