Browse Forums Owner Builder Forum Re: Owner Building Cost Estimates- Am I in the ballpark? 5Oct 12, 2011 5:58 pm Our owner-builder journey - viewtopic.php?f=38&t=45187 Re: Owner Building Cost Estimates- Am I in the ballpark? 8Oct 14, 2011 12:54 pm suprok Hi Art, We're OBing as well & have done most of the main costings. Not sure how sandy soil rates, but definitely get a soil report done first. This can make a huge difference to slab costs - ours is a problem site with reactive clay. Engineering alone for 2 storey house was $5k. Slab cost is horrendous (waaaay more than $15k) because we require 62 x 1.2m bored piers, then waffle pod slab, plus extra mesh. I think the concrete is closer to $140qm as well. The roof seems cheap, we are doing 267sqm & it's more like $30k-$40k. Flat roof, box gutters, etc, so a bit more than normal I guess. Also, have you considered doing reverse brick veneer or cladding with foam panels - it will make an enormous difference in the thermal properties & running costs of your house. The rest of the costings seem in the ballpark though - heating & cooling can get expensive if you want hydronic, but well worth it if the budget allows. Good luck with the build. Thanks suprok. Good to hear from someone who is going their own OB. As for roofing, roof is pretty standard skillion and I read $50 a metre supply and install here somewhere. no hips and valleys. Thinking about installing it myself if I am allowed to. (Haven't investigated whether regs allow it in NSW). Definititely will get plumber to do the gutter downpipes etc. I’ve been rejigging the budget, getting prices for materials etc, and I still come in at the 240k mark. I’m pretty anal about figures, and have priced everything down to the lineal metre with 20% wastage factored in. Still plenty of variables like garage doors, staircases etc, but I know i'm in the ballpark. So the main variables I can see where costs blowout are the labour costs for things like plumber, eleco, chippy, plasterer etc(plus maybe the trusses and slab). Although if the sh*t hits the fan and I can’t get quotes in my ballpark, I have plenty of long service leave up my sleeve to chip in as a gruntworker for these guys. I realise costs do blowout nearly always in OB projects, I just can’t workout where in my rejigged figures(particularly when people say add 50% to your estimates-thats an extra 120k!). However, I’ve now costed everything down to pretty much the number of screw and nails, and still come up with this figure. I’ve done a full house reno before, and I know where it blow’s out in renos. i.e Knockout a wall and find asbestos, rotting boards, take a bit of gyprock off and have to replace full wall(and often skirts etc), plus a million little trips to the hardware stores to get bits and pieces that add up. However if a new OB, assuming you are organised, these really don't apply. Does anyone have any info on where the common cost blowouts come from in OB? Might even start a new thread on this. Re: Owner Building Cost Estimates- Am I in the ballpark? 9Oct 19, 2011 11:23 am Hello, I took a look at your electrical allowance.. I would allow another 5000.00 on top of that.. 10,000 wont get you very far if your are planning to have downlights, audio visual, some form of data, etc etc etc... Also you mentioned you have allowed 1000.00 for an aerial... this can be adjusted to 200-400.00 MAX.. i hope this helped chris Electrical - Automation - Smart wiring - New homes - Commercial - Data cabling] 1300 050 315 www.cenemelectrical.com.au www.facebook.com/cenemelectrical Re: Owner Building Cost Estimates- Am I in the ballpark? 10Oct 19, 2011 1:05 pm cenemelectrical Hello, I took a look at your electrical allowance.. I would allow another 5000.00 on top of that.. 10,000 wont get you very far if your are planning to have downlights, audio visual, some form of data, etc etc etc... Also you mentioned you have allowed 1000.00 for an aerial... this can be adjusted to 200-400.00 MAX.. i hope this helped chris Thanks for your advice Chris. It's good to have someone on the ground who provides advice. I'm actually after a pretty basic setup. I think it's about 32 powerpoints, 16 downlights and 18 normal lights on 20 switches + hot water connection and maybe a 9volt connection to the backyard. No data cabling, audiovisual at this stage. I plan on digging up the trench to connect power to the meterbox. I'll also hang around and put in all the wall brackets, drill all the holes through the framework and joists etc, do any rough in work as necessary(not actual laying cable, but hammering the clips in as he runs the cable. Would that save much cost? Just out of interest, how many days does it take to do a basic config 2 story 30sq home? rough in and final fix? Here are my costs(just a rough guessbased on info online-haven't had any quotes yet). I'd really be interested to hear if I am in the ballpark. Preslab Electrical Work(meter box and laying cable-DIY trench) $700 Power Points Rough in and connect 32 double points. @ $70 to install. $2240 Light Switches Rough in and connect switches -20 at $70 per install $1400 Downlights Supply and Install (16 @ $70 each) $1120 Normal Lights Install Only ( 18 $70 each) $1240 Phone Line to Home- if required(existing line-knockdown rebuild) $200 Hot Water Connection $? 9 volt connection to backyard $? Oven and Cooktop connection $? Cabling 2000m metres (very rough guess) $2000 Miscellaneous. Clips etc $500 TOTAL: ~10000 Re: Owner Building Cost Estimates- Am I in the ballpark? 11Oct 19, 2011 9:44 pm just wondering if you have included all the new "6 star" costs. The house needs to be energy rated to 6 star, another cost to an OB. A lighting plan so that you keep within the required "wattage" for internal and external lights. There is a "building company " way and actual way of calculating this. Hot water $2k. Under 6 star need to be either solar or heat pump. generally more expensive than that. Another thing to consider, are there caveats/special council requirements on the estate that your are building on. can add a few quid if not careful. In your price of $242K you have not mentioned any prime cost items at all. Any bathroom items, kitchen, carpets, tiles, blinds/curtains. This can add up massively. The list is so extensive it is so easy to miss any number of items. A really large contingency is the best idea. Regards Paul Settlement 1/2/12 New Shed 23/3/12 Slab poured 27/3/12 Frame complete 4/5/12 Roof complete 1/6/12 LOCKUP 29/6/12 Our new build blog http://kareenhillsownerbuild.blogspot.com/ Re: Owner Building Cost Estimates- Am I in the ballpark? 12Oct 21, 2011 9:11 am Hello, No worries at all, Just with this little bit more info... im sure you will be happy.. you actually will get away with 10,000 allowance easy with $$$ to spare.. BASED ON INFO GIVEN.. obviously you havent included tv points, dimmers, 2-way switching, inspection costs, power costs, solar?, AIrconditioning etc A basic rough-in of this size.. i would be firing people if they didnt the rough-in in 1.5-2 days Absolute maximum. Fit-off depends on alot of circumstances but id allow around 2-3 full days. ( including fault finding etc etc ) If you are digging the trench, this will save alot of money and the sparky will love it.. make sure it is at least 50mm deep!! or this wont be acceptable according to austrlian standards and regulations... just a tip.. when this trench is dug, get your plumber and telephone contractor to install their services at the same time.. this eliminates the need for 3 seperate trenches and happy tradesman, it also eliminates any other trades accidently digging up another service. I'm actually after a pretty basic setup. I think it's about 32 powerpoints, 16 downlights and 18 normal lights on 20 switches + hot water connection and maybe a 9volt connection to the backyard. No data cabling, audiovisual at this stage. I plan on digging up the trench to connect power to the meterbox. I'll also hang around and put in all the wall brackets, drill all the holes through the framework and joists etc, do any rough in work as necessary(not actual laying cable, but hammering the clips in as he runs the cable. Would that save much cost? Preslab Electrical Work(meter box and laying cable-DIY trench) $700 Hard to say without looking at the building plans Power Points Rough in and connect 32 double points. @ $70 to install. $2240 Light Switches Rough in and connect switches -20 at $70 per install $1400 this is not a seperate cost, this is included with a light fitting per point price. i.e. per point pricing on a light with us is 55.00 this includes light switch and cabling to the light point, with owner supplied fitting or downlight of their choice Downlights Supply and Install (16 @ $70 each) $1120 Read above... Normal Lights Install Only ( 18 $70 each) $1240 again read above.. Phone Line to Home- if required(existing line-knockdown rebuild) $200 Id allow 300 - 450.00 Hot Water Connection $? Depending on the hotwater, if its an instantaneous, its just a weatherproof powerpoint.. which should be around 90.00 - 120.00 9 volt connection to backyard $? Im not sure what 9v connection is Oven and Cooktop connection $? This is just a direct feed from the switchboard usually around 90-120, and the cooktop is only a single powerpoint Cabling 2000m metres (very rough guess) $2000 No need to quote this price, as it will be included in your per point pricing Miscellaneous. Clips etc $500 Same as above Also another note... In my opinion it would be better not to help with rough-in etc.. It is a specialized skill to rough-in a house... even drilling the holes requires experience.. so taking time to guide you where to drill would blow out the rough-in Also with cable clipping this is done on the fly while pulling wires.. having someone behind you clipping would not work.. and again more time consuming. Id help with making the site as clean as possible when the sparkies arrive, help take cable tools from their van.. and be around to answer any questions...This is the best help we can get... ESPECIALLY SITE CLEANING... hehehe it makes a job run really smooth if we have free run.. without stepping over wood, rubbish etc... I hope this gave you some more insight... have fun, chris Electrical - Automation - Smart wiring - New homes - Commercial - Data cabling] 1300 050 315 www.cenemelectrical.com.au www.facebook.com/cenemelectrical Re: Owner Building Cost Estimates- Am I in the ballpark? 13Oct 21, 2011 9:43 am cenemelectrical Hello, No worries at all, Just with this little bit more info... im sure you will be happy.. you actually will get away with 10,000 allowance easy with $$$ to spare.. BASED ON INFO GIVEN.. obviously you havent included tv points, dimmers, 2-way switching, inspection costs, power costs, solar?, AIrconditioning etc A basic rough-in of this size.. i would be firing people if they didnt the rough-in in 1.5-2 days Absolute maximum. Fit-off depends on alot of circumstances but id allow around 2-3 full days. ( including fault finding etc etc ) If you are digging the trench, this will save alot of money and the sparky will love it.. make sure it is at least 50mm deep!! or this wont be acceptable according to austrlian standards and regulations... just a tip.. when this trench is dug, get your plumber and telephone contractor to install their services at the same time.. this eliminates the need for 3 seperate trenches and happy tradesman, it also eliminates any other trades accidently digging up another service. I'm actually after a pretty basic setup. I think it's about 32 powerpoints, 16 downlights and 18 normal lights on 20 switches + hot water connection and maybe a 9volt connection to the backyard. No data cabling, audiovisual at this stage. I plan on digging up the trench to connect power to the meterbox. I'll also hang around and put in all the wall brackets, drill all the holes through the framework and joists etc, do any rough in work as necessary(not actual laying cable, but hammering the clips in as he runs the cable. Would that save much cost? Preslab Electrical Work(meter box and laying cable-DIY trench) $700 Hard to say without looking at the building plans Power Points Rough in and connect 32 double points. @ $70 to install. $2240 Light Switches Rough in and connect switches -20 at $70 per install $1400 this is not a seperate cost, this is included with a light fitting per point price. i.e. per point pricing on a light with us is 55.00 this includes light switch and cabling to the light point, with owner supplied fitting or downlight of their choice Downlights Supply and Install (16 @ $70 each) $1120 Read above... Normal Lights Install Only ( 18 $70 each) $1240 again read above.. Phone Line to Home- if required(existing line-knockdown rebuild) $200 Id allow 300 - 450.00 Hot Water Connection $? Depending on the hotwater, if its an instantaneous, its just a weatherproof powerpoint.. which should be around 90.00 - 120.00 9 volt connection to backyard $? Im not sure what 9v connection is Oven and Cooktop connection $? This is just a direct feed from the switchboard usually around 90-120, and the cooktop is only a single powerpoint Cabling 2000m metres (very rough guess) $2000 No need to quote this price, as it will be included in your per point pricing Miscellaneous. Clips etc $500 Same as above Also another note... In my opinion it would be better not to help with rough-in etc.. It is a specialized skill to rough-in a house... even drilling the holes requires experience.. so taking time to guide you where to drill would blow out the rough-in Also with cable clipping this is done on the fly while pulling wires.. having someone behind you clipping would not work.. and again more time consuming. Id help with making the site as clean as possible when the sparkies arrive, help take cable tools from their van.. and be around to answer any questions...This is the best help we can get... ESPECIALLY SITE CLEANING... hehehe it makes a job run really smooth if we have free run.. without stepping over wood, rubbish etc... I hope this gave you some more insight... have fun, chris Thanks so much for taking the time to write this Chris! And thanks for the good news about costs.... BTW, you should put your location in your sig(assuming that is allowed), if you were in Newcastle I'd be giving you a call. For the rough in and fix times, is that for one guy or two? Looks as though I'll be digging trenches and maybe hammer in the brackets. Happy to let the experts do their thing.. Still deciding whether to go full ducted aircon or just a standard split system Ac on each level....either way, I'll have to factor that into the cost. I'll be DIYing the phone and TV points(assuming I am allowed). Again, thanks for taking the time...very much appreciated. Re: Owner Building Cost Estimates- Am I in the ballpark? 14Oct 21, 2011 3:09 pm delatite13 just wondering if you have included all the new "6 star" costs. The house needs to be energy rated to 6 star, another cost to an OB. A lighting plan so that you keep within the required "wattage" for internal and external lights. There is a "building company " way and actual way of calculating this. Hot water $2k. Under 6 star need to be either solar or heat pump. generally more expensive than that. Another thing to consider, are there caveats/special council requirements on the estate that your are building on. can add a few quid if not careful. In your price of $242K you have not mentioned any prime cost items at all. Any bathroom items, kitchen, carpets, tiles, blinds/curtains. This can add up massively. The list is so extensive it is so easy to miss any number of items. A really large contingency is the best idea. Regards Paul I missed this. Thanks for your advice Paul. i'm in NSW, so I think (luckily)it's only 5 star requirements, could be wrong though. Re: Owner Building Cost Estimates- Am I in the ballpark? 15Oct 21, 2011 8:29 pm I'm pretty sure that the "six star" requirements came in Oz wide on the 01/07/11. There are a few small variations in the requirements but all essentially the same. In Vic I know IXL tastic lights in bathrooms are allowed at the moment but are under review in NSW. No doubt will come in in Vic. Settlement 1/2/12 New Shed 23/3/12 Slab poured 27/3/12 Frame complete 4/5/12 Roof complete 1/6/12 LOCKUP 29/6/12 Our new build blog http://kareenhillsownerbuild.blogspot.com/ Re: Owner Building Cost Estimates- Am I in the ballpark? 16Oct 24, 2011 4:13 pm Enjoy the challenge of building your home. I enjoyed ours, finally almost complete. I would allow a lot extra as there were a lot of changed things and added expenses since we OB'd our last home in 2001. Engineers consult and the use of a lot steel for one thing. This time we built 2 story. Pretty much everything cost more than I had thought except for the roof and the appliances . I hunted auction rooms for taps etc and appliances. best wishes Re: Owner Building Cost Estimates- Am I in the ballpark? 17Oct 25, 2011 8:07 am Ballabil Enjoy the challenge of building your home. I enjoyed ours, finally almost complete. I would allow a lot extra as there were a lot of changed things and added expenses since we OB'd our last home in 2001. Engineers consult and the use of a lot steel for one thing. This time we built 2 story. Pretty much everything cost more than I had thought except for the roof and the appliances . I hunted auction rooms for taps etc and appliances. best wishes Thanks for the advice. When you say that pretty much everything cost more than expected, are you talking labour, or materials or both? Did you have detailed costings, or were your figures ballpark? Re: Owner Building Cost Estimates- Am I in the ballpark? 18Oct 25, 2011 10:36 am Hi some were ball park and some were detailed. For instance the tiler cost a lot more than I had allowed as we were going to do it ourselves but by then my hub did not want us to do it. Extra 10,000 3 bathrooms tiles to the ceilings. Kitchen and bathroom cabinets were good. a lot of construction stuff was more, larger footings where wall was retaining. Land is always more sloped than you think so we had larger retaining walls than expected had to use ironbark sleepers and lots of concrete under steel supports. plumber cost more than originally quoted as did hot water service. Windows were dearer because of energy rating, actually bought double glazed as we had to have Eglass and double glazing was only a tiny bit more expensive. It might pay you to get a quote for windows once you have your energy rating done. I did not even allow for the energy rating initially. You will save a bomb by doing things yourself as good tradesmen cost a lot and bad ones are just a headache when you have to spend more correcting thier mistakes. Construction insurance cost us more like $4000. Our stone benchtops to kitchen and bathrooms cost 10000 we do have a large kitchen however all other cabnetry was only 15000.supplied and installed. You have not allowed for the energy rating just as I did not. .we bought prefabbed frame and roof trusses and beams but still had to pay a carpenter to install it. Once your plans are finalized and the engineer has consulted and you have your energy rating you will have a better idea of real costs. I think you are on the right path but I would expect quite a bit extra here and there. Re: Owner Building Cost Estimates- Am I in the ballpark? 20Oct 26, 2011 3:27 pm We are OBing at the moment in WA and all I really have to add is to "be patient", particularly if you are doing a lot of the work yourself. Things take so much longer when your are doing the work, instead of paying people to complete the job. It's a massive project Owner Building. But I'm enjoying watching our house being built bit by bit! In regards to costing, we over budgeted on purpose so we have room to move when picking finishes & to allow for all the incidentals that arise. We allowed $430 000 for our build and will be spending every cent to finish our house. Goodluck and enjoy the OBing ride BLOG: thehousewebuilt2010.blogspot.com (And are still building!) consider putting in wall WC instead of robe in the same bedroom, then it might be doable to hook up to the existing piping. 4 6766 Hi VK, Think it's worth investing time in an Owner Builder course to equip you with basic knowledge on Australian Building Industry and its regulations. Also, I suggest… 11 24105 |