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Official House Building Thread; Be warned can be boring to most people!
Topic Started: Mar 31 2007, 10:29:13 AM (995 Views)
Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

Ok here's the plan for the house. It has taken us one and a half years to get this far and originally it started out as a place to build just to make some quick cash instead of squandering all of our cash whilst travelling but now it will become our home for a couple of years until we decide what we are doing.

So this is the official thread for my house building and I thought it would help others to know what processes we have been through and will be going through over hte next year or so.

Firstly we bought our land just under 14000m2 backing onto the National Park rainforest it cost us $140k. So we found a solicitor and went ahead I can't remember how much that all cost but I'll find out and edit it this later.

Posted Image

The architect firstly drew up the house to be built in brick and once it was finished Roy wanted to alter it to be changed to timber framed. The reason was he knew he could do a lot of the work himself but blockwork would be a different story and when you are looking at charges of $6 per block to lay them including material the costs was going to be enormous.

SO back to the drawing board and the house plans wasn't that far off finished when Larry hit and the architect lost everything. So started once again only for him to get ill and need an operation. He then lost them again when his computer went bang and so third time lucky (by which time we thought we weren't meant to be building the house as something was telling us to forget it!!) we now have plans :ecstatic:

The architect cost us $1000 per house design so as we also have one in blockwork it has cost us $2000 but that is very very very cheap other people have said for a house our size we should of been paying more like $10k. All the waiting has been worthwhile by saving so much cash :yes:

Posted Image

You have to get the drawings certified by an Engineer and that costs about $400, this must be done before putting it in for planning permission.

We went to a builder to see how much they would cost us and their prices seemed to vary from $1000 to $1600 per m2 to build a house. Eventually as Roy was at the time working for the company he decided we would go owner builder as the decent tradesmen all seemed to quit and go out on their own around Christmas time.
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

To go owner builder you have several hoops to jump through firstly you have to sit a course which can either be done by a weekend course but we decided to go the flexible learning approach. We got in touch with a company called The Peach institute and they sent through all the paperwork required for the course....pretty daunting but very very easy i.e. they tell you what to read, and where to read it, then which questions to answer on the test. It took a good weekend to go through it all and cost us about $350 to do the test.

I then had a certificate arrive saying I had passed, this then was sent on to the BSA (Building authority for Australia) along with the application form and fee (another $270) and finally got my Owner Builder number and certificate.

This all then has to go in with the plans to the local Council. So on Monday I will be handing in the plans of the house including a drainage plan, all the application forms, fees and energy efficiency rating (done by architect). They say it takes about 10 days for the go ahead to come through so fingers crossed it will be that as time is pushing on.


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Melibeam
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Most Exceptional Lady

Wow, that looks amazing Snappy.

Good luck with the council :crossfingers:
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moneypen20
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Bond's Beaut Bombshell

Looking good. One little request - can you put the plans on so that we can enlarge them :whistle: I am really nosey when it comes to houses and I can't read all the detail on the above plans.

I can't believe how cheap land is up there. So lucky.

Oh and other people's house builds are never boring. In fact you will probably get bored with having to post more and more pics and details to keep us happy :more:
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

Mortgage - now for us we need a mortgage to build the house even though we still have some cash tucked away. As an owner builder the mortgage side of things is far more complicated. We have to put up 60% of the final cost this also includes the land value so for us that was fine we matched the percentage.

We also have to list ALL the costings which has been a massive nightmare as it has meant we have had to get prices and quotes for everything way before we will need anything and most likely half the prices would of altered by the time we do eventually order them. The list the bank gave us was very intensive down to the last bolt and screw so be warned for a lot of leg work and research very early on.

As soon as the plans come back as passed we have the initial cash to go ahead with the ordering of materials and paying the builders to start the house but at the same time the mortgage application will be going in to the bank so we are playing a risky game as they could say no. That said we have had meetings with the bank manager and she has been great just be very honest with them. We have chosen to go with the Bendigo bank, they weren't the cheapest out there but over all what they offered us and along with their service we have decided they are the better option. The Manager is so nice and helpful and we thought that would be a great plus for us having a bank manager that is approachable in the time ahead.

If anyone wants a list of what the bank requires then please pm me and I'll send you through the spreadsheet of the breakdown titles.

I have also set up an account with the local builder merchants (although still waiting for the final approval on that one), but here you will find there isn't just one place you can get everything from like the UK. We have had to go to different companies for steel, timber, blocks, roofing sheets, etc etc.

The builders we are using are just local carpenters who have great experience in timber homes. Roy also has worked with them in the past and knows that they work hard for their money so choosing a builder is definitely word of mouth and something you should spend a lot of time researching into. We plan to get them to get it up to lock up stage for us so frame up, roof on and windows/doors in, then they can start to clad the house although Roy may take over that bit as well depending on how the money is going.

As an owner builder you have to use a licensed electrician and plumber but as Roy has experience in plumbing the local plumber has already said Roy can do the drainage work and plumb a lot of the job but he will check his work afterwards. The electrician is also a friend and he has said we cqan save money by laying out the wires and he will just come to wire it all up for us.

This is the advantage of being owner builder as you can finish off jobs you know you are capable of doing.

Anyway until the plans are passed I will leave you to digest all this ramble :D
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Melbourne cockney
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Garnet (Regular Member)
That all looks fantastic, the block and the drawings.

not at all boring.

Good luck with it all

Fraser
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

moneypen20
31st March, 2007 - 10:48am
Looking good. One little request - can you put the plans on so that we can enlarge them :whistle: I am really nosey when it comes to houses and I can't read all the detail on the above plans.

You will have to wait until tomorrow as my connection is so slow (end of the month) so it is painfully slow to upload anything and took me ages to these ones.
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moneypen20
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Bond's Beaut Bombshell

Excuses excuses :P
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

moneypen20
31st March, 2007 - 10:54am
Excuses excuses :P

:lol: :P I also have to change the format of the plans into picture format so..... :whistle:
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Anastasia Beaverhausen
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Looks fab Sasha. I'm with Penny though, make the plans bigger. I'm nosey and I like to place my furniture :D
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Melbourne cockney
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Garnet (Regular Member)
Anastasia Beaverhausen
31st March, 2007 - 11:02am
Looks fab Sasha. I'm with Penny though, make the plans bigger. I'm nosey and I like to place my furniture :D

I'm with Penny and claire, we want bigger plans please :kiss: :more:
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Anne
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Wonderful Winsome Wench

Melbourne cockney
31st March, 2007 - 09:32am
I'm with Penny and claire, we want bigger plans please :kiss: :more:

And me, now that I'm a granny my eyesight has gone :blind:
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marco121068
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Snappy
31st March, 2007 - 10:59am
Firstly we bought our land just under 14000m2 backing onto the National Park rainforest it cost us $140k.

You sure you haven't got an extra 0 in there? :P

Actually - on second thoughts, if it is 14000 m2 then I'll just 'borrow a corner and plonk my new house on there.


Certainly looks like a great design. Looking forward to seeing it.
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

Oooo yes sorry 1,400m2 or rather just slightly under I think it is something like 1,370m2...but can't quite remember :wacko:
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

Posted Image
Posted Image


OK I've tried to get them larger so I'll see if this works
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Anne
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Wonderful Winsome Wench

I still can't see which will be my bedroom, er the guestroom :no:
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

OK last try just click on this link and it will take you into Picasa and let you view the plans. I think you can zoom in as well on them in there

http://picasaweb.google.com/snappy72/HousePlans
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Anne
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Wonderful Winsome Wench

Snappy
31st March, 2007 - 07:09pm
OK last try just click on this link and it will take you into Picasa and let you view the plans. I think you can zoom in as well on them in there

http://picasaweb.google.com/snappy72/HousePlans

:thumbsup: I see us guests get our sitting room as well :yes: Is that in case we get fed up with your pish? :P
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

GranAnne4PaTerry
1st April, 2007 - 09:12am
:thumbsup: I see us guests get our sitting room as well :yes: Is that in case we get fed up with your pish? :P

Or I can banish you when I get fed up with yours :P :lol:

Seriously we thought when family come over to stay it would be nice if they had a small kitchen and a bit of space to go to if need be as it is hard when you live in an area for any length of time with family :wacko: Also most of ours have kids so we were going to put in twin beds in the bedroom for the kids and have the sofa bed in the lounge area for the parents.
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Sam
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Spirited Alluring Maiden

Brill Sasha

How exciting for you

Thanks for the breakdown on the owner builder process as this is the route we will be taking for our extension (when we get round to it) especially as Alan is in that field now! :thumbsup:


Looks like a lovely house,

Don't forget to keep us posted every step of the way! :yess:
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Jane
Jaunty Jolly Jewel
Am I just being thick?

I still can't seem to view a larger picture of the plans Sasha! :rolleyes:

What I can see looks great though :yes:

Jane
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

Jane if you click on the last pics to make them larger :wink:
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moneypen20
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Bond's Beaut Bombshell

Snappy
2nd April, 2007 - 07:22am
Jane if you click on the last pics to make them larger :wink:

There's a magnifying icon top right of each pic Jane.

going to be brill Sasha. Great design. Have you asked the animals if they mind losing their land :P
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Sam
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Spirited Alluring Maiden

Just wondering if you registered as the owner builder or Hubby???? or jointly???
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

Sam
2nd April, 2007 - 11:03am
Just wondering if you registered as the owner builder or Hubby???? or jointly???

So long as both your names are on the land register and one of you has done the course the permit can be in both names. So I did the course but we have the permit in both our names.

Pen - It's ok as I'll be moving with two wild animals anyway so we'll make up the numbers :D
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

I took the plans into the Council today and get ready for it ...it cost us $1443.50 :o :o the plans for one of the house designs didn't come to that much :o

They charge you for inspecting every single sink, toilet, bath etc etc

plus then they charge double for putting in a pool. So they charge you for inspecting the plans for the whole house and then the same amount for inspecting the pool plans!

It is the biggest rip off but they said we should get them back by the end of the week or at the start of next week :thumbsup:
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BIX
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Boner-fide Bonza Bloke

Organised crime is alive and kicking :angry:
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

YIPPEEE we now have a letter confirming the house plans have been approved :ecstatic: Met with the bank Manager and the mortgage is being organised we were limited as to the choice due to going owner builder but have gone with the Bendigo if they approve the mortgage :o Their revaluer went to the block yesterday to value the land and now has all the paperwork so we should hear by next week form them.

The steel has been ordered for the end of next week so we can start building the week after :thumbsup:
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marco121068
Huggable Hunky Humorist
:thumbsup: Excellent news.

When will my room be ready? :wink:
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Snappy
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Sexy Sizzling Schmoozer

Sorry Marco did you think I was ignoring you :whistle: :o Only joking my lovely :wink:

I'VE GOT HOLES!!!! lot's of them 109 to be exact :thumbsup: they have shown me where everything will be on the block and I'm sooooo excited now :D

I will bore you all with another photo when I get the camera downloaded :yawn:

So today I parted with $35,000 dollaroonies :o covering a deposit on the timber, insurance, payment for the steel and clearing the builder merchants account.

Roy prepared all the slab and footings today then got drilling on the auger for all the holes. The builders have now nearly finished welding all the posts and plates together and by Friday I should have 109 posts sticking out the ground all concreted in place :D



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