Re: Advice for new build!
 

That's not entirely correct; Standard contracts you sign are worded so that you have to make stage payments for work to continue. You can shout and scream all you like but if you withhold a payment you've broken your contract and work stops on your house until it's paid. Usually the tradies move onto the next house and they don't come back to you for a few weeks so your house is delayed further.
At the end of the job if you haven't paid you don't get the keys it's simple. You can't break in as you don't own the house and the law is firmly on the side of the builder. You can threaten all you like but the standard contract allows the builder to make good any neccessary repairs up to six months after practicle completion.
Most contracts I've seen from various home builders are all much of a muchness, going to a smaller builder is often a better option.

Re: Advice for new build!
 

More planning is essential but lets not blame the builders. They quote for a price and if they get endless additional work that eats into their profit/livelihood.

They should be treated as professionals until such time as they stop portraying a professional level of service. Many need to realise running a business is not just about technical skill but about client management.

Re: Advice for new build!
 

A thing worth mentioning/being aware of....

We bought a chunk of land a couple of weeks ago and we were told at the contract signing 'ceremony!' that "remember you have to pay your rates on the land"

I queried this with the salesman as we wont be building for several weeks/months yet, he seemed to be adamant - so again allow for more money whilst building to allow for rates.

He reckoned he payed (for a slightly larger block than ours 750sqm) something like $2500pa I am assuming (hoping!) that there is a reduction if you arent living on the block.

Re: Advice for new build!
 

Thats right, rates are just as liable to be paid on vacant blocks. When we first bought our block of land, the rate notices seemed to be never ending. I think we got about 4 in the space of about 6 months.

Re: Advice for new build!
 

you pay rates on the value of the land not the property, so I am afraid that the amount you quoted is prolly correct.....perhaps even a bit low.

Re: Advice for new build!
 

Arse! - Kinda hoping I was wrong!

Re: Advice for new build!
 

Glittababe

This might help:

http://www.koalakonnection.com.au/hbd_pg2.htm

It's how Gill and I went about building on a sloped block up in Montville. I must warn you though, it's quite long. Just like the build itself... And sloped land can have all sorts of problems associated with it, as well as extra costs.

Probably not too far away from you if you were considering Eumundi.

I hope this helps anyone else contemplating building a house on their own block of land. It goes some way to showing how different living in Australia is compared to the UK.

Good luck.

Paul.

Re: Advice for new build!
 

You star!!! Thats exactly what I needed! Thank you so much!

Re: Advice for new build!
 

You're welcome Glitterbabe.

Have you considered building in Palmwoods? I travel through Palmwoods frequently and I think it's a growing area that already has established itself as a nice village / town. The centre of town has plans for redevelopment and these are available to see on the net. I think it's going to be a quality area to live. There has been plenty of building work going on and the place is surrounded by fantastic views of the rolling hills. It's a great place to rent - but difficult to do so because rentals in Palmwoods are snapped up very quickly.

On the town's edge, and I cannot remember the name of the development unfortunately, there is a new land development in progress. Land sizes are quite large in fact, certainly larger than your average coastal block size. Prices seem good.

If you or anyone else knows of the name of the development can you please print it here. I've a brain blockage this morning...

I certainly think it's worth you or anyone else in the same building boat taking a trip to Palmwoods to find out more.

Paul.

Re: Advice for new build!
 

we've thought about building everywhere! I work in Eumundi, kids go to school there and we don't really want to move them. The right land will come along, if its meant to be its meant to be! Your house is just gorgeous, beautiful views. I love Lake Baroon, go there frequently with boys kayaking. Just a beautiful peaceful place.

Re: Advice for new build!
 

Dont know if anyone's answered this as havent read the whole thread, so apologies if this is repeat information.

here in WA you claim the FHOG when you reach lock up stage on your house build. If you're getting the mortgage you fill the form in and your bank will claim it on your behalf and it gets paid straight into your account.

If your land was under $250K as well you can claim back the stamp duty you paid on it, provided you have the FHOG letter that confirms you're eligible, and I think you have to claim within a certain time period of buying the land too. Worth looking into though as you may save a bit (we got our stamp duty back so with that and the FHOG it was nearly $10K!)

With regards extra sockets, if you're putting them on internal walls then you're best to pay the builder and get them put on - if you want them on internal ones and you're having double brick it's worth investigating with an electrician how much they charge to add them in for you as may work out cheaper. And if the builders put singles in it's easy enough to change to a double as the sockets are the same size, so dont be fooled into paying extra to make them doubles.

Who are you planning to build with or have you not got that far yet? We used Content and built out at Treendale, our house was $3K under their original budget in the end and all done in six months. :D

Re: Advice for new build!
 

Thanks for that. We are just down the road from you. We have bought a block (and are currently renting) on Galway Green. We are also building with Content (rep is Tyronne). Our house is based on the Hamelin but changed the main bedroom around to give double WIR and also corner spa bath. With all the adjustments it came in at $2k above basic. Signed final plans and delivered last Friday so just waiting for the final paperwork to go through and then we will be off. They said the only problem should come in when it comes to the internal tiling as the are really strapped for tradesmen. Even offered hubby a job.

When did you start your build and when did you move in?
Where you happy with everything or is there anything I should watch out for?

Debs

Re: Advice for new build!
 

Building started 30th May and we got the keys 21st december, my timeline is here if you want to take a look http://expatsinwa.com/index.php?show...764&st=0&#last

We were happy with most things other than the plumbing, nothing seemed to have been checked, the solar panel had not had the chemicals added (which were up there since the solar people put the panel in place!) and so was not charging up so no hot water unless we used the booster; the thermostatic valves on the bathroom hot water were not set and I nearly scalded myself, the fittings on the drainage under all the sinks had not been tightened up either but luckily DH checked these anyway.

Other than that just minor silly things. All in all we were really pleased as we had no hold ups (even got a tiler on schedule!) and the workmanship in the main is good.

Have I read that correct that you're renting in Galway Green as well? Drop me a PM if you fancy meeting up anytime (assuming here I havent already met you at one of our coffee mornings?) :)