Guest OgaPoga Posted January 14, 2010 Share Posted January 14, 2010 Does anyone know good architect (not too expensive) or something like that in Melbourne? We would like to design and build a custom build house outside of Melbourne (more north). We are looking to purchase land. So we would have a land + planning permission, but we need to submit "land cut plan" + house plan to get a final planning permit ready + get a building permit. So, has anyone build a custom build house here and can suggest something to me? :notworthy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eera Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 I'm writing from a QLD perspective, things might be different in Victoria but regulations are set by individual councils within state guidleines, so there's going to be variation wherever you look. You have to be able to show the levels and cuts with geotechnical certification. The development application and permit will be about 40 pages long and will have all sorts of stipulations in it about proving bushfire risk, clearances, setbacks, slope stability, but will vary from council to council. There's a new regulation come in about building areas which says where you can build on your lot, not like the old days when you could clear and build what you want, where you want. It can be a long, drawn out process if you're trying to do it all yourself, particularly if you're building in an area that's been subdivided by a private individual. Generally buying in an estate will be much easier as the developer has done it all for you already. Providing you're not getting a house and land package, house builders will generally allow you to make alterations to their standard plans for a fee. Have you considered this option at all? If you're after something pretty far out you'd have to get a custom job, but if it's merely a different roofline or rooms added you want they're normally pretty helpful, saves you a hell of a lot of money and time that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PommieLady Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Hi Oga Poga I haven't personally done a self build as OH wouldn't cope with the stress, having a kitchen fitted is more than he can take LOL. However I have lots of friends that have built so have heard lots of horror stories. You will find that off the peg designs are cheaper than getting a one off, this doesn't have to be part of a specific suburb development. Of course you also get to personalise the final design, there are various builders out there with different styles etc. However people are currently finding that building yourself is more expensive than buying. Friends who finished the build last year have just finished the landscaping etc costs that people often don't think of when costing a build. Her husband is an electrician and other tradies are in the family or are friends but my friend, who is an accountant so knows her sums, says that even with the massive savings they made with free work the final cost is far more expensive than buying. See links below for an idea of the many many builders and style of housing that are available.... other companies are available Simonds Homes - Australia's Most Awarded New Home Builder - in Melbourne and Regional Victoria New Home, Display Home, Home Builder - Metricon Homes - Victoria, Queensland, NSW Urbayne Homes . as individual as you are | display homes in melbourne | builders in melbourne | builders in eastern suburbs | builders in western suburbs | builders in northern suburbs | builders in southern suburbs | architectural homes melbourne | National Builders - Largest independent home builder in Melbourne and Victoria and Now in Queensland Hope this helps Stef Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 We built our home as owner builders and had a drafting company drawer the plans for us. We had designed the house ourselves and they drew the plans for counciil. We contracted out the parts of the house my oh could not do and saved a lot of money. To be an owner builder you have to register with the tax office and also take out public risk insurance in case anyone is hurt on your land. Obviously some owner builders contract it all out. There is a magazine called owner builder and there are forums on the web about it just have a google. Wish all this info had been around when we built years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Fat Budda Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Hi OgaPoga this may be useful, we are thinking of doing the same when we get to Oz. Good Luck with the build. Build Your Own House :: Index Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wanderer Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 We built our home as owner builders and had a drafting company drawer the plans for us. We had designed the house ourselves and they drew the plans for counciil. We contracted out the parts of the house my oh could not do and saved a lot of money. To be an owner builder you have to register with the tax office and also take out public risk insurance in case anyone is hurt on your land. Obviously some owner builders contract it all out. There is a magazine called owner builder and there are forums on the web about it just have a google. Wish all this info had been around when we built years ago. As one who has done a little owner building, I'd agree with the approach Petals suggests and you could tune it either way, ie. . find an architect and just google or look in the yellow pages and if you're seeking a recommendation you could do some driving by and see if there's any places that catch your eye and knock on some doors and you'll usually find people friendly enough unless you've caught them at an awkward moment. . locally you may find architectural drafter types working from home but even if you're going to go to an architect, you'll possibly have a good idea of what you're after [maybe modifying another design sufficiently so as it is unrecognisable as anyone else's, perhaps a marriage of a few! and then you can just get quotes from different architects for full council drawings including site excavations which should include soil tests. And then you can either go as an owner builder and registration could involve doing a course depending on skills background or seek a builder and you could even find a local builder who'll be just as cheap and perhaps better than getting a mainstream builder where there could be more travelling involved for tradies whereas the local bloke probably uses tradies more local. Again, those doorknocks might lead you to some good recommendations; might even find yourself knocking on the door of a builder, but again get a few quotes and references to existing clients and banks that have provided progress payments for work they have done. But it is a way to certainly end up with the house you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kuribayashi Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 A house and land packages make great investment properties and are a great way to buy real estate and to build a home. Choose from a large range of house plans and land estates. You even put together house and land packages with land from land estates and parcels for developers who want to create house and land estates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TaniaandRob Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Have a little look at Kit Homes, Kit Barns from Australian Timber | Alternate Dwellings - they do some interesting kits so you can build your own or they will do it for you but they will also accommodate custom designs and help you design your perfect home. If you are looking at building yourself this might be a good option because once you've got your plan they deliver everything to you in a ready to go package to put together. Look at the cottage series if you want to see the designs with brick rather than wood construction. At the very least it might give you some ideas... Good Luck!:yellow_guy_smiling_ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest30038 Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Can't help you with specifics for Melbourne but this is how we went in Qld. We found a plan via a builder, that was for a narrow plot (ours only has a frontage of 15 metres) which were few and far between. It wasn't to our liking in many areas so we got the builders (Plantation Homes) to alter it to our specs with things such as an all round pergola being part of the roof line supported by brick pillars, as opposed to being an "add on". At a future time, if needed, the pergola could be enclosed simply by the addition of windows, if need be. By the time we'd finished, the original plan of the builder, bore no resemblance to what we arrived at. The alterations to the plan were at no cost as the builder was getting more money than they would have got for building the original. At completion we had actually spent 40k more than the cost of building the house "off the peg" but we got what we wanted. The build is here http://www.pomsinoz.com/forum/news-gossip-chat/62319-building-my-home.html kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Have not seen the op around and this thread is 12 months old now so guess he/she must have planned and built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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