Guide to Planning and Building a Home on a Budget
By Andrew Chung
5/5
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About this ebook
Looking to build a new home in Australia?
Guide to Planning and Building a Home on a Budget: Cost Effective Project Homes in Australia goes through the key considerations and common pitfalls that can save you a lot of stress, headaches, and money.
Inside this book Andrew provides practical guides and checklists on: Choosing a builder and home design, how to review a tender, how to read and modify plans, planning for the colours appointment, preparing an electrical plan, getting ready for construction and understanding defecting.
Straightforward and simple, this book is the tool to get you started on the journey of planning a new building
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Reviews for Guide to Planning and Building a Home on a Budget
1 rating1 review
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This was a concise and helpful guide that gives some much needed clarity on a process that is so often shrouded in complexity. It will help me make more informed decisions and save me money, time and also save me from potential regret.
Book preview
Guide to Planning and Building a Home on a Budget - Andrew Chung
Contents
Contents 3
About the Author 8
Preface 9
Understanding how the project home industry works 10
Cost Effectiveness 10
Customer Service 10
Quality 10
Escalation 10
Process 11
General project home checklist 11
Finding the right builder and home design for you 13
See which builders work in your area 13
Display Homes 13
Websites 13
Access to light and ventilation 13
Sunlight and Daylight 14
Sunlight, Daylight and Ventilation 14
Ventilation 14
Building Depth 14
Home Size 15
Small 25-28 squares 15
Medium 30-35 squares 15
Large 35-45 squares 15
Street Appeal / Facade / External Design 16
Privacy 16
Within your home 17
Neighbours 17
Internal / External transition 17
Comparative Cost 17
Web forums / reviews 18
Construction time / liquidated damages 18
Flexibility 19
Checklist 19
What Sales Consultants can’t tell you 20
Own Family needs / Future needs 20
Project types of uses 20
Project future life stages 20
Future proof for multigenerational living 20
Future proof for work from home or home business 20
Prospective resale 21
Seeking appraisals 21
Neighbourhood comparisons 21
Opportunity Cost 21
Upgrade by selling and moving 22
Do nothing 22
Stop Gap renovation 22
Extension 22
Develop project home 22
Develop custom design home 22
Development Controls 23
What controls apply to the site 23
Setbacks 23
Height 23
Shadow 23
Landscape area 23
Special Note on Trees 23
Stormwater detention 24
Taking into account neighbours redevelopment 24
Siting 24
Slope 24
Entry 24
Cut and Fill 24
Resettlement plan 25
Renting duration 25
Inspections 25
Preparing mentally for moving 25
Storage 25
Relationships 26
Checklist 26
Getting your requirements in the Tender 27
What is Tender? 27
Why is this process important 27
Sales Consultant 27
Base price and Inclusions 27
Drawings 27
Tender Options / Variations 28
Adding 28
Subtracting 28
Modifying 28
Internal Planning 28
Garage 28
Facade options 30
Site statutory requirements 30
Site physical constraints 30
Street appeal / streetscape context / visual interest 30
Materials 30
Face brick 30
Painted and Bagged brick 30
Rendered brick 30
Hebel 31
Weatherboard wall panelling 31
Timber Composite 31
Fibre Cement 31
Sunlight and daylight 31
Outlook / privacy 31
Balconies 31
Miscellaneous items 31
Additional Costs 32
Landscaping 32
Window Coverings 32
Flooring 32
Stormwater detention / easement 32
Tender Period 32
Cost for going over 33
Extending expiry date 33
Tender Checklist 33
Understanding Plans 34
Scale 34
Context 34
Alignments 34
Terminology 35
Manage Change 35
Windows 35
Size 35
Window Types 35
Fixed 36
Sliding 36
Awning 36
Louvred 36
Insulation value 36
Doors and hardware 36
Front door 36
Swing 36
Sliding / stacking 37
Bifold 37
Acoustic / privacy 37
Connections / transitions 37
Storage 37
Corridors 37
Making use of Cavities 37
Joinery walls / AV walls / fireplaces 37
Study Nooks 37
Bulk storage 38
Plans checklist 38
Preparing well for the colours appointment 39
Preparing for Colour appointment 39
Find out whats available 39
Suppliers to visit 39
Brickworks 39
Caesarstone Alexandria 39
Develop colour palette 39
Working with the colour consultant 40
Training and mindset of consultant 40
Facilitate speedy decisions 40
Upgrade variations 40
Buying time 40
Common upgrades 40
Insulation 41
Window and Sliding Door screens 41
Hot Water 41
Air Conditioning 41
Full height tiling 41
Stair 41
Ceiling feature 41
Wardrobe 41
Kitchen and bathroom cupboard finish 41
Island Bench 42
Drawers 42
Fixtures and Fittings 42
Flooring 42
After the colour selections appointment 42
Colours checklist 43
Making sense of contracts 44
Description 44
General outline of a contract 44
Particulars of Contract 44
Progress Payments 44
Excluded Items 45
Description of work 45
Other Contract documents 45
Builder Special Conditions 45
Specification 45
Colour Selections 45
Warranty and Insurance 45
Prime Cost and Provisional Sums 45
Special Conditions 45
Exclusions 45
Construction list / Tender Expiry 45
Other special conditions 46
Signatures 46
Deed of guarantee and indemnity 46
General Conditions 46
Favours Builder 48
Not amendable 48
A few things to look out for 49
Scope for further change 49
Contracts Checklist 49
Planning Approvals 50
Complying Development 50
Development Application 50
Planning approvals checklist 51
Electricals 52
Things to ask for before the appointment 52
How to layout electrical 52
Add on features 53
Future proofing 53
Electricals checklist 54
Demolition 55
Construction - Site Works 56
Stages 56
Independent Review 56
What to look for in inspections 56
Resolving disputes 56
Defects 57
Construction - Site Works Checklist 57
Post Construction 58
Moving in 58
Post Construction works / Landscaping 58
Owners manual 58
Giving back to the building community 58
Post Construction checklist 58
Bonus: Defects Inspections - 90 day Inspection List 59
Intro 59
Timeframe 59
Categories 59
What to look for 59
Summary 63
About the Author
Andrew is an architect with 20 years experience in the building and construction industry. Andrew has worked on a wide range of building types including residential, commercial, educational and public ranging in construction value from $2m-$500m.
Andrew has a demanding and fulfilling role in an award winning architectural firm, and is also a professional photographer in weddings, commercial and architectural.
He has first hand knowledge in custom and project home builds as well as renovations, having project managed his own renovation projects. Andrew has an interest in optimising how our limited resources are utilised, adding value, function and flexibility.
Andrew is interested in how functional and architecturally appropriate housing can be made accessible and cost effective to the general public.
Preface
Complex decision to build
Buying a new home is a significant investment. There are a lot of risks and rewards, and the process can take a huge financial, time and emotional burden on your family. There are many decisions to make, many processes and hurdles to pass, and yet there aren't a whole lot of resources out there to help you navigate through.
Lack of consolidated information
The people you will meet through the process have specific roles to get you from one stage to another ie colour specialists, site supervisors etc. Project home companies (otherwise known as volume home, or kit home builders) don't necessarily give you access to someone with an overview of the process, or who really understands the needs of your family, or the particularities of your site, or the real estate resale opportunities and constraints of your area.
Take charge
This ebook is a resource for project home buyers and is a culmination of observations, tips and guides to help you step through all the processes and issues involved. It will help you to setup a budget for the project, and give you information about things to allow for, that project home companies don't necessarily advise. You'll be able to plan for your project and work out whether