Help! Building a House on a Irregular Block of Land

Lchkz84 on 02/09/2017 - 18:58

Hi awesome OzBargain community,

I have recently bought a block of land in the western suburbs of Melbourne. It is irregular and I need to have it built.

I want a double story house built. Over 90% of normal home designs by mass builders like Metricon, Henley, etc do not fit on my block. I am trying to find tools (apps) etc to design a house. I will also be looking at some builders to quote, architect to design the house for the builder, etc. I am going to start building in September 2018.

Anyone who has been through this? Any suggestions? Anyone who is in the same boat? Happy to share my journey and learnings as well.

Please help, if you would have any good advice for me.

Thanks in advance!

Home & Garden

Comments

  • subywagon on 02/09/2017 - 19:43
    +1

    Try the propertychat.com.au forums. Someone should be able to help you there. Good luck!

  • Korban Dallas on 02/09/2017 - 19:58
    +6

    For someone who is in the building industry with a large volume builder….

    I get these custom plans architect designed an awful lot, quote it up and it is way way outside of their budget.

    Do not get an architect to design something. It is most of the time out of the budget and hard to build. You end up wasting money on plans. Speak to a builder. Get their drafting team to modify an existing house or create a new design.

  • chumlee on 02/09/2017 - 19:59
    +1

    Why not get an architect or draftsman to cone up with design/s for you?

    • Peter Enis on 02/09/2017 - 20:48
      +5

      to cone up

      Yeah a few bongs together and you'll have some sweet designs dude.

  • spider man on 02/09/2017 - 20:24
    +1

    Find a Custom Home Builder

    • Korban Dallas on 02/09/2017 - 23:33
      +2

      Not necessary, just a draftsman who works very closely with your chosen builder.

  • try2bhelpful on 02/09/2017 - 22:50
    +2

    Go have a look at the master builders association website and bring in a bunch of builders to talk to. YOu don't need to go to an architect if you can get a good builder with a good draughtsman.

    http://www.mbav.com.au/MbavLeadin.aspx

    Get a builder with a number of good references and have a look at what they have worked on. You probably won't get anything fancy but it will be practical.

    • Korban Dallas on 02/09/2017 - 23:31
      +1

      Try productreview

      • try2bhelpful on 03/09/2017 - 12:03
        +1

        4.1 out of 5 for 8 reviews isn't bad. To the OP - We have used the Master Builders twice. Once when we renovated our warehouse and another when we did up the garden. Both were pretty substantial pieces of work and both builders were great. We didn't use an Architect for either. The original warehouse conversion was 23 years ago and people can't believe how ageless our place still is. The secret is to not fall for the latest "fad" in building materials or gimmicks. We stuck with solid colours, stainless steel for the kitchen bench and splashback and lots of cupboard space. Check the practicality of everything you put in and think about how your usage might change over time. Best of Luck with the build.

  • GangGang on 02/09/2017 - 23:13
    +1

    Visit your display village closest to you. There should be a home builder that designs & builds specifically for narrow lots. Sydney has several display villages & there are narrow builders. Find out how many there are near you.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/09/2017 - 23:20
    +2

    There is a good chance that you will overcapitalise. Those block in the west of Melbourne have little actual value, and only those mass builders can make a house economically viable (because they build rubbish quality houses en mass for very little money). Custom home building is much more expensive (I just added a 16sqm hallway to my house and the total cost is more than building a whole house from someone like Metricon. I would suggest the OP should sell the block and buy a square one.

    • Korban Dallas on 02/09/2017 - 23:31
      +2

      If they use standard finishes and fixtures, it shouldn't be really much more. Just custom drafting and maybe a higher margin 2 - 5% of the total build typically.

  • Korban Dallas on 02/09/2017 - 23:30
    +1

    As far as designing your own home start with a disclosure plan so you can determine your building envelope / setbacks.Try homestyler: https://www.homestyler.com/floorplan/?&lang=en_US

    Sketchup also is good.

  • y on 02/09/2017 - 23:42
    +2

    Is it actually for you to live in yourself or just an investment?

    If it's for you, hire an architect if you care about good design and want something unique and customised for you.

    I'm very glad I did for my substantial house reno.

    The cost of the architect will typically be something like 10-14% of the building contract sum and is will worth it.

    That will include them managing the planning application process for you, all design work as well as helping select a builder through a tender process and overseeing construction.

    • chkz84 on 03/09/2017 - 06:23

      It's for us to live.

      Yes I get your point. Thank you

  • TheBilly on 03/09/2017 - 10:02
    +4

    Define irregular? Is it like a 45 degree sloping? 60m x 7m? The definition matters? Sewer through the middle?

    • chkz84 on 06/09/2017 - 02:40

      33m front, 10.5m back, 31.6m left, 22.1m right side.

      'L' shaped house can be built on this land. 550sqm is the total area.

  • HeWhoKnows on 03/09/2017 - 16:24
    +1

    Firstly CONGRATULATIONs on your purchase!
    No block of land is the same and its amazing how many are sloping - MOST of them!
    Project home builders will build anything these days.
    They just modify a plan to suit and some will even custom design one for you.
    They can give you site preparation costs and buidling costs up front and do the plans for you.
    Suggest you approach some project home builders and ask them directly.
    Just have a plan of your land ready together with photos to give them an idea.
    Good luck!

  • driver33b on 04/09/2017 - 15:00
    +1

    The US build a lot of different home designs you could get heaps of ideas from…an example http://daphman.com/small-2-story-house-plans/

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