Trust Worthy/Reliable Private or Custom Builder in Melbourne to Recommend?

LBaaBee on 18/03/2025 - 22:24
Last edited 18/03/2025 - 23:34

We are thinking to build on a sub divided land at the back of our current/existing home (front). Obviously wont be easy to get those high volume builders like Metricon/Boutique etc to do a job on sub-divided land. Our only options are private/custom builders. As stated in subject we're melbournians. Looking at single storey, average size approx 25sqm living space. Our budget somewhere between $400 to $500k, not sure if this is a reasonable budget. Hoping anyone here who has done something similar recently and had some positive experiences with their builders please share what you know, any tips or advices would be greatly appreciated.

Also keen to hear what you learnt along the way any dos or donts, please feel free to share your story or contact of builder. Thank you

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Wiadro on 18/03/2025 - 22:45
    +2

    you would prob be fine with a volume builder

    • BaaBee on 18/03/2025 - 23:31

      most or nearly all volume builders refused to build on a sub divide block especially on the back of an existing home, if you know one please recommend

      • AustriaBargain on 19/03/2025 - 03:13

        I wonder what 500k gets you for prebuilt houses dropped into the lot by crane, sitting in sleds or however they do it. My aunt had one decades and I remember it feeling just like a regular home from the inside, just raised off the ground.

        • netjock on 19/03/2025 - 11:59

          Problem is still need to be custom built in a factory. Rear unit issues are usually with window locations and shading of neighbours.

          Without the slab which contributes to the star rating it might be hard to do a prefab.

          I look at the prefab route. There is some good designs cheap. Like 20sq for $100k then you just build it on top the slab you are responsible for pouring.

          • tenpercent on 19/03/2025 - 14:26

            @netjock:

            I look at the prefab route. There is some good designs cheap. Like 20sq for $100k then you just build it on top the slab you are responsible for pouring.

            Where did you look for that?

  • jv on 18/03/2025 - 22:56
    -2

    Trust worthy/reliable private or custom builder in Melbourne to recommend?

    It's not hard to build your own.

    Just use https://pcpartpicker.com/

  • Ocker on 19/03/2025 - 08:25
    +1

    With the current track record for builders, a good build today could file for bankruptcy tomorrow.

    • netjock on 19/03/2025 - 12:00

      The newer and more flashy the ute the more likely you'll get overcharge and they end up bankrupt.

  • George Washington on 19/03/2025 - 08:49

    whoever that guy on tiktok recommneds or passes

  • 87percent on 19/03/2025 - 09:11
    +1

    Just before COVID, one of my neighbours started to build a 2nd unit at the back of their current house. Everything started well, and was told "18months maximum". Then COVID kicked in and his build was basically whittled down to 1 guy coming. He started with a volume builder, and now 2 builders later, his house STILL isn't finished

    The amount of trouble he has gone through is actually bordering on comical.

    • netjock on 19/03/2025 - 12:02

      Knew someone who is owner builder (he is a tradie himself) and he told me it took 2 years to build 2 single story units on a block. Reason is all the tradies start 20 jobs and drag it out (capacity constraints means they could really only do 10 jobs a year but they start 20 so end up 2 years to do 20 jobs).

      And they complain about why housing completions are down and productivity is low.

  • Duckie2hh on 19/03/2025 - 09:32

    Trust Worthy
    Reliable
    budget somewhere between $400 to $500k

    Pick 2 out of the 3.

  • Austin 316 on 19/03/2025 - 09:38

    What area of Melbourne? Budget will depend on that.

    • netjock on 19/03/2025 - 12:02

      Yeah.

      I heard from some people the builder takes a good stab at how much your land is worth and how much the market value then try to scoop up a lot of the profit from you.

  • foodsnob on 19/03/2025 - 10:21
    +2

    etong space capsule house from ms aluminum. cut cut her

  • wallet72 on 19/03/2025 - 10:59

    just put something in the contract that says no payment at any stage will be made until work is inspected and passed by an independent building inspector from a list, and list 5 or 6 reputable inspectors (ones that come out and crawl through the build like a real inspector should)

    If your builder won't sign, don't use him.

    • pharkurnell on 19/03/2025 - 11:50

      It'll never get built by anyone with that clause.

  • netjock on 19/03/2025 - 12:05

    I'd suggest you go down the owner builder route.

    At least you have control over contractors.

    Builders contract everything else out anyway. In the end they get you a builder warranty which isn't worth the paper it is written on (look into it. It still states the builder has to rectify the defects unless they are deceased, company goes bust etc) so you'll have great fun trying to get any defect rectified.

    Owner builder you can do one every 6 years (from memory) and you need to have it inspected (for defects) if you want to sell before that time, any defects you have to remediate.

    You'll probably save $100k as an owner builder. Just get building inspectors to go hard at every stage.

    • cloudy on 19/03/2025 - 14:04
      -1

      But, don't you need to know or learn about building codes, and what to do first before xyz etc…

    • tenpercent on 19/03/2025 - 14:29

      More than $100k when you consider the alternative is paying $100k extra of either your after tax money or borrowed money.

      • netjock on 19/03/2025 - 15:51

        Will cost more than that if things go wrong.

        Had a colleague who went through 2 builders, 11 years to build a place. Still wasn't finished. I don't even think it was a difficult build.

        Most important thing is to ask the architect to be practical with the ask. Harder you make it the harder it is for tradies with high school level education to execute it.

        • tenpercent on 19/03/2025 - 16:37

          So are you saying not to go down the owner-builder route because your colleague was messed around by 2 builders?

          11 years is shockingly long.

          And yes I agree, make the plan easy to execute (less things will go wrong).

          • netjock on 19/03/2025 - 17:56

            @tenpercent: I am going down the owner builder route because builders are just messing about.

            I was in a Cert IV building and construction course last year.

            Fellow students are saying. Builders and tradies are over quoting new clients to make up for losses when contracts go bad. That is part of the reason why there is such a wide variation in price. It is what happens when you get high schoolers who barely pass maths trying to quote properly and screwing it up.

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