Developing in Adelaide

Makes sense now. I was trying to work out how you were getting everything done for 150.

My build is 140 + concrete, fencing, rainwater tank & pump, dishwasher, curtains and landscaping.

It really adds up doesn't it!

 

Every new build has this problem, the after costs.I use 10% of the build cost to allow for landscape,window treatments,air con,tv aerial, hills hoist etc etc etc

 

So here's the latest:

- Concreter was scheduled to come out and measure and quote and called to reschedule for tomorrow when I was half way to the property today
- Fence guy came out and measured today, I await his quote
- One of the dwellings has been locked up. Front door and garage entrance door have been installed, the others are all sliding doors which have now been locked. Looking thru the windows, internal doors have been hung too. The other dwelling is not yet up to this stage and is still open and sans doors.
- While there today I measured all the windows for future curtains
- Builder says kitchen is scheduled for install 14th October
- They gave an estimated handover / completion date in the range of 25 Nov to 9 Dec.
- Neighbor still having a whinge about the fence and plans to take me to tribunal. Bring it on.

 

Don't upset the neighbor, they can be your best friend sometimes.

 

- Both houses are locked now.
- Was finally able to meet concrete guy onsite yesterday; its going to take more work than I thought. Lots of cutting dirt out and also rainwater drains.
- Trying to coordinate fence guy to work in with concrete guy so they don't get in each others way
- Will need to get all the back yard stuff like rain water tank and plants etc onsite pre fence as access will be quite restricted otherwise
- Was charged a bit to convert natural gas Conn to lpg , nothing compared to the 18k. Chalk it up as a lesson to check 1st

 

- Fencing quote came back over night for ~$7500 for Colorbond Good Neighbor sides and back (including gates near the meter boxes) and black tubular stuff for the front garden.
- Met a good landscaper named @Liam Blanden on site this morning to discuss ideas of what to do for front and rear yards there. Appreciate his thoughts on plant choice and placement. May give paving a go myself to bring costs down. A few other areas are already over budget.
- Went to the tiles place where I got my tiles quote from. This was originally just done with plans before building even started. I noticed online that the tiles I had chosen were on special so I got them re-quoted at the on-sale price.
This was the one originally chosen (Euphoria Charcoal Gloss Ceramic, wear and tear rating of 3):

This is the one I saw while there, same price and looks nicer (Lively Grey Polished Porcelain, wear and tear rating of 5):

- Went to the carpet place I got my original carpet quote from to see what I had picked. They quoted it via email just with plans when I began building, but today I went in to see what they had chosen. They've obtained a key from the builder so they're going to go measure this week to confirm the quote and then they're ready to be booked in for day after handover. This isn't flash carpet by any means, got the one with good wear and tear rating.

 

Coming along nicely!
Thinking about the next one yet or too busy on this still?

 

Yeah, I love to keep my eye on real estate. Both my investment hobby and my profession demand it, so I've seen some stuff around - would probably prefer to reno next I think.

 

@D.T. did you mention which builder you are using? I'm in Adelaide now trying to help my parents find a builder for a Main Residence. The build quality at the Oakford display homes is very good. I also like their designs more than others I have seen.

 

Hey mate
I'm using Statesman Homes (owned by the same company as Hickinbotham is). It's a lower end builder (as dictated by my project) but I really preferred their quality / finish over the others i saw in display home areas. I'm not sure they'd be the right spec for your parents PPOR. Which area is it in and what does their budget look like?

I went to displays in Playford, Blakes Crossing and Northgate/Lightsview and Oakford doesn't ring a bell to me I'm sorry.

 

Heres some numbers I'm working on for all the finishing bits the builder isn't including.

 

Nice one. Quite similar to my development numbers but I got a surplus of $50k after getting every cent that I put in back and got 20% equity on 2 new houses for free and 10% on 1 existing ( after selling 2 land).

Just wish that I got more borrowing capacity to start another one(blames newborn baby and APRA) . Even when all my properties are 7.5%+ yield!!) Ahhh well, I'll just have to sit on the side fence and watch you guys have all the fun~

 

With the paving DIY remember to compact before you lay - half the crap cowboys out there won't do it and your pavers will move/sink. And do haunch the edges of the paving to stop it moving around.

 

Agreed. Better use machinery to compact

 

Believe me you cant go past Oakford for a PPOR.Service is excellent.My Mount Barker home is testement to that.

 

A couple of things today
- Found a really cheap tiler, am going to go have a look at his recently completely work to ensure he's the goods.
- Went to go have a look at pavers for out the back
Can't really see it in the picks, but one of these is 400x400x45 textured pavers which are $65 per square meter and the others are 500x500x45 plain square pavers at $55 per square meter. I can buy either as seconds for $22.50 per square meter. Thinking of the 500 ones (because then I can mark out the area in whole meters and not have to cut any) in the charcoal colour as that'll probably go with the rest of my stuff the best. Wondering if they'll absorb the heat and be too hot to walk on though?

 

I just built with Oakford homes for my PPOR (handover Feb this year) but only been in house for 6 months. So far so good, but their paint job (Solver flat acrylic) and the 2 coat system is so bad (my xmas job is repainting the hallway with a different colour and dulux (seal and coat) and touching up some of the rooms! Previously built with Format homes who are good but pricey now.

DT - re: pavers - in the long run, charcoal will fade which is alright, not that hot to walk on. I had that and also the "oatmeal" colour paver which does get dirty too.

 

Never ever cut pavers, just make the area multiples of the dimensions

Charcoal is the obvious choice for less mess showing up on but will be a little hot. That is an awesome price - even if they are seconds.

 

They are really nice pavers and I like the charcoal best too. I have seen them laid and haven't noticed too much trouble with heat, although I wasn't in bare feet, so...

 

15 October 2015

Kitchen got delivered

Cornice and skirting

Door frames

- Deposit paid on fencing and carpet
- Going ahead with previous mentioned pavers
- Found an even cheaper tiler, so went to go inspect his latest work to ensure he's legit.