Owner Builder Granny Flat and Intro

Hey everyone

Firstly just wanted to say a huge thank you to all you legends who have given great advice and input into this chat. The information I have read has been incredibly helpful and insightful, so thanks so much!

A little about us: we live in the Penrith area and bought our first home in Dec 2011 for $335k and we had the house Bank Valued late last year for $580k. We have 4 sons ranging from 10 down to 3 and we are going to use this equity to build a granny flat in our backyard with the main intention being to eventually rent both the main house (a 3br and 1 shared toilet/bath is to small for 6) and the 2br granny flat out. My wife has just started a 2 day a week job and will be going full time in the next two years, so in the mean time we will rent something after the GF build. Hope this makes sense

I have just done my Owner Builder's and White Card Courses. I have 1 best mate and about 3 other builders/carpenters who are helping me out, I have other good mates who are an architect, plumbers, and sparky's. Hence why I'm doing a GF owner Builder.

I was hoping to start a thread to discuss my Owner Builder GF and also diarise/log the whole experience (mistakes and all) so it really empowers and helps others to do the same.

So, thanks for having me and any thoughts or input you might have would be heaps helpful as I'm basically learning as I'm going and obviously starting from scratch and loving this whole thing so far.

I have already started the new thread, just search for owner builder granny flat Sydney.

Jay

 

Nah, we don't need it atm mate

 

I voted "No" based on my personal experience in doing this.

We thought we were ready based on a few successful renovations -
but having a certifier involved takes it to a whole new level.

It sound like you have a team around you that will keep things on track - but
it doesn't need much to go wrong for the benefits to disappear.

 

Thanks Toni, appreciate the response. How do we avoid the stuff that goes 'wrong' with the private certifier to minimise their impact?

 

I think if you are OB a granny flat on a PPOR, that is going to be a whole lot different to doing one on an IP some place. At least you are on-site on a daily basis and so can make decisions quickly.
If it was an IP somewhere else, then a turnkey granny flat builder would probably be the best option.

 

Totally agree Alan, I know there are going to be big challenges but as you say at least I'm on site making the decisions

 

Renovate Forums is a great website for advice too.

 

Hi Bro.. Nice to read your journey to build your own granny flat.. I am from Campbelltown and planning to build a granny flay.. to suit my pocket, I also prefer to do owner builder. We really really need your help if you can please

 

I think this will cost you in two ways:
1) I had one built and it took 10 weeks. You should calculate how much extra rent you would get if you outsourced it and had it done faster.
2) You could also use the funds as a deposit on another property that would probably make it more lucrative, rather than overcapitalising on your existing block. I would have done better if I used my funds as a deposit rather than building the granny flat.
But, you will learn a great deal that will be handy in the future!