Decision seems to have been made... need assistance

[Wild Dingo]

Well it seems her highness has decided on the Highlander 35sq from Alternate Dwellings in Victoria who actually do cross the nallabour!

We are presently waiting their final quote pricings and then its to be ordered and plans submitted to the Shire...



Now the thing is they dont have builders over here in the west... so were wondering if any of yous West Aussies have a clue on how one goes about having a kit home constructed?

Due to my issues with my legs just now me putting it up isnt going to happen... so we will need someone to take that on but have no idea how to go about it

Apparently the shire reckons we will have to get an owner builder ticket along with the demolition ticket before we start... not a big worry easy actually... its the process of construction that is a bit daunting physically Im not up to it and dont have an issue accepting that...

So as we will be living in this house while the other goes up just out the back... first is a builder erector then what? Ive no bloody idea! This mob send EVERYTHING including the stumps and caps! so all they have to do is put it up and together like a meccano kit (apparently)

Any thoughts please!!
Cheers

[Pat]

Shane, have you checked with the Westie Master Builders. They maybe able to help.

PS, make sure you get power to your shed

[djfoggin]

Hi Wild Dingo,
I pass the showroom for this company twice a day on the way to work and on the way home, they look beautiful houses and I think they are giving away hardwood kitchens with them at the moment.

Very Jealous wish it was me

Dave

Well it seems her highness has decided on the Highlander 35sq from Alternate Dwellings in Victoria who actually do cross the nallabour!

We are presently waiting their final quote pricings and then its to be ordered and plans submitted to the Shire...



Now the thing is they dont have builders over here in the west... so were wondering if any of yous West Aussies have a clue on how one goes about having a kit home constructed?

Due to my issues with my legs just now me putting it up isnt going to happen... so we will need someone to take that on but have no idea how to go about it

Apparently the shire reckons we will have to get an owner builder ticket along with the demolition ticket before we start... not a big worry easy actually... its the process of construction that is a bit daunting physically Im not up to it and dont have an issue accepting that...

So as we will be living in this house while the other goes up just out the back... first is a builder erector then what? Ive no bloody idea! This mob send EVERYTHING including the stumps and caps! so all they have to do is put it up and together like a meccano kit (apparently)

Any thoughts please!!
Cheers

[Wild Dingo]

Cheers Pat thanks for that link mate I'll get onto them first thing Monday

Dave... Presently were discussing the interior fitout with them... they come in two ways...
1) to lockup... just basic kit no internal wall linings kitchen etc
2) full build... this has everything... they put it up ...they wont put it up over here tooo far away

Now number 2 is what were trying to get them to come around to so the house is essentially finished complete inside and outside and not just a hollow shell... hopefully with a bit of fandanglaing we will achieve it.

They are damnably sweet eh? Definantly a goer either way... theres nothing this side of Adelaide that compares for what they are how they present or cost (including transport!)

Anyways cheers!

[Sturdee]

Cheers Pat thanks for that link mate I'll get onto them first thing Monday

Monday is a holiday in Vic. Try Tuesday.


Peter.

[Wild Dingo]

Monday is a holiday in Vic. Try Tuesday.


Peter.

Bloody slackers always on bloody holidays them blokes Tuesday it is then

[kekemo]

Might be doing one of these myself one day soon too! If I can find that shearing shed I want, then one of these goes up too.

There is a mob in Wanneroo that has them on display, don't know the name but going past in two weeks...might be too late but will let you know.....
Love the last one.....that's similar to the one I was looking at....I don't want the kitchen included would rather do that myself....think the ones I am looking have more corrogated iron with it too...cant think of the darn name will get back to you soon....might have to ring my friend, she drive pass there often...catch you soon! bye Kerry

[Wild Dingo]

Kerry that would be great if you could... while weve pretty much decided on this one it was mainly based on the house design rather than a particular kit home supplier... the two others we found here Ross Squire (steel) and Cedar Homes (timber) were just way over the top price wise and didnt offer anything in the way of subfloors or stumps so of no use to us... we HAVE TO BE 1.5mtrs above the present ground slope level minimum to be above the now known flood level.

While we could spend an arm and a leg getting a lot of dirt bought in for a concrete pad to be laid we would rather have stumps with the open area under for the water to flow away rather than building a dam around the house which would by the way cause major issues with the shed which will be directly in line with any water buildup due to raising the ground level

Weve looked into it all pretty extensively over the last 6 months or so... and this was the only mob that had a design we liked that was big enough for us and within budget AND the biggest bonus was they would actually cross the nallabour to get it to us... the ONLY one over east that would by the way

But so far no contracts have been signed and we are still in the discussion design inclusion prices stage... so at this stage and probably for another month we are still open to other choices

I actually think our single biggest hurdle is going to be finding a registered builder who is 1) willing to erect it 2) prepared to travel to Brunswick to do so 3) wont charge us more than the building will cost to put it up.

Although Im yet to try this out on any builders its just the impression we recieved when talking to builders about designs in general... I have one Im going to contact tomorrow thanks to a fellow West Aussie forumites pm and then I should have a clearer idea in this regard.

It may well still end up being up to us to put it up... and then beleive you me there will be a plea from yours truely for some of you mob to do a road trip to give us a hand... cause sure as shyte if I do it just me and the boys you can almost bet your bottom flamin dollar something WILL go wrong... and cause we will be working without a clue between us we will a) take a year of sundys to erect something that should only take a month of sundys to do b) give us all ulcers and bad tempers c) cause a major mood shift in her highnesses feelings toward her godlike hubby

BUT!! I hope to get a builder... and will see what we can do

Yeah she would like me to do the kitchen and other stuff as well Kerry but as I told her "If you want to be in the new house before your 50 (shes presently 45) then best to get the kitchen and other stuff with it"... I'll replace it after were in it... important thing is to get it up and this one down and gone as soon as possible to make a more positive life for us all

Up to today the kids were seriously irritated with us for having decided to NOT buy another place in Australind... but when we showed them the design and told them that this would very likely be the one we build the cry went up "A TWO STORY PAD?? WHAAHOOOOO!" we had to shout them down regarding the top floor cause that is ours but the mood shift was extreme... and the changes to their views of the place went up a notch just as it did when we moved down here... it sorta got a serious kickin in the gonads with the flood which none of us have quite gotten over... this new house will get it back... so up and in as soon as possible is best

[billbeee]

Hi Wild Dingo,
One thing that comes to mind and I guess you have done so, but it does no harm to ram it home. Make absolutely sure that the design and engineering etc. will be approved by your local regulators, before you sign on the dotted line.

I once erected a kit home (Hexadome) and it cost the owner heaps to get up to our standard (Darwin).

It looks like a good design, I like the verandahs.
Good luck with It. I'm looking forward to many posts when you get it up and running.
Cheers
Bill

[Wild Dingo]

Hi Wild Dingo,
One thing that comes to mind and I guess you have done so, but it does no harm to ram it home. Make absolutely sure that the design and engineering etc. will be approved by your local regulators, before you sign on the dotted line.

I once erected a kit home (Hexadome) and it cost the owner heaps to get up to our standard (Darwin).

It looks like a good design, I like the verandahs.
Good luck with It. I'm looking forward to many posts when you get it up and running.
Cheers
Bill

Just how the bloody blue blazes is one meant to do that Bill?? The stage we get the plans to submit to shire is AFTER we sign on the dotted line!! Other than the little drawings (no dimensions electrics etc) and the information UNTIL we sign isnt enough for the shire to make a decision... in the words of the shire President "You need to submit the plans and the building department will look at them and depending on their opinion what happens from there" So please tell me how we are meant to do that?

Only preset we have is that this house and the majority of houses in the area are built the same... on stumps (may well ask for Jarrah stumps) of timber (timber framed) with tin roofs few look anything like this one were looking at... and I dont think any have been built here in the West yet (there apparently have been two of this companies homes built here in the last year but not this design and up the other side of Perth) due to the damned east coasters fear of crossing the sodding bloody nallabour!! So just how are we meant to do that mate?

Anyways... not angry or anything just bewildered as to how were meant to do this without getting more than the preliminary (read no info other than very basic) plans and making the deposit ala signing

Cheers

[Big Shed]

Ding,

Shouldn't be very hard to make contract subject to council approval, otherwise full refund of deposit? Even if you let them keep a nominal sum to compensate for their trouble.

You can't buy a "pig in a poke", it is their responsibility to supply a house that meets council regulations.

[Wild Dingo]

No worries mate... I'll give them a hoi tomorrow morning and see what they reckon

[johnnyroberts]

they are great looking houses, friends up the road had their house replaced with a kit home (lost first house to fire) they had similar issue with council approval and the plans, I'm fairly sure the kit home company (most obliging when it comes to a sale) were able to send plans direct to council for them to gork at and rubber stamp if not the contract clause sound like a winner. bloke if you got crook legs make sure everything you won't is downstairs,thunderbox fridge etc
john

[billbeee]

Ding,
I guess what I am saying is do a bit of research, try to find out if any have been completed in your area, or failing that find out if there are any significant differences in building regs where you are and where the manufacturer is.


Maybe they will give you more details. Ask if they comply with the BCA.

I guess I am just being overly cautious, I live in a cyclonic area and I've seen so many things, mainly shed kits that that have had to be totally reworked to comply with our standards, where the manufacturer had assured the customer that all was approval was guaranteed.

Cheers
Bill.

[Wild Dingo]

No worries Bill... thanks

Ive just spent an hour on the blower with the bloke in Melbourne... nice chap by the way... anyway they have now apparently got an "agent" here in WA... in Bailingup (ala just up the road! ) but will get all the quoting done via Andrew over east

I dont know but my experiences of "agents" of eastern states companies and those for overseas companies hasnt been all that good over the years they have this tendancy of jacking the price up beyond the commission... I explained this to Andrew and although he assured me that this bloke wouldnt as the commission is included in the price set from over east he doesnt mind doing it then once its down the track this other bloke being local can step in (ala for the land survey etc)

No issues with the changes we want except one... we wanted a set of french doors and a balcony up top instead of the middle dormer but this apparently would require major changes... no worries... everything else is okay

The only other issue is that I will almost DEFINATLY end up having to do the internals myself... as they only send the kit over here which means just the basic external kit to lockup (inside will have the wall skeletons floors stairs and upper floor only nothing else... mmm so just a flamin shell... buggarbumbastard eh? ah well no worries... just have to suck it up and find the time and body to do it I guess

Final price will come in at around $130,000 delivered... should leave around 170000 for the erection and other stuff which will hopefully be enough Will now give Barnseys mate a hoi an see what he reckons about cost to come down and bung her up

Oh and I called into the shire yesty on the way home showed them what Id so far recieved and "given this information Id say there would be no problems from a shire perspective Shane just make sure the stumps put you at the least 200mm above the present flood level" NO FRIGGIN SHYTE SHERLOCK!! Were going 500mm above and more depending on extra cost factor to do so! Heck Id have a sodding Queenslander 3mtrs above the damned flood level if I have my way... but anyway this looks a right goer

Kerry?? Tap tap tap??? Have you a name for that company up in Wanneroo yet?

Cheers all

Great website Bill