Preliminaries

PRELIMINARIES

As we continue with our articles on the building process here is the latest where we talk about the preliminaries required.

This is where we start to make your dream home a reality by bringing together all your ideas, design input while ensuring we capture your individuality and formulate them into solid plans that can be used to build your dream home.

Here are the steps to do that:

  • Site Survey -  Collecting the information that will aid in the development of the completed design and establish boundaries, features and Ground Levels for  your building block.  Site plans should also outline location of utility services, setback requirements, easements, location of driveways and walkways, and sometimes even topographical data that specifies the slope of the terrain.
  • House Plan – is a set of construction or working drawings (sometimes still called blueprints) that define all the construction specifications of a residential house such as dimensions, materials, layouts, installation methods and techniques. To see a full list of plans provided by Scope Drafting and Design CLICK HERE
  • Engineer – A structural Engineer is used to design structural elements of the house and surrounding works such as retaining walls, pools etc. In general, they analyze, design, plan, and research structural components and structural systems to achieve design goals and ensure the safety and comfort of users or occupants. Their work takes into account the safety, technical, economic and environmental concerns, but they may also consider aesthetic and social factors.
  • Energy Efficiency Certification – provides a means of rating individual buildings – whether they be residential, commercial or public – (on how efficient or inefficient) they are in relation to the amount of energy needed to provide users with expected degrees of comfort on many factors including: local climate; the design of the building; construction methods and materials; systems installed to provide heating, ventilation, air condition or hot sanitary water and the appliances and equipment needed to support the functions of the building and its users. To obtain a building license all new buildings are required to meet a minimum standard of energy efficiency.

If you have any further questions regarding PRELIMINARIES ,  the team at Scope Drafting and Design would be happy to help.

Remember Scope Drafting and Design can help with all your owner builder questions, house plans, energy ratings and building design queries.

Please contact Scope Drafting and Design or phone 08 9537 2000

Owner Builder Finance – What You Need To Know.

Preparation is the key to being a successful owner builder. This is a common theme of the information you find here on Scope Drafting and Design.

Nowhere is this more important than when you are planning your finances. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to ensure you have your finances sorted:

Owner Builder Finance

Owner Builder Finance



- Can I afford to build the house I am having designed and drafted on the block I want?

- Have I considered all the costs involved so that I can fully finish the project once I start?

- Can I afford the ongoing costs of this home?

- Will my finance arrangements enable me to commence and complete an owner builder project?

Scope Drafting and Design can help you design your home within your budget and guide you to the resources you need to ensure your budget is correct.

In most cases the major factor in determining a budget is your bank or financial institution. This can be a difficult process for owner builders. Why?

Well,  banks are pessimists and always assume the worst. They assume you will fail as an owner builder and will not complete the house.  How does this affect your loan? If you do not make your repayments and the bank forecloses they want an asset to sell. Remember they have factored in that you will not finish your house – and a half finished house is not easy to sell.

This can be overcome in 3 main ways:

  1. Provide other assets as security to cover the building loan
  2. Provide quotes for the work you will be doing from all the trades involved and then have the bank pay out those trades after the work has been done
  3. Pay for the work yourself in stages and then have your house re-valued and refinanced to reflect the new value.(Warning: This last method can adversely affect your credit rating due to the constant finance applications)

Please remember this is general advice and not intended to be financial advice. Please speak to your financial institution for specific information.

Come talk to Scope Drafting and Design to find out how we can help you owner build, or design and construct your dream home or renovation.

Remember we don’t charge to talk and our advice is free, so pick up the phone or drop us an email.

Till Next Time

Nathan Peart