Tell me about building your house.

[Cherished]

How long did it take? It will vary to much depending on the builder you use, I recommend using one that will guarantee a time frame and if they fall short they pay your rent or home loan. Most of our delays were in the planning stage where we had to keep sending it back becuase they kept leaving things out that we had asked them to change... VERY frustrating lol
How much did you go over budget? we stuck to the budget, that's a matter of discipline I guess. Work out what you can afford and find things to fit it or work out what you want and how much it'll cost and go from there.
What were the hidden/unexpected costs that you encountered? if you change the base plan the builder will charge for all the changes so find around about how much that would be if you are using an existing plan. Other charges are teh fees to the council and and engineer to check retaining walls etc, but the builder should be able to advise you of that.
What would you do differently next time? ummmmmm, get started on the plan sooner, as I mentioned we didn't think we'd have to keep sending it back.
Anything else you want to tell me? Get it all done when you are building, as in don't say that you'll do things later because they never get done lol also if there is an option to get things through the builder than do that rather than getting yourself jsut to save a few hundred dollars. eg, our spa could have been purchased through the builder but we got it ourself from a spa shop and it was a bit cheaper. The problem was that the spa shop didn't deliver on time and because it was our fault that building was delayed the builder can then charge us a certain amount each day that they are delayed

[Traveller]

We bought the land months beforehand, and waited until we could afford to build so it took slightly less time because of that.

We started discussions with the builder in May, started building aaaaages later (can't remember exactly) and were in the house by May the following year. The main problems we had was with the builder refusing to give us quotes for double glazing as they would be too expensive, then reluctantly agreeing to get us the quote, and finally giving us excuses as to why he could not put double glazing in. we got it in the end but it felt like a constant battle.

Also there were presumptions made (like where we wanted our electricity sockets) were were told we could pick, and they were just put in without consultation (and many in the wrong places). If we built again I would be making sure I was on top of small details like that because it's the sort of thing that annoys forever.

[Jakabella]

Im interested to as when we sell this place I am strongly wanting to get a house and land package built in the same town - live in it for a few yrs then sell and by a farm.

[Lulu]

Have you thought about a prefab building? They look like a LOT less hassle - there is a place down here in Kilsyth that builds them. They were on Grand Designs. The whole thing takes about 3 months in the factory and ONE WEEK to put together including all fixtures and fittings. No problems with weather etc.

That's what I'm doing next time!

ETA - The place is called Prebuilt Housing Solutions.