Buying land and building on it.... some questions...

[Ixion]

Well then that sucks... builders, plumbers, electricians = LOTS of hours labour = LOTs of money

You also need to figure in a concrete pad and foundations, floor covering, drapes, light fittings paint (I think) , lots of other small stuff that adds up.

Yes, what you get in the kitset is just that, a big pile of trusses and assorted bits of timber.

Can still be a cheap way to go, especially if you're not in a hurry. Even if you can't do the work yourself, if you have plenty of time you can arrange under the table jobs , a bit here a bit there.

Oh, if you're a way from town you'll need a septic tank or equivalent for sewage. That can cost. Old days, y'just dug a long drop but nowdays council would have a fit. Of course , if you're not OFFICIALLY using the building for residential purposes , "Its just a storage shed, honest", then its a matter of what you can put up with.

I was born in a house with no electricity, plumbing, running water or toilets. We never missed them, y'don't really need all that stuff. Four walls , a roof and a decent fireplace and you've got all any man needs.

[LilSel]

Even if you can't do the work yourself, if you have plenty of time you can arrange under the table jobs , a bit here a bit there.

... Esp if you network...

[placidfemme]

You also need to figure in a concrete pad and foundations, floor covering, drapes, light fittings paint (I think) , lots of other small stuff that adds up.

Yes, what you get in the kitset is just that, a big pile of trusses and assorted bits of timber.

Can still be a cheap way to go, especially if you're not in a hurry. Even if you can't do the work yourself, if you have plenty of time you can arrange under the table jobs , a bit here a bit there.

Yup... this is what they include (apparantly)

http://www.a1homes.co.nz/fullcontract.html

Full Contract Materials List
Effective 3 May 2006

List of materials supplied as part of an A1 Homes Full Contract home. This list should be treated as a guide only - materials may vary from area to area. Please check with your nearest license holder.

Permit plans Ready for your local council
Site works (opt) Based on a level site unless otherwise quoted
Insurance Full comprehensive construction
Foundations Concrete floor slab or piles to NZ3604 Standard (based on maximum 150mm of topsoil)
Wall frames Exterior framing 90 x 45 H1 Plus treated precut and prenailed
Interior framing 75 x 45 kiln dried precut and prenailed
Roof framing Gang nail trusses precut and prenailed
Roof Colour steel long run corrugate or T-Rib profiles complete with nails and flashings
Cladding Shadowclad or 240mm smooth Hardiplank or Monotek
Fascia 200 x 25 dressed LOSP treated pine
Spouting Marley PVC gutter with PVC round down pipes
Windows Fairview aluminium joinery with clear glass and paint quality jambs
Ceiling battens 75 x 40 kiln dried strapping
Insulation R1.8 wall and R2.2 ceiling batts
Interior linings 10mm Gib plasterboard to walls and ceilings
10mm Gib Aqualine to bathroom areas
Scotia 55mm Gib cove and No. 8 mould
Skirting No. 20 mould
Shelving MDF to wardrobes 90 x 19 dressed to HWC
Interior doors Prehung MDF flush doors in slimline jambs
Door hardware Lockwood Guardsman (satin chrome)
Wardrobe rails Pryda
Kitchen Formica rolled edge bench tops and single bowl stainless steel sink insert, Meltecca prefinished carcase, Meltrim edge doors with chrome D pull handles
Laundry tub Dissco smart tub
Appliances Simpson La Bella underbench oven and hobb
Simpson 52B850 dishwasher
Simpson RDN6W rangehood
Shower/s Englefield 900 x 900 acrylic shower walls and tray with glass pivot doors
Bathroom 750 and/or 900mm vanity units
Englefield 1675mm bath
Plumbing Caroma Concorde dual-flush Tasman toilet
180 litre Rheem mains pressure hot water cylinder
Chrome single lever mixers
Slide shower rose to showers
Chrome wastes
Service connections All within 10 metres, thereafter $40 per metre. Includes power, telephone and water (excluding water meter installation)
Garage door (opt) Powder-coated sectional door with auto-opener
Colour consultant Free for 2 hours (Auckland area only)

As for the bit here and bit there... shouldn't be too much of a problem I guess... lots of helping hands... Sam's brother is an electrician and no doubt they'll know people and maybe if this pans out I can for some help here on KB... lots of talented people on here

[placidfemme]

arggg... just got a reply from them... have to find a builder:

Hi Tammy,

Yes you will still need to hire a builder to erect your kitset home as the
kitset only includes to supply the material.

Kind regards
Mark Kapa
A1 Homes- Ruakaka

bastards...

[LilSel]

arggg... just got a reply from them... have to find a builder:

bastards...

Ask them what kinda ball park figure you'd be looking at...
Surely they'd have some kinda an idea

[placidfemme]

Ask them what kinda ball park figure you'd be looking at...
Surely they'd have some kinda an idea

good idea!

*sends off email*

[DMNTD:Me]

....or you could simply buy my historic 1893 kauri cottage in Opononi...comes with land and is already built

[placidfemme]

....or you could simply buy my historic 1893 kauri cottage in Opononi...comes with land and is already built

I spoke to Sam about it... and she said it was too far away, I'm not good on distances.... how much land and how many bedrooms?

[Paul in NZ]

The ‘get away from it all’ ideal always seems like a grand plan…. Until you do it and you suddenly realize it costs a LOT to live that way. Not just in $$ terms but in the hours and hours you invest in the land to get something semi worthwhile.

Before you spend money you don’t have – go ask a few people that have done it if they would do it again. Unless one of you is super passionate about it and prepared to sacrifice everything for the dream – don’t do it.

We have 1400m2 of garden. About a third is ‘finished’ and a third is half way there and the rest is in ‘one day’ mode. I spend at least a half day every weekend and at least two full days every month maintaining it and trying to move onwards. Lessons?

Natives and mulch are your friends.
Some weeds you have to spray.
You have to be committed.
Animals are a major commitment.
You cannot leave some jobs until you get back from your ride….

It works for us. Vicki pretends she likes oily old bikes and I pretend to like gardening and guess what, over time we found that we have 2 passions to share, yes, some days I’d rather bovver about in the garden than ride.

However, we live in a semi rural suburb. It would be twice the work in a rural setting and you WILL end up with serious money invested in machinery. My mate has more $$ invested in his ride on mower than his car and can’t wait to sell his lifestyle block….

[LilSel]

….

Awesome pics Paul

[DMNTD:Me]

I spoke to Sam about it... and she said it was too far away, I'm not good on distances.... how much land and how many bedrooms?

LOL...was pulling ya leg Tammy *mostly*
1308m² and a mere 2 bedroom cottage. It's well worth the cheap price that it is but not viable for you guys

[placidfemme]

The ‘get away from it all’ ideal always seems like a grand plan…. Until you do it and you suddenly realize it costs a LOT to live that way. Not just in $$ terms but in the hours and hours you invest in the land to get something semi worthwhile.

Before you spend money you don’t have – go ask a few people that have done it if they would do it again. Unless one of you is super passionate about it and prepared to sacrifice everything for the dream – don’t do it.

We have 1400m2 of garden. About a third is ‘finished’ and a third is half way there and the rest is in ‘one day’ mode. I spend at least a half day every weekend and at least two full days every month maintaining it and trying to move onwards. Lessons?

Natives and mulch are your friends.
Some weeds you have to spray.
You have to be committed.
Animals are a major commitment.
You cannot leave some jobs until you get back from your ride….

It works for us. Vicki pretends she likes oily old bikes and I pretend to like gardening and guess what, over time we found that we have 2 passions to share, yes, some days I’d rather bovver about in the garden than ride.

However, we live in a semi rural suburb. It would be twice the work in a rural setting and you WILL end up with serious money invested in machinery. My mate has more $$ invested in his ride on mower than his car and can’t wait to sell his lifestyle block….

Thanks for the advice... I wanna buy out there purely for the bush aspect, I don't want cows, pigs, sheep or any of those random farm animals... just dog's and maybe chickens and maybe cats (if Sam twists my arm enough). Otherwise no other animals. In my head (its a scary place lol) our garden would be about the size of yours if not a little smaller... the rest of the land as I mentioned I'd want to stay as native bush.

Sam and I are both very homely people... other than the odd ride here and there, we spend 90% of our free time at home pottering around, and I can see us doing the same thing in norfland but enjoying it MUCH more because its ours, and we'll have more stuff to do

[mstriumph]

Living on a smallholding about 12kms from a small village about 100k from perth in west aus.

Place had a relocated, unrenovated '20s workers cottage, an unconnected watertank, two trees and fencing on the two road boundaries when i got it ........ structurally sound, new stumps [obviously] power connected, re-wired but otherwise a basket case

BUT the village is on the Perth rail commuter-line and the place itself is a couple of minutes from a network of great country ride roads [ok - not up to nz standards but good for here] that city motorcyclist do weekend pilgrimages to ride and on the side of a gentle valley with a view that can't be built out with state forrest adjacent [gonna be great for my dirtbike when i get it ]. soil is gravel over clay, grows just about anything and there's potable water about 12 feet down in the front paddock.

IT HAS TAKEN 9 YEARS AND BAGS OF EFFORT [not to mention $$$] to make it a going concern, liveabilitywise but worth it to me ...even so, i HAVE cried on occasion

I guess wat I'm saying PF is that all of that effort would have been wasted if it had been put into the wrong acreage - the REALLY important thing is to find the RIGHT PLACE FOR YOU - weighing up what YOU want to do with it, where YOU want to be and not overestimating what you are capable of...then the work becomes acceptable - otherwise it could turn into a heartbreakingly-heavy burden.

--- and, even if you get it all right, you WILL cry on occasion ['cause it's hard, it's ongoing and it doesn't CARE if you are tired, or sick, or just want to go for a ride instead of doing the routine maintenance etc. .........]

But, if i knew then wat i know now, would i do it all again?
YOU BETCHA!!!!!

good luck with it!

[placidfemme]

Hi Tammy,

Yes I have a few builders to recommend to you, roughly to build a 3 bedroom
home on a flat section they may charge you $ 20,000 to $ 25,000 labour only.
Pending on size of home.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Kind regards

Mark Kapa

hmmm........

[Fub@r]

However, what I'm asking is...

1) Does anyone know around about (don't need exact figures) how much you'd need to pay the council for building permits for those gottages (or something similar anyway)? And how easy is it dealing with the council?

2) Getting power connected to them once they are built (and water maybe... or a water tank)

3) Maybe getting the driveway paved/sealed/tarred/whatever

4)Any other tips or advise?

Right now as mentioned this is just an idea we're playing around with, but it would help a lot to know what we are looking at financially in regards to permits, building and so forth...

Thanks in advance

If you need some land surveying or civil engineering help give me a call.

Dealing with council's can be a real hassle at times and costs to process vary with each council and are related also to the difficulty/problems with the proposed building site.

Being rural you will also need to demonstrate how you will be disposing of effluent either with a septic tank or dripper field.