jmsrachel wrote:
Hi Oscar,

I contacted the building commission a few weeks ago and they told me that a DBL can build for either clients or yourself as long as you use registered trades.  When i was speaking to HIA they told me yes this is true but if you are building spec homes a building surveyor doesn't check if the trades used are registered…[Read more]

jmsrachel wrote:
Thanks Oscar. I'm in the process of becoming a registered building practitioner (DBL) and thinking of doing something similar as you and build a couple spec homes. Seeing that I won't have a DBU would I still be able to build under my DBL and do hands on work? The guys at HIA say that's fine as long as I own the land. For me to…[Read more]

jmsrachel wrote:
Oscar, this is great stuff! Did you do any hands on work or just manage?

Hi Joe

I managed the whole process from obtaining plans and permits (DA) through to the subdivision and construction. I helped out the landscape guys at the very end. That was the extent to my "hands-on involvement".

The process was fairly straight…[Read more]

Hi Shahin

Yes construction was $402,000.This included all site costs (very minimal as it was a flat vacant block) and all drainage. Finish is in the standard range. Each unit is around the 65-70m2 mark, two with garages and three without and all were single level.

Contributions are based on land value (around 5%) so this only came to a little…[Read more]

Nice article. Landscaping tends to be the one thing many developers let themselves down with. You see alot of cheap and nasty attempts. It's amazing what a few extra thousand dollars get you!

I would stick to other regional towns in Vic. For example Bendigo or the Latrobe Valley. These are areas where population is on the rise and  future job prospects look ok. This should equate to better growth than Stawell.

In Victoria you can go to the Building Commission website and see who has been prosecuted or fined. It will also tell you why. All states would have this for you to access.

Any smart builder would have the family home in the wife's name. I would be concerned if they didn't.

One thing you can do is determine which trades they use and which…[Read more]