Large sloping block or smaller flat block?

> Are you buying the block to put an IP on or a PPOR?

PPOR for a couple of years and then IP.

> Who are you building with and have you spoken to them re both blocks?

Haven’t decided on a builder yet – waiting for a response from a ‘designer’ who could give rough suggestions as to what would work on the block and also a rough figure.

> Have you got quotes for leveling the block, improving drainage/runoff?

Not yet. Anyone take a guess what this could cost?

> Obviously you’ve looked at neighbouring properties, re the unlevel block- how have they dealt with it?

This is a fairly new area, so there’s only one immediate neighbour in the process of building. They have a driveway meandering up from the road about 20 metres that makes a sudden right turn such that the double garage sits at the base of the house. You then walk up one flight of stairs to get to the ‘ground’ floor. You then walk up another flight of stairs to get to the second floor. The house is going to be built into the land. Not sure of much else – only the framework is up!

> What are the prices of comparible sized ‘established’ properties in both areas?

In the flat area, prices range about $450k-$600k. In the area with views, probably $600-$800k. It’s still fairly new, so I’m not sure of the sales history!

— MJ.

> Sloping blocks can be cash flow positive fromn day one if you get the right price. Level the block before any neighbors build, try-link retaining walls are a sound investment.

What’s a try-link retaining wall?

> Use rendered foam to build the house as this will reduce costs and consider using pile and beam style footing arangements. A floating garage slab could be used at the front to park the cars. Before you sign up get out the dumpy level and shoot some levels. Hope this helps your decision making.

Heh – gotta buy a dumpy level first!

Cheers Mike,

— MJ.

Hey MJ,

> I am personally a big fan of the sloping block mainly because you simply cannot buy and install a view!

Yeah, some people pay a premium for a view. I guess this would be the motivator for going ahead with this land.

> You mentioned a fall of 6m however what is the distance of the fall? If it is 6m over 200m it is easier to build on than say 6m in 50m!

True! There’s a frontage of about 10 metres, and the left hand side of the block has about 40 metres. So it’s 6 metres over about 40. That’s about 1 metre slope for every 7 metres of dirt. In the back right hand corner, it slopes 9 metres, but across 55 metres of dirt.

> This will predominantly determine the overall cost of levelling if you want to go that way.

I think we’ll have to build the house into the land, gradually getting higher the further into the block we go. The driveway is going to be ‘interesting’ I think .

> On that note, do you have to level much at all. I love the Queenslander style of home either stumped or on poles and, if this is a bush environment, maybe suitable. There are companies out there that specialise in this although wouldn’t know about Queensland.

Oh, my wife and I don’t like Queenslanders. We’re biased to the ‘older’ style Queenslanders we’ve seen (30+ years old), and prefer the good old brick/timber style home.

> Just some food for thought.

Thanks for your input!

Cheers,

— MJ.

Hi mja

> I know a good builder/roofer/plumber/jack of all trades in Brisbane. He renovated our property and taught me a lot about renos at the same time.

Hey Matt,

Thanks for the offer – I’ll keep it in mind over the next few weeks.

— MJ.