I am so excited! The agent called me an hour ago to tell me I just bought a wonderful old house on a big block only a few streets back from the sea.  After reading comments on this board, I knew enough to sign the contract 'conditional to receiving council approval to sub-divide the blocks within the next 7 weeks' and also subject to finance. I also set settlement date as "14 days after all conditions met" instead of putting a firm date. I hope I did the right thing.
I'm so nervous I was nearly wetting my pants when the agent called!
Now I know I got the property – I have no idea what to do next! I guess call the council, arrange the application for sub-division approval and visit a heap of builders??
My research shows me there's plenty of room for future capital growth with new houses on the newly sub-divided blocks – especially in a trendy beach-side suburb, so that doesn't worry me so much. I've built a couple of houses on 'spec' before (just bought land and chose construction costs very carefully so profits were maximised) and done quite well with those. And I've managed to do well with past renovation projects. But this is an entirely different ball game!
Anything anyone can think of to add to stop me wetting myself on a frequent basis over the next few months would be immensely appreciated.
Thanks!!
Noobie!Well done newbie, .. sounds like a great opportunity.
Good luck
Martin
PS … Nothing comes to mind re: solving the wetting the pants problem ….
Well done noobie, hopefully the first one is the hardest, (getting started I mean) hope it all goes well. Now the fun part starts dealing with the council for permits, quotes etc. We used pull-up nappies on our youngsters, they don't stop the problem but hide it pretty well, especially in at council give em a try. Cheers
I guess I'll go buy some adult-sized pull-up nappies to use for the next couple of months, hey!
So far the council has been really helpful/suggestive. Let's see what happens as time goes on.
(only one nappy used today – when the planning guy told me I can't move a bus-stop to make room for a second driveway access to the road. Then he said "Oh wait. Yes I can. There's enough room for the stop over there." Only slight pants-wetting involved there.)
Lisa
(Noobie)Congrats Lisa! Do you have to pay for the bus stop relocation? Regards, Linda
No. the guy said that Trans Adelaide would move the actual stop for us. That's the good news.
The bad news is the Onkaparinga Council are in charge of the shelters they put near the stops. I have to pay half the costs of moving the shelter – which wasn't approved to be moved. So the stop is now further down the road. But the shelter is in front of my block (incidentally, blocking my sea views from my intended new house which isn't even there yet….).
I've applied to the council for them to move that, citing the intended new driveway location for the proposed house that's not even there yet. That goes beyond pants-wetting. That's brown-trousers time.
How do people do this for a living without needing several changes of clothes per day??
Lisa! (Noobie)Thanks Lisa, it's fun dealing with councils heh! I hope it all goes well.Â
Well done with your purchase, it will be well worth the pants wetting in the end. I have just finished my first sub division in the northern suburbs so not sure what the council will be like that your dealing with but one thing i would recommend is getting a good surveyor. They have made it so easy for me by doing all the dealings with the LTO, councils, SA water and who ever else needs to be involved. It has really paid off for me and i have no doubt it will for you too! Keep up the good work…
Cam
Hi Lisa,
Congratulations on what sound like an interesting journey. I hope that 7 weeks for council approval is sufficient time. I have just revieved word my subdivision approval has come out of council almost 4 months after it went in!!!! And just prior to submission, I spoke to the town planner who assured me it would only take 6 weeks. Then one TP resigned to relocate and another went on early maternity leave and and the other had a minor heart attack !!! So, I guess what I am saying is, things beyond our control increase the time or the cost so take it for granted that it will take longer and cost more than the quoted and if you come out better you win! I do hope it runs smoothly for you.
Alle the best
TammyHi Noobie,
Where did you buy out of interest?
Christies Beach – south of Adelaide
I think I know the one!
Do you have an option to extend beyond 7 weeks if Council doesn't approve in that timeframe? That sounds very optimistic to me, but perhaps you know something that I don't which gives you reason to think that this is achievable. Can you share?
I know the planning officer in that council area. I went to school with him
Lisa! (noobie)sweet!
Ummm….yeah 7 weeks sounds tight to me.
Just completed my first sub division, was able to gain two additional blocks. While it took me a while with a few hiccups along the way (bad advice from real estate agent), it has worked out very well for me. Good luck, the advice on a good surveyor is worth noting, my helped me considerably.are you subject to CGT for a subdivision?
well done Lisa
I too am going to start my first subdivision this year. I've had surveyors out who have been great in giving me the costings ie between 20 and 30k (cos ipswich council has waived council contribution charges). But they have warned me that it could take a year from start to finish. It will be a battleaxe block.
now you would think that in these times with housing crises in most major cities and where councils want denser living they would be encouraging investors like us, cutting thro the red tape so we can get the job done. Perhaps there is a council town planner here who could explain why the hell it takes sooooooo long! Call me a cynic but I can see my application being shuffled from person to person, misplaced on a couple of occassions, shelved during someone's annual leave and generally fartarsed around in any way possible.
I know Rome wasn't built in a day but I reckon I should be able to have my driveway and utilities to my little block in a month..
Hi, well done. When I 1st read your post, I thought you were joking. How did you get any vendor to give you those terms? I can't seem to get anyone to agree to settlement subject to sub-division approval.
My 2 projects took 2 years to get off the ground, admittedly i slowed down the process when I saw the way the property market was moving.
The sweating & etc so welcome to the club! Keep us posted on how you go.
KYnice keep it up
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