Everything you need to know – from skip bins in Melbourne to kit homes and conveyancers
Building a home from scratch is a dream for many people. Not only is a brand new home something that has been designed with your own preferences in mind, but it’s also completely untouched, a blank slate for you and your family to enjoy.
A new home has no scars or old damage to contend with. Everything is sparkling and fresh. Gardens can be planned and maintained to your own taste and personal needs. It’s little wonder that many Australians prefer to design and build their own home rather than buy an older model.
However, it must be said that for many, the prospect of building a home is somewhat daunting. There’s so much to consider that it’s easy to get bogged down before you even get to speak to a builder or conveyancer.
This article will break down the considerations you’ll need to take into account when starting out on your home building journey.
Choosing a home design
Of all the many choices you need to make during the process of building a home, this is perhaps one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make. Your home’s design is such an important aspect of the project that you’ll want to take plenty of time to think about it.
If you’re building a home as part of a couple, it’s vital that you both agree on the design of your new home. Both parties may have to compromise, but each should have something of their taste evident in the final choice.
You can choose from house and land packages or project homes, custom built homes and DIY kit homes. Each option has its strengths and weaknesses.
One of the main benefits of building a kit home for example are that you can effectively cut out the costs of a builder. Many people who purchase kit homes also choose to get certified as a builder so they can manage the process themselves.
Of course, the help of other professional trades is still needed – electricians and plumbers for example. But by and large, building a kit home is a cost-saving option.
Skip bins in Melbourne – managing your building site
Building your own home in this manner will of course create a lot of waste and that will need to be managed effectively and legally. The skip professionals at Skip Bin Finder – Melbourne are the best way to cope with the waste and rubbish created from building a kit home.
Skip hire companies will agree to provide skip bins or a mini skip for period of your choosing. This means that you can decide when the skip bins or mini skips are delivered and when they are taken away.
This freedom is very helpful as building projects don’t always go to plan and you may find that your schedule alters as time goes by.
Ensure that you discuss with your skip bin hire representative what types of waste are allowed in the skip bins you choose.
Skip bins generally allow for most waste types but have restrictions as to which waste types can be mixed in one skip bin.
For example, it’s not usually permitted to put green waste in a skip bin meant for bricks and rubble. Be sure to check so that there’s no time wasted when the skip is due for collection.
The placement of the skip bin hire is also important. Placing skip bins in Melbourne on an area which is used by the public is not allowed without a permit. On land you own however, it’s fine. Double-check if you are unsure where your land starts and ends.
Conveyancers and building your home
Paperwork is a necessary evil of building your own home. Not many people enjoy facing reams of forms or legal documents – they can be intimidating and sometimes confusing.
Title documents, valuations and appraisals are all important parts of purchasing your own land or home and whilst it is possible to manage these yourself, it’s considered much safer to use the services of a professional.
A conveyancer is trained and qualified in handling transfers of real estate and they also offer professional advice on the legalities involved. It’s usually best to engage the expertise of a conveyancer when embarking on building a new home.
You can find a list of all conveyancers registered in Victoria at Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Managing construction effectively and hiring skip bins
Keeping track of what’s happening as construction of your new home progresses is a vital part of ensuring things work out well.
Having a handle on the project and ensuring things are running smoothly and on time will also ensure that you don’t overspend on your allotted budget.
Maintaining a project diary is vital – include any discussions and quotes from tradespeople, problems you or others might have encountered related to materials or other aspects of the build, contact details of those involved and also photographs of the build as it progresses.
Ensuring waste is dealt with in a timely manner is also important. During summer, building sites should be sprayed with water to keep dust down and rubbish should be stored in skip bins until they are full, whereupon collection should be arranged.
If you fill a skip bin up but know that another will be needed, book the replacement as far in advance as possible. This will help ensure that piles of rubble, or timber are not left lying around. Uncontained waste is a public hazard as well as an eyesore.
