Can't give up;......but still having difficulties

I have given up trying to build my own house.  It all became too difficult and considering the present and reflecting on the past I am not surprised.  My job...a teacher, is all encompassing.  I just do not have time.

Currently I am trying to demolish one half of the property I own and even that has proved to be difficult.  I simply do not have the time to give it my full attention.  Phone calls don't get made or replied to ....and I wonder why 5 months have passed and I am still trying to get the paperwork together.

Being a single woman in the man's world of building is also difficult.  They are right I don't understand much about the building trade, brickies, roofers, concreters, fixers and the like.  I simply do not understand how it all fits together.  I shouldn't have to of course, but I have tried to handle the demolition myself.  It didn't seem too hard at first; the company I dealt with were fantastic, but then the Council stepped in.  You have to have a building permit they said. 

Ok,  I thought, I'll just get a few quotes....Hm what do I need.  Oh yes a bricklayer...they will need to repair the wall where the other one has been taken own.  That should be easy.  Wrong!

Plans are required, you need a Draftsman...you know someone to draw up plans, I was told.  I tried, phoning two or three. One wiseguy quoted $6 000 to draw the plans.  I asked him what luxury car did he drive; after all it is only one wall and a bit of roof to repair....Another, in retrospect too cheap, took my money but his plans were useless only half complete. By now my demolition company and the Council asked, what's going on?

I explained it's really difficult to organise, least it is for me. At last I got myself a draftsman who seemed to be competent and after a few weeks he emailed his plans.  They look good I thought, but my son pointed out a few errors....back to the drawing board.  I got word all was sorted and the draftsman sent his latest set of plans, unseen by myself, straight to an engineering company for the detailed structural work.  Great I thought almost there.  The plans were dropped off.  Yea........

Gave them to a builder to quote on.

"Wow...you are out of your mind? It's just one little wall and a bit of a roof???? "  

First draft

Had a great plan from the architect I chose to have a go at designing a house for my small block.  His first design was just perfect..........but not for my block.  Unfortunately although I loved the design, it just wouldn't have worked as a passive solar home and whilst aesthetically it was delightful and everyone I showed it to admired it I asked my architect to have another go.  I'm not sure he was altogether happy about it, but I either talk the talk, or walk the talk.  I'm trying to do the latter.

Slow going - architect???

Feeling brave, but still hesitant and unsure of where and what I am actually doing, I have now engaged an architect to draw up some of my ideas and hopefully incorporate a number of his own.  His charges are staggered and I only have to take a small bite at a time.....hopefully his concept plan will be in keeping with what I imagine, though let's be honest who really knows what another is thinking.

Watch this space for a concept plan, which should include a number of energy saving ideas.
Oh yes and the market is still  f .......l........ a.......... t.

GFC

Yes, the GFC has had an effect here too. House building plans put on hold for the time being, even though I am still looking for ideas and watching the real estate trends closely.

First hitch

So I've ground to a halt even before I got started. Peter, the architect, was not really interested in designing for my little suburban block. Actually he was very apologetic, but decided that he actually was too busy.

It has taken me this long to find another architect who seems to have the right qualifications to suit my build. Mind you having just received his quote I might have to check out what they usually charge, just to make sure I'm not about to be ripped off.

Slow, slow, slow progress

Since my last post I have attended a full day seminar at Home Base in Subiaco for potential, "Owner Builders". To be honest it was a bit of a wakeup call to hear all that building a house entails and whilst not completely frightened off, I certainly have even more reservations than I did before.

Still as they say nothing ventured nothing gained.

Late yesterday afternoon I caught up with architect/structural engineer, Peter Auer, who is a complete environmentalist...so much so he used his bike to get to my place. That doesn't seem too extreme, except he lives at least a 40 minute ride away and left my place quite late. I didn't envy him his ride home.

Still I look forward to seeing what he envisages for my small suburban block, quite a far cry from the wind farm he has recently been involved in constructing down in the South West corner of our State.

A pleasant couple

It's a while since I wrote on this blog, but that's how this project is progressing........very slowly.

I have at least rented out the duplex on a short term lease, though even that was not without associated stresses. One guy, a truckie, was pretty desperate to move into my little duplex, but I wasn't convinced that was all that was on his mind, so I shied away from his application.

Then I had to make a choice between a well spoken middle aged couple, who seemed to be exactly what I was looking for or a young Japanese lady with two young children. I was torn between the need of the young woman who was leaving her husband, or the couple I thought would be ideal.

I have to confess, mainly due to the problems I'd had with my previous tenant that I went with what I thought was the safer option; the couple. But the adage, 'Don't judge a book by its cover," came back to haunt me when I discovered they weren't very financial and had, as they put it, "a temporary short term cash flow problem". Ho hum here we go I thought, pardon the cynicism, but I have been there before.

Anyway. we have come to an agreement and touch wood all seems to be working out. Hopefully I don't have cause to rewrite this.