Publisher Description

Building your own home could save you thousands of dollars. The Owner Builder is an easy-to-understand, step-by-step guide for people who want to build their dream home in a financially responsible manner. From choosing a block of land to decorating the inside of the house, this book guides the reader through the entire building process. The authors share their personal experiences with photos of the building process in 68 steps. They include tips and hints on the approval process, construction ideas and how to avoid mistakes. They also uncover potential hidden costs, and offer other ways to save money if you don't have time to manage the construction yourself – such as hire a project manager, which is cheaper than a contract builder.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Responsibilities of the owner builder Chapter 3 Obtaining finance Chapter 4 The building process in 68 steps Chapter 5 Choosing your land Chapter 6 House design Chapter 7 Building materials Chapter 8 Tradespeople Chapter 9 Insurance Chapter 10 Estimating Chapter 11 Housing Energy Rating Scheme Chapter 12 Bushfire protection Chapter 13 Knockdown rebuilds Chapter 14 Contracts Chapter 15 Exempt and complying development Chapter 16 Theft and vandalism Chapter 17 Certification Chapter 18 Contract builders Chapter 19 Project management Chapter 20 Colours, concepts and common problems Chapter 21 Gardens and landscaping Appendix A: Resources Appendix B: Trades, materials and services directory Appendix C: Budget planning worksheet Appendix D: Endnotes Index

Review

"So do I need another book about being an owner builder? I wasn't convinced, but by the end of CSIRO's new manual, simply called The Owner Builder, I had learned a lot, and my enthusiasm was beginning to simmer once again."
Nick Goldie, Summit Sun, pp. 6, April 2013 "There are 68 steps in the building process, the authors say, and this clear and informative book will help the owner-builder through them all."
Beverley Johanson, Domain - The Age, pp. 12, November 2012

Description for Bookstore

The Owner Builder is an easy-to-understand, step-by-step guide for people who want to build their dream home in a financially responsible manner. The authors share their personal experiences with photos of the building process in 68 steps. They include tips and hints on the approval process, construction ideas and how to avoid mistakes. They also uncover potential hidden costs, and offer other ways to save money if you don't have time to manage the construction yourself - such as hire a project manager, which is cheaper than a contract builder.

Details