Losh's house build 5 years in the making

[losh1971]

So almost five years ago I bought a block of land in Mathinna Tas and decided I would relocate from SA after a separation and to start over. I started with nothing but an old caravan a Jeep $7k block of land and a dream. The block was pretty scappy when I bought it but within a few weeks I had to this stage. I had a 50m high Macrocarpa Pine cut down which got used as firewood, in a very large fire...

 

[losh1971]

Then from there I built myself a pizza oven and not long after I built a 7.5 x 7.5 shed complete with a pit.

 

[losh1971]

Three years ago I started building my house with the help of a friend who is a builder.

 

[losh1971]

 

[losh1971]

Few more pics of what was achieved in the first 12 months of starting the house. It's a slow process as I am an owner builder.

I also had no money as once the shed was built I had exhausted all my funds. But around the same time I started the house I was able to get a $24k personal loan as I was knocked back on a mortgage because no bank would use my land as security because it was considered too hard to sell. Just over three years ago and not long before I started the house I cooked the engine in my Jeep. I removed the head and noticed rubs on the pistons so decided it was time to part out the Jeep. Over the next few months I sold $4k worth of upgrades that were highly sort after. I thought at that point with my $28k I am going to start building the house that I only really dreamed about but never really thought it would happen....

 

[losh1971]

See when I had the house designed I opted for a whole heap of extra costly things in the plans because I lodged the shed plans not realising that building a house could ever be an option. I went with a $7k solar hot water and 9' ceilings instead of the more common 2.4m ones. I also had a big deck and veranda incorporated into the plans. This was long before I even had been able to get any finance. I thought why not just go for everything I want in a house and not worry about the cost.

 

[VS 5.0]

Home....not house.

 

[losh1971]

So I had another good mate from the Jeep scene who came down and tiled my bathroom, laundry and mudroom.
I'm fortunate too that I am getting help from some very generous friends. My bathroom is a professional job but with no where near the price tag.

Things with my build is all along I decided to never compromise. If I want something in my house I have gotten it. If it takes me four more years to completely do my house, I will never regret going the extra mile to have something that is of quality. Even down to my furnishings I won't go cheap because over the years I have noticed cheap usually means bodgy and early replacement, rather than just spend a bit more in the beginning and get something that lasts. Instead of buying cheap gear I prefer to restore and where appropriate repurpose. I did this with an old dresser I turned into a vanity.

 

[losh1971]

Actually I told a fib. Some things I have gone cheap but these were second hand items. Good quality but less than half the price of new on things I was able get second hand. Off Gumtree I bought all my windows including a sliding door for $1150. Which new would have been around $5k. I also went second hand on the bedroom doors but in the end they cost me the same as a couple of hollow core doors would have from Home Hardware. The issue was the amount of paint it took to get them looking nice.

 

[losh1971]