Thanks for that! Why not submit it for a Houzz article?

Even just reading the questions you posed in this discussion made me nervous. I know NOTHING.

Hello Sam Yes, yes and yes, regardless of whether it is a fixed price or cost plus. The general impression of most people is that builders do the job cheaper when it is cost plus and that is why they go looking for that type of contract. That's not the case. The costs are the same, just broken up differently. The only real difference is that on a fixed price, the builder takes the risk that he has allowed for everything whereas on cost plus you just pass on the bill. Cost plus can be a minefield. I have seen builders invoice a client for two lots of tiles and send half off to another job.... On the other hand, I have seen clients counting pieces of wood offcuts and claiming refunds on a barrow load of sand with builders... it can get that petty. GST is paid regardless of the contract as you know. Supervisors are required regardless of the project as in truth, there is not enough profit in a building project to support the legislative requirements, the back end staff, the insurances and contract administration from a single building project. The insurance companies also require a minimum profitability (ie builders margin) before they will insure a builder. The reality is that the builder must take on multiple projects and have competent supervisors to make it work. I suggest you work closely with your builder and understand that he has requirements as do you .... I doubt he is ripping you off. Cheers

Hi and thanks for your feedback. The rear building might now move further around to the north of the !7 acre rural block (2+ hours from Melbourne), where there is a flatter patch. We are now hoping to make it 2 story, with the storage shed below and living above. That way the huge views to the south and east can be seen over the top of the house. The idea is to build the shed (with studio accom) hopefully at the end of 2020, as a place to stay while the house building starts towards the end of 2021, when we will have the funds, fingers crossed. The width of the building area is only about 30 metres before it dips away a bit steeply to the east and west. We hope to avoid too much excavating for a slab (for thermal mass) but may need to consider stumps if the slab is far more costly. Looking at Carbonlite floor system as a reluctant alternative... A local architect has done the initial design to maximise the views and northern sun. We think the slight kink in the middle will add complexity to the roof so the kink can go. It is a big 'entry' which might need to go to cut costs but we do want an 'air lock' entry... The hallway along the bedrooms is intended to warm up in winter, ideally trombe wall style. We hope to keep the house to about 150 sq meters- we don't need bigger. The council has indicated where the dispersal field for the septic tank needs to go... We love the reverse brick veneer principle. The architect has been fairly open to our ideas but says the budget will be tight at approx $3,500 per sq meter. How does an internal masonry spine work? We figured a continuous skillion roof would be simpler and cheaper- going for a rural shed look...