Hi, we are a family of 6 desperate to move out of the city and give our children some space to grow. We have been looking at 10 acre blocks in canterbury. As you can imagine prices are at a premium and unfortunately our budget it is not. To make this work we are thinking about a slightly alternative build. We would appreciate any thoughts or advice on 'pole houses or barns'. This would not be temporary accommodation it would be our home.
We looked into this some years ago and came to the conclusion that it was going to be cheaper to relocate a house onto bare land than build a liveable shed suitable for the family. There were also problems with council restrictions and insurance if you don't have an actual house. As we had young children at the time we were also a bit worried about falling foul of the childcare police if little Johnnie had mentioned living in a shed at school!
Having said that we lived in a friends shearing quarters for 3 months while our house was being built. Just a row of rooms on a verandah with a kitchen and bathroom at the end. About 70 years old, freezing cold, bare boards and just a few pieces of bush furniture. All our stuff was in storage so we had the bare minimum of everything. The boys loved it!
My understanding of a pole house, rightly or wrongly, is that it is a comparatively expensive build and usually utilised on more difficult terrain where the conventional house would not be suitable eg really steep sites.
I think most of the barns being advertised are very expensive, especially if you want it as a house and it is better to have a builder build one than to buy one ready made.
Relocating a house can work out much cheaper than a new build but you do need to do your homework on what you are buying as well as owning land that does allow a relocatable.
We have just bought a fully renovated house, its not huge, but is far more modern and up to date that what I am living in now, for $70,000 , located on our site. You couldnt build for that
LongRidge;512501 wrote: There are unlikely to be relocatable houses in Canterbury at the moment.
The great thing about relocatables, is that they can move so dont have to come from a specific area. The further they move, the more it is going to cost but they still work out to be quite economical
LongRidge;512501 wrote: There are unlikely to be relocatable houses in Canterbury at the moment.
There are actually quite a few relocatable houses being sold in Christchurch, whether from red-zoned sites or rebuilds where they have chosen to sell the existing house as-is, or the usual old house removed from a site where a new build is wanted.
There are also flat packed deconstructed houses from red-zoned sites. Quite a few red-zoned houses are still in good condition and others do not need major work.
All relocations involve quite a bit of work, but most from Chch do not need much more than any other relocated house.
The other thing that will be coming out of the Christchurch rebuild will be container houses.
These are getting increasing recognition as a suitable housing form
You guys are awesome!
Thanks for all your thoughts.
The land is $4000,000
We are allowing $50,000 for power, phone, water and septic.
Our budget for the house is $200,000
We are hopeful that we (hubby) can do a lot of the interior himself.
We will need the builder to build the exterior and make us water tight and do the internal framing?
We've designed a simple, rectangular mono pitch house. Concrete slab, clad in corrugated iron. Unfortunately we are a 'big' family so need two toilets and four bedrooms.
Thoughts???
Also cannot find any relocatable houses in chch???
I personally wouldnt want to live in an iron clad building for a number of reasons.
One of the main one is the noise in the rain and in the heat as the building expands and contracts. Insulation can help to reduce this but I havent, as yet, walked into a non-timber barn that I have found to be overly pleasant
I know of several people that did their research and came up with custom kit and are very pleased with them so they have a really good record, These people did considerable research before deciding.
I also think you may also find it cheaper to get a builder to build the same
4x2's are the cheapest material to build with and lend themselves well to the home handyman. 5 acres is plenty for a family so don't pay the earth (pun) for a bigger block.
And PLEASE don't kid yourself that you are going to make money from your block! The best you can do is have a good lifestyle and grow your own food.
Call the local council building guys and ask what you can get away with, most of the unconventional building systems cost more, eg earth block, poles etc.
Concrete, 4x2, and Hardiplank is cheapest and easiest. Also board and batten, both these are easy for a DIY guy. Build a double garage first and live in it while you finish the rest.
Problem with Chch is scarcity of tradespeople.
Good luck!!!
5 acres, Ferguson 35X and implements, Hanmay pto shredder, BMW Z3, Countax ride on mower, chooks, Dorper and Wiltshire sheep. Bosky wood burning central heating stove and radiators. Retro caravan. Growing our own food and preserving it. Small vineyard, crap wine.
Please keep the advice coming.
We would be happy with 2-5 acres, with no GST added and no covenants.
So far we have only found 1, 5 acre block and they were asking $420,000.
The best I've found is 10 acres $380,000 with a well onsite and no covenants.
Hey...maybe someone out there will read this and slice off a tidy 5 acres for $300,000
