Operational home building plansThe decision is made, you are enacting your home building plans AND you are going to build it yourself. So where do we start? Let’s reduce the list of requirements into an operational plan, designed chronologically, ensuring due diligence is fully attended to, and all boxes are ticked. Prefab homes are no different to regular homes, unless, as in this case, you are the subcontractor, where you do the groundwork.Initial house building plans can be divided into 3 phases Phase one 
Choose a kit home package. Make your choice from the hundreds of kit homes available on the net. Choose components and PC (prime cost) items. Roof colors and cladding profiles are the basic components to choose. If you specify PC items, all need to be carefully chosen before a final quote to be offered. For more component info check out our kit inclusions page. Sign a contract and pay a deposit. Best to get a solicitor to check it out. The deposit pays for the agreement to engage and preparation of your house building plans. There's also great house planning content at Plan-and-build-a-house.com and Build your own home.com Complete an Owner Builder course. A dead simple process that is more about site safety, than building acumen. Courses are usually available at your local community college or local building authority. Soil test. Engage a geo-technical consultant to provide a soil test and report to advise foundation specifications and add to the local council list of submissions. Site boundary, plan and gradient. Engage a surveyor to perform these vital measurements and supply a written report. They advise the draftsman and add to the local council list of submissions. Send soil test results and surveyors plan to your Kit Home Builder. This will initiate the drawing of your plans. Phase Two
Waste water management and design plan. Engage a building consultant to design a management plan including the drainage products to be utilised. The consultant will require a copy of the surveyors gradient plan. Draw storm-water management plan. Depending on your local authority requirements, draw a map of how you plan to move storm-water around and off your property. This may include down-pipe discharge to storm-water drains or to a water tank, and water movement from retaining walls. Make sure your neighbour is not affected by water from your property. Draw fire management plan. This includes the provision of ‘hard-wired’ smoke and or heat detectors, extinguishers, fire blankets and signage if specified. Construction insurances. Consult your insurance salesman on specific building construction insurances including site security, storm damage and public liability. Make sure you sight a tradesman’s insurances when they come onto your site. It gets complicated ifyou choose to employ labour for your venture as work-cover insurances are expensive. Make very sure you are covered for your situation. Draw and describe a termite prevention plan. Depending on local laws, a concrete slab will require under-slab liquid control and well as a steel mesh termite prevention barriers. Pier floor systems will require ant caps and pest resistant bearers and joists to prevent termite intrusion. Receive finished home building plans and specifications from Kit Home Builder. Start getting excited now!!! Phase Three 1. Send Development Approval Submission Pack to your local council authority. This will include: a. Complete house building plans from the Kit Builder, which will include Truss Certification, Glazing Suppliers Certification and Energy Rating Certificate. b. Waste water management, storm-water, termite, fire and surveyors plans, soil test results and owner builder certificate. 2. Receive development approval from your council authority (a number of weeks later). 3. Send your Kit Home Builder a copy of the Council Approval to Build, and they will start building your kit. This may take up to 12 weeks. At this stage you will be required to make a second payment to the Kit Home Builder, including a delivery fee. Remember they are pre-building your home so be patient and spend time preparing your site (fences, water-tanks, access, rubbish removal, site preparation) and assembling your tools and equipment. 
4. The delivery will arrive on an agreed date on a semi-trailer, usually with its own mounted crane. Have all materials dropped close to the building site on raised logs to keep it all dry. Mark off all items as they hit the ground noting their condition. Contracts specify a reasonable time limit for transit damage claims, but early detection will reduce delays. 5. With the delivery are comprehensive house building plans and a step by step kit home building manual. Study it hard and keep it clean and dry. It will be your bible for the duration of the venture. 6. Check you have the tools you need for this project. I've made some useful selections and put them in my Tool shop 7. The next step is the 'set out'. You can find tips on setting out your house plan on our Setting Out Plans page. Submit a Question, Problem or Comment about the Groundwork Stage?
Submitted QuestionsClick below to see answered questions and comments on Kit Building Groundwork...
Why do I need a soil test
Owner builders course cost and content
Starting before approval
Not rated yet
What is truss certification?
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Are kits built by builders cheaper than DIY
Not rated yet A great starter site for owner builders is Make my Own House.com Or go from
home building plans to Kit Home Basics Homepage
There is some great diy info at this Build-your-own home site. Loading
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