I may be wrong, but I would tend to assume that in 2014, heaps, maybe most, new units buildings will be made using the cheapest materials (cheaper bricks, lower quality for the joints btw the bricks) to make fatter profits on the property development project. especially in this market where it seems that everyone thinks of maximizing their property portfolio, and where a unit often stays only a few days on the market before having a buyer, property developers know they don't have to commit for the highest quality, they will find buyers.
I tend to buy properties that are 10 or more years old, partly because that's normally long enough for any obvious problems to have emerged, and partly because the buildings will have had a bit of a test of time to see whether they are still desirable. They're also generally cheaper than new equivalents.
In Canberra where I live you would be VERY careful buying a brand new unit. For some years the building industry has been using private certifiers, and it has been a disaster as far as quality is concerned.
So how long are high rises expected to last and what happens to the owners rights if they decide a high rise needs to be pulled down?
Who are "they" and why would they decide a high rise needs to be pulled down?
I expect requirements on high rises are more strict than low rises. If a rise falls down it will have much greater effect than a 2 storey six pack falling down.
So how long are high rises expected to last and what happens to the owners rights if they decide a high rise needs to be pulled down?
High rise buildings aren't piles of bricks or blocks. The loadings on the bottom courses would be too great. The strength in high rise buildings is in the steel skeleton.
Matthew, 30 Jan 2016, 09:21 AM Your simplistic view is so flawed it is not worth debating. The current oversupply will be swallowed in 12 months. By the time dumb shits like you realise this prices will already be rising.
High rise buildings aren't piles of bricks or blocks. The loadings on the bottom courses would be too great. The strength in high rise buildings is in the steel skeleton.
You do get low rise blocks of flats made out of bricks though.
Whenever you have an argument with someone, there comes a moment where you must ask yourself, whatever your political persuasion, 'am I the Nazi?'
High rise buildings aren't piles of bricks or blocks. The loadings on the bottom courses would be too great. The strength in high rise buildings is in the steel skeleton.
regulators would not allow high rises buildings to fail. The result would be similar to 911.
You do get low rise blocks of flats made out of bricks though.
True, but they will be constructed using higher strength bricks. That is why you can't just add a second storey to a single storey property by piling more bricks on top. You need to ascertain the strength of the existing bricks first.
The advantage with brick property is that you can see faults quite easily. You don't need to be a structural engineer to detect subsidence or stress cracks. They are almost impossible to hide (unless they are rendered over).
Matthew, 30 Jan 2016, 09:21 AM Your simplistic view is so flawed it is not worth debating. The current oversupply will be swallowed in 12 months. By the time dumb shits like you realise this prices will already be rising.
But surely high rises have an expected lifetime whether it be a couple of hundred years or longer. Or are they expected to stand forever? I would have thought that general deterioration with things like wiring, plumbing, lifts etc would eventually make them unviable to keep fixing.
In Canberra where I live you would be VERY careful buying a brand new unit. For some years the building industry has been using private certifiers, and it has been a disaster as far as quality is concerned.
You wonder why that is legal to begin with. Inspections should be conducted by the local council.
The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt — Bertrand Russell
I tend to buy properties that are 10 or more years old, partly because that's normally long enough for any obvious problems to have emerged, and partly because the buildings will have had a bit of a test of time to see whether they are still desirable. They're also generally cheaper than new equivalents.
In Canberra where I live you would be VERY careful buying a brand new unit. For some years the building industry has been using private certifiers, and it has been a disaster as far as quality is concerned.
hehe, that is exactly how i thought too. thanks for sharing. we don't live in the world of the care bears where property developers would do whatever is best for you buyer. it is easy to understand that developers want to maximize their profits, and to do that, they have to lower the costs as much as they can. I'm sure you can experience the same disappointments when buying brand new in Sydney too. that is not to say all buildings of course, there still must be people who will do a good work, but more than a few.
I believe that is the risk with buying off the plan too. if the developer manages to sell all units even before the construction starts, then why would he have to commit for the highest quality ?
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