Maximising an Investment Property – The Coastal in Umina Beach
Updated: 23 hours ago
For this Umina Beach project, our client had owned the property for some time and was ready to make better use of the backyard and maximise the return on his investment.
With a good sized block and room for a secondary dwelling, our Coastal design was a great fit. Coastwide Granny Flats managed the entire process, from the initial planning and approvals through to construction and completion.
Working Through the Flood Requirements
The property is located within a flood affected area, which meant the required floor level was an important consideration during the planning stage.
After speaking with Central Coast Council and reviewing the proposed location of the granny flat, we were able to have the minimum required floor level reduced. This allowed us to construct the granny flat on a concrete slab rather than having to raise the building unnecessarily.
It took a little longer to work through at the beginning of the project, but getting this right during the planning stage resulted in a much better outcome for our client.
Solving the Plumbing Challenges
There were also a couple of plumbing challenges that needed to be carefully worked through before construction could progress.
An existing sewer inspection opening was located close to the proposed granny flat. Rather than simply relocating it, our plumber arranged a site inspection with the plumbing inspector from Central Coast Council.
Following the inspection, we were able to retain the inspection opening in its existing position and introduce a step in the building design to maintain the required clearance.
This saved our client thousands of dollars in additional plumbing work and also avoided disturbing the property's existing earthenware sewer pipes, where the condition of the underground pipework was unknown.
Getting the Stormwater Heights Right
The second challenge was stormwater.
The property falls downhill from the street, so we needed to carefully plan the levels of the granny flat, gutters, rainwater tank and tank overflow.
The rainwater tank needed to remain below the gutter height while still being high enough to provide sufficient fall for the stormwater to drain back towards the street.
It was one of those details where careful planning before and during construction made all the difference. By setting the levels correctly from the beginning, we were able to achieve the required stormwater drainage without creating unnecessary additional work or cost.
A Coastal Look for Umina Beach
Our clients selected a really nice range of neutral colours and finishes for the granny flat, creating a relaxed coastal feel that suits Umina Beach perfectly.
The finished home is bright, modern and easy to maintain, making it well suited as an investment property while still feeling like a comfortable standalone home for its occupants.
A Slow Start, Then a Smooth Build
This project took a little longer to get moving while we worked through the flood level and sewer inspection opening requirements with Council. We also had some early weather delays to contend with.
Once those initial challenges were resolved and construction commenced, the build progressed smoothly.
The end result is another Coastal granny flat that makes much better use of the property and provides our client with an additional income stream from a block he already owned.
For us, this project is a great example of why the planning stage is so important. Sometimes spending a little more time working through the details at the beginning can save thousands of dollars during construction and deliver a much better result for the property owner.
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