Hi Judder,

We're currently building the Albany 40. Really happy with how the build is going so far (almost at lock up) and so far our CLE and SS have been really great on communication and haven't found any 'traps'. Just ask loads of questions as we found sometimes (especially at Spectra) that options were available but we didn't know about them until we asked- they often aren't suggested eg. Extending Evap. Cooling to the downstairs.

Good luck with the build!

Good to know that you can bring in a sparky during construction. We were also told by our sales consultant that we can't.

Has anyone included a fully installed rainwater tank with Carlisle? How much did it cost and how much capacity does the tank have? We are thinking whether it is cost effective to have the provisions ready for future rainwater tank installation and connection to the toilet or just have it when we are ready to have the water tank installed.

Any insights would be appreciated.

I wouldnt waste my money. The price of water is bugger all when a tank setup is in excess of 4-5k. You would never make it back unless you have 10 children. It is like people who buy LED Tv's over plasma not realising the price difference means they need to own the LED for 16 odd years to get a benefit out of it lol.

Do the tank afterwards and use it just for garden use etc, it is what we have done and cost us bugger all

Hello,

We are thinking about building with Carlisle Homes and just wondering if I can get some general information regarding contract times and the process involved to get to the contract being signed.

1. How long does it take from initial deposit to signing the contract?

2. At what point do you do colour selections and electrical?

3. Our land is not ready as yet but when it is how long does it take for Carlisle to get going n the build

4. After we pay the initial $1000 deposit and we sign the contract what is the deposit we need to pay to carlise, some builders are 1% some are 5% can someone tell us what Carlisle is

Also any further information anyone else can provide about the initial stages with Carlisle would be greatly appreciated

Thank you in advance

Hi guys,

Just thought I would introduce myself, just put a deposit on an Odessa in the Ambrosia Estate in Cranbourne West, all happened very quickly

To summarise your questions in one answer, we went from colour selection (done after sales), to tender, to contract in 6 weeks. It took from September 2011 to April 2012 to sign up with Carlisle and move in to our beautiful home! Carlisle deposit is 3% I believe paid at contract. It is the balance of 3% though after paying the intial sums at sales and tender.

Hi there,

I will try to answer your questions based on my own experience. Every build is different so my answers may or may not be applicable to you.

But here's hoping you get something out of it.

1. Initial deposit 27 July, colour browse 20 August, colour selection 07 September, tender appointment 14 September, tender signed 18 October, contract 15 November. BUT we are probably one of the few who dragged on for so long simply because...
- we changed from a essential silva 23 to a savannah 26 to a savannah 28 and finnaly decided on riverton 30.
- we initially signed up for land and house package but we didn't like the location of the land so we went on to find ourselves another block of land.
- we intentionally pushed back colour selection because we would like to take our time to slowly decide on our tiles, appliances etc.
- we made a lot of changes and upgrades and we blew our budgets. So there were a lot of exchange of emails after the tender appointment and we did not sign our tender document no.7 (yes we changed and changed.. and changed.. for 7 times!!) until more than 4 weeks later.
- we went on two weeks holidays end of october so we didn't sign our contract until another 4 weeks later.
If we had been a bit more decisive and if we had done our homework a little earlier, I would think it would only take us two weeks to get to colour browse. colour selection is generally one week later. tender appointment another week later. sign the tender on the same day. and contract signing two weeks after tender. So, 6 weeks between initial deposit and contract signing is not impossible.

2. check timeline above. colour selection happens after the initial deposit. but you will need to finalise everything before signing tender.

3. our land was registered early november. settled two weeks later end of november. site start commenced early december. about 2 weeks between land settlement and site start. more than 1 week was spent waiting on building permit.

4. at contract signing, you will have to pay 3% less deposits you paid earlier.

Hello
I am going with the Orlando 35 also with inclusion for Evap Cooling to 1st floor.

You mentioned though you that options were available to extend Evap. Cooling to the downstairs. Was this at an extra cost??

Steph

--

good luck, hope they let u.

Update meet with SS on site house has been wraped ready for brickie to start tomorrow
Sparkie has done his bit plumber been through

Fall protection comes down tomorrow so will take some updated pics

Thanks!

Hi Steph,

It cost around $1200 (pricing end of last year) to add two downstairs cooling points and upgrade the cooling unit to accommodate the extra points. It also meant increasing the size of two of the plumbing voids to fit them in. We were told they're not able to add them to all houses but the Albany was one that was able to be modified.

Hope that helps

Hi
We are building the Orlando and have added cooling to the downstairs. They have charged us just under $2800. A lot more than what I had planned but I was told they had to make quite a few changes to fit it in.

Sue

Had an house inspection today all went very good a cpl small things to fix that an every day bloke ( me ) wouldnt pick up
SS was happy to fix these cpl things was onto tradies while I was there so its all good

Big thanks to New Home Inspections I sent them an email this morning asking for an inspection before Wednesday they were on the phone to me at 9:30 this morning and Theo out on site for inspection at 2:30

Need some help.

In our initial contract, we had an allowance of $5k under the clause 4.1 site costs and connections. it states that "every piece of land is unique in its topography and Carlisle home is unable to advise you of any site costs and connections until the completion of an approved Soil Test, Site Survey analysis and receipt of Preliminary information from the relevant authorities. Once received any additional costs as a result of the land will be advised in detail at your Tender appointment."

Upon paying the $1k deposit, we received a fixed site costs of $7.9k in addition to this $5k.

We thought the $5k should be removed, leaving us with the increase of $2.9k ($7.9k less $5k)

Did anyone also get this as an addition ?

Thank you in advance

If the five grand was actually an allowance which allowed u up to five grand of site costs included in the contract. And site costs came in at seven and a half I would think that u would deduct the five grand from the total and pay the remaining.

Personally I think $12.9k for site cost sounds about right. Either way, even if you are overpaying now, Carlisle homes' fixed price site cost guarantee means that you will get any unused portion back.

Thanks guys. i was confused. The 5 grand was for other costs.
In summary, Carlisle is correct and everything was sorted out well. Happy with Carlisle.