Hi guys and gals,

I've been saying I'd get around to posting this for a while, but never quite got around to it.
So time to bite the bullet, or keyboard perhaps.

My dear fiance and I put down the deposit and signed our lives away to build our first home back in August '09.

Our block is 675m2 irregular shape with a 12.5m frontage widening to approx 26m at its widest point at the rear.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4294590531/
As you can see above our final siting does allow us a fair amount of backyard.

The 'small' frontage lead to some constraints in building designs and we spent entirely too many hours trawling builders websites after work and visiting display villages at weekends.
After a few false starts,we found a number of h3nley houses we were interested in, however their inflexibility to adapt plans to some of our requirements unfortunately ruled them out, several small builders failing to return calls and in one case entirely failing to turn up to an appointment they arranged with no subsequent contact or explanation, we came across places homes display at 'The Rise' Lyndhurst.
We took a look around and were happy with the finish of the display homes and with a little previous research and some further enquiries we made the trip out to the display at EVE estate to take a walk through the Fairhaven 23.

It wasn't love at first sight, but it was the first display house we both walked into and came out thinking we really could live in this.

Some of the plan changes we made were fairly minimal but caused some headaches along the way, we extended the garage to allow for a rear single car roller door to be fitted in lieu of a standard doorway. This was one of our requirements that made choosing a house design very difficult as we wanted vehicle access to the rear of the block, whilst the small frontage and estate covenant that requires the house must be set back between 4.5 and 5m from the front of the block meant that in that zone we only had approx 13.5m to play with.

Other structural changes we made were to enclose the study with a plaster wall and two cavity sliding doors which contain glass panels. We also added another cavity slider of the same type to separate the rumpus room from the lounge. In this respect we have 3 separate activity areas that can be separate from each other in terms of noise but still be visible (a consideration towards the foretold 'little ones' which will eventually make an appearance).
That and it gives DF the ability to close off which ever area i'm making noise but still keep tabs on us.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4295335034/

In terms of the facade:
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4294591423/

We ended up going with the 'gable', it was the right price (included in the base price) and we tossed up several options.
We also considered two others, the modern and the seaside.
The main difference was a lack of the gable in the roofline over the porch, instead it had sloped tiles to the front.
However both options came at increased cost, and both had disadvantages.
The seaside looked nice and had the roof slope and windows, though i didn't like having dual timber pillars to each side instead of rendered, and the cost of rendering was substantial.
Equally the modern had the roof slope with rendered pillars, however the master bedroom windows were horizontal awnings rather than vertical and again the cost to switch was substantial.
So we compromised, saved some money towards our expensive upgrades (bricks and roof tiles) and we get vertical awning windows and rendered pillars, however we forfeit the sloped tile roof in lieu of having the gable.

Some of our selections so far: Please forgive the placeholders I'll add some images i promise
Exterior:
Brick -> Austral - Nubrik Classic 230 - Pressed Terracotta http://www.australbricks.com.au/vic/Products/Clay-Bricks/nubrik-classic-230
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Flickr -> http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4265132365/
Roof Tiles -> Boral - Flat Roof tile - Linea in Charcoal Grey http://www.boral.com.au/productcatalogue/product.aspx?product=53
Example of these on one of the display houses.
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Flickr -> http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4265911070/
Downpipes & Gutters -> Colorbond - Ironstone http://www.colorbondcolours.com/home/residential/see-our-colours/standard-range
Fascias -> Colorbond -> Paperbark
Garage door -> Panel lift - To match C/B Ironstone
Entrance Door -> Corinthian -> Standard Homebush in Ironstone http://corinthian.com.au/Product/Show_26.aspx
Windows -> A&L - Aluminium -> Merino close equivalent to C/B paperbark
Facade rendered feature (Columns and Entry Wall) -> Dulux -> Self Destruct
Gable -> Wattyl Sunfast low sheen- Fremantle Sails

Interior
Wall colour -> Wattyl ID -> Flokati
Trims -> As above in gloss

Kitchen
Benchtops -> Quantum Quartz -> Storm http://www.wk.com.au/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=5&Itemid=2
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4297610526/
Cupboard Doors -> Laminex -> Lustrous Elm
Splashback -> Dulux -> A64 Henna Red -> http://www.dulux.com.au/colour/colour-wall
We got a sample pot and some spare glass, a few minutes and some drying time later we have an approximation of what it should look like.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4296865391/

Bathroom + Ensuite
Shower tile - > 40cm x 20cm -> White -Vertical lay
Shower Feature strip -> Grey Marble -Vertical strip 1/2 way along wall without plumbing.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4296866457/
Floor Tile -> 40cm x 40cm -> Chicago Kahki Tile
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4296865809/
Vanity Units -> Laminex -> Burnished Wood
Vanity Splashback -> Same as shower tile cut to 20cmx30cm to fit under mirror
Bath Splashback -> Same as shower tile cut to 20cmx30cm to fit under window. (We raised the window from being level with the bath hob, dear fiance seemed to have an issue with being able to climb in and out of the tub through the outside sliding window )

Laundry
Benchtop -> Formica -> RocK Salt
Cabinet - Burnished wood
Floor tile -> Same as ensuite/bathroom

Main Flooring
Timber - We were looking at engineering flooring from perfect timber floors specifically the 'Santos mahogany' however looking at the cost its only a small increase to go to solid timber instead so this is still a decision in progress.
We're currently looking towards a Jarrah, WA Grey gum or Kauri.

Carpet to bedrooms, a slight upgrade over the builders 'promotional' inclusion as it was well, hideous.
Same SDN fibre just without the square indent pattern.

Your colour selections sound very nice and it's a nice floorplan.

When do you expect to start?

Congrats on choosing your plans, I like your changes to allow separate living zones, nice one. We too have a smaller front to our block that widens out and went through the same issues you did - so your plan is actually very similar to ours! (though we went with SImonds and heavily modified the Atherton 23 - see my blog in signature below).

DO you have a site start date yet?

Cheers
Caz

We've got a site start booked with the builder between Apr 1st and May 31st, however that is dependent on when the land titles and is subsequently settled.
We set it all up with the builder on the basis as we were advised by the developers agent that the land is to title during February. So we allowed a few weeks for permits etc and a few extra in case it was put back a little.
However its looking less and less likely as there is still two construction stages to be titled before ours of which one was due in december and is still outstanding.

For those following at home its discussed in detail over in this thread http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=27978

In better news we recieved formal finance approval from the bank over the weekend, so its meeting up with our broker and signing the construction loan increase this week and then we're just waiting on design assessment panel approval for our design which was sent in mid-late december by the builder.
And then for the land to have its construction works completed and then be titled, but i'm not holding my breath for it to be titled and so far all of my direct inquiries and those of my conveyencer have gone unanswered at this time.
So thats were we sit in relation to a start date.
I hope to get some pics up tonight, but we'll see how we go as i've still got more engagement party invitations to make and address.

Cheers
-Belial

Hi Caz,

Just had a quick trawl through your blog, several bits of your plan look very similar to a range of houses we looked at, but most had facade widths that prohibted having the extra wide garage to allow for the rear single access.
One thing that strikes me straight away is your linen cupboards, its one thing that is a bit lacking in our design (1 cupboard) only.
That said its currently only going to be the two of us, so i guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Also i could swear we've driven past that block during our initial land searches, we currently live in lakewood down in SE frankston and purchased our land back in august.
Good luck with it.

You found my linen cupboards, I added the extra one in, cant ever have enough cupboards I reckon!! Seemed like a dead wall otherwise so may as well make it useful!! (We have 3 kids under 6yrs though so I need it!!)

You probably did see our block, think it was for sale for about 12 months due to its weird shape. We're in Langwarrin, where abouts are you building?

Caz

We're building down in release 14 (construction stage 5) of Sandarra
http://www.sandarra.com.au
We're just across wedge rd from the more exclusive and expensive Sandhurst Club. But its part of the same development.
We only get two of the holes for the golf course in the middle of our estate.
Location wise its in Sandhurst, so just north of Carrum downs. Cnr Wedge Rd and McCormicks Rd. See -> http://staging.sandarra.com.au/assets/sandarra-area-large-view.pdf or Google maps http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Corner+Wedge+Rd,+McCormicks+Rd+,+Sandhurst,+Vic&sll=-38.084818,145.196772&sspn=0.008107,0.020964&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=McCormicks+Rd+%26+Wedge+Rd,+Victoria&ll=-38.084497,145.199668&spn=0.008107,0.020964&z=16
And the estate masterplan is at http://www.sandarra.com.au/assets/snd_final_rel_masterplan.pdf

Love your colour sections...........very nice indeed.

We bought in Tarcoola Way (release 12) so you must just be around the corner.

Hope they do get their act together soon out there.

Ok finally found some time to empty the camera tonight so here are the results:

Our block in mid-december - As you can see a gigantic hole in the ground as we're at the finished surface level.
Good news though conduits under the road for the utilities are in.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4290425236/in/set-72157622513786725/

And at the same time, ohh look we've got a road, well mostly.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4290426320/in/set-72157622513786725/

A week ago, looking down Ethereal Way up in the completed stage 1. We quite like the trees, not entirely sure what they are but hope we get something similar down in our stage once its complete.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4289687445/in/set-72157622513786725/

The entrance to the estate.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4289705581/in/set-72157622513786725/

Spent some time lurking around the stage, the exterior fence for the estate. Like the columns (the same as over the road in the Sandhurst Club, shame though about the palings imo, i'd personally prefer it to be solid.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4290435048/sizes/l/in/set-72157622513786725/

And the view from the back for good measure.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4289698027/in/set-72157622513786725/

The developer seemed to think our hole in the dirt needed protection.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4289706457/in/set-72157622513786725/

Which also has a flow on effect of photos from the roadside. Looking across towards our street.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4289711369/in/set-72157622513786725/

And looking across to Malua Circuit
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4289716183/in/set-72157622513786725/

More recently looking across the yet to be settled stage 3.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4290460980/in/set-72157622513786725/

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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4289720495/in/set-72157622513786725/

Stage 2, A few more houses getting started and from the looks of things it won't be too long till handover for some of the carlisle houses.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4290462206/in/set-72157622513786725/

Good news everyone - Stage 5 has gotten streetlights. Looking at tarcoola way.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4290465604/in/set-72157622513786725/

And for us too.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4290472480/in/set-72157622513786725/

And yet still no movement on the filling of our hole.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4290469000/in/set-72157622513786725/

Well thats enough of a photofest for now, i'll put up some backdated shots as time allows.

Do u drive a silver 4 wheel drive, I think I saw u a few days ago, I was walking up
sandarra blvd and it might have been u watching the builders on the corner. I'm pretty sure someone took a pic neAr there.

Just looking at your entrance picture of sandarra, do you think it will look as nice as the sandhurst clubs entrance???

Hey johno,

I don't think they're planning anything like the big sweeping rendered entranceway like over at SC.

From the looks of things i think it will probably just end with those pillars and the trees lining the entrance.

From memory looking at the scale model back in august when we signed, i dont recall there being any real entrance feature.

Driving past tonight, more of the fence is up along McCormicks rd, didn't have the camera with me.
I'm sure i'll live to either like it or ignore it.

Would have been nice to expect a little more class just to compete a little with SC.

It was never designed to compete, sandarra is after all just a part of the sandhurst club.
That said we can hope there is something more to come in terms of the entrance way fence, but i think only time will tell unless someone has some more info to shed on the subject.

I title this post - The evolution of our hole uh I mean block

Starting back in September '09.

The first cut had been completed by the developer and the subsequent rain resulted in our block with water frontage
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4296895221/

Another view
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4297640732/

The rear of the block looking from the edge of our improvised lake.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4296897645/

And the same position overlooking the water front, the depth of the cut is readily obvious along with the cut for the court.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4296898245/

Comparatively come December
The sewers are in and the entire block was scraped, theres a lot of fill to be done here, which still hasnt happened.
From the front the cut depth isn't all that clear. The final surface level is where the sewer and drain are, the earth surrounding it was scraped from our block and so is artificially high.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4290425236/

From the back of the block it really does show that the cut at the front is currently still around 1m.
Things aren't looking good for our foundations, which still need to be revised once the block has been filled. I see a lot of piering in our future
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4298152979/

Stopped by again today.

It seems that the light post is in front of our block, from the distance we weren't sure.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4311384592/

And from the back
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4310627953/

Looking over the block from the rear, the rear boundary runs between the sewer and storm water access points.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4311378966/

In terms of updates, we have water pipes etc in.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4310634729/

As well as the connections to our block via the conduits.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4311376406/

Also seems a places rep has been out staking blocks, but not ours.
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Flickr http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4310606147_9a39994ab6_b.jpg

And I also had what has been described to me as a "Male" moment.
I took one look and instantly knew i wanted one, no idea where i'd keep it or what i'd use it for, but I knew I wanted one.
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Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/belial669/4310610779/

Thanks for posting the pics! I should take some myself, but I keep forgetting to take my camera! I am in release 12 and got very excited that we had light posts on our street, but also that they had started to do the cross overs! Very excited! Hopefully the Developer can get the registration of the subdivision done sooner so we can get our slab down before mid March. I don't like my chances, but atleast we can dream!!!

Yeah it looked like they were starting to do some of the layouts for the pavement and crossovers up in release 12 the other day, though they also appeared to still be running pipe and conduit, so I can't see crossovers happening until after thats all complete.

I spose we can all hope they get there arse into gear and get it registered sooner rather than later, but i won't be holding my breath.
Our block and the surrounding ones seem to be being used as the access way for all the heavy machinery to get around the stage at this point.

We're mostly waiting on them to finally fill our block so we have some idea of the final surface levels, as the plans show a batter with a drop and seeing as civil drafting isn't one of my areas of expertise.
That and we can hope that they compact the fill properly otherwise we're going to have piering from one end to the other

Quote: "And I also had what has been described to me as a "Male" moment. I took one look and instantly knew i wanted one, no idea where i'd keep it or what i'd use it for, but I knew I wanted one."

hahaha boys and their toys!