Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 15, 2010 11:01 pm I thought i'd start my own thread instead of encroaching on everybody elses.
We paid over some cash to PD last Sunday for soil tests, and are looking to build the Ivanhoe 30. We have a corner block in Heritage Springs, Pakenham which has made things a little difficult for us, finding a home with the outdoor living and garage on the same side so people can't look over the fence and watch us swimming in the pool we plan to build off the alfresco Our journey to build a home actually started with us looking at display homes as we were looking to renovate the bathroom in our existing (now sold) home. We figured our home here would never be new no matter how much money we spent on it so we took the plunge and bought a decent size block (as far as block sizes go now) in Pakenham. Here is our block (hope it lets me post pics), i've been taking pics as things change on the block and on our street so we can show our little one (and hopefully more) children one day. I'll have to go and take some more, we have lots of grass now Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Standing in our driveway Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Our Ivanhoe 3Jul 16, 2010 1:00 am Ahh I don't mind the Ivanhoe. It's really similarly designed to the Illoura which we were originally looking at building. When are you expecting a site start? Land Deposit - 18/12/2009 Became a land Baron - 21/12/2010 Site Start - 27/1/2011 All moved in!! Re: Our Ivanhoe 4Jul 16, 2010 1:42 am Twiggy When are you expecting a site start? We have been told December so i'm expecting late January, trades love their Christmas break If I don't expect too much we won't be disappointed My building thread : viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36059 Paid initial deposit 24/7/10 Tender appointment 20/8/2010 Flooring and tile appointment 25/9/10 Colour and Electrical appointment 13/9/10 December site start delayed Site start (YAY!) 17/1/11 Slab pour 1/2/2011 Re: Our Ivanhoe 5Jul 18, 2010 8:59 pm We headed out for a drive this afternoon to look at the dirt, no soil test as yet, i'm thinking before we go in for our tender appointment I am going to go there and make sure a soil test has actually been done, and that they haven't just looked at the engineering and made a decision. Took a couple of pics to show the changes in the area too Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ and the view out the front door, I think DS wants a front bedroom to watch the trains, Thomas the tank fanatic, he might never sleep Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ At this rate it looks like we might be the last to move in, most blocks our stage have been scraped. I know that December will be here in no time and then it'll be full steam ahead, I just want my house! Re: Our Ivanhoe 6Jul 18, 2010 10:26 pm building1 Twiggy When are you expecting a site start? We have been told December so i'm expecting late January, trades love their Christmas break If I don't expect too much we won't be disappointed Not a bad attitude to have really I'm expecting to have a site start later in the year as well - still have to wait for our land to title in *Cough* August hehe Land Deposit - 18/12/2009 Became a land Baron - 21/12/2010 Site Start - 27/1/2011 All moved in!! Re: Our Ivanhoe 7Jul 23, 2010 5:37 pm Hi building 1, I don't know how I missed your thread!!! I'm loving the photos, I was trying to see if I could see my place I think I have a rough idea where you are. Well you know I'll be watching your thread with great anticipation, can't wait to see your home progress. Cheers Barbs. Re: Our Ivanhoe 8Jul 24, 2010 1:53 am brb_654 Hi building 1, I don't know how I missed your thread!!! I'm loving the photos, I was trying to see if I could see my place I think I have a rough idea where you are. Well you know I'll be watching your thread with great anticipation, can't wait to see your home progress. Cheers Barbs. Hi Barbs, walk out your front door, turn left onto the footpath, when you get to the street on the right, go right LOL, walk all the way to the end and we're on the left (I think thats right ) My building thread : viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36059 Paid initial deposit 24/7/10 Tender appointment 20/8/2010 Flooring and tile appointment 25/9/10 Colour and Electrical appointment 13/9/10 December site start delayed Site start (YAY!) 17/1/11 Slab pour 1/2/2011 Re: Our Ivanhoe 9Jul 24, 2010 6:23 pm building1 Hi Barbs, walk out your front door, turn left onto the footpath, when you get to the street on the right, go right LOL, walk all the way to the end and we're on the left (I think thats right ) I went past your block today you have a nice big block and your very lucky to be tucked away in that corner with a paved driveway. Re: Our Ivanhoe 10Aug 20, 2010 8:41 pm Well today was our tender appointment at the new PD offices in Narre (decked out very nice). We went over the drawings and contract for any new variations and clarifications. Overall very happy with the outcome As part of the PD prestige promotion they will provide and install (as they explained a couple of times) a second cooktop and rangehood in the butlers pantry, which my DH and I both think is a bit overkill so we asked our first sales consultant if they can supply but not install these items which she told us would be fine. Today upon asking we got a firm no (which we were both pretty about) and we both argued the point, saying it's part of the promotion, there is no cashback so why can't we have the item not supplied? Back and forth it goes. We sort of left it and then the consultant told us she would ask her bosses about it when she went out to photocopy our contracts and drawings, we didn't hold much hope but yeah, fine, ask away When she came back she told us we could have it!! YAY Supplied in the boxes and left in the garage, and written into the contract. Apparently she asked her regional manager and he didn't waiver, just said yes. Thumbs up for customer service PD Also had a win with the storage areas in the laundry, a whole cupboard along a whole wall which we were initially told would be really expensive so we left it out, then asked again today and so worth the $700 odd All in all a really great experience today, and am looking forward to our colour and electrical selections on 13th September. ETA our site costs came in nice too, less than what I was expecting, it's getting closer My building thread : viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36059 Paid initial deposit 24/7/10 Tender appointment 20/8/2010 Flooring and tile appointment 25/9/10 Colour and Electrical appointment 13/9/10 December site start delayed Site start (YAY!) 17/1/11 Slab pour 1/2/2011 Re: Our Ivanhoe 11Aug 20, 2010 8:51 pm Sometimes I think the CSCs say no just for the sake of saying no. It is actually less work for them to not install it! lol Great outcome for you. A lot of the time if you keep asking you will get the answer you need. You will not regret adding the cupboards. Extra storage is always worth it. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Our Ivanhoe colours and tiles done! 13Sep 25, 2010 4:00 pm We had our tile selection this morning and I think we did well (we'll see what the end result looks like) Here is what all our tiles look like together Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Kitchen (decided on a metallic painted glass splashback) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Main bathroom Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Ensuite Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Powder room Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ My building thread : viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36059 Paid initial deposit 24/7/10 Tender appointment 20/8/2010 Flooring and tile appointment 25/9/10 Colour and Electrical appointment 13/9/10 December site start delayed Site start (YAY!) 17/1/11 Slab pour 1/2/2011 Re: Our Ivanhoe 16Sep 25, 2010 4:10 pm building1 brb_654 Oh they're gorgeous well done!! Thanks Barb, I have a hard act to follow My DH loves your driveway Re: Our Ivanhoe 17Sep 25, 2010 10:37 pm brb_654 building1 brb_654 Oh they're gorgeous well done!! Thanks Barb, I have a hard act to follow My DH loves your driveway Very interested, thanks My building thread : viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36059 Paid initial deposit 24/7/10 Tender appointment 20/8/2010 Flooring and tile appointment 25/9/10 Colour and Electrical appointment 13/9/10 December site start delayed Site start (YAY!) 17/1/11 Slab pour 1/2/2011 Re: Our Ivanhoe 18Sep 29, 2010 5:39 pm You have got some nice choices there. Looking forward to follow your build. A balanced diet is chocolate in both hands. Melbourne West Our build viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34169 Landscaping viewtopic.php?f=19&t=51147 Re: Our Ivanhoe 19Oct 05, 2010 2:27 pm Just thought i'd add in a few things after our colour and tile appointments. Prices were not made available to us at the colour or tile appointments, which I find a little disturbing (a lot disturbing after I found out what the upgrades have costed). The little things all add up (to alot ) and our tile appointment was very disappointing as we knew the prices of the tiles we wanted (priced at National tiles which I showed to our tile consultant) and we got charged alot more, and the reason apparently is because "that the retail price" which makes no sense to me. PD I would assume would get a volume discount and would offer a rebate on the standard tiles that we didn't use due to upgrading. Judging by our tile invoice there is no such thing as a rebate and we are still reeling from it. I know you have to pay for upgrades but our experience was nothing short of a blatant rip off. Makes me wonder if PD and National Tiles are owned by the same people really.... They'd better do a bloody good job.... My building thread : viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36059 Paid initial deposit 24/7/10 Tender appointment 20/8/2010 Flooring and tile appointment 25/9/10 Colour and Electrical appointment 13/9/10 December site start delayed Site start (YAY!) 17/1/11 Slab pour 1/2/2011 Re: Our Ivanhoe 20Nov 07, 2010 9:59 pm So after the woes of our tile appointment (which we're still waiting on answers about) site start should be next month. We did receive an email the other day (not very often getting a phone call) saying that they *may* be able to bring our site start forward to November. In saying that we are still waiting on our variation which we have been waiting for for about 3 weeks I think, and i'm wondering if they're just trying to butter us up (and shut us up ). I guess i'll never really know My building thread : viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36059 Paid initial deposit 24/7/10 Tender appointment 20/8/2010 Flooring and tile appointment 25/9/10 Colour and Electrical appointment 13/9/10 December site start delayed Site start (YAY!) 17/1/11 Slab pour 1/2/2011 6 7894 Thank you so much for the effort. We will use it to talk with builder. We also had idea of building duplex instead and seeking suggest ions. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=106744 11 10626 Hi VK, I am now retired however I have stood beside over 300 owner builders in the past 18 years that have successfully built their own homes. First of all a building… 10 18220 |