Hi to every one, just like to introduce ourselfs and thank everyone for the valuable contributions which have educated us as we embark on our build.
We purchased a coastal lot in the new Amberton estate north Perth (over the fence from shorehaven) late 2011. Our land is due to title may/June and we have our plans ready to go, prestart early may.
This will be the first home we have built and we were driven by getting exactly what we wanted. We have a small block as we are down sizers and sold our large 4x2 and moved into a rather nice rental property christmas week.
After looking at so many display homes and what seemed like thousands of plans we have chosen Summit homes, a mix plan between the luxxe, with nautilus alfresco, 3x2 with study, we have 2 grown ups (if they ever grow up!) so wanted half decent bedroom sizes and a small study to meet their needs.
No photos as yet and will need to educate myself on how to post the plans, bear with me!

Hi Newbie

Welcome to the forum!

We are also downsizing, moving to south west WA. You must be getting excited now that May is nearly here!!
You are wise to keep the bedroom sizes bigger, you may even have "boomerang" offspring like we did

Have you started choosing your colours yet?

To post you need to join an external photo site, then upload scanned plans from your computer. The site will have the code to post into forums. Copy and paste into your msg. Hey, I'm no expert but it works for me- most of the time....!

Hello treeseachangers,
Just getting excited that May is nearly here but I do not think it will title in May as there seems so much more to do, no roads yet! Will probably be in June.

Yes have chosen colours, the OH works away so had to get that done before he took off again, just deciding on render and roof colour then its all done (unless i change my mind), daunted as will be doing prestart on my own! Worried I might blow the budget. Have already put most upgrades through the house at planning stage but there are a few other bits we want.
The biggest headache is lighting in the family and alfresco area as we will be having raking ceilings, the price of down lights through the builder is some what to be desired, difficult to get done after as access will be limited or take the roof off!!

Yep, I hear you. With lighting it's the same for us (raked ceilings), so getting builders to install all LEDs otherwise it will be soo expensive afterwards. And who doesn't blow the budget at prestart? I think the trick is to know what to blow it on; and what can be upgraded later with a minimum of expense....

congratulations, not too long until the excitement will being. Good luck!!!

Hi Smarty Pants!
Sounds like you're going to be having fun over the next year:) It's pretty exciting building a new house! Up near Alkimos is beautiful, really coming along now. We originally were thinking of going with Summit, Iove their homes and the quality is always good (my parents built with them in the 80's!). Good luck with everything! What are your selections for prestart so far??

Hi leighlou

Thank you, yes it will be exciting and looking forward to having our own home again. Alkimos area is lovely and we were lucky to get a coastal block, we are with stockland and they have some exciting things planned for the area.
I have nearly finished my colour selections, when I get time to take some pics I will load them on here for all to see and give their opinions. Just thinking of changing my kitchen colours as want to go with silk finish so a trip to laminex is next on the agenda.

How exciting! It's really nice up there and we are always up that way looking at displays. Good luck and congratulations again!

Congratulations on settlement Smarty!!! Let the fun begin

Welcome Smarty Pants!

I was really surprised that we got our building permit only a week after our plans were sent in. Was told by builder to expect around 6 weeks, got letter today that it's been approved and issued to our builder. Yay, let's hope the builder gets organized and scheduling is as quick.

HI Smarty Pants and welcome From this point it should only take summit 3 weeks for scheduling then slab down very exciting times ahead

Looking forward to seeing some movement- and once spring is here, it should be all systems go

Thanks marybond and tsc, hoping things move along without too much delay, currently renting, it's not too bad as house is only a couple of years old but there's nothing like your own home.

Looks like we could be one of the first to build as its a new area with no houses, although around 20 lots have sold so far with around 10 having titles.
Just need to find camera and learn how to load pics!

So earthworks started Friday, went there today and the footings are done ready for slab tomorrow weather permitting

It looked all lonely up there as I am the first to start in a new estate, hope there will be some houses by the time we move in as could be a little creepy if not

Very exciting for you!
Btw perhaps you've already been told about this but if the slab looks too small don't worry, slabs always look weirdly small and you wonder if they've forgotten some of the rooms.

Ha ha yes thought the layout of footings was small, but then I have to keep reminding myself that this is our downsize home, half the size of the last one so is suppose to seem small

It's funny how the house gets bigger the more they do.
The slab looks like the rooms will never all fit.
The wallframes go up and the rooms fit but they look so small.
The sheeting is done and it starts to look like . . . like . . . a real house!

Glad my DD is not home, she would be having a hissy fit that her bedroom looks too small

Good to have another one building with the Summit Group, like you we have two teens so have changed our plan to make large rooms for them, expecting long term stay at home or boomerangs. (After spending all this money they'll prob. p.o. and never come back lol!)

Check out my thread to see plan.

Look forward to follow your journey and compare stories.