Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 21Jul 04, 2013 12:16 pm Woo-hoo!!!! That's excellent news. Now for formal. The one thing I do keep hearing is that once you have pre-approval with HBC, it's only the valuation hurdle that stands between formal...livingston is looking good for that so fingers crossed for you! So exciting. Build Permit-17/12/13 Earthworks-13/1/14 Slab-30/1/14 Frame-10/2/14 Lock Up-7/3/14 Fixing Stage Complete-20/3/14 New Home Presentation-6/5/14 Moved in 17/5/14! Blog: http://dandesbuild.blogspot.com.au Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 22Jul 04, 2013 9:20 pm And then there were 4 Hey Pooks, Ruby & Becca! We too are building with HBC.. So glad to have found you guys (Pooks, I was the one who left a comment on your blog)... 100% with you on the mixed emotions along the way. Need a holiday but can't afford one now mwuhaha. We are building Aston 22 in Epping; completed colour selection session & contract signing mid May, had our valuation done this week & currently in the midst of getting that all important formal approval. We kept our extras as low as humanly possible, adding just; - tiles instead of vinyl flooring - stone bench top - extra kitchen tiles for splash back - brick upgrade to truffle (dark brown) - handful of extra electrical points So far we've had a good run with these guys and find them all very easy to communicate with, although admitidly I can't wait for all this paperwork to go away *goes crosseyed* We also went with Resolve & the deposit assist option & we also put $10k in as well I did find it strange that in this day & age, we weren't able to use a computer simulator when choosing the color schemes. I've been able to do a mock-up version with similar colors on a similar style house but would have preferred to check it all out during the session. Looking forward to sharing the journey ! I'll have to put together a building blog First Home - Building Aston22 in Aurora Contracts & Colour Selection - 19/06/13 Land titles any day.... Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 23Jul 04, 2013 9:47 pm Hi there Myheadfelloff (how fitting in regards to building)...excellent to hear from you! The poor people are joining the more sighs of relief I feel! Thanks for reading my blog I'm so jealous you got tiles instead of the vinyl! Our home consultant wouldn't let us include tiles due to "over capitalising" which I think is utter BS, I just think he couldn't be bothered...in the end it was too much for us when we weren't going to get any rebates for the vinyl not being laid. When are you due to start building? Considering we are building the same house I can't wait to see what we do with it! Build Permit-17/12/13 Earthworks-13/1/14 Slab-30/1/14 Frame-10/2/14 Lock Up-7/3/14 Fixing Stage Complete-20/3/14 New Home Presentation-6/5/14 Moved in 17/5/14! Blog: http://dandesbuild.blogspot.com.au Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 24Jul 04, 2013 9:49 pm I meant to say the "more" people...not "poor" people! How horrible! Build Permit-17/12/13 Earthworks-13/1/14 Slab-30/1/14 Frame-10/2/14 Lock Up-7/3/14 Fixing Stage Complete-20/3/14 New Home Presentation-6/5/14 Moved in 17/5/14! Blog: http://dandesbuild.blogspot.com.au Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 25Jul 04, 2013 10:02 pm Haha.. More the merrier! Poor or not I've been hunting through Internet forums for months now trying to get a feel of HBC, our estate/community and, well everything & anything really. We loved the Aston 22 for the retreat area... Such a practical space to have. I took a trip out to Officer (my folks live in Berwick) & really loved The Vibe too. But I'm glad we went with our initial choice... We haven't been told of an official building start date yet (that I know of?) but have been told to expect completion by early next year (great start to the new year!) I see you've got a nice pile of dirt just itching to be built on! Is your road accessible to drive on yet? We have to sneak through fences like illegal immigrants to get to ours at the moment (all part of the fun!) First Home - Building Aston22 in Aurora Contracts & Colour Selection - 19/06/13 Land titles any day.... Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 26Jul 04, 2013 10:13 pm We were the same - tossing up with the Aston and the Vibe...it was the walk in linen and pantry that sold me...We also added in a cavity sliding door to break the retreat off from the main living areas as my partner is keen to have it as a theatre (we don't have kids yet!). So your land titles any day - awesome! The road leading to our lot doesn't exist yet...just dirt BUT you can see it is nearly a road...haha. We are allowed to walk up to our lot, it's not fenced off anymore. Did you see the Aston display in Mernda? That was a trek to get to from where I am in Dingley...so worth it though. We were told that when our land titles, it takes about 4 weeks to organise permits and related stuff and then build starts which takes about 16weeks. If that's true you could be done by the end of this year! Hearing the build time of BeccaJ has me so excited! Im currently looking at lighting that I wan't to add...I just can't help myself. When are you expecting to hear about finance? Build Permit-17/12/13 Earthworks-13/1/14 Slab-30/1/14 Frame-10/2/14 Lock Up-7/3/14 Fixing Stage Complete-20/3/14 New Home Presentation-6/5/14 Moved in 17/5/14! Blog: http://dandesbuild.blogspot.com.au Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 27Jul 05, 2013 12:00 am Great idea for the sliding door - wish I had thought of that! It'd be handy to have a noise barrier if there's a TV in each room. No kids yet but we figure it'd be a cool game room for us big kids too. I loved the vibe for its foyer; the wall which keeps the rest of the house visible from the front door...they had some awesome wall art at the Officer display and it almost had me sold ...except it had no outdoor living & was slightly pricier... Yep -Mernda was the one that caught our eye, and we later visited the Truganinnanana (spelling might be off;) .. Mernda was is definitely better! Beccas went up in a flash! Hopefully it's the same for all if us *fingers crossed* I'm was expecting delays due to rain this winter and then some more delays around summer...and Christmas! But reading the above, maybe not!? We've just provided the last bits and pieces needed to submit the final round so could be in for a bit of a wait going by your blog. Kinda of feels like we've been 'approved' eight times... already. Lighting was so tempting!!.. until he mentioned the price. I hear its double $ to what you can have installed later. If you move your central light to the corner of the room and get the rest later, you'll save a penny or two. But the convenience of it being done & ready is almost worth it - hence our splurge on electrical points! Haha! Don't forget to raise the points for TV wall mounting, nothing worse than the cord dangling down First Home - Building Aston22 in Aurora Contracts & Colour Selection - 19/06/13 Land titles any day.... Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 28Jul 05, 2013 8:57 am hahaha myheadfelloff. such a fitting user name ive felt like that this week. yay theres 4 of us now. oh im bummed was hoping there was a simulator for choosing your colours.... I suck at visualizing things. did all of you find your pre start consultant helpful? Me and my partner are so indecisive hahaha pre start could b fun were going to look @ bricks this weekend im thinking truffle at the moment. is there any other places you went to view stuff before prestart? Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 29Jul 05, 2013 9:00 am oh and pooks love your blog!!! im following ya. love ya dirt hehe I cant get close enough to mine yet roads blocked by fencing Site Start 11/3/14 Slab Pour 2/4/14 Framing Complete 8/4/14 Lock Up 1/5/14 Fixing Stage Complete 14/5/14 New Home Presentation 20/6/14 Handover 2/7/14 blog: http://firsthomebuilding.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 30Jul 05, 2013 10:35 am Myheadfelloff: I wish I had of thought of the tv points being higher on the wall! We have had our pre-start and electrical. I was reminded about 30 times during the appointment "remember you can't change a thing after today" so I am out of luck there...although we didn't add anything for electrical - because of the price. We have a friend doing all of our electrical work so he might be able to do something with those tv points. He said a powerpoint costs him $6, compared to the $55 that HBC charge (and most other builders)! The lighting I am looking at is shades, pendants etc. I'm obsessed! I want all of the decorative stuff that you see in the display homes but I can't seem to find a website that has all that decor in the same place. You would think someone would get on to that...they would make a fortune! We moved a couple of tv points (didn't cost anything) that were in rooms on the external walls to internal walls (walls between rooms) as our sparky friend suggested it was much easier for him to add to the external walls (walls that are the perimeter of the house). So the internal ones are done! Have you had to go through finance before with them Myheadfelloff or is the "8 times" the feeling you have had so far with the highs and lows? haha. I too was disappointed that there was no simulator at pre-start. Ruby it was literally seeing items on the walls (a tile, a brick, a colour card) and placing them next to each other on the table). The pre-start lady we had was really good. She left us to our own decisions but really assisted when we needed it too. Austral bricks was the only place we went to in person. Everything else was online. I looked up a lot of houses and went driving through a few estates to get ideas on facade colours as I found this the hardest! I went through that whole red book and looked up every supplier online and noted every choice. When our pre-start appointment was done I realised we weren't asked about heating or the bath-tub so if you were looking to upgrade any of these items be sure they are included! The heating has changed to Brivis. We went with the standard they had which still allows add on air-conditioning later on. I have contacted a few places - $6000 so we won't be in a hurry! Carpet we chose a dark blue but because the only carpet is the bedrooms (we took it out from the retreat and hall) it's easy enough to get that ripped up and done again in the future because thinking back...I would have preferred a lighter colour. Our walls are white. I had no patience there - everything else was an upgrade and I just figured...we can paint later if we really want to! What is everyone's opinion on evaporative cooling Vs split systems? I have never had aircon so I don't know much! Build Permit-17/12/13 Earthworks-13/1/14 Slab-30/1/14 Frame-10/2/14 Lock Up-7/3/14 Fixing Stage Complete-20/3/14 New Home Presentation-6/5/14 Moved in 17/5/14! Blog: http://dandesbuild.blogspot.com.au Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 31Jul 05, 2013 7:41 pm Hi ruby! Have you tried the metric0n website? They have a useful tool called Studio M which I used to play around with colours. Pick a similar style house to yours and go nuts! We also drove around the new estate to get an idea of brick & roof tiling colors but that was more helpful in determining what we DIDN'T like. Pinterest is great for interior color inspiration. I'd recommend taking some pictures with you to reference while you're at your appointment. I'm glad I had my iPad with me because its impossible to visualize based on what they have. We paid $265ish for the upgrade to Truffle - definitely worth it! And we didn't have to pay out of pocket as we scored a $700ish credit back due to a change with our fibre optic connection. Score! Pooks - I hear ya! I am obsessed with the endless possibilities of lights, wall art, decor out there. I've been browsing wallpapers lately - if you had told me ten years ago that I'd be getting this excited over wallpaper, I would have laughed & burst into flames! Have you tried the Houzz application? It has lighting (and everything else) which then links you to the the store from which you can purchase! Haven't bought anything from it myself so can't tell you anymore, but worth looking at? As for air con, we decided to wait. We didn't want to drive the price up another $10k and figured we'd get one later. Saw one the other day that is WI-FI compatible - what will they think of next! (Still waiting for them to invent Robot Maids though!). I've had both coolers..but can't really think of any valuable feedback... Haha, sowy! It's our first time going through the finance but the process feels like a string of pre-approvals, box ticking & never ending *initial here* *sign here* *read this thing...* *attempt to decode pages of non-sense* REPEAT. Are you guys planning to furnish your pads with new furniture or take what you have now? Or bit of Both? First Home - Building Aston22 in Aurora Contracts & Colour Selection - 19/06/13 Land titles any day.... Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 32Jul 05, 2013 9:13 pm I have a confession to make...I am addicted to Houzz! That's what has started this whole lighting obsession...that and the Beacon lighting website. I agree with Studio M and taking the ipad. I had all decisions pretty much worked out before the selections appointment...but it didn't stop the appointment for going for 4 hours (contract signing included). I had a credit for removing walls and door around the ensuite toilet which gave me my Undermount Sink! I put a door on the main ensuite (as there wasn't one) because I didn't want to be in the shower and have people walking past seeing me through the bedroom window on their morning walks as our shower is in line with the window! I received an email this afternoon from the new pre-start lady introducing herself as she will be helping us until the build...she attached all of the floor plans for me to review. I have been so stress free lately just waiting for the land to settle (feeling like I am over a speed bump) when I realised all of the plans were OLD and untouched by us! None of our changes to the ensuite, extra vinyl flooring, electricial movements etc. I am hoping it was just an accident on her behalf and the previous prestart lady still has them (she is still working for HBC) so I am looking forward to her reply saying "here they are!" Our "To Do" list once we move in (and where our current savings is being dedicated to) is: Concreting (paths) around the back of the house, fencing with added cat proof fencing (found this really awesome add on for colourbond fences to keep the cats in), cat door installed in laundry sliding door, dishwasher, microwave, aircon and furnishings....have you guys thought about your top items? We have 5 cats so it's important to get them sorted! We are currently selling larger items we don't want on ebay: huge wine cabinet, pool table and piling up for hard rubbish - couches etc. We have a new couch already and a new bed, tv, cabinet etc they are all new but decor and furnishings I am starting NEW and I cannot wait! Ruby have you been past the estate in the last couple of days? The intersection/road works were supposed to be completed by now...just wondering if they are. Build Permit-17/12/13 Earthworks-13/1/14 Slab-30/1/14 Frame-10/2/14 Lock Up-7/3/14 Fixing Stage Complete-20/3/14 New Home Presentation-6/5/14 Moved in 17/5/14! Blog: http://dandesbuild.blogspot.com.au Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 33Jul 05, 2013 10:22 pm Haha! Oh no. I overlooked the peeping Tom factor with the ensuite & master room window. Lucky we went with the 'block out' blinds! Might have to splurge on some shrubbery for the front window Wah... How come you guys have a new pre-start rep? We are dealing with K-L at the moment and had a girl named S@mantha during the colour selection appointment. I take it this new plan is supposed to be THE final draft with all upgrades & alterations? When I first read "cat proof fencing" I was wondering whether you meant to keep them in or out! Haha. Awesome! Our rental at the moment has a cat door and cat proof fencing (extended net-type) which is awesome for our Siamese. We'll definitely get a cat door eventually! Did you guys go for the front garden landscaping option? We have a small backyard so haven't put much thought into it yet. Our major priorities will be: - Fridge, microwave & dishwasher - Washing line (lol) - Air con We just got a new couch which will work a treat. But it's definitely the fun bits and pieces that I look forward to purchasing; and i have a feeling that ill end up spending more on lamps, lights, wallpaper and decor than I do on the practical stuff! Oh, and a letterbox!! Need that. First Home - Building Aston22 in Aurora Contracts & Colour Selection - 19/06/13 Land titles any day.... Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 34Jul 05, 2013 10:59 pm I was advised by HBC that the washing line and letterbox are included...did they tell you it's not? oh no...it's good how this forum opens my eyes to things! We had Mich@el for home consultant/sign up, K@tie for pre-start selections (she is now in another department) and so now we have T@rryn for pre-start/pre-construction - even though we have done prestart! She explained in her email today she will be my contact right up until the land titles and then will maintain fortnightly contact with me. The plans she sent through are apparently not the final FINAL ones but the ones before. haha! it was the first set and then altered by us, including electrical plan...they are the latest ones we signed off on with the contract. The cat enclosure fixtures (yes, to keep cats in) is the Oscillot System (oscillot.com.au). They look like large rollers attached to the top of fencing so when the cats jump up they can't actually grip on anything. It is approved by the RSPCA and is neat and tidy too. Even though we will have a bit of space in our yard a cat run will take up heaps of room and my cats have been used to roaming (during the day) their whole lives so if I can keep them in the property without annoying neighbours but still allow them space I think we will be one big happy family. haha! Cat proof fencing in a rental is awesome! we tried that in ours but we aren't very handy so it kind of fell down....yeah. We did include the front landscaping option in our finance. Did you? I honestly wasn't very impressed with the HBC layouts to chose from but I just figure I can change it up as time goes on...as for the back, my partner has ALL of these ideas and says that will be his baby so I am fine with that - just don't trek mud through the house When it comes to decor I seem to like the cheaper things...I don't know why. Kmart and Super Amart have my favourite homewares! Though I am going to make an effort on rugs/cushions/lamps. I am also looking for a nice clock...I am getting waaaay ahead of myself. It keeps me entertained though...during this wait! Are you doing a feature wall anywhere? What do you think of the I-Hub in the living room (niche in the wall)? Did you get the block out roller blinds from HBC? If you roll them up - is there anything behind them? I was thinking I might need to get the clear ones for behind them....or just leave it. I don't know! Build Permit-17/12/13 Earthworks-13/1/14 Slab-30/1/14 Frame-10/2/14 Lock Up-7/3/14 Fixing Stage Complete-20/3/14 New Home Presentation-6/5/14 Moved in 17/5/14! Blog: http://dandesbuild.blogspot.com.au Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 35Jul 06, 2013 12:00 am Hmmm. Defiantly too many cooks in the kitchen! Hopefully now that you've got one person to deal with, you'll have less risky business going on. We had to go with landscaping as a condition of the estate we are building in . I like the idea of it being done (so we don't have to do it) but agree, the plans weren't exactly thrilling! I guess we'll find out We won't have the e-hub in the Aston 22 so I plan on having that wall as a feature wall with wallpaper instead on paint. I've seen a few I like but still exploring!! First Home - Building Aston22 in Aurora Contracts & Colour Selection - 19/06/13 Land titles any day.... Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 36Jul 17, 2013 8:02 pm Wow - go away for a week and we pick up another one! Welcome on board Myheadfelloff - definitely an appropriate name! I had the same guys as Pooks for sales and colours. I'm not a super visual person either, so I went on a grand tour of the estates and just took photos of all of the colour combinations that appealed to me, then just edited it back. And I never need any reason to go to the display homes! I took about 100 photos, then just compared until I kind of had an idea of what I liked. I also went to the paint counter at B*nnings, and with the paint chips there were kind of transparent rooms of furniture or fronts of houses. So you could just grab paint chips to put behind the rooms, so you could kind of see what colours would look like with furniture like mine. Of course, I've been watching The Block, so it's been great seeing all of the ideas that I just can't afford right now! Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 37Jul 17, 2013 8:08 pm I had a site visit this afternoon and my painting is now finished, the electrical and data cabling is done (so light fittings, light switches, power points, NBN cabling), and the tilers will be done tomorrow. So I have plumbing fit off, my driveway and landscaping still left to do at the end of this week. Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 38Jul 17, 2013 8:52 pm BeccaJ- how exciting your progress sounds! So they do landscaping straight away I see- that's good, no trekking through mud when moving! Question for you- do you get a letterbox and clothesline included? Have they given you a completion date? Build Permit-17/12/13 Earthworks-13/1/14 Slab-30/1/14 Frame-10/2/14 Lock Up-7/3/14 Fixing Stage Complete-20/3/14 New Home Presentation-6/5/14 Moved in 17/5/14! Blog: http://dandesbuild.blogspot.com.au Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 39Jul 18, 2013 8:50 am so exciting for you becca cant wait to get to the actual building stage. pooks I went out to Livingston a week n half ago- where in seaford and go there all the time lmao. -yes to stare @ the mud!!!! the road works stil not done getting there though. We have prestart in a week n half, what are there standard blinds? Site Start 11/3/14 Slab Pour 2/4/14 Framing Complete 8/4/14 Lock Up 1/5/14 Fixing Stage Complete 14/5/14 New Home Presentation 20/6/14 Handover 2/7/14 blog: http://firsthomebuilding.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 40Jul 18, 2013 10:30 am Hey Ruby123- we went out to the estate on the weekend too- I see street lights have been put up in our "street" but no road yet, just mud!! Pre-start is coming up quick- how exciting!! The standard blinds are roller blinds- either light grey or tan. We went with the grey. They are really basic. You can choose Venetians as well but I have them now and the cats love to claw them! I think I have a photo of the blinds so I will email them to you if that's ok- I hate figuring how to upload photos! Build Permit-17/12/13 Earthworks-13/1/14 Slab-30/1/14 Frame-10/2/14 Lock Up-7/3/14 Fixing Stage Complete-20/3/14 New Home Presentation-6/5/14 Moved in 17/5/14! Blog: http://dandesbuild.blogspot.com.au I havent, and i havent looked to much into it, but on face value its not the saviour its trying to make out to be. Shared equity in your home is never a good idea. The… 1 4189 Hi, have purchased a house with 2 single garage doors. The Centre pillar one side sits proud to the other. Can I change 2 doors into one. Please see picture. 0 6747 For reference, this is the Austlii reference. My take on this is, that they would be breaking the law denying access to a homeowner in Victoria, or their agent from having… 1 9576 |