Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Casaview Homes 2Mar 25, 2016 8:24 pm we are a-kind-of building with them "a-kind-of" because still finalising details, upgrades, etc. Building Casaview Denison 30 https://fortdenison.wordpress.com/about Re: Casaview Homes 4Mar 25, 2016 9:50 pm Well H+L packages are different they will not give any wide choice, only colours... So they start building very quick, once registered. I think so, no reason for them to wait. We have land, and it is a different story. At the moment we are not very pleased moving from tender (initial quote) to final amount. However, this is so mostly because once you got choice you start thinking: "OK contrary to H+L packages, I have a choice, and I would like this and that extra..." and so on... Somewhere we should stop So we are dealing with post-tender variations. Unfortunately for us it is slower than we expected. Advice #1 for those who has land: Ask for more when quoting it is much simple to reduce quote than to add more Where about is your lot? Big/small? Ours is in Schofields (small - 360) Building Casaview Denison 30 https://fortdenison.wordpress.com/about Re: Casaview Homes 5Mar 25, 2016 10:04 pm I guess we will find out soon, speaking with them prior to signing the tender, they're more than happy to make what ever change we want, just not the house design and as long as we pay the difference, but we are happy with the one we are getting anyway. As for the start date for the build, we have been told 4 months from registration. We are building in Green Valley - 390sq lot. How did you find the standard selections? I am told their catalogue is quite extensive? Re: Casaview Homes 6Mar 26, 2016 7:37 am Casabuild I guess we will find out soon, speaking with them prior to signing the tender, they're more than happy to make what ever change we want, just not the house design and as long as we pay the difference, but we are happy with the one we are getting anyway. That is good, because other bigger builders, say, Rawson would not allow you any changes. Casabuild As for the start date for the build, we have been told 4 months from registration. I thought they should start ASAP. I our case it is about 4 months already from registration. However, 15 December - eof January nobody should expect nothing from builders Casabuild We are building in Green Valley - 390sq lot. O! You are close to their office. I suggest to go to their office and look on samples of door handles and everything they have, much in advance. Then when they ask you on colour selection meeting you will be prepared. Do the same with BrindabellaKitchens -- they are very close to your lot, visit in advance start thinking now. Casabuild How did you find the standard selections? I am told their catalogue is quite extensive? We were also looking for H+L. We approached 1 H+L property from Casaview and 2! H+L from Rawson but decided to withdraw, loosing our deposits Of course Casaview gives you ten-fold wider choice than Rawson. However, when you build with your land you have a choice... and this indulges you to use this right. This is very good that Casaview allows interior upgrades for H+L packages. It really makes difference. Be prepared to put ~$500 on a better external door, the included is a door w/o any glass. Be prepared to put another ~$500 on a slim watertank (your lot is relatively small and you probably need to save the space), if they will allow you to change it of course, because this is what goes to the council, and idea of H+L is that they submit to the council once the land is registered, w/o negotiating anything about external look with you. BTW which upgrade package did you choose? (for $9999 or $3999)? Building Casaview Denison 30 https://fortdenison.wordpress.com/about Re: Casaview Homes 7Mar 26, 2016 7:44 am Is building 4 months from registration standard across other builders, seems a long time? Our block is 370 squares which basically limits us to the Verona and Atlantic double story designs for to narrow width. How are finding their base price vs tender price? Re: Casaview Homes 8Mar 26, 2016 9:03 am ss2211 - We were told 4 months as they won't do any selections or upgrades until land is registered. Price wise - people say they're a little expensive, but we got the location we wanted at a price lower than expected. Also, we had a bad experience with another builder, withdrawing during the process prior. So the service so far from Casaview, and finish in display homes is a plus for us. xyz - Timing has been an issue, but we are keen to jump into their supplier warehouses early and start looking. We've used the Polytec website and received samples in the mail, same with Quartz Stone Tops. We have enough samples to build a kitchen at the moment. Interesting on the door, because when they gave us a glimpse of the catalogue there was a designer door in the standard selections. Maybe this is different in H+L options? The tank is definitely being shrunk and moved to the side of the house as we are space poor. We went the $9999 upgrade and got AC half price at $5000. Did you go the 2.7 ceilings? We're budgeting this to be our biggest upgrade and expecting up to 10k... Which house are you building? We have the Patterson 22. Re: Casaview Homes 9Mar 26, 2016 9:38 am ss2211 Is building 4 months from registration standard across other builders, seems a long time? Do you have your own land or H+L? Hard to say if 4 months is big time gap or not... For example other H+L bigger builders practice "estate" approach. And if you build with them you may just pray that you lot will be the first in the queue, but with the same probability it could be the last one in the whole "estate" of the same-looking houses. And if you building is last in estate then even if they started with the first house at registration date, yours could be postponed for months. We asked for our tender once land has been registered. So now we have land and finalizing the cost and the details. Effectively we are loosing ~1500 per month repaying loan and renting. However, it was our choice to do it this way (mostly because of a lack of experience) we cannot "blame" Casaview for this. However, if you are buying the land yourself (not as part of H+L package) and your registration is in the future, try to finalize design, upgrades, everything before registration. Then Casaview will be able to start (submitting plan to the council) your house once you have settled. Building Casaview Denison 30 https://fortdenison.wordpress.com/about Re: Casaview Homes 10Mar 26, 2016 9:01 pm ss2211 How are finding their base price vs tender price? They have 2 "base" prices. One is what they have in their advertising materials and is referred to as "starting from..." Forget this one or add ~80-100K, because "starting from..." is just a frame w/o kitchen, showers, no painting, no floor, nothing. Then when you start talking to a sales person, he/she will unveil your the real base price, thus, for "starting from 210K" the honest base price is to be 300K But his 300K are w/o site costs, slab upgrade if needed, aircon, other upgrades, etc. So for 300K base add another 60K (at least 50K) However, if you sales person is good he will not tell you fairy tales about 300K. We dealt with Romi from Casaview@Willowdale display centre. That guy was very helpful. Other sales person was much worse. In our case 60K became 100K In my humble opinion there is no reason to build w/o 9999K upgrade package. Even for investment purposes. Building Casaview Denison 30 https://fortdenison.wordpress.com/about Re: Casaview Homes 11Mar 26, 2016 9:21 pm Casabuild Interesting on the door, because when they gave us a glimpse of the catalogue there was a designer door in the standard selections. Maybe this is different in H+L options? Hm... in our colour selection catalog there is nothing of designer look. Casabuild The tank is definitely being shrunk and moved to the side of the house as we are space poor. Casabuild We went the $9999 upgrade and got AC half price at $5000. Casabuild Did you go the 2.7 ceilings? We're budgeting this to be our biggest upgrade and expecting up to 10k... Sure it is a must. 2-storey we have, but only the ground floor will have 2.7, for us it was ~7K But when we tried to get into H+L from Casaview, a sales person told us that in H+L it was not possible to upgrade to 2.7, though he might have been incompetent. If I were you I should probably clarify it with Casaview ASAP. Casabuild Which house are you building? We have the Patterson 22. Our is Denison 30 Building Casaview Denison 30 https://fortdenison.wordpress.com/about Re: Casaview Homes 12Mar 27, 2016 6:28 pm Tip #2. When quoting, mention that you need architraves, internal doors, skirting, balustrade, etc. in colour different than walls. Believe it or not, but this is upgrade. Typically people select walls in colour slightly darker than snow white, but having balustrade or doors in the same colour as walls... Once we saw quote for it... OMG... This what I found unfair because majority of display houses has this "option" and nobody tells that this is not included. Building Casaview Denison 30 https://fortdenison.wordpress.com/about Re: Casaview Homes 14Mar 29, 2016 8:27 pm Danshajen Hi everyone, We are about to sign the tender to Casaview. I would really appreciate if you can give me tips or things to check carefully before signing the tender. Thanks It is a good company because: - all designs with minimal cladding (for other builders it is upgrade and costy) (competitor in this aspect Clarendon) - tiling on whole floor, even beneath cabinets - 24 degree roof - 9990 package is a must, because finally povides good insualtion and termite treatment - alfresco as part of slab - kitchen -- full cabinets with proper back However, as any company on the market they are trying to reduce "tag price"... not to frighten customers... So some "essentials" are not included, and it is better to claim them when requesting tender: - slim water tank - high ceiling on the ground floor - tiling "to the roof" in wet areas - tiling everywhere on the ground floor - brick upgrade (if you like something) - roof-tiles upgrade as well - extra windows (by some reason Casaview projects has less windows then other builder's) - ask for LED downlights everywhere you want in advance - NBN, Hills Hub - taps/showers - toilet seats - freestanding bath - do not forget AirCon Not neccesarilly you need it all, but this is a list of key points you may think about. Once you get tender allow (keep in mind): - $500-5000 on door upgrade - ~$1000 on extra wiring - $500-5000 for kitchen upgrade (could easily be even $10000) Make sure all your requests are reflected in the request-for-quote, and once received the quote make sure it matches the request. If not initial deposit should be returned or discrepancies eliminated. Building Casaview Denison 30 https://fortdenison.wordpress.com/about Re: Casaview Homes 15Mar 29, 2016 9:32 pm Thank you very much. I will definitely consider the above mentioned information. The information you provided was really helpful. They really have a good inclusions. I already consider paying 10k for the upgrades. They dont want to change M slab to H, (i will try to ask them). We are on the process of reviewing the tender, before paying $9800. Once i paid such amount theres no way out. Do you think they will give me those extras for free before I sign the tender or its anothet additional costs? Btw. Where abouts your lot. Looking forward for your response. Thanks. Re: Casaview Homes 16Mar 31, 2016 8:18 pm Danshajen They really have a good inclusions. I already consider paying 10k for the upgrades. You mean you would like to take 9990K package? Take it, it makes sense. IMHO Danshajen They dont want to change M slab to H, (i will try to ask them). Is there need in H slab? If soil allows M slab why should you spend money on H slab? Danshajen We are on the process of reviewing the tender, before paying $9800. Looks like you paid already something. Initial $1200 ? It means that all mistakes you could do, you have already done So most probably you will receive the tender missing some essentials. Danshajen Once i paid such amount theres no way out. Correct. This what I do not like about Casaview. Other builders just ask for $2000-3000 and they produce a tender for you. The tender is valid for 1 year. However, you do not need to increase you deposit to 10K+. Actually once you accept the tender you also are to sign "go-ahead" paper. So Casaview can start doing some paper-work for your building. But it is not mandatory to sign the contract at this moment. Danshajen Do you think they will give me those extras for free before I sign the tender or its anothet additional costs? This is what we are trying to achieve Before signing the contract we are now asking for all required variations. Prior to building commencement you should not be charged for the cost of making/considering variation ($180). Once building commences it will cost: - $180 - actual cost of work - administrative cost Danshajen Btw. Where abouts your lot. Schofields Building Casaview Denison 30 https://fortdenison.wordpress.com/about Re: Casaview Homes 17Mar 31, 2016 9:34 pm XYZ - We were offered the high ceilings during tender but declined because we want to keep our contract price below 750k for the FHOG. I will sure follow up with them again though. We dealt with Romi also and he was awesome. Been back to clarify on things and is more than happy to assist. We popped into Brindabella and Marvel Ceramics yesterday. No appointment but they still took the time to answer questions. Think we have our kitchen set! So have you signed your tender yet? Or doing final variations? When do you expect to see a slab go down? Danashja - As XYZ said go the 10k upgrades. We looked up every item on the list including price and its worthwhile. Ive noticed most their H+L packages now include the AC since the market slowed but ask for half price if not included. Or even thrown in... Where are you building Danashja? Re: Casaview Homes 18Mar 31, 2016 9:54 pm Casabuild So have you signed your tender yet? Or doing final variations? - accepted tender - haven't signed contract - doing final variations - waiting for total cost BEFORE asking approval from the lender BTW when did you go to the bank for final approval or when you will go ? Casabuild When do you expect to see a slab go down? OMG. This is the very question. I wish I knew Building Casaview Denison 30 https://fortdenison.wordpress.com/about Re: Casaview Homes 19Mar 31, 2016 9:58 pm Casabuild Ive noticed most their H+L packages now include the AC since the market slowed I think because a lot of customers may just prefer other builders since other builder include it. So looks like Casaview wisely decided to include it into H+L. Building Casaview Denison 30 https://fortdenison.wordpress.com/about Has anyone built custom with Casaview in Sydney? What was your experience and anything you wished you had done to your build in hindsight? 0 2875 Ask for references and speak to them. If they are defensive or try to avoid the request, walk. 1 74701 I would never build with Fowler homes. I built with them in 2021 and till date maintenance issues are pending. All their existing trades and businesses don't work with… 14 105551 |