Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 3Jun 11, 2013 2:42 pm Hi tony, Thanks for sharing. We are looking at the same design as well and just paid for the tender to be done. I have a few questions hope that you can shed some light. 1. Sarking - I assumed this is sarking to the roof? Is this additional on top of what they have or they did not come with sarking at all? 2. NBN/Network - they mentioned that this is included in their price but they only provide an empty box to the external wall. When you say you pay for 2xpaytv points etc... does that mean that allowance covers all cabling to the internal? Don't they have any allowed to start off with? 3.What kind of council bond and fees that we have to pay? Cheers Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 4Jun 11, 2013 4:47 pm Sarking - extra NBN - Yeah you have to pay extra. It is written in the fine print. Council bond / fees - about $2000 max. Depending on council. It is in case the workers damage the kerb etc. (the bond you get back, fees you don't) Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 6Jun 12, 2013 12:23 pm Very annoyed at the moment. I got a message saying changes to a stairs will cost me $1240. They refuse to do it at no charge even though the articulation is already costing me $2-3k. And the change is soooo minor. "Provide a 1250mm wide landing to the stairwell, remove one tread from the top of the staircase and install it at the bottom, so that the bottom tread finishes in line with the store wall" See below. Am I being unreasonable here? Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 7Jun 27, 2013 7:43 am Crokke 1. Sarking - I assumed this is sarking to the roof? Is this additional on top of what they have or they did not come with sarking at all? 2. NBN/Network - they mentioned that this is included in their price but they only provide an empty box to the external wall. When you say you pay for 2xpaytv points etc... does that mean that allowance covers all cabling to the internal? Don't they have any allowed to start off with? Sarking is extra and is worth getting as it will help with Basix and prevent leaks. The network package includes 2 tv/pay tv points, 2 phone points and 2 LAN network. Extra if you want to upgrade to Cat 6. If you are connecting to FTA TV, you will need to get your antenna installed and connected to the hub after handover. Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 8Jun 27, 2013 1:10 pm Allcastle must do things a little differently in each area... I marked the original plans up, which they redrew and supplied a free prelim tender (which we rejected as it was too costly), we then removed some things and asked the price be reduced to accommodate our budget. They gave us a good compromise which was surprising. We paid the 995 for soil test and a formal tender (including site costs) which came back quite reasonable.. so at that stage we were only out 1k at the most if we wanted to walk away.. never allow builder to get you in too deep up front . We were also well aware of inflated site costs before building, so told the land developer to flatten the block to under 450mm or we would simply walk away Surprisingly they listened and did a great job, and will only cost a few thousand for some cut/fill/compaction and some extra piering under the alfresco. Plan wise I believe (and hope) there are no hidden costs when we get the first drafts done, as they won't do this until you pay them 3k upfront. Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 9Jul 22, 2013 10:44 am The way AllCastle works (I believe) is.... (sales)--->(plans)--->(interiors)--->(electricals). each being a different ''department" and your file gets passed from one department to the next. like a production line. Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 10Jul 22, 2013 10:22 pm tonyattheponds The way AllCastle works (I believe) is.... (sales)--->(plans)--->(interiors)--->(electricals). each being a different ''department" and your file gets passed from one department to the next. like a production line. What stage are you up to now? Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 11Jul 23, 2013 9:37 am Ca6leguy tonyattheponds The way AllCastle works (I believe) is.... (sales)--->(plans)--->(interiors)--->(electricals). each being a different ''department" and your file gets passed from one department to the next. like a production line. What stage are you up to now? Updated the first post. we're waiting for carpetcall appointment next week, and electrical review to come back also. Following that contract then construction. Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 12Jul 23, 2013 9:42 am tonyattheponds Updated the first post. we're waiting for carpetcall appointment next week, and electrical review to come back also. Following that contract then construction. Noticed that you paid your tender fee on March 2013. Tender expires in 150 days. My calculation says your tender will be expiring soon? Have your plans been approved? Did you go through council or CDC? Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 13Jul 23, 2013 10:10 am Good point. I went back and had a look. I paid $950 acceptance fee in March. But the deposit date is shown in April when I paid the $4k. But we may go over (as Allcastle don't sign contract until EVERYTHING is finalised), I will have to email and see. Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 14Jul 23, 2013 10:12 am tonyattheponds Good point. I went back and had a look. I paid $950 acceptance fee in March. But the deposit date is shown in April when I paid the $4k. But we may go over (as Allcastle don't sign contract until EVERYTHING is finalised), I will have to email and see. What is the expiry date stated on your tender? They said they reserve the rights to increase the price if contract is not signed before the expiry date. Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 15Jul 23, 2013 10:21 am Tender 2 expiry is 6th September, on the condition that the Final contract and 5% deposit is paid in 120 days (7th August) <-- which was never going to happen. Hmm.. well I've shot them an email. waiting for reply. Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 16Jul 23, 2013 6:52 pm We are considering AllCastle as a builder and had a couple of questions 1. What's "Articulation"? 2. Did you use something called a EasyBuild Package? Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 17Jul 23, 2013 10:03 pm chaitanyakuber We are considering AllCastle as a builder and had a couple of questions 1. What's "Articulation"? 2. Did you use something called a EasyBuild Package? Articulation is a break in the wall (either intrusion or extrusion). eg in the pic above you see the stairs popping out instead of being in line with the wall. Yeah we went with EasyBuild Package Where are you building? Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 18Jul 24, 2013 8:35 am tonyattheponds Tender 2 expiry is 6th September, on the condition that the Final contract and 5% deposit is paid in 120 days (7th August) <-- which was never going to happen. Hmm.. well I've shot them an email. waiting for reply. Any response from the builder? Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 19Jul 24, 2013 4:00 pm tonyattheponds Articulation is a break in the wall (either intrusion or extrusion). eg in the pic above you see the stairs popping out instead of being in line with the wall. Yeah we went with EasyBuild Package Where are you building? We are planning to build in North Ryde and we are looking the Highgrove plan. I am not planning to make any changes that will have a structural impact such as high ceilings etc. Of all the extra's you have listed I think sarking, termite resistant timber, gas points, and garage insulation are the one's I had not considered. I have been building a construction cost spreadsheet for a few weeks and seem to have enough fat in my plan to cover these things. Which facade have you picked? (I am little curious about the cladding you are replacing and assume its in the facade) Did you have argue/negotiate much to get refunds for tile and carpet allowance? In their 6 step process information sheet they seem to indicate the whole tender to construction start should take 60 days. Sounds like yours is taking longer. Have you had lots of back and forth with them? Have they making lots of mistakes or are they slow? Once we start our process I shall do a blog and post a link here for every step. I think more people that contribute this information into the open the easier this process will become for others and push the builders closer towards transparency. Re: Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+ 20Jul 24, 2013 4:37 pm chaitanyakuber In their 6 step process information sheet they seem to indicate the whole tender to construction start should take 60 days. Sounds like yours is taking longer. Have you had lots of back and forth with them? Have they making lots of mistakes or are they slow? It will definitely take more than 60 days. Are you going through council or CDC? There will be lots of back and forth trying to get the tender and plans accurate. Make sure you check every single detail. Hi we are looking to talk to people who have built with them recently. We have signed mid range built contract but identified that a lot of things are not included.… 0 1531 Was the offer also on their website? If so, you could check the Wayback Machine. 1 1733 I do enjoy the drama:-D In his latest two videos he has started bringing security guards to site, I am waiting for the punch on to begin lol 6 46336 |