Metricon Winchester 28- Landscaping

After reading through quite a few threads I think it's time to dip my toes in the water here. We're right at the beginning of the process; we have purchased land in south east Melbourne but it isn't due to title until November (and hopefully doesn't run late).

After looking at the Merricks, we went with the Winchester 28 as the master is larger and we didn't see the need for three loungerooms. The smaller footprint also means we will have a decent backyard on our 420sqm block. We're going with the basic Aspire facade to keep costs down and splurging instead on a few upgrades.



We've added on the outdoor room at the back and increased the shower in the ensuite, and added the window splashback to the kitchen (which was strangely cheaper than adding a glass splashback).



We've done a tour of Studio M already so just waiting for it all to progress to the next stage now.

Timeline:
25/2/17: first appointment with Metricon (paid holding deposit)
3/3/17: second appointment with Metricon
19/3/17: signed land contract, paid deposit
6/6/17: got married!
7/6/17: sale officially accepted
29/7/17: Studio M selections
2/8/17: Electrical appointment
6/9/17: cancelled contract appointment (docs not ready)
3/10/17: contract appointment
22/11/17: loan application submitted
9/1/18: SOC issued
15/1/18: land titled
29/1/18: settlement
14/2/18: revised plans submitted to Estate review panel
16/2/18: developer approval received
14/3/18: final colours signed off
29/3/18: final electricals signed off
4/4/18: final plans due
6/4/18: final plans signed off
12/4/18: build permit approved
13/4/18: handed over to construction (with one variation pending)
3/5/18: final date to commence as per contract but have gone back to engineering to add in stud walls
10/5/18: Notice to comply from council
16/5/18: site cut completed
23/5/18: slab poured
19/6/18: framing complete
24/6/18: fascias and gutters done, plumbing roughed in
25/6/18: roofing done, windows in
14/7/18: bricking mostly complete
20/7/18: plaster complete
27/7/18: cabinetry complete
30/7/18: lock up complete
31/7/18: fixing complete
28/8/18: tiling complete
2/9/18: electrical and plumbing fitoff complete
14/9/18: PCI
24/10/18: Occupancy certificate received
9/11/18: HANDOVER!

Following as i have LOVED the winchester plan for many years. Is there a display in Vic?
Have you done selections yet?

There is a display of the 34 out in Tarneit. We actually selected the house before we saw the display and fortunately absolutely loved it.

Haven't done selections yet but doing our homework on as many of the options as possible including having some of the brick samples sent to us.

So our list of changes are:
Increased ceiling height to lower floor
Add outdoor room
Increase ensuite shower, change to tiled base
Window in lieu of splashback in kitchen
Eaves to all upper level (front required for estate)
Brick to garage instead of infil (required by estate and looks better anyway)
Upgrade front door as per promotion pack to Hume Newington XN5
Storage space under the stairs (need somewhere to keep the wine)
Promotional upgrade to caesarstone in kitchen, plus 900mm upright cooker and soft-closing pot drawers
Driveaway pack
Flooring pack
Cooling pack (though may upgrade model)

Just waiting to do the contract stuff and selection appointments now though we have a pretty good idea of what things we want. I'm pretty set on the Selkirk Ironstone brick after seeing it on one of the Glendale displays. Will upgrade to Colorbond (probably Monument colour). Taps will all be upgraded to the contemporary style (Mizu Sooth). Happy with the included timber laminate but will need to investigate carpet options.

congrats blackcat! Following your thread, looks like an awesome plan!

I'm also building a double storey, but in Regional Vic. We should be pretty on par in terms of timing of builds

The quicker the better given we're living with my mum for the duration...

How did you go about getting brick samples? is it only Selkirk that do it?


My build - viewtopic.php?t=87470

I just requested mine through the Selkirk website but I assume the other brick companies offer the same. Otherwise you might need to pop down to their display centres to see if you can get samples.

I was pretty sure I wanted Selkirk Ironstone after seeing it on a display but the images from M looked a bit off, so the samples were a great way to confirm it really was the same brick and the one that I wanted.
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Another hectic weekend moving out of our current house which was sold recently. Been hard packing up after living in the same house since I was a small child. We have moved in with my mum for the duration of the build, so hoping it all moves along quickly for the sake of my sanity. Doesnt help that we are also planning a wedding, so the last few months has been far more stressful that I would have liked.

Our sales rep seems to be snowed under so still waiting for some variations to be sorted (pre-contract) then hopefully our selection appointments will be locked in.

We have progress! The land has gone from lovely green paddock to dirt, fences and earth moving equipment.







Here's hoping they actually meet their November titling estimate.Save

Apparently there was quite a big boo boo made and M have been busy in the background working to fix it. When we approached them to build, they went through the Estate we liked and selected appropriate blocks of land. We picked one, exchanged contracts, and paid the contract. Turns out the 3D building envelope on the block doesnt allow for the house we're building (or planning to build) and no one picked it up. So M have been busy busting their butts to get the rules changed and get it all approved so we can go ahead with the chosen plan which I'm pretty impressed with.

We finally have our selection appointments! Electrical is not until September which is crazy; colours next month. I'm hoping everything will be ready to start building when our land settles (expected November). Popped out to check on progress and its looking good. Our street exists now, though not yet in our stage.


It's been a crazy few months what with moving house and getting married overseas two weeks ago. Now we can actually focus on this project. The upside of getting married is getting a few gift vouchers; we're going to need a lot of furniture as everything we had was second hand/hand-me-downs.

Made the most of a good sale this weekend and picked up pendants for over the kitchen bench. I'd seen these in a non-M display home and the builder would not tell me where they got them. Happened to find them in a local store and just happened to get the last three, on sale.



They also have a light we'd really like for over the dining table but that will have to wait till the budget allows.

Congrats on getting married!!! Where O/S did you get married?

Love those lights, just gorgeous!!

That's awesome M are busting their butts to fix the issue. Hopefully your land titles on schedule. Following along

Lost my post

Anyways... how did I not find your thread before now??? I love your floorplan and that facade... I'd go with those exact colours as the pics XD

Congrats on getting married.
Nice to see land is progressing, fingers crossed November is your settlement. D *following*

Thanks! We got married in Hawaii; my husband is from the US and his family is everywhere so we figured a little spot in the middle was perfect.

I've been impressed with M so far; I was a bit worried when I hadn't heard back from them but seems they were busy fixing things.
We were introduced to our CSC today who is trying to get us in for an earlier electrical appointment so we can get everything done before land settlement.

Thank you

We're going a bit darker than the picture; Ironstone bricks and hopefully a light grey up top, though I am eyeing off the weatherboard style cladding.

Found a lounge suite I love yesterday and trying to work out if we can make it fit while not losing dining space....drawing it on the plan gives me a vague idea but I think it will be easier once I have a physical space to work with.
Save:-D

M have managed to slot us in for an earlier electrical appointment (August) and have locked in our contract appointment for September.
Any tips of what to look for/alter in the contract?

No specific tips from me as I didn't go through M or a volume builder.. but just check and double check.. and just remember what you don't specify they will.

Okay so I hate to sound like a mega stalker, but...
I think I may know you from another forum... I do believe we may have spent some time together in March getting drunk on free champagne in the First Class lounge in SYD and then on to CHC for more drinking?
If so, yay to have stumbled upon your building thread