Anyone else building at Botanic Ridge?

pinkdiamond · Jan 13, 2010 7:58 am

Quote:

I am currently in the process of purchasing a block of land at botanic ridge... Just wondering if any other buyers who bought reasonably close to the over head power lines (back of stage 7) had any issues with obtaining a loan due to mortgage insurers not insuring the loan due to their proximity to the power lines...? If so how you got around these issues..

No we didn't have any problem obtaining finance for the block but then we didn't have to worry about mortgage insurance as we were borrowing less than 80% against the land price.

The Brain · Jan 13, 2010 8:25 am

Quote:

I am currently in the process of purchasing a block of land at botanic ridge... Just wondering if any other buyers who bought reasonably close to the over head power lines (back of stage 7) had any issues with obtaining a loan due to mortgage insurers not insuring the loan due to their proximity to the power lines...? If so how you got around these issues..

q

They must be worried about resale value due to the "stigma" attached to power lines. Our bank did their valuation as per the norm but nothing out of the ordinary came up. Which block are you buying Jake D?

Jake D · Jan 13, 2010 9:54 am

Lot 744...

Jake D · Jan 13, 2010 9:20 pm

Please pm me if any of you are building stage 7 of botanic ridge. Just got a few quick questions about any problems you had with obtaining finance due to the power lines...

pinkdiamond · Jan 17, 2010 9:25 am

Does anyone know anything about proposed schools for the estate ?

scottk · Jan 17, 2010 9:46 am

Hi guys we built in stage 2b, station creek way and we love the area so much its so nice going for walks around an meeting other people in the area, Its such a lovly estate. In regards to schools and the like if they are to go ahead at some stage they will go into the devolopment from smiths lane down to craig road, hope you all enjoy the building progress best of luck

Jake D · Jan 29, 2010 3:36 pm

Finally it looks like it is all sorted out and we will be getting the block! As of tomorrow i shold have everything sorted and be a Botanic Ridge Land owner!

pinkdiamond · Feb 01, 2010 9:08 pm

Jake D

well hello neighbour ::smile::

look forward to meeting you and watching your building process.

smith.88 · Feb 02, 2010 4:02 pm

building1

ThornLee

How'd you go Bulding1 with the deposit? Everything went well?

Not very well at all, and just reading what PinkDiamond has written (no cats) ummm, that puts us out.
I am also having small issue with the high voltage powerlines, we are looking at other estates, so not sure what is going to happen....

Waiting it out.

NO CATS hey...yeh right. There are plenty of people with cats here,so dont let that stop you.
You can bring your cat when you shift, and it can live its life span in your new house provided you have a cat run and it cannot roam around night.
Its the Law,they cannot make you put down you family pet just because your shifting house.Do a search on it,you will be surprised "building 1".
smith.88 (here puss puss puss puss).

smith.88 · Feb 02, 2010 4:58 pm

danielk

We are building on Lotus Dve...well hope to be building soon!

We have found the process of getting design approvals from the developer confusing, inconsistant and difficult.

Because we are buying a corner block our side facade must be as detailed as our front facade. After arguing with the developer over numerous design options they finally approved an option including faux columns and timber screens, which of course will cost be thousands.

In the latest round of trying to finalise approvals we were asked to ensure that our meter box was not visible from the road...so how does the electricity company find our meter box to check it? Also they wanted to know what the colour of the trim on our solar panels would be - why would that even matter? particularly as it is positioned not to be visible from the road.

I like the design guidelines that they have but they are extremely pedantic and it is frustrating and time consuming

Has anyone else had problems getting approvals?

Quote:

I think everyone has had problems with the DAP.They are really good at dictating on what you can and cannot have.Its bulling and discrimination,not everyone has the same taste in houses.I have seen alot of houses there with no eves ,plain concrete driveways,big ugly tv antennas sticking out of roofs that are visable from the road,the list goes on.But the meterbox and color of the trim of your solar panels,what a joke. Believe me,your not the only one to have problems,and there will be others too that will have to deal with these dictating bullies.
Good luck on your build "danielk"

The Brain · Feb 03, 2010 8:41 pm

Jake D

Please pm me if any of you are building stage 7 of botanic ridge. Just got a few quick questions about any problems you had with obtaining finance due to the power lines...

I think the future residents of stage 7 should be prepared for a street party where you can dress up as your favourite radioactive beastie hehe. ::celeb::

pinkdiamond · Feb 04, 2010 12:13 pm

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=282564519486

::hyst::

Today I really am bored, so bored I created a FB group for Botanic Ridge.

king_gee · Feb 08, 2010 1:00 pm

smith.88

danielk

We are building on Lotus Dve...well hope to be building soon!

We have found the process of getting design approvals from the developer confusing, inconsistant and difficult.

Because we are buying a corner block our side facade must be as detailed as our front facade. After arguing with the developer over numerous design options they finally approved an option including faux columns and timber screens, which of course will cost be thousands.

In the latest round of trying to finalise approvals we were asked to ensure that our meter box was not visible from the road...so how does the electricity company find our meter box to check it? Also they wanted to know what the colour of the trim on our solar panels would be - why would that even matter? particularly as it is positioned not to be visible from the road.

I like the design guidelines that they have but they are extremely pedantic and it is frustrating and time consuming

Has anyone else had problems getting approvals?

Quote:

I think everyone has had problems with the DAP.They are really good at dictating on what you can and cannot have.Its bulling and discrimination,not everyone has the same taste in houses.I have seen alot of houses there with no eves ,plain concrete driveways,big ugly tv antennas sticking out of roofs that are visable from the road,the list goes on.But the meterbox and color of the trim of your solar panels,what a joke. Believe me,your not the only one to have problems,and there will be others too that will have to deal with these dictating bullies.
Good luck on your build "danielk"

Quote:

We should have taken our builders advice and brought somewhere else. Our plans went in last year and still havent been passed.We are happy with there guidelines,but the DAPolice wants to change our dream house into something that looks like a dogs dinner.
Next they will be saying that you are not allowed to have a red car in your driveway because it will not fit in with the "vision" that they want. Its a dam JOKE. ::angry::

pinkdiamond · Feb 09, 2010 9:40 am

Of course they didn't approve we now need contrast brick and panel garage door but since our colour selections the colour of door has become upgrade ::angry::

which would be an extra $550 on top of the $650 for the friggin door.
Our rep said the developers have been a royal pain in the arse not just with ours but others. Some people even needing structural changes. I really do regret buying land there now. ::angry::

king_gee · Feb 09, 2010 10:35 am

pinkdiamond

Make sure you really grill the sales people at the land office for the list of covenants. When we purchased our block I asked the question and was told "oh you can build any house you like there it just has to have 600mm eaves." According the the design guidelines this translates to:

Quote:

Thats the thing.They where quick to say you can build anything you like and take your money,but when it comes down to it , they will make you change your design to there liking ,regardless the cost to you. ::angry::

Believe me Pinkdiamond,your headaches are going to turn into miagranes dealing with these clowns.

Keep your chin up,dont let them get to you ::wink::

• Garage must be 1m setback from facade.
• Garage must not exceed 40% of the total facade (maximum of 2 car width)
• Driveway must be stamped and/or coloured concrete or aggregate (no plain concrete driveways)
• 4500L water tank is mandatory.
• The colour scheme of the exterior must complement the natural surroundings. Im not sure what this really means but i guess they dont want any bright purple houses with red roofs?
• Garage door should be a sectional panel lift.
• Fences must be CAPPED timber or colourbond.
• No fenceline can be erected past the facade.
• House must meet minimum 5 Star energy rating (most builders are doing this these days anyway)
• NO CATS!

Then there is the whole list of landscaping covenants, and a heap of stuff ive missed. Just make sure you read through it all.

Actually regarding the colour scheme, I am curious to know from you all... Did anyone building at BR get away with (or choose) their builders CAT1 or "included" bricks? We went with Category 2 Austral Parchment.

I have a paranoid delusion that some of these developers are in cahoots with the builders to force us into paying for extra upgrades to meet their approval criteria, which some have speculated is how the builders really make their profits (as discussed in another thread here somewhere)

pinkdiamond · Feb 09, 2010 10:55 am

And thus the problem reading the guidelines after your selections. ::hyst::

unless MR25 because that no longer applies.

meghan · Feb 09, 2010 11:57 am

I'm sorry many of you are having problems with your DA.

We only had to note a few things on our plans: That our exterior lights would be baffled, the colour of the solar panels would match the roof color as close as possible and we had to note the watertank colour would match the bricks as closely as possible. Maybe because we read the design and mandatory requirements a million times before submitting our plans and colours. Not trying to sound harsh, but isn't that what everyone does or is supposed to do?

We have Cat1 bricks, some stone and timber and we were approved. From what we read you can have what ever bricks you want - just single colour brickwork and single colour render won't get you approved.

The Brain · Feb 10, 2010 10:48 am

pinkdiamond

::angry::

Of course they didn't approve we now need contrast brick and panel garage door but since our colour selections the colour of door has become upgrade ::angry::

which would be an extra $550 on top of the $650 for the friggin door.
Our rep said the developers have been a royal pain in the arse not just with ours but others. Some people even needing structural changes. I really do regret buying land there now. ::angry::

Da Bwain here...

Our (pinkdiamond & the brain's) DAP knockback isn't too bad considering it is only two items that need correcting, and not overtly expensive ones either. All that has been done and is now back in the hands of the builders who are updating the plans today and sending them back over for DAP. Hopefully there will be no more delays. We have had to change a few colours around but nevermind, we are still happy with the design.

I do not think that Botanic Ridge are the only ones being a pain though. I have read the covenants on some other estates and they are equally ridiculous. I think it might be Heritage Springs in Pakenham that will not allow you to park your vehicle in plain sight if it bears any commercial advertising (tough if you're a self employed tradesperson), nor will it permit anyone to be in their front yard unless they are wearing a shirt???

I might start a new thread discussing the most ridiculous covenants around.

We are just getting frustrated at the delays now. I built my first house back through Devine Homes in Narre Warren South and because of delays in title releases it took nearly 12 months from the deposit to handover (and it was only a 3-bed 12sq house) mind you the actual build time was only about 6 weeks! But really no one has any excuses this time around. We are already paying mortgage and rates (yes we already have a RATES BILL!) on a patch of dirt, so we really dont want to hear any excuses for delays now.

The Brain · Feb 10, 2010 10:59 am

meghan

we read the design and mandatory requirements a million times before submitting our plans and colours. Not trying to sound harsh, but isn't that what everyone does or is supposed to do?

we read them a million times also, and like you there are still a few trivial things that got us knocked back on round 1. I don't know if its the slow process or that fact that we are having to live with extended family members that is frustrating us more. ::wornout::

king_gee · Feb 17, 2010 10:11 am

[quote="meghan"]

Maybe because we read the design and mandatory requirements a million times before submitting our plans and colours. Not trying to sound harsh, but isn't that what everyone does or is supposed to do?

[quote] We read it a million times too,but if you want to build a house that is different from all the spec homes in the area,be prepaired to be grilled.
Its ok to use their builder and get your 5 grand off your block,thats what they want.Mass produced houses the look the same but different colors.Thats why alot of house get approved so quickly. Reminds me of that song.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONEYGU_7EqU :z: