'The Heath' - Langwarrin.

tcorn · Nov 29, 2011 9:13 pm

Hi Luke,
We are building a house based on the Halifax floor plan but have changed the plan and extended it a great deal to suit us. We are looking at doing the Hawthorn Urbam facade. Which facade are you doing?
I find Rawdon Hill are so flexible and helpful when it comes to changes.
Our Sales consultant is Lee. I think we is out of Pakenham and Lyndhurst but may have moved to the new displays in Cranbourne.

If you don't mind me asking, have you paid the deposit and finalised plans and pricing or what stage are you up to with them?

Who told you March? I'm finding the information is very limited from Harcourts so thats why I wrote to the developer myself. Rawdon Hill do a 7 month build contract for single story homes so that's pretty good I think.

I don't know if I said but our Lot is #3. It seems that you and cblorac are actually opposite each other!

It does look like lots is going on at the moment, today we saw the road base in some areas and the gutters are started. Hopefully things keep moving along like that!!

Tamara

Vegimite Toast · Nov 30, 2011 7:19 am

Hi Tamara,

We’re planning to build with the Hawthorn Urban facade too. Lucky we’re not next to or opposite each other…

We have spoken to Lee a couple of times because he was at the Hawthorn display. They all seem great down there – let’s hope it stays that way during the building process. Our sales consultant is Jillian, not Ros as I previously advised (getting Real Estate and Builder mixed up). We have paid a deposit, but haven’t finalised plans and pricing yet. We’re still deciding on some stuff.

I spoke to the conveyancer for the developer yesterday, who advised that they were aiming for titles in March.

Cheers,

Luke

tcorn · Nov 30, 2011 9:13 am

I am really hoping to start building by May 2012 so we'll see how we go........

We are paying our deposit the week and then going to finalise the plans etc.
We had originally paid a deposit with another builder but weren't happy with their processes so went to Rawdon Hill from there.

Keep me posted on your progress and any helpful hints you come up with along the way.

Do you know anyone else building in the estate? I know someone building on Lot #82.

Have you heard about the problems with The Woods Estate? I read in the paper that have had a huge delay in getting any permits as the fire levels wont go through until shrub is removed but the council wont permit them to remove the shrub.

I'm scared we will face the same problems!

Vegimite Toast · Dec 02, 2011 9:43 pm

Hi Tamara,

We don’t know anyone else in the estate yet, but looking forward to getting to know some of our neighbors.

I did see the story on the Woods in the Paper. Hopefully they will have a lot of that soughted out for us by the time our land settles. They’ve had enough time...

I’m keep you updated on our progress…as long as you do the same.

Cheers,

Luke

mollycat · Dec 05, 2011 7:22 pm

Hi, we are building on lot 17, we just arranged our cross over to be changed to the opposite side, does anyone know if the rear fences that back onto the reserve are going to be put up by the developer or council ??

tcorn · Dec 11, 2011 1:19 pm

Hi Mollycat,

I changed my crossover too, I'm keen to see if they get it right.
I notice that they are doing rollover gutters in the estate.

I've got some recent photos so might try and post them if I can work it out.

I am under the impression that we are going to be required to do all the fencing.
The conditions on the estate dictate the particular type of woden fence we can have.

Who are you building with and what stage are you at with it?

We've now paid our deposit with Rawdon Hill and are expect plans for approval before Christmas.

Tamara

tcorn · Dec 18, 2011 8:58 pm

Anyone seen the land lately?
We have street lighting in!!

Vegimite Toast · Dec 20, 2011 5:16 pm

Hi Tamara,

We drove past the estate on Friday and noticed the street lights too – very exciting! It’s great to see that some real progress is being made. We might get titles by March after all...

We’re still working on plans for the house – lost of decisions to be made. Have you spoken to Rawdon about the BAL requirements? I’d be interested to see what changes they are predicting, if any.

Cheers,

Luke

tcorn · Dec 24, 2011 5:09 pm

Hi Luke,

It is all looking good and prgressing well.
We got our first draft of house plans back last week and they look great.
We will have a few small changes to make but very happy with them.

I asked generally about the BAL and Rawdon Hill advised standard costing for changes has been around $5000 but we are Lot 3 so have shrub and nature reserve on the rear of the block.
I am concerned we will be advised to install metal shutters to all windows and large water tanks etc.

I'm hopeful we can get the site costs & BAL sometime in Feb so we know what we're up against.
I would love it if we can get started building by May 2012 so that we're in by Christmas!

Tamara

mollycat · Jan 11, 2012 2:18 pm

Hi there,
looks like we have to pay for rear fences in full.... does anyone have any updates on titles, having trouble getting any information on this. We are building with Merlino Homes, we have been able to put our own design together which is awesome !

tcorn · Jan 13, 2012 7:45 am

Hi there,
The last correspondence my conveyancer
got stated settlement expected late March.
Rawdon Hill homes believes that's realistic
looking at the land progress. We have written a letter
this week requesting an update so I'll post the answer if
I get one. We had another meeting with Rawdon Hill
yesterday and they actually suggested a way to make
our plans better so they are drawing up new ones for us to look at.
If you can work out how I'd love you to upload your plans so we can all check it out.
Do Merlino homes have good inclusions?
I'm starting to get excited now cause things are happening.
Tamara

tcorn · Jan 13, 2012 7:53 am

Mollycat, I was just wondering who you queried the rear fencing with?
If the land behind is owned by council, you would assume they have to pay half.

Luke, we've changed our facade now! Gonna go with Monterey heritage instead.

mollycat · Jan 13, 2012 1:18 pm

Hi tcorn,
I just been told that the land will not title until April / May, not very happy ... this is verbal only and I have requested something in writing from MPRE in Narre Warren, my agent who sold us the land there was the person who told me that we would have to pay for the full rear fencing and that the council will not pay half which I found strange. I may need to make some more phone calls about this to the council I think. Merlino Homes will sit with you, find out exactly what you want design wise and then inclusions wise and give you a quote. The main reason I am going with them is because they will build on a footing and I am not locked into building on a slab which considering all that fill in the estate a slab will considerable high. Their quote was really good with all the extras I wanted included.
Although I have a preliminary plan, I am considering making a couple of changes to the design. Their website address is... merlinohomes.com.au

mollycat · Jan 13, 2012 1:19 pm

by the way my name is Rosemary, Hi Tamara !!

tcorn · Jan 14, 2012 8:05 am

Hi Rosemary,

Settlement in April/May was the last thing I wanted to hear.
I really wanted to get the build stated by May so that we can be in before Christmas.
I'll quietly hope that they are wrong!!!

Just wondering if anyone building in The Heath has kids and if so, how old?
We have two with us part time. A 10 year old boy and 8 year old girl.

Tamara

mollycat · Jan 21, 2012 11:50 am

Hi Tamara, same same, not happy at all to hear about yet another delay. We also want to be in there by Christmas... here's hoping ! We have a 17 year old daughter and a 6 year old son at home.
Rosemary

tcorn · Jan 25, 2012 2:26 am

Hi all,
I was told today that Steven Wilson from Harcourts in Langwarrin has been told by the developer (his brother in law) that settlement is expected in April.
I wonder if anyone has got any site costs from their building yet?

I know the owners of Lot 82 and they are building with Carlisle Homes. They have been given site costs of $12,500.
Given that PD told me $43,000 before I changed to Rawdon Hill, I thought that price sounded great!
She has the option to accept that amount and lock it in now. I would thats for sure.

Tamara

Vegimite Toast · Jan 25, 2012 7:08 am

Thanks for the update, Tamara. The sooner the better, but as long as we start building before the end of June we’re not too concerned.

We really like the Montague façade (there’s one at the end of the street we are currently living on).

I’m not an expert and maybe it’s the optimist in me, but I’m hoping (all finger crossed) that our site costs won’t be too astronomical because:
- our block is relatively flat (approx 30 cm fall),
- there is only a small bit of fill (approx 15 cm) to about a 1/4. The rest of the block is cut;
- The trees are far enough away, so the roots shouldn’t cause a problem; and
- The soil is sandy, from which I understand is not very reactive (like clay is, for instance).

Something might come back in the soil test (i.e. rocks, clay) which means that site costs do blow out, but until I see it provisional site costs, I’m remaining positive.

Re Kids: We have a 15 Month old boy, who can’t wait to start terrorising the neighbourhood... We really want to get started, and finished, for his sake.

Cheers,

Luke

mollycat · Feb 05, 2012 9:27 am

its very exciting to see footpaths and crossovers .... I am hoping we can start building in May

Vegimite Toast · Feb 13, 2012 6:15 am

Hi All,

I spoke to the developer on Friday, who advised that the blocks will be released in two waves; approx 50 at a time. The blocks in first release are almost close to complete and it is expected that an application will be with the Titles Office in the coming weeks. Best case scenario, the titles for the first release will be ready in late March. The second release will be ready about a month after the first (April//May).

I assume the first release will be the blocks to the west of the estate, which have footpaths and crossovers already. Crossovers are only just going into the blocks to the east of the estate.

Cheers,

Luke