Masterton Homes - The next thread 4.0

Vatche · Aug 21, 2013 10:08 pm

nubear01

Btw just a pointer to check below & above the doors to make sure they have been painted...good tip from a builder friend :wink:

Our painters took all the door off and painted them all around, so we got good clean pain job

Sunny16 · Aug 21, 2013 10:38 pm

ben+lisa

Hey Allyman

My front door 1200 x 2340 cost $55, all the internal square set niche to 2340 free, I had 18 doors raised for $1218 and the kitchen cupboards $500.

....
most of these issues was after we had signed and paid the 5% but M will charge $1000 if you want higher doors after you have signed for 2100. this fee also for the electrical and colors after signing.

Hi ben+lisa,
may i confirm that you upgrade from standard door 2100 to 2340mm right? and the front entry only just $55?
see my one below, cost $365 why so much difference? or is it when you upgrade all they will do a discount?

" Upgrade the front entry door to a 2340mm x 1200mm selected from the Hume Savoy Entry
Door Range. (clear, cathedral or translucent glazing only) $365
"

Chopdog · Aug 21, 2013 10:49 pm

ben+lisa

Junior Member
Junior Member

Hey Allyman

My front door 1200 x 2340 cost $55, all the internal square set niche to 2340 free, I had 18 doors raised for $1218 and the kitchen cupboards $500.

As for the plans, it is amazing, at one point i was thinking it was a stalling technique, every time i had something fixed, something else that I didn't ask for was adjusted, for instance my front windows, one side was 3 panel and the other was 4 panels wtf, and when they fixed that, the portico height was dropped, then when that was fixed they put a down pipe next to my front door, then a sliding window was deleted, this went on and on, every time something was touched something else changed,
but each time I had to actually study the plans find each change and then put forward my case, nobody proof reads your plans in the end I was told that the computer is doing it, so if you change anything check your plans again, m will fix any problems for free and will apologies.
most of these issues was after we had signed and paid the 5% but M will charge $1000 if you want higher doors after you have signed for 2100. this fee also for the electrical and colors after signing.

Did you upgrade the doors at colour room or prior to that? Thanks

onebighappyfamily · Aug 22, 2013 8:50 am

ben+lisa

Sunny16

allyman

Hi all

I am on same case, as I ask sale guy they said 2.6 can't fit 2340mm door. but I ve been to EB homes they raise 300mm on entry to fit door, any one same situation? Will M do that?

Hi guys, I've got 2600 with the 2340 doors plus I raised all the niche and kitchen cupboard hight as well, it can be done!

Thanks Ben+Lisa

Do you mind if I ask how much you estimate it will cost to increase door heights throughout our Symphony? We also noticed on the display home today the front entry door goes all the way to the ceiling. Our plans show our door to be 1200x2040mm, so what material is above the front door I wonder. The display home has 2700mm ceilings we will have 2600mm.

You make a good point...if I do this do I need to raise cupboards and niches to match? I guess for uniformity you do.

I am amazed you had 12 sets of plans drawn. We were told that we only get one chance to amend and then they will charge $1000 per change?

Thanks also Vatche for mentioning the windows. I see they have put a sliding window to our ensuite instead of a double hung, even though we specified it to be like the powder room. I don't see why a floor to ceiling window only 610mm wide would be sliding, especially all the way to the base.

With regards to tender price, I have changed my mind about having the canopy rangehood and now want a concealed range hood. I also want a 900mm oven and cooktop. Is now the time to mention this? Are these tender variations? We were quoted for a glass splash back to go all the way to the bulkhead, but now I have decided to go concealed we will need less glass , therefore they have probably over quoted.

Once we get the plans perfect do we then get a new tender price? And is the step after that signing contracts and paying 5% deposit? When does the kitchen and electrical come into play? I am sure this will increase the price again.

Sorry for so many questions, just trying to understand the procedure. They should provide you with a step by step guide to the process. I know EB do.

Regards
Ally

Hi Ally

In relation to your front door - we have 2.7m high ceilings and our colour consultant actually changed our front door to 2340mm high door without us even asking (which is the same as the display) and we are so glad she did.
Like Ben + Lisa, we had our plans redrawn many times (we were delayed six weeks because of this) and we werent charged as everytime they corrected a mistake they made another one.

It is better to mention any changes regarding rangehoods etc now - they will be classified as tender variations.
Once you agree with the plans - yes the next step is contracts and deposit so it can go to council. The kitchen and electrical etc come into play at your colour appointment and will cause a change in price depending on what you do - especially electrical as you get a specified amount of power points and light fittings included and then everything else is you add is an extra cost.

fingalbrad · Aug 22, 2013 12:34 pm

Is Sentinel Alarms the company that you meet with to discuss the alarm system and wiring for tv and data etc?? How did people end up getting or recommend and how much did everything cost? The standard alarm comes with 3 sensors. I think that should be enough for my house (garage, entry & living area). I am thinking I will get foxtel, tv and ethernet to all 3 tv points in the house and possibly study. I want to get speaker wire in the home theatre as well.
Suggestion will be appreciated

onebighappyfamily · Aug 22, 2013 1:50 pm

fingalbrad

Is Sentinel Alarms the company that you meet with to discuss the alarm system and wiring for tv and data etc?? How did people end up getting or recommend and how much did everything cost? The standard alarm comes with 3 sensors. I think that should be enough for my house (garage, entry & living area). I am thinking I will get foxtel, tv and ethernet to all 3 tv points in the house and possibly study. I want to get speaker wire in the home theatre as well.
Suggestion will be appreciated

Hi fingalbrad
Yes Sentinel is the one that does the alarm,tv, data points etc. The cost depends on how much more you want to add. Besides what is included in the mansion package we added extra data/tv points, had wiring done for speakers in home theatre and also got our garage fobs adjusted to include the alarm so when we go out or get home we can activate/deactivate the alarm with the garage fob - saves having to get out of car. We also got our antenna with them. Make sure you tell them if you are having tv's on walls as they place the wiring in a different position than if it was on a cabinet. Remember if you are having foxtel to have the data point there also if you want to be able to order over the net.
As far as the alarm went - we also added perimeter alarm to have the peace of mind. All up to cover all of our house as well as the attached granny flat it cost us just over $3000.00.

ben+lisa · Aug 22, 2013 5:05 pm

Sunny16

ben+lisa

Hey Allyman

My front door 1200 x 2340 cost $55, all the internal square set niche to 2340 free, I had 18 doors raised for $1218 and the kitchen cupboards $500.

....
most of these issues was after we had signed and paid the 5% but M will charge $1000 if you want higher doors after you have signed for 2100. this fee also for the electrical and colors after signing.

Hi ben+lisa,
may i confirm that you upgrade from standard door 2100 to 2340mm right? and the front entry only just $55?
see my one below, cost $365 why so much difference? or is it when you upgrade all they will do a discount?

" Upgrade the front entry door to a 2340mm x 1200mm selected from the Hume Savoy Entry
Door Range. (clear, cathedral or translucent glazing only) $365
"

Hi

I had this quoted before the color room, I also have a Hume door the savoy xs26 in translucent 2340 x 1200 in my signed color selection, but my tender variation states

"Provide 2340 high front entry door in lieu of standard 2040 high door (note door to remain 1200 wide)." $55

Maybe you should question M about this.

ben+lisa · Aug 22, 2013 5:08 pm

Chopdog

ben+lisa

Junior Member
Junior Member

Hey Allyman

My front door 1200 x 2340 cost $55, all the internal square set niche to 2340 free, I had 18 doors raised for $1218 and the kitchen cupboards $500.

As for the plans, it is amazing, at one point i was thinking it was a stalling technique, every time i had something fixed, something else that I didn't ask for was adjusted, for instance my front windows, one side was 3 panel and the other was 4 panels wtf, and when they fixed that, the portico height was dropped, then when that was fixed they put a down pipe next to my front door, then a sliding window was deleted, this went on and on, every time something was touched something else changed,
but each time I had to actually study the plans find each change and then put forward my case, nobody proof reads your plans in the end I was told that the computer is doing it, so if you change anything check your plans again, m will fix any problems for free and will apologies.
most of these issues was after we had signed and paid the 5% but M will charge $1000 if you want higher doors after you have signed for 2100. this fee also for the electrical and colors after signing.

Did you upgrade the doors at colour room or prior to that? Thanks

Hi
Most of my upgrades including the doors was with sales
Cheers

Vina · Aug 22, 2013 8:34 pm

Hi guys

Just wondering if anyone has exposed slab on their house.
We have it on the right hand side of the house. (see picture)

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Anyone know whether this is ok or should I be worried?

Thank you

Vatche · Aug 22, 2013 9:14 pm

Vina,

By the time you do your landscaping and put a lawn, it will be covered up.

Villina at Epping · Aug 22, 2013 10:24 pm

Hi all
Post some photos for my building process.

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The granny flat has completed roof.

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Insulation almost completed, the dark grey colour is Sound Screen R2.0 insulation, feel big difference for the noise barried.

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The garage and the alfresco also has insulation.

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The aircon ducts completed.

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The gyprock starts today. The contractor said it would be finished tomorrow. It's so quick.

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I have problem with these two pitches without the insulation. But the gyprock contract already fitted the gyprock on the ceiling for the 1st pitch. I am luck to pass the site today and stopped them to cover the 2nd pitch. After rang the insulation contract, they will fix tomorrow morning. the gyprock guys will remove the ceiling panel and refit back after insulation done. They promised me, but I may still go to check.

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The 3 steps cornice I highly recommend.

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The skylight of the granny flat, noticed "non-vented, with opaque diffuser and adjustable lightwell" on the tender, couldn't see adjustable function so far.

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Finally M doesn't charge me After Construction Variation fee, and set the Rangfhood external outlet to outside alfresco eave.

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The back of the house.

Vina · Aug 23, 2013 1:20 pm

Vina

Hi guys

Just wondering if anyone has exposed slab on their house.
We have it on the right hand side of the house. (see picture)

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Anyone know whether this is ok or should I be worried?

Thank you

Vatche

Vina,

By the time you do your landscaping and put a lawn, it will be covered up.

I agree Vatche

But I just thought I ask whether that is normal practise or not. Dont like them to take shortcuts etc

Vatche · Aug 23, 2013 2:38 pm

Vina

I agree Vatche

But I just thought I ask whether that is normal practise or not. Dont like them to take shortcuts etc

It all depends what your land levels are and surveyed.

We had over 24 tones of soil added to level it for lawn, still we have some areas at the back (where the slop is by 7 bricks lower than the front) the slab does show, but it does not bother us. It is normal.

onebighappyfamily · Aug 23, 2013 4:26 pm

Most of the tiling to the bathrooms and laundry completed with more work to be done tomorrow. Main floor to be started on Monday. All that is left is installing the toilets etc, painting, all final electricals etc and we are done. Fencing started to come down today ready for our fence to go up next week - looking good :z:

Vatche · Aug 23, 2013 5:28 pm

Villina at Epping

Hi all
Post some photos for my building process.

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Finally M doesn't charge me After Construction Variation fee, and set the Rangfhood external outlet to outside alfresco eave.

The back of the house.

That is good news. So where did it move to?

Chopdog · Aug 23, 2013 7:56 pm

G'day everyone, what is the other tile shop m use other then dons? Is it open on Saturday?

Villina at Epping · Aug 23, 2013 9:23 pm

Hi Vatche

When I pointed the outlet was set to wrong position. The constructin coordinator issued the After Construction Variation, $1000 plus the extend duct with inline fan cost $980. It's not a good solution because of the long duct pipe and further fan maintenance/repair. I already paid $500 for the duct outside, $500 for range hood upgrade. It's not worth $2000 for the range hood. I asked M to open a new hole on the same brick wall above the wrong outlet over the alfresco ceiling. Leave the duct on the alfresco roof thru this new hole. I will duct out thru the roof to the cowl after handover. I can purchase the good quailty range hood ducting thru roof kits to easy install. The contract use cheap materials.

This morning, I went to site to check the insulation. They only removed 2 small ceiling geprocks to refill the insulation. There is no insulation behind the middle long geprock. Of course they said all done. After I shown them the long geprock has no redriling signs, they have to cut, remove and refilling.

I am wondering is there any frame, water/gas pipes, wirings, insultion inspection before the plasterboard installation. Because after plasterboard finished, it's too late to correct the problem and even all defects are hidden behind plasterboard.

I had twice warnings from the construction coordinator, she looks very upset. But if I don't point the problems, who cares? I show her my trade licence and Occupational Health and Safety General Induction for Construction Work in NSW (green card). But no help. I don't care the warnings, I just want my house built as specifications.

Vatche

Villina at Epping

Hi all
Post some photos for my building process.

Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅
Finally M doesn't charge me After Construction Variation fee, and set the Rangfhood external outlet to outside alfresco eave.

The back of the house.

That is good news. So where did it move to?

Vatche · Aug 23, 2013 10:47 pm

Villina at Epping

Hi Vatche

When I pointed the outlet was set to wrong position. The constructin coordinator issued the After Construction Variation, $1000 plus the extend duct with inline fan cost $980. It's not a good solution because of the long duct pipe and further fan maintenance/repair. I already paid $500 for the duct outside, $500 for range hood upgrade. It's not worth $2000 for the range hood. I asked M to open a new hole on the same brick wall above the wrong outlet over the alfresco ceiling. Leave the duct on the alfresco roof thru this new hole. I will duct out thru the roof to the cowl after handover. I can purchase the good quailty range hood ducting thru roof kits to easy install. The contract use cheap materials.

This morning, I went to site to check the insulation. They only removed 2 small ceiling geprocks to refill the insulation. There is no insulation behind the middle long geprock. Of course they said all done. After I shown them the long geprock has no redriling signs, they have to cut, remove and refilling.

I am wondering is there any frame, water/gas pipes, wirings, insultion inspection before the plasterboard installation. Because after plasterboard finished, it's too late to correct the problem and even all defects are hidden behind plasterboard.

I had twice warnings from the construction coordinator, she looks very upset. But if I don't point the problems, who cares? I show her my trade licence and Occupational Health and Safety General Induction for Construction Work in NSW (green card). But no help. I don't care the warnings, I just want my house built as specifications.

I think I know who you are talking about! ::angry::

She can be a real B......ch.

Same thing when we were building. I noticed and reported several issues. Had I not done so, they would have to reap it all out and redo some work, costing them thousands $$. They should thank me, as the issues were obvious.

But if the issues are behind the wall, how can you know? By the time you find out, it is too late and they will not fix unless it is safety issue or missing/wrong parts.

Remember, any issues after hand over can be slow. We have one of the vanity leaking water in the cabinets every time we wash. I have put a towel to keep it dry. It has been weeks and still no plumber to fix it. There is no real priority once the keys are handed over and they have all the money.

I cannot believe they still would not let you on site even with green card! ::frown::

If you request for SS to give you visit, they claim he is too busy to visit your site with you once a week. It makes you feel you are getting the run-around for your own money.

They don't care. They just take your money and do what they like, not what you want for your money :::

dream_home93 · Aug 24, 2013 7:14 am

It's great to see the progress so many homes have made! I'm extremely excited for you all!!!

I'm just wondering if anyone can give me an indication of the paperwork process? We paid our $3.5K, have returned the external colour selection to our consultant and are awaiting plan preparation. We have been told that this takes 4-5 weeks. Then what happens next? It all seems to have changed from 10 years ago when we last built (mind you - different builders do things different ways). How far away (roughly) is signing the building contract?

I would be thrilled if someone could kindly share the rough outline of the steps and processes that have to be undertaken. We also will need Council approval not complying development.

Thanks in advance

MJ Overture · Aug 24, 2013 9:45 am

Hi dream_home93, Feel free to check out my blog as I have included dates that we progressed onto the next stage under the timeline tab. We went through CDC so you will probably need to add a few more weeks for your approval.

Hope this helps