Small Custom Build

capricorn · Mar 13, 2016 9:09 pm

Hi Dawn

I am just as new to this building contract as you. Our building contract is as thick as a book. Here are part of some of the important things...

I think your contract should include the cooling off period which you have time to show it to your solicitor conveyancer. It should also include your contract price with fixed price for all work in your final tender, insurance provided by builder, commencement/completion date, limits on deposit paid by you, progressive payment, variations by you/builder, defects liability period,your rights and builders rights to terminate contract, list of all your colour variations, drawing of your house including all elevation and electrical plan.

It is true some banks may refuse to approve the construction loan. Ours got knocked back because the evaluation came under our full building cost by $20k.

capricorn · Mar 13, 2016 9:16 pm

I was informed by our builder, we are required to pay the developer a deposit for our front fencing if our builder are not building it.

I rang up Bec awhile ago and she confirmed it but I can't remember how much. However I am not sure if that just apply to certain stages or all stages.

capricorn · Mar 13, 2016 9:21 pm

Has your builder submit your colour variation to the developer yet? They have to approved it before the contract is signed. We had to change our brick colour as one of our neighbour had the same. Guess it is first come first basis.

aloenyx · Mar 15, 2016 1:02 pm

Contract Signed!!!!!!! ::celeb::

Builder gave me nice bottle of wine to celebrate

!!!

Now just have to cross my fingers and hope the bank valuation/approval goes well.

aloenyx · Mar 15, 2016 1:11 pm

Oh no, that's a shame about your valuation!! That's one of my fears, I hope its all okay.

I'm having my fence done through my builder, so its in the contract. I hadn't heard anything about a deposit to the land people for it. Much rather pay it to my builder then them.

They did change the design guidelines to say the fence had to be completed before the certificate of occupancy was handed over (i.e. before you can move in) which is why I asked my builder to put it in the quote. I could probably get it done cheaper in cash or just have my dad do it, but oh well... this will be easier.

I don't know if we've been through approval yet, I keep meaning to ask my builder as they were going to do that while I was overseas. I've just shot them an email, but I assume it has all gone fine.

Can't WAIT to start building.. just need this finance part sorted and then I can just sit back and relax while the house goes up (what do you mean there's no relaxing?

PPP)

aloenyx · Mar 17, 2016 8:29 am

Off to see my dirt again today.

Haven't even started building yet and I can't keep away XD

aloenyx · Mar 17, 2016 4:52 pm

Two houses at frame stage in my street already! I want to start building...!!! They didn't even have slabs 2 weeks ago when I visited, but now they have slabs, frames, gutters and windows. So very quick.

A few other blocks seem to be starting, some dirt has been moved and fencing is going up. Nothing on the blocks closest to mine yet. I hope mine starts first.

aloenyx · Mar 20, 2016 9:00 pm

Waiting

Jwalt · Mar 23, 2016 4:45 pm

Oh I am so so excited for you! I wish I knew which block was yours, we drive through your stage every few days at the moment

We've been talking to the builder, conveyancer and broker today so it's all feeling very real. I just can't seem to get my head back in the game! I think I spent all my house energy designing the house over three or four months, and now I'm done.

We're waiting on one last variation to add the front fence, air conditioning and a few small changes. I want to look at the plans and make sure there's nothing else I want to change before we sign that last variation.

One thing I'm quite concerned about is the lack of space for bookshelves (since designing the house I've had a book published and suddenly I buy a LOT of books. And I had a lot to start with.) Otherwise I'm still feeling pretty happy with everything.

I also want to look at designs for back doors that allow you to walk out without stepping over a lip. Does that make sense? So it's a smooth continuous line from the wooden floors indoor to the wooden verandah out the back. It's easier not to trip with my prosthetic leg this way, and it'll be easier if I end up using a wheelchair at some stage, which is likely. We've already made the doors wide enough for a chair, and made our ensuite bathroom completely wheelchair friendly. With the back door, I'm not sure if this means we need a grate at the edge where the verandah meets the back door, to stop it from flooding when we get rain on the verandah...

Anyway, even typing this reply has got my cogs moving. I might jump into my thread and start working through all of this stuff over there

aloenyx · Mar 25, 2016 2:20 pm

Thanks

My finance clause on the build contract might have to be extended thanks to the long weekend. I just wish the bank would make a decision, I'm getting so stressed over the valuation.

Hehe, I PMed you.

It's all happening! What is your settlement date currently?

I'm the opposite, now everything is finalised, I'm thinking of things I should have done. Oppsy!

I didn't clarify that I want cool white LED down lights, but I guess I just have to change the globes (I'll try to mention it to my SS once the build starts, might not be a problem).
The other one I thought of, is now I have shower niches rather than having a strip of mosaic tiles in the shower, it'd be awesome if they could just put the mosaic in the niche only... but again I'll ask and see if its something they can do, since the plans don't actually say anything about where the mosaics will go.

Fence is another one, I kind of want to change the design... but we'll see.

Mhm, I didn't think of bookshelves. I've actually gotten rid of my book collection over the last 2 years. I only have 15 fiction books and maybe 10 non-fiction books left, I gave away over 300 books!!! But I'm glad I don't have to move them

I need to catch up on your thread again! Did you ever end up getting a price on your front fence? I'm worried I'm overpaying...

It does make sense, I've seen people do that with stacker doors. Very smart of you to plan ahead.. I've been a bit silly with some of my decisions, but too late now!!

I've actually been thinking of getting started on a list of things I need when I move (like appliances, etc) so I can start prioritizing it, because I am going to be broke broke broke when I get the keys.. so need to plan carefully where I spend money.

I'm also probably going to be spending a lot of my weekends looking at furniture, because its going to take me at least 6 months to find what I want

aloenyx · Mar 25, 2016 2:22 pm

So I picked White on White (Haymes) paint for all the interior walls

http://www.haymespaint.com.au/explore-c ... ew/12/5093

I'm really wondering if that was a good idea. I can't find a single picture on google with a room in that colour

And I picked builder's white for ceiling and trim.. I hope it looks alright. I really should have spent more time on my paint colours, but it was so overwhelming... I just wanted an off-white/greyish colour.

aloenyx · Mar 25, 2016 2:24 pm

I wonder if I should go to a paint store and get a sample tin.. I can paint an old piece of wood or something and see if the color is okay...

If its truly awful, I can see if the builder would let me change it.

aloenyx · Mar 26, 2016 9:47 pm

Got a sample of my interior paint! Now to find something to paint... although possibly should have thought about getting a paint brush while I was there. Opps.

Took a family member out to the estate, they are thinking of building a house in the near future. Was really interesting to see how prices and such have changed. A 10.5x25 block in Ascot in stage 9 was priced at $159,500. That's $7,500 more than what I paid and the block is a little smaller.

I've been looking at land in all the S.E estates for this family member, and WOW have prices shot up. Ascot seems like the only affordable estate (i.e. prices under 170k) but of course the blocks are pretty small. Lowest price seems to be 180k+ regardless of block size.

I wish I had more money.. I'd buy another block! I don't think you can go wrong

Sort of glad I have my house already, because its going up up up... trying to encourage family to buy while they can.

aloenyx · Mar 28, 2016 2:31 pm

So I painted a small canvas with my interior paint colour

It looks pretty good! It's very white!! I was so worried I'd open up the paint tin and it would be cream or beige.. but nope it was white white. So I'm happy with that, and now less worried. It's definitely not off white/grey, its just white.

Jwalt · Mar 30, 2016 6:47 pm

Awesome! Glad it was what you wanted. You must be so close to building now! Can't wait to see your slab go up!

aloenyx · Mar 31, 2016 5:38 pm

Unconditional Approval on my construction loan has come through today!!! YAY!!!

My stress level just went zooming down as soon as I heard

Have been so worried about the valuation, but it was all perfect.

Have paid my deposit to the builder, so next is building permits (hopefully takes 2 weeks or less) and then the builder can start on site

aloenyx · Apr 02, 2016 4:15 pm

I've turned my attention to furniture

I'm not sure what the plan is yet, whether I'll lay-by pieces before the house is finished, or just go and pick them up afterwards. I'm going to be restricted by budget no matter what I do. As much as I'd love to furnish the whole house right away, I think this is going to be a marathon rather than a sprint, will have to pace myself.

I will probably pick up a couch, entertainment unit and queen bed to start with, but I'd loved to stretch to a few extra pieces.

The biggest problem is of course, what do I want!?!

I've been browsing furniture stores and I can't decide between two styles, provincial/vintage/classic and contemporary/modern/minimalist.

Here are some pieces I like the look of:

Charley · Apr 03, 2016 10:01 pm

I love the tallboy with all the small drawers! How much is that?

My 2016 build viewtopic.php?t=81011

Pobie · Apr 04, 2016 10:33 am

WOW! Youve come along way. Really excited for you :-)

We have a Focus on Furniture couch - unfortunately its worn out very quickly - we do however have 5 people sitting on it (and jumping) daily.

aloenyx · Apr 04, 2016 6:15 pm

Charley

I love the tallboy with all the small drawers! How much is that?

My 2016 build viewtopic.php?t=81011

Do you mean the greenish one with the odds and end drawers? Its $799. AND ITS ALL MINE

PPP

Hehe, actually I love it, but I want a different shape.. I want a low and wide piece for the hallway, the place I found it at does custom furniture, so I am going to see if that's an option. It's so cute though!