Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 981Apr 10, 2014 10:57 pm Thanks pooks! I hope there will be no more surprises, just exciting times ahead! Indigo 22 Potters Grove, Officer, Vic Aug '13 - Signed PWC Oct '13 - Conditional Approval Dec '13 - Formal Approval Apr '14 - Land Settlement Jun '14 - Site Start Oct '14 - Keys Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 982Apr 11, 2014 1:47 pm woohoo! in a week we have gone from a slab to having all frame up windows in and roof tiles on!!!! it actually looks like a house. roofing wasn't suppose to happen til Monday! so im one happy lady! Site Start 11/3/14 Slab Pour 2/4/14 Framing Complete 8/4/14 Lock Up 1/5/14 Fixing Stage Complete 14/5/14 New Home Presentation 20/6/14 Handover 2/7/14 blog: http://firsthomebuilding.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 983Apr 11, 2014 1:54 pm I saw your house this morning Ruby123- so many tradies were working on your roof, it was great!! I had a wall through of mine this morning- garage door on, lights in, heating duct covers in, toilets, roll holders, shower shelving, taps, spouts, shower heads, floorboards down, mirrors in. Basically everything is done except stone benchtop(in today), carpet (going down today) and glass splash back next week along with landscaping the following week. I'm loving it!!!! Build Permit-17/12/13 Earthworks-13/1/14 Slab-30/1/14 Frame-10/2/14 Lock Up-7/3/14 Fixing Stage Complete-20/3/14 New Home Presentation-6/5/14 Moved in 17/5/14! Blog: http://dandesbuild.blogspot.com.au Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 984Apr 11, 2014 2:06 pm wow so exciting for ya!!!! I so cant wait til ours reaches the end!!!!! hope ya took lots a photos for ya blog Site Start 11/3/14 Slab Pour 2/4/14 Framing Complete 8/4/14 Lock Up 1/5/14 Fixing Stage Complete 14/5/14 New Home Presentation 20/6/14 Handover 2/7/14 blog: http://firsthomebuilding.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 985Apr 11, 2014 2:43 pm i had my site start this week on 9th Apr. When should i expect the email from the liaison explaining what happened and whats going to happen ...? 9/4/14-Site Start 9/5/14-Slab 16/5/14-Frame 21/5/14-Roof 31/5/14-Bricks 6/6/14-Plaster 14/6/14-Fixing 19/7/14 -Flooring 8/8/14 - Keys http://newnestinmelbourne.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 986Apr 11, 2014 2:51 pm Hi bkoolrocks, I would say you would get one within the next week and then it will be weekly emails all the way through. Build Permit-17/12/13 Earthworks-13/1/14 Slab-30/1/14 Frame-10/2/14 Lock Up-7/3/14 Fixing Stage Complete-20/3/14 New Home Presentation-6/5/14 Moved in 17/5/14! Blog: http://dandesbuild.blogspot.com.au Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 987Apr 11, 2014 2:56 pm I got mine the next week after site start bkoolrocks then as pooks said its weekly. your site supervisor should be in contact soon as well! we heard from him first. I find the SS better as the client liaison seems to be abit behind in updates. mine this week said that framing had started ( had already finished) and my roof was going on Monday ( its on today)! Site Start 11/3/14 Slab Pour 2/4/14 Framing Complete 8/4/14 Lock Up 1/5/14 Fixing Stage Complete 14/5/14 New Home Presentation 20/6/14 Handover 2/7/14 blog: http://firsthomebuilding.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 988Apr 11, 2014 5:20 pm thanks ruby for the info. SS had called me on tue and said all set to go on WED. Im going to the site 2moro anyways to have a look ! 9/4/14-Site Start 9/5/14-Slab 16/5/14-Frame 21/5/14-Roof 31/5/14-Bricks 6/6/14-Plaster 14/6/14-Fixing 19/7/14 -Flooring 8/8/14 - Keys http://newnestinmelbourne.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 989Apr 11, 2014 5:29 pm My site start was today but haven't heard from my ss yet, I thought he would have at least called to introduce himself! Will go checkout what's been done, if anything on Sunday Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 990Apr 11, 2014 11:07 pm Mtreg21 - how exciting your site start was today! When ours started we were all overly excited to see a temp fence! Hehe. Our SS hasn't been contacting us much. He has called once and that was while our roof tiles were being done. He said to call anytime. But haven't really needed too. Wow, Pooks! Can't believe how quickly your build is going. Looked at your blog and it's looking fantastic. Really like the darker tiles in the shower, kinda wished we'd gone that way. Our client liaison emailed to say bricks have started. Suprised due to all the rain. But excited! Both husband and I have been sick and works been hectic, so we haven't been passed in over a week. Hopefully up for the drive Sunday. Supposed to have started the plaster too. Our family and friends want photos hehe. Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 991Apr 13, 2014 3:48 pm Sorry for the double post. Went past today. Internal lockup up complete, insulation and ducts in. No bricks or plaster have started, but due to the rain all week we were surprised if any was done. More bricks on site and they are in place ready to start. Still happy with our progress. Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 992Apr 14, 2014 6:45 pm So I got a nice surprise last week! Got a p/c from SS to give me an update and he said our house will be finished in 3 WEEKS!! I couldn't believe it! I then met with him onsite (btw pooks we no longer have the same SS, I only had him for a week or 2 apparently until this guy took over and he is great!) and he showed me the plan from now until potential handover! And all going to plan we could be picking up our keys as early as mid may!! holy cow!! So I am absolutely ecstatic!! And freaking out cos up until the other day I had done ZERO packing or sorting (ie chucking!!). Plus we have to buy a few things (some necessary, some not so absolutely necessary but I wantie!!!) SO it's full steam ahead with the packing, shopping and decluttering!! Oh and dreaming about paint colours, pendants and furniture!!! So happy to hear some peoples houses have started! It's been a long wait for you guys but trust me it will now FLY!! So take my advice and start packing NOW!!! Building Abode 22 Cranbourne West Contract Signing 30/10/13 Land titled 31/10/13 Settlement on land due 20/11/13 Formal Approval 14/11/13 Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 993Apr 14, 2014 6:53 pm Ok - finally gaining some traction here! (I felt like I was being left in everyone's dust...) All the approvals are in. The plans have been emailed to me (as you've said would happen) which we'll have a look at so we're prepared for when they come in the mail. They've applied for a building permit now which she says might come back by Wednesday and will hopefully be able to hand the file over to construction this weekend. At last! Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 994Apr 14, 2014 7:22 pm Hayles85 that's great news! Exactly what stage are you up to now? Our site fencing is down, stone benchtops are in and measurements have been taken for the splash back. We have blinds/fly screens/splash back and landscaping to go and was told keys would be in the first week of May. You? Gaviscon Girl you are nearly there!! The last stage before it gets going, that's awesome. Build Permit-17/12/13 Earthworks-13/1/14 Slab-30/1/14 Frame-10/2/14 Lock Up-7/3/14 Fixing Stage Complete-20/3/14 New Home Presentation-6/5/14 Moved in 17/5/14! Blog: http://dandesbuild.blogspot.com.au Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 995Apr 15, 2014 3:24 am Wow. I have just started my journey ...well when I say that I mean that my husband and I have decided to give this low deposit home loan a try through HBC. We have our meeting with a gentleman called Alex this Wednesday at the Docklands and we are hoping to get some good insight into the process. I have spent the last three days reading through every single post here and I have to say it feels like I know you personally! Thank you so very much for the information. I have to say though that I am full of doubts that my husband and I will ever get to the stage where we are driving down to check out our new roof, or flooring, facade and so on. Do you mind if I take you back to where it all first began? I would love to know: 1. My husband and I both work full time, have clean financial record, no personal loans just two credit cards with a fairly low amount. We have both been in our jobs for under a year though as my husband changed his career recently and I got a new job. Together we earn in excess of $115,00 annually before tax. Any of you in similar situations when you applied for finance and did you get approved for a low deposit home loan? (I hope that is not too personal?) 2. Tell me honestly, did you pay the $3,000 and then get hit with huge fees along the way? I hope it's ok that I ask - I guess I'm just a little cynical that I'd ever be able to share such happy news! I think your journeys have sounded so amazing and how wonderful the way you have come together and helped and supported each other! Thank you! Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 996Apr 15, 2014 6:54 am hey cloud9, welcome to the forum! I don't think you'll have to much problems getting over the line. My husband had only been in his new job for 1year when we applied and we had just moved from new Zealand as well. We are a single income family at the moment as im a stay at home mum to 3 kids. he earns 120k a year we had a 10k personal loan as well from new Zealand. Were not building a huge house but for our first home (that's brand spanking new) were happy. So you guys should be sweet . Its pretty stressful waiting to see if ya get approval! so goodluck Weve paid so far the $3000 deposit, $275 bank valuation $2000 settlement fees ( which we were refunded 700 after settlement- some miscalculation by our bank) $808 community infrastructure fee payable to your council after land settlement. $4523 in bush fire provisions ( as our land was put in the zone after formal approval so it wasn't included in loan. then a final payment of $572 for more concrete for driveway and a support beam in pantry (these 2 were totally unexpected. Then its up to you how much you pay for upgrades we only paid $800. So you will find you need to cough up more during the process. hopefully not as much as me . That bushfire one was a shock for us! but now our house is getting bricked at the moment. All the stress was so worth it! I would recommend making sure in your pwc a re establishment survey is included under provisional sums, this saved us $850 as the builders next door moved our pegs and hbc had to order a new survey. Site Start 11/3/14 Slab Pour 2/4/14 Framing Complete 8/4/14 Lock Up 1/5/14 Fixing Stage Complete 14/5/14 New Home Presentation 20/6/14 Handover 2/7/14 blog: http://firsthomebuilding.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 997Apr 15, 2014 12:49 pm Hi Ruby123, thank you so much for the welcome and information you've provided! I think the payments sound reasonable especially that it is broken up over time. Thanks to you and everyone else on this forum, I have been able to write a whole list of questions to ask the staff at HBC this Wednesday. One of those questions relates to the bushfire zones and how to ascertain whether our land is in an area like that BEFORE we purchase it. I think there was a link to a map in one of the earlier posts? Anyway, I had a look at your blog Ruby, congratulations on it all - it's looking wonderful Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 998Apr 15, 2014 1:24 pm Cloud9 Thanks to you and everyone else on this forum, I have been able to write a whole list of questions to ask the staff at HBC this Wednesday. One of those questions relates to the bushfire zones and how to ascertain whether our land is in an area like that BEFORE we purchase it. I think there was a link to a map in one of the earlier posts? Yup, here it is!! http://services.land.vic.gov.au/maps/bushfire.jsp If it's in that brown-ish colour, you're in the zone. The zones will be updated again mid-year. I knew from the start that I'd be inside the zone (by about 15m grrrr....) so it was included in my fixed price. So far I've had to pay $3000 deposit, plus 2 valuation fees of $264. I'm coming into settlement now, so I'll have more of an idea of other costs soon. Re: Anyone building with Homebuyers Centre in VICTORIA? 1000Apr 15, 2014 5:03 pm Hi Cloud9! Welcome to the group. Thanks for reading all of our posts...we sure have been through a lot! When I signed up for HBC we weren't initially told about the costs and I was learning along the way...I'm lucky it turned out how it did. We initially paid $1000 to secure our block of land and then $1500 to HBC at the preliminary work contract stage (PWC). As we wanted a larger block we then had to pay a further $4000 when signing the land contract (all before finance pre-approved...land deposits refundable but the HBC money isn't). We then had our selections appointment and spent $2000 there upfront. Afterwards we decided to upgrade our carpet and heating to accommodate add on cooling so that was $4700. Valuation fee was next $264 and council/land levy $800. We then got stung with the bushfire provision $4523. We had no settlement fees as they were included in our loan (we actually got a $70 cheque in the mail afterwards as a refund). We have paid one quarter of annual rates since the build started, a water bill of $200+ (mostly levies and fees that homeowners get) and progress payments on top of $450 a week rent. We have drawn down 90% of our loan and our repayments are roughly $2800 a month. We started off with $4000 when we signed up...we built up savings with lots of overtime shifts while waiting for our land to title and have drawn down for the bushfire provisions/heating upgrade with about $10000 left over to do fencing/concreting/decking. Hope that helps Build Permit-17/12/13 Earthworks-13/1/14 Slab-30/1/14 Frame-10/2/14 Lock Up-7/3/14 Fixing Stage Complete-20/3/14 New Home Presentation-6/5/14 Moved in 17/5/14! Blog: http://dandesbuild.blogspot.com.au I havent, and i havent looked to much into it, but on face value its not the saviour its trying to make out to be. Shared equity in your home is never a good idea. The… 1 4264 Hi, have purchased a house with 2 single garage doors. The Centre pillar one side sits proud to the other. Can I change 2 doors into one. Please see picture. 0 7403 For reference, this is the Austlii reference. My take on this is, that they would be breaking the law denying access to a homeowner in Victoria, or their agent from having… 1 10244 |