Custom Home Builders in Sydney – Has anyone used one?

Casa · Feb 25, 2007 9:34 pm

I’m in the market for a custom home builder in Sydney. By custom builders I mean builders who will work off your design. Most have a design service, but are happy to build from a third-party design.

Has anyone used one or do they know anyone who has? All the research in the world isn’t worth as much as feedback from someone who has used a particular builder.

The list of custom builders in Sydney that I have identified are:

Binet Homes
Chateau Homes
Fairlight Developments
Felton Homes
Grande Homes
Gremmo Homes
The Home Team
Kauley Homes
Meadowbank Homes
The Shore Group
Tareena Homes
Young Homes

Any feedback, good or bad is most welcome.

archangel · Feb 27, 2007 1:41 pm

Hey Casa,

I'm in the same boat as you, it seems... This forum is a great idea, unfortunately, not enough people are aware of it/post on it ! If you get any pm. about these builders, I sure would appreciate the info being passed on...

Regarding the builders listed, have only received some real feedback about Meadowbank... A work mate has built with then (quite a few years ago, mind you !) and he was very happy with them.

Sorry can't help any more... Cheers.

Casa · Feb 28, 2007 9:02 pm

archangel,

Thanks for thr feedback. We should keep in touch and compare notes. I'll let you know if I get any PMs.

Great to hear that someone you know has built with Meadowbank Homes and is happy with them. That's the first reference for any of he builders I've listed. I've noticed that there is a Chateau Homes building going up that is near completion. Once it's finished I'll know on their door and ask them what they thought. Will share my finding here.

Hey others, I'm eager for feedback

Even if you don’t know someone who has used one of the listed builders, but know of a recently completed house (or near completion) in Sydney, let me know. Happy to knock on their door.

Cheers,
Casa

Groovy_chix · Mar 01, 2007 11:43 am

Hi, we currently considering of using Urbanstyle Homes for our custom design home. So far, they have good customer service, seems enthusiastic and their prices are reasonable too. Anyone have experience dealing with them? They are using wafflepod slab, any information regarding this particular slab?

archangel · Mar 01, 2007 7:34 pm

Hey G-C,

Sorry can't help with info on urbanstyle homes... Was hoping, however, that if you get a quote from them on a custom built home, you could pass on a rough cost per square metre ?

Much appreciate it and happy hunting...

Groovy_chix · Mar 02, 2007 6:21 pm

Hi archangel, we're still working on the final layout so we haven't got the exact price yet. However roughly they charge approx $750/sqm - basic price, without any upgrade.

Casa · Mar 02, 2007 8:04 pm

Groovy_chix,

$750/sqm sounds like a very good price.

Is this for a custom design? Also, does it include site costs, council fees, etc? When you speak to an architect, they'll tell you that a custom home is $2500/sqm plus, but then I think they live on another planet. (Some even say $2500 to $7000/sqm, but these a from a different universe.)

I’m budgeting for $1500/sqm, but that is for everything and it is a sloping block and full brick with suspended slab construction. I’ll want some niceties like double glazed windows.

Cheers,
Casa

Casa · Mar 03, 2007 8:41 am

Hi everyone,

I'm refreshing this topic in the hope that there is someone who has built, or knows someone that has built, with any of the custom design builders in Sydney (Binet Homes, Charleston Homes, Chateau Homes, Fairlight Developments, Felton Homes, Grande Homes, Gremmo Homes, The Home Team, Kauley Homes, Meadowbank Homes, The Shore Group, Tareena Homes, Young Homes, Urbanstyle Homes).

Remember, you don't have to have built with these builders; just know someone who did (or is). Come on, let us know. It would be really appreciated.

mek · Mar 03, 2007 8:48 am

Casa, how about ringing the builders (3 or 4 say, that you like best) and asking them to supply contact details of their past customers, then you ring them. That's what I did.

Casa · Mar 03, 2007 9:11 am

mek, thanks, yes I will be contacting builders and asking for references (10 in fact from which I will randomly select 3), but the problem is that these are not a random selection. These are people hand picked to, at least hopefully, provide good references.

What I also want to do is get some feedback that is not initiated by the builder. Between the builders’ referees and the forum initiated referees I should get a very good picture. We're talking about a lot of money and a significant item to get right. Our selection process needs to be rigorous.

Of course the best reference is from someone you already know, but no one I know has used any of these builders, except for Charleston and he is very happy with them and using them again for the new home. I’d like to get three good builders so that I can then put out the design to competitive tender (or at least have one other builder up my sleeve if some things “can’t be done”).

I need to get more friends

Groovy_chix · Mar 03, 2007 8:55 pm

HI Casa,
$750 is the basic price only, without any upgrade and without site cost, as that depending on your lot and the upgrades also depends on how much you wish to spend. And that's the price for brick veneer house and not full brick. For our plan, we're looking $1,100 - $1,200/sqm for the final price (ready to move in condition).

Btw, have you heard of a company called "Full Brick Homes"? (fullbrickhomes.com.au) They specialising on building full brick house and they do custom design.

Casa · Mar 03, 2007 11:26 pm

Groovy_chix,

Thanks for the information. The $1100 - $1200 figure sounds about right and is good value if you're getting a fair amount of upgrades.

Following on from hearing about Urbanstyle Homes from you I looked them up on the web and noticed that Urbanstyle Homes was having its Grand Opening of two display homes today in Elderslie, which is near Camden. So, I went and visited their display homes. I certainly like the finishes. I met two of the owners and they were very nice. Looks like a good company to deal with.

I haven't heard of Full Brick Homes and will check them out. Thanks again.

Cheers,
Casa

archangel · Mar 04, 2007 8:56 pm

Hey Casa,
If it helps, there have been a couple of these builders recently complete houses in our area (Inner West)... I can get exact addresses for you if you're interested...
Binet homes recently completed a two storey house on Cabarita Rd, Concord, and Gremmo homes was in the area too.
Just to add to your list, have you heard about Sarpel homes ? They have two display homes at Homeworld... One thing that impressed me about these guys is that the price they quote is for all the upgraded inclusions in the display homes... None of this "oh, that's extra..." So what you see, is what's costed in the price... They have a sheet of "downgrades" if you want to reduce the price.
Cheers...

Casa · Mar 04, 2007 9:15 pm

archangel,

Yes, I certainly would like the address of any completed custom-builder homes.

If anyone else knows a custom-builder home that has been completed, or is near completion, I'd like the address.

Cheers,
Casa

jamiet · Mar 17, 2007 6:26 pm

I built a custom home with Gremmo Homes a few years ago. I can't say enough good things about them. If you want top after-sales service, you can't go wrong with these guys. Money doesn't appear to be the main driver for these guys and they do quality work.

Unfortunately, I sold my home as part of a relationship split and I can't afford to use them again.

Casa2 · Mar 19, 2007 9:25 pm

jamiet,

Many thanks for your feedback regarding Gremmo Homes. Your's is the first feedback from someone that has used one of the custom builders in Sydney. It's good to hear some positive feedback.

What suburb did you build in?

Cheers,
Casa

jamiet · Mar 19, 2007 10:56 pm

I built in Beaumont Hills (used to be part of Kellyville) but the Gremmo boys will do most areas in Sydney. I did a variation of their Hayman - a federation look.

There are spectacular modern and federation-style display homes at Bella Vista Waters.

Casa2 · Mar 21, 2007 10:30 pm

jamiet,

It's a small world. The person that sits next to me at work has built and is living in Beaumont Hills and I work at Bella Vista. The houses at Bella Vista Waters are certainly very nice.

Will put Gremmo Homes on my interview list. Thanks again for your feedback.

Cheers,
Casa

Groovy_chix · Apr 22, 2007 10:31 pm

Hi, just an update that we have progressed with Urbanstyle Homes. We 're on the stage of finalising the plan and contract. We're happy of what we'll getting. I mean the inclusion is superb compare to any other builders we've seen. They offer more quality inclusion than other builders, and the response/service is swift. So far so good. Will post another update once we progress to the next step.

Casa2 · Apr 23, 2007 10:42 pm

Groovy_chix,

Did you go for a custom design or a modification to one of their existing designs? Also, if it's not too rude a question, what is the cost per square metre?

Cheers,
Casa