Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 23, 2009 2:22 pm Hi.
I tried to do a search and left me with a few leads. So I hope you don't mind me starting a new thread. I have seen also a couple of people who are currently building a home just the last few weeks. Feel free to chime in. Will start with a few questions: 1. How different is the cost from the site inspection estimate to the amount included in the tender? 2. Are you able to get other free services on top of the 50 and $8000 free stuff? Re: Building with Allworth Homes 2Feb 23, 2009 2:25 pm I forgot to give details for me.
1. Started to talk to them to and gave a go signal to do a site inspection. 2. Targeting to build an Apollo Ultra in a 500sqm block of land. I'd probably have more questions later on... but feel free to post questions and ideas so we are able to help each other. Cheers! Re: Building with Allworth Homes 3Feb 23, 2009 6:10 pm esm Hi. I tried to do a search and left me with a few leads. So I hope you don't mind me starting a new thread. I have seen also a couple of people who are currently building a home just the last few weeks. Feel free to chime in. Will start with a few questions: 1. How different is the cost from the site inspection estimate to the amount included in the tender? 2. Are you able to get other free services on top of the 50 and $8000 free stuff? Nothing changed except the for the deep edge beam which was about $1200 dearer than the estimate. After getting the first tender I added lots of extras which added a fair bit extra to the price but that was my doing not Allworths. I didn't get anything extra on top of the free stuff (but I didn't ask either) however the free stuff included exhaust fans for the bathroon/ensuite and I upgraded them to IXL Tastics so they credited the amount for the exhaust fans even though the brochure says deletions will not be credited. One thing about Allworth is that so far I have only paid them the $500 for the survey and soil tests and then $2000 when I accepted the tender. I know the council fees were $1200 and that came out of the $2000. The slab was poured last week so I assume the invoice for that won't be too far away. A friend who built with another builder was asked for 5% of the total price at contract signing. With so many builders going bust I would feel nervous about paying anything substantial up front. Re: Building with Allworth Homes 4Feb 23, 2009 9:09 pm thanks for the reply. I asked the sales guy regarding how liquid allworth is and he mentioned that Allworth has few liabilities so it should be stable... (should I be listening to the sales guy). I try to google but could not find any other info.
what is IXL for? how much did they credit for the exhaust. Re: Building with Allworth Homes 5Feb 23, 2009 10:24 pm They credited me with $85 for each exhaust fan, the same price they have them listed in the Optional Inclusions brochure.
IXL is a brand of bathroom light, heater and fan. I'm not sure if I would trust what any sales person says as at the end of the day they just want to make a sale. I was with Beechwood when they collapsed and the sales guy threw in so many freebies and basically told me what I wanted to hear just to get me to deposit. Once he had that deposit I never heard from him again, he wouldn't take my calls or return them. Six weeks later they went bust. I wasn't very trusting after that and was told by a C0r@l sales person that C0r@l ran without debt but being a private company I don't know how you can check the claim, still I probably would have gone with them if they could have built the design I liked and the price was right. They certainly are very busy in the Newcastle area with homes popping up everywhere. Around the same time Allworth put an announcement on their web site for Beechwood customers. Part of it said "Our financial position is rock solid, we have no external borrowings, all assets are wholly owned and we run no-overdraft with our banker." I printed it out and still have a copy of it and that is a direct quote. Again no proof but I put my trust in them. The fact that I am not paying for anything until the stage is completed is reassuring. Re: Building with Allworth Homes 7Feb 24, 2009 11:06 am It might be printed from their website but it's still not proof. Of course I hope in Allworth's case it's true
Take a look at the Wincrest website on the About Wincrest page. They claim: "Wincrest is renowned throughout the Building Industry as an excellent debtor, both in terms of reliability and integrity. We see the numerous, well established and stable relationships with our key suppliers and subcontractors as one of our major strengths and one of the major contributing factors for the many awards, milestones and achievements that we have been recognized for." Just becuase it's on the web site, doesn't make it true. Re: Building with Allworth Homes 8Feb 24, 2009 11:47 am esm thanks for the reply. I asked the sales guy regarding how liquid allworth is and he mentioned that Allworth has few liabilities so it should be stable... (should I be listening to the sales guy). I try to google but could not find any other info. what is IXL for? how much did they credit for the exhaust. I asked this of my Wincrest Sales Rep when we did our tender with them and he said there is no way they would ever be in trouble..... look at them now! It was only about 5 months ago too! Re: Building with Allworth Homes 10Feb 25, 2009 10:21 am esm let's just hope for the best. so what upgrades did you include in your allworth home? Can't remember them all off the top of my head but some were: Caesar Stone kitchen benchtops Upgraded oven to one with catalytic liners Spa Hills Smart Hub home wiring system Laundry broom cupboard Slimline colourbond water tank instead of standard round poly tank Plus lots of little extra's. The prices seem reasonabe for some of their extras and yet others were expensive. Example, to increase wall time height in ensuite was around $800. I was able to do the same thing through the tile company for around $400. Re: Building with Allworth Homes 11Feb 25, 2009 8:38 pm I can't remember what is the standard tile work in the bath and ensuite.
we might be looking at that too... but will also canvass the cost of doing it afterwards too. Questions on the inclusions: 1. Insulation - is the R3.5 for the ceiling and R1.5 sufficient? 2. Brick range - which one would you recommend? (Austral, Boral or PGH)... are the included choice have a good range? 3. Roof Tile - same question like the brick range.. 4. Th Cooktop, oven and range hood... did you still upgrade? or is the basic good enough? 5. Hot water - is the 340Liter good enough? 6. How much basix was included in your tender? how much did you add to change your rainwater tank? thanks! Re: Building with Allworth Homes 12Feb 25, 2009 9:13 pm esm I can't remember what is the standard tile work in the bath and ensuite. we might be looking at that too... but will also canvass the cost of doing it afterwards too. Questions on the inclusions: 1. Insulation - is the R3.5 for the ceiling and R1.5 sufficient? 2. Brick range - which one would you recommend? (Austral, Boral or PGH)... are the included choice have a good range? 3. Roof Tile - same question like the brick range.. 4. Th Cooktop, oven and range hood... did you still upgrade? or is the basic good enough? 5. Hot water - is the 340Liter good enough? 6. How much basix was included in your tender? how much did you add to change your rainwater tank? thanks! 1. Higher the better I assume. My C0r@l tender specified R2.0 for the ceiling and it was going to cost more to upgrade. 2. Whatever one has the brick you like. My house is from the Premium Collection and had a good choice of bricks from all three suppliers. I went for the Austral Governors range of sandstocks. 3. The standard was the flat Monier Horizon as part of their giveaway. I didn't think they suited the style of house I am building so went for the Monier Waverley. There is an Apollo Ultra going up in my street and it has the flat Horizon tiles in a dark grey and it looks fantastic with the light render colour the owners chose. 4. The standard cooktop was a 900mm five burner Omega with centre fish burner, Wok burner and cast iron trivets (the black metal things on the top). I was happy with that but upgraded the oven to a higher specced Omega. Left all other appliances as standard. 5. I went for the gas HWS instead of the solar/electric. I checked the manufacturers web site and it seemed like it would be adequate. 6. Basix was a fixed $6850 and included a 5000 litre round poly tank. They are huge and I think a bit of an eyesore so opted for the 4000 litre slimline colourbond tank. This added $1400 which I thought was a bit steep but it's what I wanted. I suppose it all depends if the size of tank you choose will meet Basix requirements. Mine did. You need to look closely at the standard inclusions for the range you choose your design from. Mine is from the Premium Collection and it has good standard inclusions however the Spacemaster inclusion are more limited in choices. Re: 14Apr 14, 2009 1:31 am mrsnrub esm let's just hope for the best. so what upgrades did you include in your allworth home? Can't remember them all off the top of my head but some were: Caesar Stone kitchen benchtops Upgraded oven to one with catalytic liners Spa Hills Smart Hub home wiring system Laundry broom cupboard Slimline colourbond water tank instead of standard round poly tank Plus lots of little extra's. The prices seem reasonabe for some of their extras and yet others were expensive. Example, to increase wall time height in ensuite was around $800. I was able to do the same thing through the tile company for around $400. Hi mrsnrub, If you dont mind me asking how much more did you pay for your Caesar Stone Benchtop upgrage? I'm seriously considering Allworth for my first home, they seem to be good value for money. Hows your experience with Allworth so far? Do they allow room for negotiation in terms of pricing when you add any upgrades? Building at Kellyville Ridge - First Home buyer 11/5/10 - Port-a-loo delivered hahahaha 14/5/10 - Land was scraped (NEED TO GET RID OF ALL THIS UNWANTED DIRT) 20/5/10 - Concrete Piers all 45 of them. 21/5/10 - Plumbing 27/5/10 - concrete slab completed Ask for references and speak to them. If they are defensive or try to avoid the request, walk. 1 74708 I would never build with Fowler homes. I built with them in 2021 and till date maintenance issues are pending. All their existing trades and businesses don't work with… 14 105564 Hi there! Putting the feelers out there for those who have (or almost) built with Arli homes! Interested in your experiences who've built from their stock home designs… 0 23484 |