Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 06, 2009 9:25 pm Could I ask for some opinions please? We spoke to a building rep on the weekend and gave him a house plan that I had made quite a few changes on. He's going to give us a quote for the structural changes we are looking at. We also spoke to a rep at the estate we want to build in and he told me a few lots were being released tomorrow that we might be interested in. There is only 1 block that is the right size, right location etc. He has just emailed me the price and its $9k more than we were allowing for our land. The block is right across from a park and is the right width for our house. We really have our heart set on the estate and Im worried we wont find another block the right size... Question is - would you go for the block and scrap some of the changes we have made to the house (if they come in over budget) or look for another block and keep the house changes? Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 2Jul 06, 2009 9:32 pm As they say Location, Location, Location.....I'd go with the block and make some sacrifices on the house. I suppose some of the things you sacrifice could be changed or upgraded in the future but you can't get that same block again Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 3Jul 06, 2009 9:33 pm is the park block facing north? Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 4Jul 06, 2009 9:34 pm I tend to agree. If the block is perfect, then at this stage sacrifice some of the features in the house, especially the ones you have the ability to add/modify later down the track. Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 6Jul 06, 2009 9:38 pm We went for the bigger block option. Then saved some more and got all the extras we wanted in the house anywayz (as we had to wait for the land to be released) Our house thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=18335 Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 7Jul 06, 2009 9:39 pm Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 8Jul 06, 2009 9:47 pm Thanks guys I guess to scrap $9k of changes to the house wouldnt actually be that hard. Im not sure of all the prices for the changes Ive requested yet but we allowed $30k for changes and upgrades. One of the things we wanted to do was raise the ceilings and I know thats going to cost almost $6k.... we could probably not worry about that and not lose too much sleep over it! We have 3 dogs (they are not small dogs and spend some days outside while Im at work) and I really dont want to have too much of a tiny backyard for them Hi onc_artisan - I think this block is facing East Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 9Jul 06, 2009 9:51 pm Id be more inclined to scrap things you will be able to change later.... ceilings isnt one of them Custom European Cabinets - Melbourne Kitchen Specialist PM for business details as website currently being updated! Our Crazy Owner Builder Journey! Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 10Jul 06, 2009 10:12 pm Bam Id be more inclined to scrap things you will be able to change later.... ceilings isnt one of them I guess that is true Im trying to find things on our list that are things that can be changed later - most of the things are structural I think. Im finding it hard because this isnt our first house so Im trying to put everything into it that I have wanted and haven't had in the houses we've bought so far. Building is so much harder than buying established - there's too many choices! Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 11Jul 06, 2009 10:39 pm Kirra_Bomber_Zeus Im finding it hard because this isnt our first house so Im trying to put everything into it that I have wanted and haven't had in the houses we've bought so far. I can sympathise with that. There are things we took out of this house that I've never missed, other things we've added later, and other things that I really wish we'd included. Maybe you could list what features you're thinking about? Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 12Jul 06, 2009 10:57 pm Personally I wouldn't scrap the ceiling. I would be more looking towards non standard floor coverings, kitchen upgrades, roller door upgrades, etc. I suppose the first thing you need to do is see what the cost of your individual upgrades actually is and then prioritize. Have fun Our house thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=18335 Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 13Jul 06, 2009 11:06 pm Macy I can sympathise with that. There are things we took out of this house that I've never missed, other things we've added later, and other things that I really wish we'd included. Maybe you could list what features you're thinking about? Its so hard to decide what will be important and what wont isnt it? These were some of the structural changes we were looking at: Add double door entry to Bed 1 Add doors to WIR Redesigned the ensuite (extended by 1m) with a corner bath and second vanity (without a second basin, just a vanity) rest of it is just moved around, nothing added Add double doors to Theatre Room Add wall to side of Theatre Room Add double doors to Bed 2 (this will be a library, not a bedroom) Raise ceiling of Kitchen, Family, Dining & Alfresco to 31c Swap placement of WIL and WC Add door to WIL Add overhead cupboards in Kitchen Add rangehood in Kitchen Upgrade bricks to Federation Limestone blocks and some of the things we thought we might 'upgrade': upgrade benchtops to 'diamond gloss' Laminex upgrade tiles (although we have no idea what they offer yet) Add lite-stone (stacked stone) to the back of the kitchen cupboard (where there is overhang for bar stools) Glass splashback Drawers in Kitchen instead of cupboards Extra power points Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 14Jul 06, 2009 11:08 pm GSK Personally I wouldn't scrap the ceiling. I would be more looking towards non standard floor coverings, kitchen upgrades, roller door upgrades, etc. I suppose the first thing you need to do is see what the cost of your individual upgrades actually is and then prioritize. Have fun thanks We're not going to get floor coverings and blinds from the builder - we're lucky because my Dad works at a flooring and blinds place so we're getting those at cost price We're going to save for those and pay cash instead of adding them on to the mortgage. Hopefully the rep will email me through some individual costings tomorrow - Ive emailed him to let him know we're looking at a block and we probably have to act fast! Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 15Jul 06, 2009 11:22 pm I would cut what I could to get the better block. If you can give up the glass splashback for now you'll save a couple of thousand to start. There must be something else as well. Judie Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 16Jul 07, 2009 12:19 am I guess there are you answers KBZ Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 17Jul 07, 2009 12:24 am Kirra_Bomber_Zeus Im finding it hard because this isnt our first house so Im trying to put everything into it that I have wanted and haven't had in the houses we've bought so far. Building is so much harder than buying established - there's too many choices! We built, bought, renovated and lived in a couple of rentals in our time and that is why we have built. To get everything (well as much as budget would allow) into a house that we wanted. So we went the opposite way to most here, settled on the houseplan first and then went looking for a block to suit it. It was a bit harder considering the size of our house (had to discount alot of lots in many estates) but we did find 'the' block within a quick amount of time. I guess for some people location is the priority and for some like us the house, layout and features are. If you can find a way to whittle down 9k off the price of your house without compromising on the stuff you must have or really really want then go for the better block. Good luck! Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 18Jul 07, 2009 1:10 am Here's my few thoughts. Adding doors might be something you can do later as long as the gap is wide enough for the door and the frame. Changing doors to double doors could also be done later but would be more of a messy hassle. I've thought about changing one of our doors but then when I think about needing an electrician to move the light switch as well it starts to feel like too much trouble. So I'd be inclined to get double doors now where you feel it's really important. That said, I don't know where your library is but having a normal door on a potential secondary bedroom might be better for resale value, so looking at it that way might be some consolation. There's no overhead cupboards or rangehood in the kitchen? I almost can't imagine not having a rangehood. Our first house didn't have one but we later installed an exhaust fan. So I think you'd want a rangehood from the start. Overhead cupboards could be added later unless you know you've got lots of stuff to store and no other options such as a kitchen dresser in the family room. I wouldn't have a glass splashback until I had everything else. I love stacked stone but I wonder about its practicality, especially indoors? It looks sharp and hard to dust? I'm sure I've seen something similar in a hardware store so maybe it could be a DIY job further down the track? I really like the bricks we got, although there were some lovely ones we could have upgraded to. At first we were a little disappointed with the standard options but we were given some addresses to look at and when we saw what a difference the mortar makes we decided what we wanted and have been really happy with it. It might be worth exploring the possibilities with the standard range of bricks. Mortar, roof colour, trim can all make such a difference to the overall appearance. On the other hand if you really aren't happy with it, you're pretty much stuck with it. What is at the side of the theatre room where you want to add a wall? There are two main things that leap out at me. The rangehood as I mentioned. And the WIL/WC swap, if that change makes a really worthwhile difference to the functionality of the house, because you won't be moving plumbing later if you can help it. Maybe the kitchen cupboards. And maybe the en suite, but depending on what the basic one is like. Most of the rest I think I would rate as a lower priority than getting the best block. Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 19Jul 07, 2009 10:22 am I would agree that you should get the block you like the most if there is a way to do this, but just a thought... if the block faces east, this means that the rear of the house will be west. If it's at the back of the house, think about the time you will spend in your al fresco or outdoor living area, and think about the hot afternoon sun beaming in on you. Our last house faced west, and while this brought its own heat problems in the house, our barbie area was a haven of shade in the summer heat. Our new home faces south, with the most glorious winter sun coming in the back area. Good luck with your decision, just the first of many! Re: Scrap some house changes for a better block? 20Jul 07, 2009 12:33 pm Go for the block. Definately. And keep the high ceilings. Rough guess only, but I think the changes you've listed plus the extra 9k shouldn't come to 30k. Unless you were including site costs in that 30k. If you have to lose anything, the overhead cupboards and stacked stone rear of bench could be done later. You'll save money by getting glass splashback installed after handover, ask the builder to delete the tiles and make sure they plaster the area. You might like the standard tiles or save some money by getting the tiling done yourself or buying them yourself for the builder to install. I would have thought diamond gloss laminex would scratch and look dirty easier. PS it's so so nice having a park across the road that's the one thing I'm going to miss about my current rental! Sounds like rubbish to me. Ask for the contamination report which I doubt they have. If it's part of a normal subdivision it would have had a contamination report done… 9 5635 brokers will also be in a position to get you a better rate than the advertised rate most times. 6 7557 6 11528 |