Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 25, 2009 2:15 pm I am planing to build a 2 storey house in metro perth area. Budget is around $300k mark. Anyone has good expereice with any builder that has done a good job in terms of customer service, build quality and good timing? Thanks. Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 2Aug 25, 2009 2:27 pm Hi Mike, we are currently building with a volume 2 storey builder.....I have to say there a limited number of 2 storey specialists for your budget so with that in mind I would narrow down your selections based on your budget requirements and then find out who is good out of this bunch. Our builder has been great, our only issue has been with the sales rep who we had to deal with. He was not very good at communicating. I think they all have good and bad points, just be sure you know exactly what you want and start from there. Good luck. Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 5Aug 30, 2009 3:12 pm I suppose the questions are.....will you be selling it or living it? what sort of fit out did you want? are you handy or not handy, do you have the time to put in all the extras yourself ? will someone else be doing it? do you have time once the build is finished to live somewhere else while the final touches are done? You also have to consider how much was your block and are you spending the right amount to not overcapitilise if you are planning on selling in the future. The questions will help you find out how much you are prepared to spend on a 2 storey. I have seen 2 storey volume builders start as low as $250k but generally speaking there are a lot of inclusions you still need to add in and then you also have your fit out. What budget do you have for fit out on top of the build. You may be able to do the build through a smaller boutique builder. This might help you keep costs down, you just need to have a bit more involvement. Another thought is to keep in mind with a lower priced house you add costs if you need to change plans around to suit you or your block. There are some builders that you should actually ask the simple question of"do you have any plans under $300k they will tell you then and there. We walked into some display homes of 2 storey builders and asked that same question with a $350k budget and straight away they said no or we start at 350 for a basic design. Pm me if you want help with some more acurate figures. Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 6Aug 30, 2009 3:33 pm gweluphome I suppose the questions are.....will you be selling it or living it? what sort of fit out did you want? are you handy or not handy, do you have the time to put in all the extras yourself ? will someone else be doing it? do you have time once the build is finished to live somewhere else while the final touches are done? You also have to consider how much was your block and are you spending the right amount to not overcapitilise if you are planning on selling in the future. The questions will help you find out how much you are prepared to spend on a 2 storey. I have seen 2 storey volume builders start as low as $250k but generally speaking there are a lot of inclusions you still need to add in and then you also have your fit out. What budget do you have for fit out on top of the build. You may be able to do the build through a smaller boutique builder. This might help you keep costs down, you just need to have a bit more involvement. Another thought is to keep in mind with a lower priced house you add costs if you need to change plans around to suit you or your block. There are some builders that you should actually ask the simple question of"do you have any plans under $300k they will tell you then and there. We walked into some display homes of 2 storey builders and asked that same question with a $350k budget and straight away they said no or we start at 350 for a basic design. Pm me if you want help with some more acurate figures. Thanks for the reply. OK here is the breakdown. Around $300k for the standard spec 2 storey house (around 300m2 in total). I have allow extra for more delux inclusion like stone bench top, better quality cabinet doors/drawers, etc. Then extra $50k on top of the house for flooring, lighting, paint, landscaping, curtains,etc. All add up would be around high $300k to low $400k. I think this is still a reasonable amount for a good looking 2 storey. The block size is aound 450 sqm good size frontage (rectangle block). It should be good enough to fit most of the design. I don't mind to go with a smaller boutique builder as long as they are reliable with quality and customer services. Do you have any recommendation for any builders at all? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks. Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 7Aug 30, 2009 4:37 pm Will Pm you later. Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 8Aug 30, 2009 7:57 pm For your price range I would say look at APG Homes or Perceptions. I know people who have built with both these companies for around the $300k mark. Their homes look lovely, it all depends on what tiles, cupboards, laminates etc... you choose to dress your home. I have also noticed Ultimate Homes advertising to build cheaper 2 storey homes, but I have no idea what they are like. Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 9Aug 30, 2009 8:48 pm I went through this recently and to be perfectly honest - I just couldn't live with the floor-plan, quality and finishings included with 95% of the 'cheaper' 2-story houses. About $300k is your minimum with the volume builders - and of those that make them in this price range I would nominate In-Vogue as the leader (my opinion only) - just because of their range of floor plans. APG would be the next pick, but be wary that their cheaper designs are double brick on the ground floor only, and brick-veneer on the second story (along with a suspended floor - not cement slab - for the upper story). Heard bad things about Perceptions the home builder so would generally stay away (google it) - but their prices are really cheap and I must admit I was tempted... BH Broadway also make some nice homes in your price-range so check them out (but make sure you visit the display homes before you set your heart on it - imho the finishings are a class below APG and WBN, etc. Wife and I came to the conclusion that to build a 'decent' 2-story house we would need to set aside about $400-450 + finishings (50k) - our needs were probably a little more complex though. We ended up choosing single story because our block is big enough to support it. Good luck with your searching! Rgds P1T P1T Read about my building experience: http://secondhomebuild.blogspot.com Dale Alcock Homes - 'The Nautilus' in Bletchley Park, Southern River - WA Read about my Clipsal C-BUS Home Automation Project: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=20854 Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 10Aug 31, 2009 12:28 am I build a couple of 2 storey home in the past and a decent one with standard specification with double brick wall all the way up and concrete sus. slab would cost ard $1200 psm. Try to visit display home located Belmont. They are a more reasonable builders unlike those in Burn Beach which cost higher to build at upper 500K. GL ! Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 11Aug 31, 2009 10:41 am Perth-1st Timer I went through this recently and to be perfectly honest - I just couldn't live with the floor-plan, quality and finishings included with 95% of the 'cheaper' 2-story houses. About $300k is your minimum with the volume builders - and of those that make them in this price range I would nominate In-Vogue as the leader (my opinion only) - just because of their range of floor plans. APG would be the next pick, but be wary that their cheaper designs are double brick on the ground floor only, and brick-veneer on the second story (along with a suspended floor - not cement slab - for the upper story). Heard bad things about Perceptions the home builder so would generally stay away (google it) - but their prices are really cheap and I must admit I was tempted... BH Broadway also make some nice homes in your price-range so check them out (but make sure you visit the display homes before you set your heart on it - imho the finishings are a class below APG and WBN, etc. Wife and I came to the conclusion that to build a 'decent' 2-story house we would need to set aside about $400-450 + finishings (50k) - our needs were probably a little more complex though. We ended up choosing single story because our block is big enough to support it. Good luck with your searching! Rgds P1T I have visited In-Vogue display homes and quite impressed with their designs and price. However, I don't want to sacriface quality/customer service just because of attractive pricing. Do they have a good reputation in general? I have heard bad name for Perception as well and not sure if it is genuine or not? They offer very attractive pricing as well. How about going to drafty to draft up our own design and shop around for quotes? Is this a good idea? Or it will be too much work? Any other personal experience with any other builder would be appreciated. Thanks guys. Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 12Sep 01, 2009 1:45 am if you ask drafty to draw up plan and quote around you will find it is more expensive as builder need to mark-up higher b/c it is a custom build home unlike the display version which they known their margin and howmuch cost them to build. neither i heard good things abt perception and in-vogue. Mayb you can try BH. i think they are better some how. Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 13Sep 01, 2009 7:13 pm noidea if you ask drafty to draw up plan and quote around you will find it is more expensive as builder need to mark-up higher b/c it is a custom build home unlike the display version which they known their margin and howmuch cost them to build. neither i heard good things abt perception and in-vogue. Mayb you can try BH. i think they are better some how. I thought customer build home should cost similar or less. Or will it depends on who you go for? ok, I might give BH a try. Thanks. Any more suggestions? Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 14Sep 01, 2009 7:37 pm HI Mike, here is a website to check out and get some feedback from. Take it all on board though as like I have mentioned before most people only talk about the bad bits not the good bits and when they do you feel they may have some involvement in the business. Anyway....what you can consider is that you need to find a home that suits you and there are plenty of companies out there large and small that will accomodate your needs its just a matter of getting out there and comparing. This is a great website for all things that need comparing. http://www.productreview.com.au/categor ... at_id=1943 Have a look here and see how much people are spending and who is doing there work. http://www.stirling.wa.gov.au/NR/rdonly ... istics.pdf If I could in your price range I would choose to look at.... Ross Griffin Beaumonde Lifestyle Signature Weststyle Craig Shiels Princi Platinum Novus Peter Stannard Good luck with your search Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 15Sep 01, 2009 11:20 pm gweluphome HI Mike, here is a website to check out and get some feedback from. Take it all on board though as like I have mentioned before most people only talk about the bad bits not the good bits and when they do you feel they may have some involvement in the business. Anyway....what you can consider is that you need to find a home that suits you and there are plenty of companies out there large and small that will accomodate your needs its just a matter of getting out there and comparing. This is a great website for all things that need comparing. http://www.***/category.php?cat_id=1943 Have a look here and see how much people are spending and who is doing there work. http://www.stirling.wa.gov.au/NR/rdonly ... istics.pdf If I could in your price range I would choose to look at.... Ross Griffin Beaumonde Lifestyle Signature Weststyle Craig Shiels Princi Platinum Novus Peter Stannard Good luck with your search Thanks for recommendation. The list above is the more prestige builders. I think they start from $400k to millions. I am sure they provide better quality and customer service in compaison to other volume builders. I will have a chat with them and see if I can find anything suit my budget. Thanks. Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 16Oct 11, 2009 8:18 am Been talking to couple of builders. Modified their plans to suit my taste. Every time I modified something it always takes at least 2 weeks before they can quote things up. Is this always the lead time for them? Or they are all having busy time because of the FHO at the moment? Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 17Oct 11, 2009 2:29 pm That sounds about right Mike, looks like you have found someone then..thats good news. Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 18Oct 11, 2009 5:19 pm gweluphome That sounds about right Mike, looks like you have found someone then..thats good news. Well...yes and no. I still couldn't get the best out of modifying theit existing plan. Guess the best approach would be custom design because it is not very cost effective to modify existing plan. What do u reckon? Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 19Oct 11, 2009 9:41 pm We ended up modifying an existing and then modified it so much it became custom....so I would say if you can just go straight in with a custom design and or keep looking at some of the other builders and see if you can come across anything that might suit more....do you want to keep looking or just get started I suppose is the question......it could cost $10 or $20k more to custom but might be worth it....(I am talking through a volume builder anyway) Re: Anyone have good experience with any WA 2 storey builder? 20Oct 12, 2009 8:53 am gweluphome We ended up modifying an existing and then modified it so much it became custom....so I would say if you can just go straight in with a custom design and or keep looking at some of the other builders and see if you can come across anything that might suit more....do you want to keep looking or just get started I suppose is the question......it could cost $10 or $20k more to custom but might be worth it....(I am talking through a volume builder anyway) That's exactly what happened to my case. I modified their existing plan quite a bit and then it cost $40k plus for adding 25sqm on top. It seems to me it is not cost effective at all. For custom home, is there any rule of thumb in terms of $/sqm? So are you saying for the same size it could cost $10 or $20k more? Hi All, I have been dealing with icare for insurance in completing our house after our original builder went bust. We have gotten to tender stage and one of the companies… 0 20792 Thank you so much. This has been very helpful. We definitely wish to settle and get these people out of our life. They are trying to charge us interest on late… 7 14263 It is in lake macquarie area and dimensions are width 14 m and depth 8 m and the slope is 1/5 going down from the road. 1 7088 |