Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Sep 07, 2009 5:46 pm Hi Everyone,
I'm new to this website and the whole building process. This website is fantastic and I have already got heaps of questions to ask the builder. Just wondering if anyone else has either built or is building with Homestart. I am building in Heron Park, Harrisdale WA. Still waiting on the land to be developed and titles should be issued around 21st October. I haven't signed the building contracts as yet either, but am getting a bit worried as I need to have signed them by the end of September to be eligible for the FHOG. Attached is my draft house plans. I would be greatful if anyone has any comments with different ideas and changes for the house. The Carport will now be a fully enclosed Garage. I will have a roller door from the side of the house to the edge of the garage to access the back yard and then also another door from the garage straight into the house. This house design was originally different, there was a study where the kitchen is now, but I wanted an alfresco so I had that cut out and everything moved back. This then left the kitchen right opposite the Home Theatre so have added a wall there. I also plan on making some other changes, like the size of the Robe in Bed 2 to probably same size as Bed 3. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 2Sep 07, 2009 5:57 pm Hi there welcome to the forum. I think a few others are building with homestart. Someone did post recently. I can't see your plans. The attach thingy does not work. You have to upload to photobucket and then use the image tags to put it on here. Hopefully you will get your contracts before end of sept. How long have you been waiting now?? Kat Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 3Sep 07, 2009 6:08 pm Hi michme, Welcome to the forum! This is a great site. Congratulations on your land, my husband and I are building in Heron Park also. Beautiful Estate. Your plan looks great! Hoping your house journey goes smoothly for you. Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 4Sep 07, 2009 6:25 pm Hi! Just your ensuite perhaps get the basin moved to the window wall so that your not stepping onto the toilet to get out of the shower. The linen cupboard door to swing other way maybe. But a very neat little house! Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 5Sep 07, 2009 10:09 pm Hi, We built a very similar house to you with Homestart, ours is the Grand Parade, but very similar floor plan. I just posted our experience with Homestart in the WA builders thread. It wasn't very positive at all, but if you end up going with them I hope you have a better run than we did. The roller door is cheap at $845, we paid that for a standard door in the back! Wish I'd got a roller door for future access.. If that wall separating the theatre from the rest of the house was put in by you, make sure it's NOT being made a supporting wall! We put the same thing in ours and the $*##@% made it a supporting wall without telling me. When I asked for it to be removed (before building had even started) they refused, and now it's there forever... if it is removed the whole roof comes down. This probably isn't an issue for you, but i was a bit unsure about whether I wanted a wall or not, but planned to knock it down if I didn't like it, as I was also considering a different room orientation with a folding partition door. Now I'm stuck with it whether I like it or not. But I chucked a bunch of conduits on it and it will be perfect for wall mounting the TV, so I'm not too miffed. So that's the other thing; make sure there are conduits in that wall. If you want to wall mount a TV or anything they have to go in before the grey render or you're kinda stuffed. Only thing is, Homestart will only do 16mm conduits, which is tiny and pretty useless, and they go all the way to the floor with a blank panel. If you want to wall mount a TV you will want conduits that can have an HDMI cable run through them (which are 20mm wide). I got 2 x 32mm conduits put in by Compass Communications at the same time as the phone line and antenna points were installed. Technically we weren't allowed to do it but we did it anyway. Compass are a great company to deal with and basically saved our loungeroom/theatre. They will call you when it's time to install the phone points and for us that was before grey render stage. Upgrade to double powerpoints everywhere and if you add extra powerpoints, make sure you put them on internal walls if possible. It's really easy to add a powerpoint to an external wall after building, but very difficult to add one to an internal wall. Don't bother with the quad powerpoints, they're huge and bulky and cost a lot of money. Also don't bother with any lighting upgrades, they charge a fortune for them. If you think in future you may want to install ceiling fans, light dimmers or bathroom heaters, make sure you put a conduit in those rooms where the light switch is going. Light switch wiring is stuck directly into a chase in the wall and plastered over, once it's in it's in. If they run through a conduit you can upgrade the switch later to support more devices. Check that you get exhaust fans in the toilet and main bathroom. We didn't... ridiculous... If you're wanting shower screens, the ensuite shower may need to be squared off, which means you will need a tri-slider shower screen and will really will have to climb over the toilet to get in the shower. We have this problem, it's not too bad but it's pretty tight. Also consider getting a door on the laundry, we didn't and we are regretting it, as I think a lot of noise from washing machine/dry will come through into the main living area. Right that's all I've got. Good luck! Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 6Sep 07, 2009 11:26 pm If you want a glass shower door for the ensuite the Sandgate by Gemmill (now closed but they are building another one in Baldivis that will be ready at the same time as my house - 4 weeks) have a great idea. They have two sliding half doors that meet at the corner. Sorry about the poor picture quality but here are two coner shower door options. The one with teh white frame was quiet roomy. I look the picture as I will add one of these two options later in my house: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40514856@N06/3896526956/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/40514856@N06/3896550932/ I love the house plan - yay to open plan living! *Built with Gemmill Homes in WA* Slab - 1st June 2009 Plate Height - 17th June 2009 Lock Up - 18th August 2009 PCI - 5th October 2009 Hand Over - 15th Oct 2009 https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20844 Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 7Sep 08, 2009 10:25 am Welcome and congrats The only thing i can see an issue is the ensuite.. i would move the toilet to the adjacent wall.. thats what our ensuite looks like, instead of moving the basin. Home Group WA Monte Carlo Timeline on Page 1 Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 8Sep 08, 2009 10:53 am welcome to the site! Nice plan there, i agree open plan living for the win! congrats and good luck with the build, will be following your progress! Aussie Alfresco Ultimate Bertram, WA Homebuyers Centre WEEK 21 - Practical Completion (Scheduled) My Build Thread - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=21383&p=278506#p278506 Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 9Sep 08, 2009 12:24 pm Welcome!! Your plans looks lovely I'd probably move the ensuite sink as well viewtopic.php?f=31&t=22766 - my build thread! Time waits for no man. Unless that man is Chuck Norris. Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 10Sep 08, 2009 3:07 pm furiousgibbon Hi, We built a very similar house to you with Homestart, ours is the Grand Parade, but very similar floor plan. I just posted our experience with Homestart in the WA builders thread. It wasn't very positive at all, but if you end up going with them I hope you have a better run than we did. The roller door is cheap at $845, we paid that for a standard door in the back! Wish I'd got a roller door for future access.. If that wall separating the theatre from the rest of the house was put in by you, make sure it's NOT being made a supporting wall! We put the same thing in ours and the $*##@% made it a supporting wall without telling me. When I asked for it to be removed (before building had even started) they refused, and now it's there forever... if it is removed the whole roof comes down. This probably isn't an issue for you, but i was a bit unsure about whether I wanted a wall or not, but planned to knock it down if I didn't like it, as I was also considering a different room orientation with a folding partition door. Now I'm stuck with it whether I like it or not. But I chucked a bunch of conduits on it and it will be perfect for wall mounting the TV, so I'm not too miffed. So that's the other thing; make sure there are conduits in that wall. If you want to wall mount a TV or anything they have to go in before the grey render or you're kinda stuffed. Only thing is, Homestart will only do 16mm conduits, which is tiny and pretty useless, and they go all the way to the floor with a blank panel. If you want to wall mount a TV you will want conduits that can have an HDMI cable run through them (which are 20mm wide). I got 2 x 32mm conduits put in by Compass Communications at the same time as the phone line and antenna points were installed. Technically we weren't allowed to do it but we did it anyway. Compass are a great company to deal with and basically saved our loungeroom/theatre. They will call you when it's time to install the phone points and for us that was before grey render stage. Upgrade to double powerpoints everywhere and if you add extra powerpoints, make sure you put them on internal walls if possible. It's really easy to add a powerpoint to an external wall after building, but very difficult to add one to an internal wall. Don't bother with the quad powerpoints, they're huge and bulky and cost a lot of money. Also don't bother with any lighting upgrades, they charge a fortune for them. If you think in future you may want to install ceiling fans, light dimmers or bathroom heaters, make sure you put a conduit in those rooms where the light switch is going. Light switch wiring is stuck directly into a chase in the wall and plastered over, once it's in it's in. If they run through a conduit you can upgrade the switch later to support more devices. Check that you get exhaust fans in the toilet and main bathroom. We didn't... ridiculous... If you're wanting shower screens, the ensuite shower may need to be squared off, which means you will need a tri-slider shower screen and will really will have to climb over the toilet to get in the shower. We have this problem, it's not too bad but it's pretty tight. Also consider getting a door on the laundry, we didn't and we are regretting it, as I think a lot of noise from washing machine/dry will come through into the main living area. Right that's all I've got. Good luck! I have just read your post in the WA builders thread. I can't believe what you have been through, I certainly hope that I have a better experience with them. Thanks for all the tips about the electrical. Thankfully, my Uncle is an electrician so he has told me what to get them to do and he will come through once it is complete and finish the rest for me. Can you remember what the costs were to change the powerpoints from single to double? Also, the cost for a new power point all together and to add in the extra conduit? I have had a call from Homestart yesterday to book in the signing of my contract which is on 17th September. Is there anything that I should be aware of and possibly get them to change? Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 11Sep 08, 2009 7:42 pm michme Can you remember what the costs were to change the powerpoints from single to double? Also, the cost for a new power point all together and to add in the extra conduit? I have had a call from Homestart yesterday to book in the signing of my contract which is on 17th September. Is there anything that I should be aware of and possibly get them to change? From memory the conduits were $50 each, and the upgrade from single to double powerpoint was $57... this was 12 months ago though, prices may have changed slightly since then. You will sort all of that out during prestart, try your best to think of everything beforehand but I thought I was on top of things and when it came to the meeting i spent 3.5 hours umming and ahhing and ended up requesting a bunch of changes after the meeting! We got a bunch of misinformation about things that were and weren't possible, if they tell you something isn't possible, call up and ask to speak to another prestart consultant, they may inform you otherwise. As far as the contract goes, there is zero flexibility to change terms and conditions. You will not get a build completion date, they will tell you roughly 26 weeks from the slab being poured, but you will not get this in writing and as a result they won't be penalised for taking their time. Also pleease remember, when you have your PCI you will be asked to take out an insurance policy on the house, make sure you specify that the home is unoccupied and the alarm is not active. I wouldn't want anyone to go through the mess we are in at the moment! Homestart seem to be the only company that hands responsibility to the owner before they hand the keys to the owner. Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 12Sep 08, 2009 11:25 pm I think if you read section 13 of the standard HIA contract, insurance is required by the owner after PCI....unless they modify the standard HIA contract. Correct me if my interpretation is incorrect. Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 13Sep 09, 2009 12:45 pm You are correct. My problem was I took out an insurance policy expecting to move into the house within the next 2-3 weeks. When it dragged on for 2 more months, my policy became void and the damage that has occurred to the house is not covered. Hence I'm saying to avoid the situation, I would take out an 'unoccupied' policy, which costs more but if you do end up moving in within 3 weeks you can change it to a normal policy and you won't end up paying any more. Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 14Sep 09, 2009 2:16 pm I feel your pain. It really is not good what the builder has done in your situation. I am trying think what you could do? Maybe get a structural engineer to back up the insurance inspector? Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 15Nov 03, 2009 6:19 pm Im also buliding in Heron Park, signed my contracts on the 16th September so im guessing you are going to be fairly close to me! Im assuming you would have been given titles last week... My Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25563 Titles: October 2009 Pre-start: Febuary 2010 Building licence: March 2010 Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 16Nov 03, 2009 6:39 pm welcome Im also in harrisdale but in Arion estate just over the road fingers crossed everything goes smoothly for you Harrisdale backyard finally done! Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 17Nov 04, 2009 6:40 pm tim_heron Im also buliding in Heron Park, signed my contracts on the 16th September so im guessing you are going to be fairly close to me! Im assuming you would have been given titles last week... Hi Tim, Yes my titles did issue last week. Are you building with Homes-art also? I am in the process of organising everything for my settlement on 24th November. Just waiting on my FHOG approval to come through now and should be all set. Then play the waiting game again. I don't think they will commence building until mid January. Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 18Nov 04, 2009 7:39 pm michme tim_heron Im also buliding in Heron Park, signed my contracts on the 16th September so im guessing you are going to be fairly close to me! Im assuming you would have been given titles last week... Hi Tim, Yes my titles did issue last week. Are you building with Homes-art also? I am in the process of organising everything for my settlement on 24th November. Just waiting on my FHOG approval to come through now and should be all set. Then play the waiting game again. I don't think they will commence building until mid January. Hi, I am building with Ideal homes. My settlement is 30th november at the moment, still waiting on final drawings , FHOG and finance approval. So still waiting on a few things! Hoping to start in January though. My Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25563 Titles: October 2009 Pre-start: Febuary 2010 Building licence: March 2010 Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 19Nov 12, 2009 5:03 pm Hi Guys, Im new to this website. We're building with Homestart - the St. Quentin in Heron Park, Harrisdale. Our prestart's just over and we got our land titles issued last week. Currently waiting on the Unconditional Loan Approval. Can someone whose already through this phase tell me, how long it'll be between settlement data and commencement of construction? Kind Regards, Jobin John Building with HOMESTART -- The St. Quentin-- in Heron Park, Harrisdale, WA Re: Building with Homestart, Harrisdale WA 20Nov 12, 2009 5:52 pm jobinjohn Hi Guys, Im new to this website. We're building with Homestart - the St. Quentin in Heron Park, Harrisdale. Our prestart's just over and we got our land titles issued last week. Currently waiting on the Unconditional Loan Approval. Can someone whose already through this phase tell me, how long it'll be between settlement data and commencement of construction? Kind Regards, Jobin John Hi, I have been speaking with Homestart about when the construction will commence as I got a letter from them saying that the slab will need to be down by 17th March to still receive the boost payment for the first home owners grant. I haven't completed pre-start as yet as they are waiting for the survey report to be completed before I go in. It was something to do with me signing my contract early because of the first home owner's grant. They have advised that the survey report will take about 2 weeks, they will then send out the final plans and site report and give me a call a few days later to arrange pre-start. Then there will be a week to finalise pre-start. Then there is about a six week period were they prepare all the building specs and obtain necessary licenses. So I am really probably looking at the end of January before they start construction. If you are with them as well then I would say it will be around the same time if you still don't have finance approval. How did you go with your pre-start? Where they expensive to make changes? Cheers Michelle go upvc window frames ensure insulation under colorbond. not just sarking, lighter color roof also not sure if you have seen this viewtopic.php?t=5823 last couple of pages… 4 110564 Even if it's not being sub-divided and you want to keep it as Torrens title, you will still need to talk to a town planner or Council themselves, to see if they will allow… 1 11035 |