Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Sep 15, 2009 11:42 am HI everyone,
After lurking for a long time finally decided to join in the discussion! We are building the Strand by Celebration Homes in Banksia Grove, north of Perth, it is a 450sqm block which is good for wife and I, and small Jack Russell dog. The block has fencing and front landscaping included which means we have to do the back ourselves. We have conditional approval from the bank, waiting on building licenses from city of Wanneroo, and pre start this Friday which I am going crazy about! Even before pre start, we spent close to 35k on doors, shower door, toilet and kitchen upgrades, WIR upgrades, internal painting and flooring. And thats excluding decking and air conditioning. Wish we knew all those little costs sooner! Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 2Sep 16, 2009 5:54 pm Hi Stranded - welcome aboard! I can sympathise re the costs. I am building a display home at display spec, added $30k worth of extras into the contract and expect the results of this weeks pre-start to total about $40k - and that doesnt even include finishings (flooring, window treatments, painting, electrical works, etc etc) - It just goes on and on! ...But it is a good ride! Here are some tips for pre-start - Think about plumbing for your fridge recess - Alarm system? Power point and phone point forcontrol box, conduit in wall for control panel near front door - Extra garden taps? One near the garage is always handy for washing the cars - Convert a kitchen cupboard into an integrated bin (keeps it nice and tidy) - Don't forget extra paving around house (where plants shouldnt go) - and if you are doing this look at getting soakwells done by builder as well - Spend the money on a good hot water system - even though there is only two of you (plus the dog) - its worth it! - If you want glossy kitchen cupboards be prepared to be ...yeah, just be prepared Good luck! 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: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 3Sep 16, 2009 5:59 pm Welcome. My wife and I are building the strand as well. Have a look at my thread in my sig. Building with CELEBRATION HOMES @ THE GLADES in BYFORD W.A. My Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=19512&p=249550#p249550 Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 4Sep 16, 2009 9:15 pm Welcome, We are also building the Strand, but in Landsdale. Made only $2,000 worth of upgrades at prestart (mainly electrical) but prior to prestart we had extended the garage and made a store area, and made Bedroom 4 bigger and moved the games room wall out a little bit. Then other small changes like upgrade to double basin in ensuite, double shower, dishwasher recess etc.. Siteworks should be starting soon for us. Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 5Sep 16, 2009 9:41 pm Hi, I am also building the Strand in Byford, we have done a few changes to the plans & have gone with the modern style elevation with the higher roof in the main bedroom. Our pre-start was orginally planned for about $2k, but pushed it to about 4k, the most expensive being the electrical. Our site works start next week, finally!! we have had a 2 month delay with the council building licence approval. Hope the hole process goes well for you This website is well worth the read. Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 6Sep 16, 2009 11:42 pm Does the elevation effect the height of the main bedroom??? I didn't know that, or did you change it to a high ceiling? On the note of ceiling heights, what is the actual ceiling height of the strand?? Is it 2.4m high (is that 28 courses?)? I walked into a Celebration display home and I could touch the ceiling in the garage flat footed, and I'm only 5'10. Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 7Sep 19, 2009 1:40 pm When we were going through the selections, the option was the either the classic or modern style & the modern came with the 31 course ceiling. Im pretty sure that it only effects the Main Bedroom. Otherwise the standard roof height is 28 course, and mind you i am only 5"4 so it will be interesting to see when it is finished Did you go for the games or alfresco version of the strand? Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 8Sep 19, 2009 9:50 pm We went with the Games room. The indoor living area space was more important to us.. We have room to either do an undercover area down the right side of the house or build an alfreso area at the back further down the track if we decide to. Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 9Sep 21, 2009 8:52 am We went for the games option too, mainly for the same reasons... How far are you into process? We are expecting our site works to start today... Rather exciting Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 10Sep 22, 2009 8:20 pm Waiting for the siteworks to start! I'm one of the last to have started building in the area, so of course my block gets used for dumping crap, having trucks parked on it, use of my water (they actually pulled the tap apart into peices @#%!). Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 11Sep 22, 2009 9:25 pm Omg... shows how far some ppl go! I am also waiting on site works to start... altho we are one of the first on our street. Celebrations have been difficult to deal with over the last month! Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 12Sep 22, 2009 10:16 pm How have they been difficult to deal with? Do they let you know when your scheduled in for siteworks to commence on your block? Because I asked when things are going to start happening, and she just said 'We place an order for a slab, and brick etc... and at the moment its about a 3-4 week leadtime'. She didn't actually tell me when work is going to start on my block. Apart from the pre-start meeting, I haven't really bothered her at all with any questions, maybe I've been forgotten about. Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 13Sep 22, 2009 10:50 pm If you want a sneak peak as to what the strand with games will look like check out the photos of mine. Our colorbond is nearly up. Building with CELEBRATION HOMES @ THE GLADES in BYFORD W.A. My Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=19512&p=249550#p249550 Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 14Sep 23, 2009 12:05 am Jw023 How have they been difficult to deal with? Do they let you know when your scheduled in for siteworks to commence on your block? Because I asked when things are going to start happening, and she just said 'We place an order for a slab, and brick etc... and at the moment its about a 3-4 week leadtime'. She didn't actually tell me when work is going to start on my block. Apart from the pre-start meeting, I haven't really bothered her at all with any questions, maybe I've been forgotten about. I m building with celebrations too. mayfair games. i know!!! they dont tell you timeline..instead tell you a long story... so far they have been ok though..apart from strict rules about no changes what so ever after signing contract. we have just reached plate - high and waiting for timber to be delivered.. Builder: celebration homes,WA Slab down:12-Aug-09 Plate High:21-Sep-09 roof complete : 22-Oct-09 lockup: 19-Nov-09 PCI : 16-Dec-09 Key handover : 22-Dec-09 Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 15Sep 23, 2009 12:06 am They dont give direct answers, it is taking up to a week to get back to me, i was told 4 weeks ago that my site works will start in a couple of weeks.. still waiting. I have been harrassing them find out what is happening & they all seemed very confused. I have finally got to the bottom of it all... and fingers crossed she said site works will start next week & will give me a pad down date on monday I am always asking questions... and getting it in writing... as i have found them to be saying one thing & then another. They should be able to give you a pad date once site works are in progress Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 16Sep 23, 2009 11:59 pm I got a letter in the mail today saying that they are ready to start building my home, and they had a copy of the insurance policy for the construction attached. How long did it take from receiving this letter to them actually doing anything on site?? The letter didn't tell me any dates whatsoever. It seems they are VERY vague, and everytime I email the construction superviser/co-ordinator, instead of emailing back she will phone me. (Probably so nothing is in writing.) Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 17Sep 24, 2009 12:02 am our site works started 2 weeks from the letter arrival.... Yes they dont give dates which is rather annoying and they dont give the SS number as well... so more annoying ... Builder: celebration homes,WA Slab down:12-Aug-09 Plate High:21-Sep-09 roof complete : 22-Oct-09 lockup: 19-Nov-09 PCI : 16-Dec-09 Key handover : 22-Dec-09 Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 18Oct 05, 2009 12:25 pm hi Everyone, Thanks for all the comments. I've got a pending land settlement next week! Oh no! The bank is working on it so I hope they're ready as I've signed and returned all the conveyancing documents. I had a finalization of pre start last week, and added in: plumbing for fridge recess Power points for alarm system Convert a kitchen cupboard into an integrated bin Upgraded hot water system I have quotes for decking, ducted air con, soakwells. The plans should be in council already so all permitting, Celebration is saying slab should be down in November. Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 19Oct 05, 2009 11:54 pm Sounds good Stranded! Our siteworks started today, with the slab to be poured next tuesday. It turns out, that the house building next door to us is also the strand!!!! I thought maybe the council wouldn't approve two of the same house being built right next to each other???? They've chosen the same brick aswell Re: STRANDed in Banksia Grove, WA 20Oct 08, 2009 4:37 pm Ooh, Just signed final finance forms and settlement on land is going through next Monday! And then we own our own piece of dirt! Just waiting for building license now......coming from a place where everyone only owns apartments, having a piece of land to call your own really makes it sink in. We are not in a Telstra Velocity estate but it is served by Fibre to the Home via this company FuzeConnect....has anyone heard of them? Yeah I don't know why I came to a forum. Place is full of wierdos/pedos thought internet may help but I suppose I'll try my luck with someone in person. Cheers. I tried… 0 6446 Need advice on the backyard plan above. Should I excavate and cut all of the dirt to level with the house slab or semi-excavate as per photo above? Both left and right… 0 24873 13 6632 |