Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Dec 22, 2009 1:46 pm Hi everyone! Both my DH (Luke) and I (Ez) + 1 cub are officially in the landslide of paperwork on our way to building our first new home in Melville, WA. We put in an offer on the block (406m2) in September and were due to settle end of November, however the titles still haven't been issued as still waiting on sign-offs from Western Power and WaterCorp . So our settlement date has been pushed forward to end of Jan 2010. Happy New Year! Anyway, we stumbled onto the idea of building a new home (although discussed our options for about 3 years), but DH was stumbling about talking to the bank to see how much we could borrow, etc. After looking through the REIWA website, I came across our block with its relatively low price for the area and rang up to see if it was still available. The R/E agent said my call was 'meant to be' as the previous offer fell through due to funding issues. DH put the offer in $330K, which was accepted, and so we began our journey of finding a suitable plan for our block while settlement was processing through. I had a few recommendations of builders from various friends and we went to see several display homes both North and South of the River. We asked lots of questions and were consistently advised that due to the nature of our block, siteworks would be between $50-100K. However, we came across a most engaging and unsuperficial sales consultant from C*llier Homes, who has persistently communicated with us with numerous updates and drafts of what would end up being a one-off plan. We used portions of 'The Colins' display home at Harrisdale within our design and so far we are very pleased with the latest version. Our block is a headache, but we love it! It's a battleaxe survey strata block, with an incline up the driveway and a slope at the back from left to right. Unfortunately, we had to revise our plan with the zero lot wall garage against the *stupid* *grrrrrr* neighbours parapeet wall as site works equalled approximately $46K, so we moved the plan in by a metre and siteworks dropped to $32K *jaw drop*. It will need extensive retaining walls and the builders will have to cut into the soil and distribute it evenly as much as possible for a level home. We were quoted by another builder that we could ONLY have a split level house on that block and it would cost us an extra $100K Thankfully C*llier Homes was accommodating enough to review all options before coming out with worse case scenarios. So, as opposed to most people on this forum, I basically acknowledged that our little project has come around 'backwards'. We actually ended up doing a feasibility report ($2500 - $1000 for house plans and $1500 for soil samples, engineer's structural report, siteworks costings, etc) first to see if our budget could cope with construction costs before settlement. It was equivalent to the PPA fee that most people pay before going through with the design of their plan, etc. As of Saturday (19/12), we saw our consultant to sign off on the PPA. However, before we did, we questioned him on the recent reviews on the website 'Product Review' but we also questioned him on the cases through the Builders Tribunal. He was very upfront with us (and I had all the printouts in front of me), and reassured us that he would be there (when practically necessary not when clients need an ear for a winge) for us through most of the building process. We ended up getting the December air con special for $1000, solid granite bench tops, the alfresco doors with concertina fly screens for $1200 and most upgrades for the total sum of $234K (inc. site works). We've signed the PPA and are awaiting the files to peruse through the world of colours, sizes, and other furniture that makes a house a home. We've also managed to purchase top quality flooring from Carpet Call during the recent Austral Home Expo, but are now trying to figure out how to get the bank to pay for it as they require 'everything' to be put into the Builders Contract before the release of monies. C*llier Homes have their own suppliers, so don't want to step on their toes, but no doubt the solution will present itself soon. I haven't seen anyone else who is building with C*llier Homes on this forum, but in case I've missed you or if there are any pieces of advice anyone can give me please feel free to do so, and I look forward to a year of laughter, tears, fun and frustration over the coming year! Will post photos of block and home soon. Am thinking of starting a blog. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all! Plastering 02/03/11 Roofframe 31/01/11 / Electrics,plumbing,gutters,downpipes 12/02/11 Bricks 10/01/11 / Pad 10/12/10 Retainingwalls 5/11/10 / Re-peg 14/10/10 Bldlic appvd 10/09/10 / Plansappvd 12/07/10 Bldcontract signed 19/02/10 / Landsettlement 25/01/10 BlockUOffer July 09 Forum: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=27512 Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 2Dec 22, 2009 7:14 pm Welcome aboard - I look forward to watching your build/blog progress *bookmarked* Your house plan (as posted on your blog) looks good - only comment is your garage roof (at 25c) is a little low - if you have (or may ever have) a 4wd or van then I suggest getting it raised to 28c (so that the actual entry height is 25c) - otherwise you might hit the roof! I am only pedantic about this because it has happened to me before! Master bedroom looks great! 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: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 3Dec 22, 2009 10:32 pm I have just finished building with them. I am in the North and if I hadn't been, and had the excellent site supervisor, I would have said ... sorry for you to have chosen them!! My son is building with them in the south and has had one problem after another. Their site supervisor has changed a few times, and if you ever want to get hold of anyone in the office (other than a couple of the girls there), forget it!!! He and I were neck and neck until the roof stage, and then he has had delay after delay. I have been in my house for about a month or so, and he still hasn't even had handover. I started the process a year ago, so perhaps a few things have changed, but we were given a file of pamphlets to choose from, and then found that only about 10 things in the file even pertained to us. I don't know whether they are just giving you ideas, or something, but half the stuff was of no value. I went to HomeBase, chose my colours etc from the pamphlets in the file, and then found when I went to pre-start that they weren't even on the list. Be VERY careful when checking your pre=start list. Both my son's and my kitchen benches were transcribed down incorrectly from the letter written from the tile company where you have to go and choose. We went to see Abby Ceramics and saw a fellow called Ivo ... absolutely fantastic. Anyway, having been at pre-start for about 5 hours, I didn't notice that she had written my cupboard colours down wrongly, so signed. Luckily they were not too bad, so could live with it ... I had wanted contrasting colours though, and she wrote down all the same colour for everything. My son wanted wooden benches and he got white. After moaning and groaning and asking them to change it, they eventually agreed, but it set them back ages. They are VERY inflexible on variations ... I had a wall that I think their drafty had drawn incorrectly compared to the display home ... changed it, and try as I might to ask for them to waive their variation fee (I will pay for the guy who cut it, just don't want to pay their $300 paperwork fee), they won't budge. My main gripe, is that no one ever phones back ... My site supervisor used to phone me weekly, but he went on leave for five weeks and then it was like falling into a deep dark black abyss!! NOTHING !!! Even when I sent emails in frustration to the sales guy ... NOTHING !!! I thought perhaps I should go and drive past C*ollier to see if they still existed !! Anyway .. having said all that, I have a lovely house, chosen by me, in which I am happily living in. Have just had my garden paved and the grass put down, and now everything is hunky dory!!! Enjoy your building experience, and I hope that you get a wonderful site supervisor! My main recommendation to you is when you get the plan ... CHECK CHECK CHECK !!! In fact, put it on the website, plus the lighting one, and get people to give you their ideas. Built the Driftwood with C*ollier Homes Moved in 8 November 2009 Slowly getting organised ..... Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 4Dec 22, 2009 11:32 pm Perth-1st Timer Your house plan (as posted on your blog) looks good - only comment is your garage roof (at 25c) is a little low - if you have (or may ever have) a 4wd or van then I suggest getting it raised to 28c (so that the actual entry height is 25c) - otherwise you might hit the roof! Oh! I forgot to mention that part of our 'upgrade' was to have the entire house to go up two courses to 30c. The alfresco and garage height therefore will be 28c. Thanks for checking out my blog . It's my first attempt and I'll figure out most of the widgets soon, but I really wanted to upload the photos! Plastering 02/03/11 Roofframe 31/01/11 / Electrics,plumbing,gutters,downpipes 12/02/11 Bricks 10/01/11 / Pad 10/12/10 Retainingwalls 5/11/10 / Re-peg 14/10/10 Bldlic appvd 10/09/10 / Plansappvd 12/07/10 Bldcontract signed 19/02/10 / Landsettlement 25/01/10 BlockUOffer July 09 Forum: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=27512 Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 5Dec 22, 2009 11:40 pm Quote: I have just finished building with them. I am in the North and if I hadn't been, and had the excellent site supervisor, I would have said ... sorry for you to have chosen them!! My son is building with them in the south and has had one problem after another. Their site supervisor has changed a few times, and if you ever want to get hold of anyone in the office (other than a couple of the girls there), forget it!!! Thanks for the mega heads up Mtuba2!!! I did point this out to our sales consultant who acknowledged there were problems, and I REALLY stressed how much communication (f-2-f, email and phone!!!) was imperative before the signing the PPA. I'm sorry to hear about the dramas you're poor son is going through. I actually stressed to our consultant that I wanted to see three references and to actually go out to site (within reason) and check out how they take care of the actual areas, etc. Should be doing this after Christmas holidays, but completely understand what we may be dealing with! Plastering 02/03/11 Roofframe 31/01/11 / Electrics,plumbing,gutters,downpipes 12/02/11 Bricks 10/01/11 / Pad 10/12/10 Retainingwalls 5/11/10 / Re-peg 14/10/10 Bldlic appvd 10/09/10 / Plansappvd 12/07/10 Bldcontract signed 19/02/10 / Landsettlement 25/01/10 BlockUOffer July 09 Forum: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=27512 One off plan with C*llier Homes WA - Concrete battleaxe bloc 6Dec 27, 2009 11:50 pm Just wondering if there are rules against concreting the driveway of a battleaxe property (i.e. house behind house)? Both ourselves and our front neighbours would like to concrete the driveway (+common property), but I haven't seen this being done in WA. Are there council/WaterCorp/WesternPower/Telecommunication restrictions in place, or not many people thought of it? It would be soooo much cheaper than getting 112m2 paved, so thought I'd ask. Any advice would be great! Plastering 02/03/11 Roofframe 31/01/11 / Electrics,plumbing,gutters,downpipes 12/02/11 Bricks 10/01/11 / Pad 10/12/10 Retainingwalls 5/11/10 / Re-peg 14/10/10 Bldlic appvd 10/09/10 / Plansappvd 12/07/10 Bldcontract signed 19/02/10 / Landsettlement 25/01/10 BlockUOffer July 09 Forum: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=27512 Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 7Dec 27, 2009 11:53 pm Yep no probs Where you are coming from is where you are going to... Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 8Jan 03, 2010 2:00 pm Well, for what its worth the titles for the block have FINALLY been issued! (It only took since July 2009!!!) So settlement will be end of January, but now the builders can finish doing the feasibility report and know the correct dimensions of our block, etc. I'm hoping we won't need to wait as long for council approval of our plans, but knowing me, it will probably be so. *le sigh* Plastering 02/03/11 Roofframe 31/01/11 / Electrics,plumbing,gutters,downpipes 12/02/11 Bricks 10/01/11 / Pad 10/12/10 Retainingwalls 5/11/10 / Re-peg 14/10/10 Bldlic appvd 10/09/10 / Plansappvd 12/07/10 Bldcontract signed 19/02/10 / Landsettlement 25/01/10 BlockUOffer July 09 Forum: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=27512 Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 9Jan 05, 2010 11:14 pm Hi We are also building a one off plan with C*ollier in Aubin Grove. Our plans are still waiting to be approved by Council which is taking forever. Hoping to have a slab down sometime next month. We have had a pretty easy time so far. Had a great sales guy who really understood what we wanted. We actually based our house design on his own place that he built with C*ollier a few years ago. It will be interesting watching your build as there doesn't seen to be anyone else on here who is currently building with them. Congrats on getting your title. Now the fun stuff can begin! Cheers Fi Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 10Jan 06, 2010 12:00 am Thanks Fi Yay! Someone else who's building with C*ollier Homes! Was beginning to think I was a rare breed . We haven't even got to the building contract stage yet, but hopefully by the end of this month we'll have something to give to Council and time it with the settlement. What was your pre-start experience like? Did they have many options? Were the Personal Assistants any good? Great to hear from you and hope to see your developments on your own forum (....? ) Plastering 02/03/11 Roofframe 31/01/11 / Electrics,plumbing,gutters,downpipes 12/02/11 Bricks 10/01/11 / Pad 10/12/10 Retainingwalls 5/11/10 / Re-peg 14/10/10 Bldlic appvd 10/09/10 / Plansappvd 12/07/10 Bldcontract signed 19/02/10 / Landsettlement 25/01/10 BlockUOffer July 09 Forum: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=27512 Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 11Jan 07, 2010 11:27 pm Prestart was actually pretty easy although it did take nearly 6 hours. We had already upgraded a lot of the small details such as additional doors and cupboards before we went to prestart but we still managed to spend another $8500! This included $3500 for soakwells (we did it ourselves the first time we built and it nearly killed us. Never again), the rest was to upgrade to 3 phase power, upgrade the front doors (very annoyed that the nice highlight window doors were not standard - $1300 for double doors), additional tiling to the bathrooms, pot draws and handles in the kitchen and additional electrical points. We have the *** collection specifications so most of the upgrades we wanted were standard that we would had to upgrade to if we were under the residential abodes specifications. The only things i wasnt happy with was choices in cupboard door handles and the restriction to only two outdoor paint colours that you have to use on gutter, fascia, downpipes and your front door. I wanted a different coloured front door but ended up having to use the same colour as the gutters. Guess i can always repaint it later. They redrafted all the changes and gave us prices for upgrades on the day. They just added the amount to our contract price which was nice. When we built with HBC 5 years ago we had to pay for all upgrades on the day! It was a very long but enjoyable day. Hopefully the rest of our build goes just as smoothly. Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 12Jan 08, 2010 7:37 am Hey I like your blog! Very impressed, I'm just figuring out the wide world of Blogging myself. We have a rear battleaxe block in NSW and we have to have a concrete drive, maintained by both the front burdened block and ours. If there are covenants regarding materials used they should be in your buiding contract. Looking forward to seeing your house go up. Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 13Jan 11, 2010 4:54 pm Well it's official. Settlement date for the block is 21 Jan. Lots of communication happening between real estate agent, settlement agent, bank and builder. It's a go people! Plastering 02/03/11 Roofframe 31/01/11 / Electrics,plumbing,gutters,downpipes 12/02/11 Bricks 10/01/11 / Pad 10/12/10 Retainingwalls 5/11/10 / Re-peg 14/10/10 Bldlic appvd 10/09/10 / Plansappvd 12/07/10 Bldcontract signed 19/02/10 / Landsettlement 25/01/10 BlockUOffer July 09 Forum: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=27512 Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 14Jan 11, 2010 5:17 pm Hey congrats. Timeline Aug 08-Land Mar 09-Demo/Titles Sept 10-Handover No1 Sept 11-Handover No2 April 12-Sold No2 Aug 14-Land/Demo Jan 15-Slabs viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25736 Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 15Jan 11, 2010 5:29 pm Thanks Echo! Can't believe I'm getting excited about a huge debt !!! Plastering 02/03/11 Roofframe 31/01/11 / Electrics,plumbing,gutters,downpipes 12/02/11 Bricks 10/01/11 / Pad 10/12/10 Retainingwalls 5/11/10 / Re-peg 14/10/10 Bldlic appvd 10/09/10 / Plansappvd 12/07/10 Bldcontract signed 19/02/10 / Landsettlement 25/01/10 BlockUOffer July 09 Forum: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=27512 Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 18Jan 12, 2010 10:33 am Woohoo , our titles are meant to be released 20th Jan...not sure if it will though cos the real estate guy didn't even know what was going on Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 19Jan 22, 2010 10:15 am Well settlement has been delayed thanks to the bank and their 'administrative' issues. So it's looking like we'll be settled on Monday. In other news, we've had our updated plans and the pre-start files sent to us for review, etc. and as I've been going through the plan and contract like a fine tooth comb, my 'fix-this-before-signing-anything' list is getting decidedly longer. This Saturday we're planning on visiting the Tile shops, Austral bricks, Carpet Call, Paint shops, roofing, etc. and other companies, to be all set for the 'interview'...but first they need to sort out the house plan. Que sera! Plastering 02/03/11 Roofframe 31/01/11 / Electrics,plumbing,gutters,downpipes 12/02/11 Bricks 10/01/11 / Pad 10/12/10 Retainingwalls 5/11/10 / Re-peg 14/10/10 Bldlic appvd 10/09/10 / Plansappvd 12/07/10 Bldcontract signed 19/02/10 / Landsettlement 25/01/10 BlockUOffer July 09 Forum: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=27512 Re: One off plan with C*llier Homes WA 20Jan 22, 2010 10:41 am Hey, that's great you're building in Melville... such a nice area (I lived there for a while and loved it) Hope you enjoy your selections trip tomorrow, I couldn't tell you how many of those we did "just to be sure" Enjoy the moment! It seems very clear to me that your contract states that a security account does NOT need to be established so the answer to the builder is NO. If in doubt find a contract… 1 8501 2 31290 If there have been changes, variations, during construction then the drawings should be revised, the building permit amended and the current, as built drawings given to… 2 4445 |