Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Mar 13, 2010 4:08 pm hi I know we all love to tweak the plans etc but I was just wondering if anyone didnt..if they actually built THE plan the housing company entices you in with, not the display home plan! If you just changed one thing..then you are also invited to reply..and if you can, show us the plan. Would be great to see what you actually got for the 'enticing price' and if you are happy with it. thanks heaps, nicky Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 2Mar 13, 2010 4:41 pm We did when we built the first time. We subdivided our block and built on the battleaxe. We called the builder, he showed us a plan, we said yep, and that was it. We didn't even look through plans, didn't up spec or anything. Built the entire house (3x2 with study/4thbed) complete with floor coverings, window treatments, everything, just moved straight in, for $160,000. That was back in 2004 and we had absolutely no idea what we were doing or what to expect. But we did know we wouldn't stay in it long, so didn't even think to upgrade anything. We ended up selling it a year later and made enough to pay off the reno's on the front house, pay off our car loan and all our debt and buy a block of land outright for our next house Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 3Mar 13, 2010 8:29 pm I only added a few doors and the upper cabinets in the kitchen so pretty close to the basic floor plan! With regards to colour appointment, everything was within the standard range (excluding electrical) except my front door handle and the plumbing to the toilets for a future water tank and I am VERY happy with my house!! 'A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.' Louis Pasteur Vegie garden: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27637&start=0 My Backyard Adventure Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 5Mar 13, 2010 9:19 pm The actual floor plan is standard... however we added things bi-fold doors/windows, aircon and upgraded the tiles, etc... but the floorplan is standard. Sleven Moved into our Atlantique MkII 36 by Carlisle Homes Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 6Mar 13, 2010 9:21 pm No changes to floor plan! Just cosmetic changes....if I start making changes goodness knows what will come of it... My house and my rants.... - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=26937 We are in!!!...and still unpacking. Thankfully there are always Tim Tams Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 7Mar 13, 2010 9:26 pm Our floor plan was almost standard - we changed a few things like window placements, removed a door, made it an opening and vice versa and changed kitchen configuration, also builders draftsman changed plan so that it could fit on our block - moved back section across, in practice changes little else. We did get the ceilings raised to 9ft and spent around $15k on upgrades at selections - upgrading tiles, tapware , floor coverings etc - but basic floor plan is almost the original. If it aint broke, why fix it Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 8Mar 14, 2010 2:20 pm wow, rizzo...amazing! So you didnt care, changed NOTHING and got a pot of gold at the end well done you. so a few of you out there in cyber land bought and paid for (bar say an electric door or different handles) the standard plan and didnt really up spec and it still worked out well for you. Thanks for sharing. I have been looking for 2 yrs at plans...did my own (quote was too dear to build it) then went to a house company and changed this, moved windows, added that, found another plan I liked better with another company..then another and another.. so then began to tweak that etc and now I am just over it.. I want to go and just buy a plan and pay the price they quote. FULL STOP, THE END!! not look at it in deep detail, just build it...although we are trying to sell our house in Christchurch to finance the build...so cant do anything just yet, as no $$$ (anyone want to buy a house!?) so knowing you guys did it gives me hope that I can too! thanks Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 9Mar 14, 2010 3:34 pm yep, that's exactly it, but as I said, it was never a permanent home, it was always an investment and we were lucky that the prices skyrocketed within that year (doubled again a year later but we won't go there lol, hindsights a good thing) Our second build, we upgraded about 10k worth and only took a metre off the side and added it to the back. This time however, I expect to be in this house for the next 10 years at least, probably more, so we actually had it drawn up and then spent another $60k at pre-start upgrading everything. Good luck with everything Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 10Mar 14, 2010 7:20 pm 3 times building...you would have some knowledge thats for sure thanks for your good wishes, I caught them! nic Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 11Mar 14, 2010 7:27 pm Haha,not really, you learn something new everytime. I learnt that I really didn't want to do it again lol, but DH is a fussy bugger, and anything we would have bought established, he would have wanted to gut and start again, so in this town, building was cheaper. Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 12Mar 16, 2010 6:11 am ha ha. funny ok, so people who have been/ going/ through it now.. if you only had $15k to up spec..that was all..not $80k like some of you had! what would be on your top say 5 list..( more/ less, give or take ) assuming air con and a door from garage into the house is included. Is there anything that you did that you are so glad you paid the $$$ for. higher ceilings, vinyl wrap kitchen, stone tops, bigger tiles, roller door from garage and not a door etc etc you get the game... Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 13Mar 16, 2010 9:14 am Sorry Kiwi - I think I worded my post poorly - I didnt mean I only spent $15k on upgrades - I spent $15k at selections ( still a lot less than many others do though) - this was things like tiles, tapware, upgrading floor coverings - anything structural had already been factored into the contract price we signed earlier - so things like higher ceilings were included at that point. Sometimes this is a hard question as some things which are already included in standard inclusions from one builder are extras with others - eg IXL fans to laundry and bathroom were already included in ours - and flyscreens are almost always included in SA whereas I gather it is an optional extra in other states. However if I had to choose - stone bench tops are not a priority for me, higher ceilings much more important IMO. Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 14Mar 16, 2010 11:20 am Thanks Helyn for your emails. I appreciate them. Sorry...not picking on you cos of the $15k it was just pulled out my head! so high ceilings you recon are worth it...mmm, good to know. thanks Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 15Mar 16, 2010 11:28 am Reply to the OP's original question: Everyone changes something! Even the builders upspec their own plans lol ---------------------------------------- Building the PD Lisbon 24 http://www.porterdavis.com.au/#homeviewer/lisbon/24 Blog of our progress. http://lisbon24.blogspot.com/ Homeone build thread https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=28665 Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 16Apr 11, 2010 9:38 pm except Rizzo! amazing..but true. Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 17Apr 11, 2010 11:03 pm The only thing that we changed from the original plans was moving the linen cupboard back so that it was in the garage... and it was the builder that suggested that we change it. We did remove things from the contract but nothing that effected the floor plan. We removed the render... we removed the dishwasher.... we removed the front garden. However the builder was a little silly and gave us a dishwasher and front garden even though we didn't pay for them. I'm very happy with how the house has turned out... only a small house but small suits me fine.. especially as it is only the two if us. We didn't upgrade anything... it was all in the builder's standard range. I think though that we weren't as picky because we know that we can only live in it 1 - 2 years because of work commitment. Its is my first house... so maybe i'll be more picky with my next house Our build thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31696 Our new house - moved in but so much more to do! https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31696&p=442009#p442009 Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 18Apr 11, 2010 11:41 pm We changed a couple of minor things, but the biggest change was "can you make this plan [single storey house plan] the top floor and put a garage and rumpus room underneath? [we are on the lower side of the road and the main entrance/front door is on the top floor, the driveway goes around the back]" .. a pretty significant change! Should have just gone to an architect the first time, but oh well.. live and learn.. we're doing it right the 2nd time! Built 3br house in Glenorchy, Tas in 2001 * * * Built 5br courtyard house in Lenah Valley, Tas in 2011 - Homeone thread / Blog Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 19Apr 12, 2010 7:53 pm In answer to Kiwi's second question later in the thread - kiwi Is there anything that you did that you are so glad you paid the $$$ for. higher ceilings, vinyl wrap kitchen, stone tops, bigger tiles, roller door from garage and not a door etc etc you get the game... We have not moved into ours yet, but we got higher ceilings and absolutly love them whenever we check the house out, we are so glad we went with it and think it was money well spent. We also have stone tops as a free upgrade and soft close drawers, but the stone tops are not on yet, and have not got a chance to use the drawers so can't say how we feel about them, but they would take a lot of work to topple off the higher ceiling for what we think is bang for our buck. If I was to win Lotto, I would build with a different builder, now to win lotto Re: Has anyone NOT up specked the basic builders plan? 20Apr 12, 2010 9:17 pm miss_new_home_owner The only thing that we changed from the original plans was moving the linen cupboard back so that it was in the garage... and it was the builder that suggested that we change it. We did remove things from the contract but nothing that effected the floor plan. We removed the render... we removed the dishwasher.... we removed the front garden. However the builder was a little silly and gave us a dishwasher and front garden even though we didn't pay for them. I'm very happy with how the house has turned out... only a small house but small suits me fine.. especially as it is only the two if us. We didn't upgrade anything... it was all in the builder's standard range. I think though that we weren't as picky because we know that we can only live in it 1 - 2 years because of work commitment. Its is my first house... so maybe i'll be more picky with my next house Our build thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=31696 wow lucky!! freebie stuff....yay. Chuq We changed a couple of minor things, but the biggest change was "can you make this plan [single storey house plan] the top floor and put a garage and rumpus room underneath? [we are on the lower side of the road and the main entrance/front door is on the top floor, the driveway goes around the back]" .. a pretty significant change! Should have just gone to an architect the first time, but oh well.. live and learn.. we're doing it right the 2nd time! I think that kind of comes under, 'slightly upspeking the house..just a bit' category. Doubling the size I would say.. is not really on the standard plan!! ha ha and ROADKILLNZ (nice name , I think!?) thanks for your thoughts...mmm, upping ceilings might be a goer as that is the 2nd comment re higher ceilings. Thank you for all your comments. Hi All, we are starting to think of building with Masterpiece Builders in Victoria, has anyone had any feedback or experience with them 0 13717 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 14361 I work with owner, he/she is my man on the ground and I instruct them when to visit the site and take photos and I have other tools in the bag. 4 15358 |