Thanks for the prompt reply... That is a fantastic price! Would you be so kind and PM me the contact details of the soil removal company that you used?
Browse Forums Building A New House Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2503Jul 21, 2012 12:43 am Built the Havana 3 by McDonald Jones Homes Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2504Jul 21, 2012 7:06 am hi kopite.. we are slowly getting there... so many things to organise after the house... (driveway, window coverings, landscape, fence, lights, change of locks, etc..) we are still waiting for our landscaper to start our simple landscape plan... cost us around 8.5k for the whole lot... we wanted to do our landscape ourselves but its so hard to have mud all over the places... and we just got a dog as well, so we need some space for him in the backyard. though we have a driveway, we are still waiting for the landscape until get it sprayed.. we are using spray on with 3 colours. a sparky will drop by today to put in the lights.. we had additional surface drain done yesterday just for peace of mind if it rains a lot and besides our property is not really flat so i can see some water build up on the left side... with regards to decking, i'm also looking into the DeckMax no nails approach but instead of getting boards from them, I will be doing the biscuit slot thru a biscuit cutter... more work but hope it saves me a lot.. hehehe.. i will attempt the patio area first, and if i do a good job, I will proceed with the alfresco area... Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2505Jul 21, 2012 7:49 pm Hi All Would be interested to hear from anyone that considered or changed their colour choices once they drove home and put a bit more thought into it, and if the colour consultant was able to do anything for you. We had our colour choice appointment yesterday at 9.30 - 5.30 and we are still not finished. Only took home the first couple of sheets as she was unable to input it all into the computer due to time restraints (personally I think she had another couple on the go, as she was in and out all day. Any Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2506Jul 21, 2012 7:53 pm Woops, sorry, silly computer...... Anyway I was rail-roaded a little bit in my colour choices (she said she had been in the business a long time and knew alot more than me). I've got a different splashback in the kitchen, different stone on my vanities and white tiles in my bathroom (which I specifically said I didnt want). While I appreciate her comments and guidance, I feel it is my house afterall and I need to live with it. So I guess what I need to know is if I want to change all of the above how accommodating do you think they would be. Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2507Jul 21, 2012 8:03 pm Yeah I know what you mean, I was going to throw some lawn down as well but after seeing all the neighbours around me laying their lawns in the winter and just not biting and growing, I thought I would hang out till spring.… all the after build challenges we face huh? all part of the fun I suppose! 8.5k seems like a reasonable price… what are u getting done exactly, any retaining walls inc? Are you guys using the mob mjh uses for their driveways, for the colour spray? We’re still tossing up wether to choose their boards or buy it locally and use a biscuit joiner as well… we like their 110mm width boards over the 90mm from the hardware.. and I think the 140’s are too wide for the biscuits, so we’re still undecided... Decisions, decisions!! Built the Havana 3 by McDonald Jones Homes McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2508Jul 21, 2012 8:33 pm mum2kids Woops, sorry, silly computer...... Anyway I was rail-roaded a little bit in my colour choices (she said she had been in the business a long time and knew alot more than me). I've got a different splashback in the kitchen, different stone on my vanities and white tiles in my bathroom (which I specifically said I didnt want). While I appreciate her comments and guidance, I feel it is my house afterall and I need to live with it. So I guess what I need to know is if I want to change all of the above how accommodating do you think they would be. Sorry you felt that way. I'm pretty sure from memory there was a 5 day cooling off period? (can someone else confirm that?) Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2509Jul 21, 2012 9:10 pm I'm hoping that 5 day cooling off hasn't started then. Considering she has only given us the first 2 pages of 10. I just looked at your blog, your house looks great. Couple of ??'s if you don't mind. The photos of your co our choices, did mjh supply you with that or did you take them yourself? All we were given was a swatch of the bench top. Also your kitchen layout and co ours are very similar to ours. We asked about the wine rack above the fridge and they said no. And also what colour are your bricks. They look similar to what we wanted but although were on the list are now discontinued. Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2510Jul 21, 2012 9:52 pm mum2kids I'm hoping that 5 day cooling off hasn't started then. Considering she has only given us the first 2 pages of 10. There is a 1 week (5 business day) cooling off period that begins once the colour selection is complete (including any items they need to go out and quote). The purpose of the cooling off period is to ensure the build process moves forward smoothly for both buyer and builder once selections are complete. I think you can reasonably assume your appointment is not considered complete? Have they booked a follow? Your Client Liaison Officer should be able to confirm this for you. Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2511Jul 21, 2012 10:00 pm Here is the exact legalese "I/We, the owner/s hereby acknowledge that any changes made to our selections after the 5 day cooling off period which have been made for inclusion into our new home shall incur an administration charge of $200.00 PER CHANGE plus any costs associated with the change. Any changes made to the selections after contract signing shall incur an administration charge of $1,000.00 PER CHANGE plus any costs associated with the change. Such change shall not be warranted by the builder and will not be carried out by the builder, unless I/we the owner/s sign and return the variation and initial the change on the builders selection sheet. The owner acknowledges that the Colour, texture, patterns of natural products and composite materials made of natural products can vary from samples provided, viewed, printed literature and vary from geographical area. McDonald Jones Homes is under no liability if there is a difference and any such difference is acceptable for use and any difference is not considered a variation." Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2512Jul 21, 2012 10:49 pm The Thinker Here is the exact legalese "I/We, the owner/s hereby acknowledge that any changes made to our selections after the 5 day cooling off period which have been made for inclusion into our new home shall incur an administration charge of $200.00 PER CHANGE plus any costs associated with the change. Any changes made to the selections after contract signing shall incur an administration charge of $1,000.00 PER CHANGE plus any costs associated with the change. Such change shall not be warranted by the builder and will not be carried out by the builder, unless I/we the owner/s sign and return the variation and initial the change on the builders selection sheet. The owner acknowledges that the Colour, texture, patterns of natural products and composite materials made of natural products can vary from samples provided, viewed, printed literature and vary from geographical area. McDonald Jones Homes is under no liability if there is a difference and any such difference is acceptable for use and any difference is not considered a variation." The cooling off period should not start until after you receive your complete colour selection quote and you check, alter/delete any items and sign off to say you accept everything. After our colour selection the quote was not final until after a few items were checked for pricing by MJH and we had a chance to consider everything as a complete selection. Your 5 days have not started... if you want to be sure just drop MJH an email to confirm. Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2513Jul 21, 2012 11:03 pm mum2kids Hi All Would be interested to hear from anyone that considered or changed their colour choices once they drove home and put a bit more thought into it, and if the colour consultant was able to do anything for you. We had our colour choice appointment yesterday at 9.30 - 5.30 and we are still not finished. Only took home the first couple of sheets as she was unable to input it all into the computer due to time restraints (personally I think she had another couple on the go, as she was in and out all day. Any Sounds like your selection appointment is not finish yet. When we did ours we have finished all the selection of the house and got printout for all our selections and samples. Call your CLO or the colour consultant to confirm this and book a follow up. Which office do you go to? Seems like a very different experience from mine. I had a very good consultant in Sydney. She gave inputs on what works normally but decision was ours at the end. It is our house and we're the one who are going to live in it. Maybe ask for a different consultant and tell them how you feel. If you want something and they say that they can't do it, ask for the reason. I asked for a custom sized alfresco due to non-rectangular block and first the came back saying they couldn't do it. When I ask why, they now say that they can. Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2514Jul 22, 2012 12:02 am yep, had the MJH mob done my driveway.. we are looking into 3 colours.. he suggested to do the spray after landscape... probably after all the small things, will start on the deck... today, the sparky came in but he needs to go back for another 18 downlights... but outdoor lights got installed today.. looks good and happy with the light we've chosen... my tree in the nature strip is starting to dry off, called council already and they will look into the tree... with regards to the landscape, we will have white cowra pebbles on both sides, 400mm stepping stones on the left side, turf at the back, 4 pear trees, 4 citrus trees, garden with mulch in front, stepping stone leading to entrance, bricked mailbox, installation of clothesline, 30tons fill at the back.... no retaining wall.. kopite1892 Yeah I know what you mean, I was going to throw some lawn down as well but after seeing all the neighbours around me laying their lawns in the winter and just not biting and growing, I thought I would hang out till spring.… all the after build challenges we face huh? all part of the fun I suppose! 8.5k seems like a reasonable price… what are u getting done exactly, any retaining walls inc? Are you guys using the mob mjh uses for their driveways, for the colour spray? We’re still tossing up wether to choose their boards or buy it locally and use a biscuit joiner as well… we like their 110mm width boards over the 90mm from the hardware.. and I think the 140’s are too wide for the biscuits, so we’re still undecided... Decisions, decisions!! McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2516Jul 22, 2012 2:22 am mum2kids I'm hoping that 5 day cooling off hasn't started then. Considering she has only given us the first 2 pages of 10. I just looked at your blog, your house looks great. Couple of ??'s if you don't mind. The photos of your co our choices, did mjh supply you with that or did you take them yourself? All we were given was a swatch of the bench top. Also your kitchen layout and co ours are very similar to ours. We asked about the wine rack above the fridge and they said no. And also what colour are your bricks. They look similar to what we wanted but although were on the list are now discontinued. the photos of the colour choices I took myself. We were given swatches of almost everything - except for tiles and the splash back. Our design is one of the older ones that they don't do anymore but most of the display homes we've been in had the wine rack so I have no idea why they wouldn't allow it? Our bricks were Urban One Latte Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2517Jul 22, 2012 6:52 pm hi kopite... i was able to replaced the white knobs with new locks.. here is the steps.. 1) from the inside, rotate the face plate counter clock wise... this will remove the knob from the inside.. then you can unscrew the rest. 2) since the holes are already there, the only problem is the rectangular latch. i had to rush to bunnings to buy a 3/4 chisel for the rectangular latch. once the latch is installed, the rest is easy already 3) just follow the rest of the instructions or you can figure it out.. so very happy to install 3 new locks for the house... i will try to install the deadbolt this weekend... bought some circular saw as well... The Thinker kornjen anyone here knows how to remove the white door knobs and replace with a new one? If you are referring to the door knobs try this, Gainsborough Hardware Classic 300 Installation Instructions. hey kornjen, if you are replacing gainsborough with gainsborough, could you simply unscrew the old knobs, then screw on the new ones. and leave the fixing plate, latch and drive shaft hardware etc as is....?[/quote] Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2518Jul 23, 2012 8:43 am good stuff mate. thought it would be easy enough. Built the Havana 3 by McDonald Jones Homes Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 2519Jul 23, 2012 12:34 pm Hey protoxl Thanks for the photo's. Yep looks like ours will be the same, its about the same size gap. our window frames are white and our bricks are dark so i think it may look a bit funny but what can you do ?? Did you build the Milano? Milano 4 Stonecutters Hi AKG, We had a base tender of $592 for 31 squares from MC Donald Jones. It looks relatively cheaper than other builders. 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