Browse Forums Building A New House Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 3321Dec 29, 2012 8:05 pm Building the Nova with MJH http://thehousethatj-lbuilt.blogspot.com.au "When you are arguing against Him, you are arguing against the very power that makes you able to argue at all." C.S. Lewis Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 3322Dec 29, 2012 8:10 pm Building: Beachside Elite Initial Deposit: 26/1/12 Colour Appt: 12/4/12 Contracts Signed: 1/6/12 Electrical Appt: 6/7/12 Construction started: 7/8/12 PCI: 10/12/12 Handover: 17/12/12 Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 3324Dec 31, 2012 7:49 am Building: Beachside Elite Initial Deposit: 26/1/12 Colour Appt: 12/4/12 Contracts Signed: 1/6/12 Electrical Appt: 6/7/12 Construction started: 7/8/12 PCI: 10/12/12 Handover: 17/12/12 Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 3326Jan 01, 2013 4:21 pm Building: Beachside Elite Initial Deposit: 26/1/12 Colour Appt: 12/4/12 Contracts Signed: 1/6/12 Electrical Appt: 6/7/12 Construction started: 7/8/12 PCI: 10/12/12 Handover: 17/12/12 Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 3331Jan 05, 2013 11:49 am Built the Seaview 36 with Rawson Homes - Read about it on my blog http://lamaisondemorgan.blogspot.com.au/ Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 3332Jan 05, 2013 12:19 pm Building McDonald Jones Havana One - http://buildingintheheights.blogspot.com.au/ Deposit 9/6 - Approval from Council 3/10 - Painting Complete - 10/5 Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 3335Jan 06, 2013 8:58 am Hi naiandpete We have been in our beatiful new MjH home since october. I can answer some of your questions. We had halogen downlights in our old house and had the flourescent downlights put in by MJ. The halogens gave off a lot of heat, really heated up the house in summer, the flouros seem to give off virtually none. In fact this house stays relatively very cool even on those scorching days like yesterday. We looked at the idea of installing lights after handover but when we added electrician's cost to cost of buying the lights, to risk of botch job not covered by MJ warranty, to yet another week or so paying rent while they are installed, then touching up paint on ceiling, it was an easy choice to have them do this. We had floors and air con put in after handover so didn't want to delay our moving in any more than we had to. Both of us work full time so our lack of time to supervise tradies was also a consideration. From memory I think going for downlights with MJ means the cost of the standard batten mount is credited against the cost of downlights. We built a garden retreat and have four downlights in bedroom, home theatre, garden room (rumpus), dining room, on al fresco and lounge part of family room and 3downlights plus 3 pendants in kitchen area. More than enough. The only place we could do with more is the en suite where there are 2 downlights plus light/ heat/fan combo. Would like at least one more there. The girl at alectrical appointment was great at knowing how many we needed and where to put them. Good luck KDRB Carlingford, NSW Building Garden Retreat with MDJH Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 3336Jan 06, 2013 10:25 pm Hi, not sure if im posting this in the proper section, looking to build in the illawarra (corrimal) with MJH, has anybody had experience with building in the illawarra and what is their opionion on the quality of contractors used? Also how had the original fixed qoute blown out? thanks any advice would be appreciated. Just bad opinions of reviews on the internet, but i love there designs and inclusions thanks Jason Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 3337Jan 07, 2013 1:26 pm naiandpete - I think you have to have at least the standard ones if you are not upgrading them for BASIX requirement. For example you can't have no batten light installed, but you can have the batten lights credit against your downlights upgrade. Also things like fan in bathroom without windows are BASIX requirements and you have to have it and its included as standard, you can't take it off, you can only upgrade e.g. to 3 in 1 fan lights. It would be a good idea if you can have a chat to an electrician to get an idea of how much they charge for running the cables and install the lights. We worked out that it's not worth getting MJH to prewire and get an electrician to install the downlights. It's either getting MJH to install the downlights (more expensive, but all done as part of your build and you can move with nice lights already installed, also included in your homeloan) or getting all standard inclusions and electrician doing the cabling and downlights after handover (cheaper, but still need work after handover and supervise electrician). I don't think MJH does cabling only. With prewire downlights it will come with the batten holder, so your electrician can just change that holder and install the kits. I think this is the common practice for builders. Also the same with power point, you can install the standard one and change it after handover if you want a fancy one. Also it may be a good idea to wait for your BASIX report, as some requirements outline whether you can have halogen lights in your house for the energy rating. LEDs are not that expensive, you don't have to get the ones which has the whole kits. Most electrician that I talked to don't use this type of LEDs. I can't remember what it's called, but I think they use the halogen housing thingy but change the bulb to LED. This also means you can change the bulb yourself and doesn't need to get an electrician to do it. Check out the Lighting section for more information on different types of downlights. Hope this helps, good luck with your electrical appointment! cal50l - I have only great things to speak in regards to MJH so far. From their sales person to their head office staff and our Site Supervisor have been great to work with. However we are dealing with Sydney office, but I would think they are running by the same standard. In regards to costs, allow around 100k extra to complete your home. This is what was advised to us by their sales people, and I think we will be around 80k extra from the price list to complete ours. I am quite sure MJH never said that their price is a fixed quote, unless you are getting their home and land package? It's not cheap.. but better to know that upfront rather than getting stung with unexpected costs after you signed up with a builder. I also think their standard inclusion is better. Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 3338Jan 08, 2013 6:47 pm hi all, happy new year! new to this forum but have been reading this thread frantically over the past few weeks as my fiance and i will more than likely be building with mcdonald jones this year at edmondson park just wondering whether anyone has actually viewed the new Avoca design yet? have been leaning towards something like the Bordeaux 2 (wish they had a display home of this version of the Bordeaux!) but this one has also caught my eye hope everyone currently in the construction stage are having things run smoothly Building the Avoca with MJH in Ed Park - BLOG 18/10 Construction list 29/10 Pegged 21/11 Slabbed 27/11 Framed 14/12 Roofed 4/1 Bricked 18/2 Lock up Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 3339Jan 09, 2013 8:29 am Hey guys, We have our electrical appointment in 2weeks and have been going through so much info on what we want and where to put power points, Lighting and worst of all switches!! what a hassle.. Does anyone have some tips.. I want MJH to do some pre wiring for future lights on the outside facade so they would have to put a junction box there right? Re: McDonald Jones Homes - The new thread 3340Jan 09, 2013 6:56 pm Darrenh Hey guys, We have our electrical appointment in 2weeks and have been going through so much info on what we want and where to put power points, Lighting and worst of all switches!! what a hassle.. Does anyone have some tips.. I want MJH to do some pre wiring for future lights on the outside facade so they would have to put a junction box there right? Hey Darren, We have our electrical on 18th Jan and I have spent the last week or so researching like crazy also. I've even put a spreadsheet together on what would work out cheapest for example MJH doing everything, MJH installing and we supply or we do everything ourselves after handover. I have been in contact with MJH at Norwest, Sydney and asked a few questions. I wasn't sure if any light switches were included, but apparently they all are and not just single, but all the way up to 6 gang. You only pay extra if you want upgraded switches. I believe they will put a bayonet fitting to anything they pre-wire, but don't quote me on that. We will either get MJH to install lights that we supply to them or have an electrician install everything after handover. MJH will install downlights for $80 per light if you supply them with your own lights. We were going to go with fluorescent downlights, but we have decided to go LED downlights. The cheapest price I have recieved so far is about $17.50 per downlight kit. So if you're going with fluorescent downlights you may as well get MJH to install and supply as they charge $95 for this. They charge $195 for LED downlights, which is crazy cause if they are charging $80 to install a downlight, they must be paying $115 for an LED kit. They must be gold plated...lol I am currently getting quotes from electricians as to how much they charge per downlight to install. A quote I got yesterday was for $60 per downlight which included a 10w LED downlight, which is good. If there is anything else I can help me let me know. You can email me at naibaby@hotmail.com. Cheers, Renai Hi AKG, We had a base tender of $592 for 31 squares from MC Donald Jones. It looks relatively cheaper than other builders. But I assume there are many hidden things that… 1 16834 Hi, Apologies - I know there is plenty out there on this but struggling to put together the puzzle. We're planning our garage/external laundry to master bedroom and… 0 11117 Hi there! Putting the feelers out there for those who have (or almost) built with Arli homes! Interested in your experiences who've built from their stock home designs… 0 23483 |