Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Sep 01, 2010 7:53 pm hi,
After renovating a house in Yallourn North, getting married, moving to Chadstone in a share rental (wife’s siblings) town house it’s time to build our own pad. I initially did not want to move to the big smoke as I liked the country life and grew up there. Well after 2 and half years this changed. My job is good and keeps me on my toes and have since got myself back into archery which also keeps me occupied. As we are currently sharing a rental town house, living costs are very cheap and I had no reason to move on. This thought changed when we decided it would be a good waste of time to check out a few display homes. All of a sudden I missed my big shed at my other house (rented out) and the also just realised that the mess that never goes away living in this share place drives me NUTS!! OK GET ME OUT OF HERE NOW!!! lol Our first visit found us at Marriot Water display village. Here we checked out Burbank. Nothing at Burbank caught my eye but they pointed us to ‘The Avenue’ to check out some land. Again we were not impressed with this location. Just around the corner we found the AV Jennings display at ‘Cascades on Clyde’ estate. This is where we found the Seabreeze 255, a home that we really liked however it looked like it was just out of reach. Joe the sales rep was great, showed us around. We got some paper work then he recommended that we check out Devonia Park, Lakeside. So away we went, checked it out. WE really liked this estate... The following week, on the way to Marriot Waters we decided to check out ‘The Rise’ estate. We visited the Burbank display and instantly crossed them off the list due to their rude sales lady. Around the corner we found a few Carlisle displays that were awesome. I think they were from the Affinity range and way out of our price range. The sales guy directed us to see Warren at Marriot waters. This is where we found the Rothwell 23. Now this house is almost identical to the Seabreeze. After a week of negotiations, Rothwell was the house of choice as the $$$ value for money was better. Around this time we also had our name and $1k was on a block via the ballot process in Devonia Park Anyway this post is far to big without pics. here is the base design of the Rothwell Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ to be continued... Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 2Sep 01, 2010 8:21 pm Looking forward to following your build!!! Have you got a start date yet? Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 3Sep 01, 2010 9:50 pm Hey Shelley, yeah it’s going to be a roller coaster that’s for sure!!! Site start at this stage is scheduled for the 7th of Sep... Anyway continuing on... Warren the Carlisle sales rep was great!! He knows his stuff and gives you the ‘proper’ answers to your questions. Something that is quite rare in this industry! He did put me at some sort of ease (I don’t think I ever will be throughout the build) as I’m getting myself into something that is not natural. I am used to running much larger projects with up to 40 men onsite at any one time. I am always in direct control of the site and take full responsibility for everything. I really wanted to owner build but just do not have the time and prob over it anyway after fully renovating my other house. During this build i WILL NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL... it’s going to be quite frustrating I think. Moving on, a few weeks after placing the initial deposit on the house, we found ourselves at the Spectra Colours centre. The consultant we had was great and had some good ideas. We already made most of our choices during a visit prior to the appointment. (Highly recommend visiting BEFORE the colour appointment) Here are our structural alterations: - Got rid of the feature area in entrance to make WIR bigger. Keeps the missus happy - Broom cupboard. This one took a bit of design work on my side. apparently it was not possible!!! - Internal doors on either end of the Family/meals areas - Sliding door to the meals area (in lieu of the window) - Capet to the family area - Full width stacker sliding door to alfresco http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/bicko123/House/CCI01092010_00004.jpg http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/bicko123/House/CCI01092010_00003.jpg Colours Kitchen: I think we stretched the easy colours a little bit here. Especially with the Ebony Bellezza to the lower cupboards Tiles – Mocha Vibe Lower cupboards - Ebony Bellezza Caesarstone bench – White Shimmer Glass Splash back – Rex Box Upper cupboards – Burnished Wood http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/bicko123/House/CCI01092010_00005.jpg Facade: Mostly natural. picked the Genta Bricks – Austral Latrobe Render around porch – Deep Walnut Render around windows – Toffee Fingers Door - stained Rich Walnut Garage door - Cabao Dawn (dark wood grain. needed 2 'wood' items for covernance) http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/bicko123/House/CCI01092010_00002.jpg Rest of house: Walls - Sandy Day Ceiling - natural white all trims - Natural white carpet - dark stone (blends with mocha tiles) Anyway that’s enough for now Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 4Sep 02, 2010 12:02 am Looking good Bicko, I'm liking your plan. We're building a similar sized house in Devonia, I reckon it's a great size. Not too big, not too small. It's funny how the initial impression from a sales person can do so much damage to a builder. We met some pretty rude/arrogant sales people, one that really sticks out was at a Clarendon display. The Metricon lady we met was quite nice though, and our Burbank guy was quite good too - straight to the point and polite. The NBG sales person was WAY too old school - like a used car salesmen, using totally the wrong sales tactics for a younger person like myself - he kept saying something, then repeating the phrase "Are you with me!" over and over lol very putting. Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 5Sep 02, 2010 7:10 pm Those kitchen colours will look AWESOME Bicko! I'm a big fan of RED, not that I've chosen any for my house. (I'll have to paint a wall or something ) Good luck for site start next week! Sizz View Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=35699 Building with Aaron J Homes - Sahara 25 Land Settled: 11/6/10, Site Start: 26/11/10 - HANDOVER NOT TOO FAR AWAY!!! Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 6Sep 02, 2010 11:10 pm Thanks ibf99. Yeah I’m happy with this design and size. Should do the trick for a few years I hope. The display does seems to get smaller every time I visit it though Your house looks like it’s very close. How far off moving in? The Burbank lady! I had a spread sheet put together listing all the costs of each house I was looking at. Trying to compare apples with apples as every builder tries to screw you in their own personal way. She argued with me that I should not be doing this!!! What an idiot!!! I like the ones that leave you alone until we need their help.. Sizz. Thanks It took us a few goes get to Red. We started off with Starfire Orange, then went to a grey and found the Red. We felt that the orange would date within 2hrs of moving in... Looks like our builds could be a race haha. Any idea when yours will start up? I’ll try and keep a photo per post rule here a very wet block of land http://i771.photobucket.com/albums/xx353/bicko123/House/DSCF1093.jpg Following on with the story. We got through the tender appointment, and changed a few things like adding the broom cupboard and few more junction boxes. You really need to get it right here... 5 versions of the of the tender and out with the pen. Around this time I asked for the contract specs and started to go through it with a fine tooth comb. I found a few variances to the Standards and Tolerances guide. It’s important to know exactly what you’re getting. The variances were less than standard but ok. The thing that really made me laugh was the building permit stated in the fine print that the house must bu built according to BCA standards. pretty much voids the contract specs Next step was the contract appointment. Same story, I was stubborn and did not sign. I wanted to really understand the contract. The bank actually helped me out with this taking forever with the approvals. A few emails between me and the CLO, un-conditional bank approval and it was a done deal. Yesterday i had to sign my life away. the dreaded page that says we will inform them if i want to visit. All my rights gone So apparently site start is scheduled for the 7th... hmm wonder if that will happen. Lets wait and see Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 7Sep 03, 2010 9:57 am bicko123 Thanks ibf99. Yeah I’m happy with this design and size. Should do the trick for a few years I hope. The display does seems to get smaller every time I visit it though I found that too! I think its because you just get more and more used to it. I think we're about 3 weeks away from move in! Yes!!! bicko123 The Burbank lady! I had a spread sheet put together listing all the costs of each house I was looking at. Trying to compare apples with apples as every builder tries to screw you in their own personal way. She argued with me that I should not be doing this!!! What an idiot!!! I like the ones that leave you alone until we need their help.. lol wow! That was pretty freakin stupid of her. That's what really puts you off - when the sales person tries to push you into doing things how they want, and acts all smarter than you. That's an instant walk away for me. You should be glad you have the bank stuff out of the way. That's often the worst part, certainly was for me. Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 8Sep 03, 2010 11:44 am ibfragalot99 You should be glad you have the bank stuff out of the way. That's often the worst part, certainly was for me. It took long enough. Approx 3 weeks from after the contract appointment. Apparently there were issues with wordings within the valuation of the block and new house argh!!! it was so trivial! But now done Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 9Sep 04, 2010 6:24 pm I think all the contracts try to baffle you with bulls#$t so you just sign on the dotted line. Look forward to watching your build bicko. We've been through the Rothwell display a few times in the past. Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 10Sep 05, 2010 12:15 am catjim I think all the contracts try to baffle you with bulls#$t so you just sign on the dotted line.. Builders sure do have it down to a fine art I see you have some pipes Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 12Sep 05, 2010 11:13 pm d@n You seem like you got all things organized. Good luck with the build. Thanks, should be fine. Carlisle does seem to be a good builder and do have mostly positive feedback here on H1. I'm probably over thinking things for the worst. but that’s me Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - stripped!!! 13Sep 06, 2010 2:10 pm Just filling my guts at the Paky McDonalds and I thought id drive by the block on the way back to work. We have been stripped. One day ahead of schedule. I’m not to sure how they determine (i know how they should) the minimum bearing capacity of 50kPa is achieved Anyway a few pics Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ hopefully the rain stays away and we don’t end up with a duck pond Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 14Sep 06, 2010 2:20 pm Congratulations! You're on your way. Now just got to keep the rain away for a while. Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 15Sep 06, 2010 9:34 pm I was actually quite surprised how dry the block was after it was scraped. Just down the road we got 20mm of rain which was far less than we expected. I actually rang up the geo tech who wrote the soil report. Apparently waffle slabs are ok on topsoil. Seems strange to me, everything we build is founded in solid clay. Anyway can’t really argue with the geo guy So yeah. Hopefully its full steam ahead Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - Stripped!!! 16Sep 06, 2010 9:37 pm I was actually quite surprised how dry the block was after it was scraped. Just down the road we got 20mm of rain which was far less than we expected. I actually rang up the geo tech who wrote the soil report. Apparently waffle slabs are ok on topsoil. Seems strange to me, everything we build is founded in solid clay. Anyway can’t really argue with the geo guy So yeah. Hopefully its full steam ahead btw. how do you change the title of the thread? Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 17Sep 06, 2010 9:51 pm Hi Bricko Congrats on your start - looks nice and flat! I love your colour choices - especialy the red - makes my white kitchen look very bland Good luck with the next few months - I will be sure to keep a look out for your progress Building the Monte Carlo with McD Jones View my building thread @ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37255 Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 18Sep 06, 2010 10:13 pm hey Bon, i like the look of white too. best thing about it. it never dates Red will probably go out in a flash. ah well ay... Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 19Sep 06, 2010 10:23 pm I love the RED. All things date (even white) and we do need some points of interest. At the moment I am considering a black wall paper feature wall in my master bedroom so hows that for something that will go out in a flash Building the Monte Carlo with McD Jones View my building thread @ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37255 Re: Bicko’s Rothwell 23 build in Devonia Park - The Start 20Sep 06, 2010 10:30 pm haha Black. I bought a dump of a house a few years back (since renovated and rented out) that had a glossy black ceiling in one of the bedrooms. it was terrible lol!!!! however I’m sure the black wallpaper will look pretty cool So I'm just reading up on this ecosystem of lights. I'm planning on putting deck lights along the outside edge of a large deck. Will need about 3 packs (18 lights) plus… 0 23016 Is it possible to render an old corrugated iron shed.I have heard that it can be done if it is covered with chicken wire first.Not sure of the ratio of the render mix and… 0 4890 Thanks. Yeh ideally that would have been good, but have progressed too far now. Hoping some well placed internal walls fixed up into the battens will provide some… 2 5393 |