Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 26, 2011 8:52 am Thought I would start a thread for us Coral Builders to chat, share ideas/frustrations all in one place! I'm trying to get built a Noosa279 ... modified so it's a Noosa286. I would have really liked to built the Marcoola but our block limited our choice a fair bit, so we ended up modifying the Noosa plan. I see now there are a couple more plans on their books, so if I was starting now I would probably try and squeeze a different house on the block .... but oh well ... there's always the next build. ~ trying to build our dream home by the sea ~ Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 2Jun 26, 2011 9:06 am One thing I will note for Coral plans ... they seem to have a lack of storage/linen space (haven't looked at other project builders - so they may be all the same). Having lived in a house with very limited cupboard space I was adamant I was having ample storage in this house - so the first thing I looked at modifying on the plan was how I could add more storage in. In the end I took 600mm out of the hall side of the rumpus room and put 3m of linen on the hall side and then 1.5m on the rumpus side as that will be the kids tv/playroom - so I can hide/put away all their 'crap' and try and keep the room looking tidy. Then changed the laundry around to have all bench (no linen) so Mt Ironmore can stay in the laundry and not find it's way into the house! As we've increased our roof pitch to 25 degrees it means the eaves are only 500mm - therefore the undereve wardrobe was too narrow, so I added 600mm into the bedroom backing onto the laundry and added a wardrobe for that bedroom and a broom cupboard for the laundry. I also bought the laundry in so it was under the eve as that is our sunny side and wanted it protected from the sun/rain a little bit. One change I noticed a lot of people building houses where the bathroom was in the 'kids area' .. I noticed they closed off a bit of hallway and added a powder room so visitors didn't need to go into the kids area of the house. I think that's a great idea, especially when you have little kids ... you never know what little present they've left in the toilet since you've last checked. ~ trying to build our dream home by the sea ~ Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 3Jun 26, 2011 9:26 am Hey ESB, we too are about to build the Noosa279.. We originally planned on building the Marcool 301 but when i eventually got to QLD to have a look me and the wife didnt quite like the layout, glad we took that trip haha. The Noosa279 is a new display near where we live so we had a look and loved it, fixed tender came back good so having a meeting tomorrow to sort out final details then all systems go. We made some minor changes (moved a couple of walls, changed a couple of other things to basically match the display) but overall really happy with the design. Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 4Jun 26, 2011 10:35 am Muppardo Hey ESB, we too are about to build the Noosa279.. We originally planned on building the Marcool 301 but when i eventually got to QLD to have a look me and the wife didnt quite like the layout, glad we took that trip haha. The Noosa279 is a new display near where we live so we had a look and loved it, fixed tender came back good so having a meeting tomorrow to sort out final details then all systems go. We made some minor changes (moved a couple of walls, changed a couple of other things to basically match the display) but overall really happy with the design. Good thing you visited the display! That was something else that put me off ... I hadn't walked through it, so while it looked good on paper, I really need to walk through to see if it felt right. Where are you building? ~ trying to build our dream home by the sea ~ Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 5Jun 26, 2011 10:49 am I agree there wasn't a lot of storage I added a linen cupboard to the activity room and another linen/broom cupboard to the laundry, but I may still not have enough storage . ***Building coral HERON (modified) in the beautiful NSW far north coast*** H1 Thread - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=48902 Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 6Jun 26, 2011 11:07 am I hope all us Coral builders are having and will continue to have a good experience! I know ESB you have been having a rough ride, I have read many mixed reviews on coral customers they are either super happy or completely disappointed. So far my experience hasn't been too bad.....I found the sales guy to be not very helpful (I know it's your choice) but being your first home you oversee a lot of things if you don't add something that is almost necessary then they won't let you know. But they alway reply promptly to question and queries you may have. I got held up a couple of weeks because I used Heltech to design my rear retaining wall as they worked with Coral, after to speaking to them I forwarded them the money. After a week of nothing I started emailing...nothing.....then calling......nothing....spoke to Coral and found out they shut there doors annoying!!!! Still waiting on the variations from the finishes appointment then we should get a start date. ***Building coral HERON (modified) in the beautiful NSW far north coast*** H1 Thread - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=48902 Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 7Jun 26, 2011 11:13 am As we've got the huge roof space we're going to put in the pull down attic stairs in the garage and line floor space up there for the bigger stuff. I hate clutter and lots of 'stuff' everywhere, my husband hates throwing 'stuff' out, so this is our compromise ... if I can't see it I'll never know it's there. ~ trying to build our dream home by the sea ~ Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 8Jun 26, 2011 11:17 am Woohoo our own chat thread!! I will have a proper look later. I am at work and am kinda busy. Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 9Jun 26, 2011 11:22 am smylee I hope all us Coral builders are having and will continue to have a good experience! I know ESB you have been having a rough ride, I have read many mixed reviews on coral customers they are either super happy or completely disappointed. So far my experience hasn't been too bad.....I found the sales guy to be not very helpful (I know it's your choice) but being your first home you oversee a lot of things if you don't add something that is almost necessary then they won't let you know. But they alway reply promptly to question and queries you may have. I got held up a couple of weeks because I used Heltech to design my rear retaining wall as they worked with Coral, after to speaking to them I forwarded them the money. After a week of nothing I started emailing...nothing.....then calling......nothing....spoke to Coral and found out they shut there doors annoying!!!! Still waiting on the variations from the finishes appointment then we should get a start date. I think the customer service side is extremely important - our sales guy was great, but the second that contract was signed he said we needed to deal with head office - fair enough. We've had a few changes of CS on our team since we started, the first one I only dealt with once I think, then we had another one who was fantastic, she acknowledged receipt of emails, returned calls, stepped me through a few areas that I wasn't aware I had to deal with myself and was extremely helpful - even if she didn't know/have the answer, she acknowledged that I had made contact. Unfortunately she was moved to another position/team and the one now doesn't acknowledge receipt of emails, which then means I have to call to see if the information has been received, usually leave a message, sometimes a couple over a few days and then I will receive a returned call. She hasn't been very forthcoming with information over the last month, which is frustrating for us as we don't know where we stand and it has required me to constantly chase her. Even the email I sent on Thursday night confirming we accept their new charges and could she please acknowledge receipt of the email ... nothing. It must have been received as I got the variation on Friday afternoon - but come on, just a reply with 'received thanks' is all that is needed. Good customer service will make or break it. ~ trying to build our dream home by the sea ~ Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 10Jun 26, 2011 12:18 pm ESB Where are you building? We are building in Heddon Greta.. And i agree so glad we did look.. Our block did come back an H in soil tests so that along with bushfire rating has upped the price a little. Coral has put a rough estimate as $9,500 for bushfire but after speaking with the council in person they inform me that rating will drop at least a couple of levels thus dropping the end $$ figure. Cant wait to finally get things going, been a long wait (mine and the wifes fault).. Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 11Jun 26, 2011 12:43 pm Muppardo Hey ESB, we too are about to build the Noosa279.. We originally planned on building the Marcool 301 but when i eventually got to QLD to have a look me and the wife didnt quite like the layout, glad we took that trip haha. The Noosa279 is a new display near where we live so we had a look and loved it, fixed tender came back good so having a meeting tomorrow to sort out final details then all systems go. We made some minor changes (moved a couple of walls, changed a couple of other things to basically match the display) but overall really happy with the design. Did you look at the Marcoola on the sunshine coast? We loved the plan on paper but changed our minds after going through the display. It felt closed in and like a series of small rooms. Though we recently went throught the Marcoola elsewhere (Jimboomba or Redbank) and loved it. Not sure what was different about it, but it felt more open. Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 12Jun 26, 2011 12:45 pm smylee I hope all us Coral builders are having and will continue to have a good experience! I know ESB you have been having a rough ride, I have read many mixed reviews on coral customers they are either super happy or completely disappointed. So far my experience hasn't been too bad.....I found the sales guy to be not very helpful (I know it's your choice) but being your first home you oversee a lot of things if you don't add something that is almost necessary then they won't let you know. But they alway reply promptly to question and queries you may have. I got held up a couple of weeks because I used Heltech to design my rear retaining wall as they worked with Coral, after to speaking to them I forwarded them the money. After a week of nothing I started emailing...nothing.....then calling......nothing....spoke to Coral and found out they shut there doors annoying!!!! Still waiting on the variations from the finishes appointment then we should get a start date. Oh no!! They designed our retaining walls too and must have shut their doors just after they did ours. Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 13Jun 26, 2011 12:47 pm ESB As we've got the huge roof space we're going to put in the pull down attic stairs in the garage and line floor space up there for the bigger stuff. I hate clutter and lots of 'stuff' everywhere, my husband hates throwing 'stuff' out, so this is our compromise ... if I can't see it I'll never know it's there. Me too!! I love that idea. They had it on Better homes and gardens on friday about doing it DIY. We wanted to put one in our house we built back in NZ but never got around to it. We are so gonna do it this time lol. Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 14Jun 26, 2011 12:51 pm Tamara1975 Did you look at the Marcoola on the sunshine coast? We loved the plan on paper but changed our minds after going through the display. It felt closed in and like a series of small rooms. Though we recently went throught the Marcoola elsewhere (Jimboomba or Redbank) and loved it. Not sure what was different about it, but it felt more open. We went through the Marcoola at Jimboomba, think they call it the Marcoola 30. Based on the smaller of the 2 Marcoola but some changed made the particular display a kind of in between i guess you could call it. We though exactly what you said Tamara "closed in and lots of small rooms". It just didnt feel like it was a 30sq home. We were a little dissappointed so decided to have a look at the new Coral displays at Thornton and yeah loved the Noosa, for us we just thought the space was used better. Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 15Jun 26, 2011 12:58 pm Muppardo Tamara1975 Did you look at the Marcoola on the sunshine coast? We loved the plan on paper but changed our minds after going through the display. It felt closed in and like a series of small rooms. Though we recently went throught the Marcoola elsewhere (Jimboomba or Redbank) and loved it. Not sure what was different about it, but it felt more open. We went through the Marcoola at Jimboomba, think they call it the Marcoola 30. Based on the smaller of the 2 Marcoola but some changed made the particular display a kind of in between i guess you could call it. We though exactly what you said Tamara "closed in and lots of small rooms". It just didnt feel like it was a 30sq home. We were a little dissappointed so decided to have a look at the new Coral displays at Thornton and yeah loved the Noosa, for us we just thought the space was used better. Can't wait to see your progress!! Once they start, they motor ahead. There were so many tradies at our house the other day and I couldn't get in the door. It will be the same this week with the builders putting windows in the same day the brickies and plasterers are also starting lol. Its very exciting. Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 18Jun 26, 2011 3:04 pm Muppardo What inclusions are people going for? Also did anyone take up the eclipse inclusions?? What is the eclipse inclusion? I don't remember that one ... but then again they've bought out some new stuff since we signed. We included the Aspire pack, but didn't do the bathroom upgrade, which was all else that was on offer at the time. ~ trying to build our dream home by the sea ~ Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 19Jun 26, 2011 3:09 pm Yeah eclipse is a newish kind off package.. Offering around $80,000 worth of stuff for around the $20,000 mark. Price of package varies for each house but it is around about that figure. Re: Coral Builders come on in for a chat! 20Jun 26, 2011 3:17 pm The eclipse came out just before we signed it has everything we wanted and most of the things we were getting but thought it was more expensive to go that way when I worked it out go figure. We ended up getting the aspire package, ultimate bathroom upgrade, a larger oven, cesaerstone in kitchen, wood grain garage door, 1200 front door, 2550 ceiling and a slightly larger bath. The list could have gone on if I had the $$$$$ that is. ***Building coral HERON (modified) in the beautiful NSW far north coast*** H1 Thread - https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=48902 Ask the council if there is a chance of getting build over easement exemption. Sometimes easements are unused and 24cm is not all that much. Good luck. And yes any builder… 2 13773 In Qld it is a requirement that a builder must have a cost breakdown, for building a home to the same specification, with the same inclusions and the same finish. So ask… 1 4350 Look at your bill from the electricity company. It should detail the charges. You will need to do some estimating and some calculations. Then charge the… 8 4248 |