Porter Davis homes

Mali02 · Feb 21, 2013 1:37 pm

seashoremontague21

ftdt7882

I'm waiting to hear back from our BC regarding the Essa Stone/Caesarstone issue. I visited Hopetoun last night (as there was a PD info session for new home builders and Hopetoun was open) and they still had both the Essa Stone and the Caesarstone on display. To be honest, I didn't like any of the Cat 1 or 2 Essa Stone, they were all a bit 'spotty'? But I LOVE the Latte colour in Cat 1 Caesarstone.

I've looked at my quote and it does say 'Caesarstone' in the promos I have secured... I am wondering if I can push for that?

I also just wanted to say that I love this thread! The advice is great and thanks for everyone's help so far!

If you have locked in and signed for caesarstone then that is what u will get the change over wont affect you as I had the same concerns we just had site scrape and I rung or bc up about that just to make sure we didnt have to quickly try and find a new colour we like

I have only got the quote (which we have signed), we haven't gone to Tender yet... does that matter?

djames · Feb 21, 2013 7:31 pm

ftdt7882

MummaDJ

skye02

Does anyone else find it strange that access and prestige have interchanging products and the lifestyle range has a completly different selection?

Yes, totally agree with you. The story we are told is that they are each run like 3 different companies, but then I don't understand why Access/Prestige get same selections that are different to Lifestyle. It is extremely frustrating.

I noticed this too when I was looking at the toilets. Why can the Access upgrade to a Prestige toilet but I can't?!

I'm also building a lifestyle home and and so far I have had to change external colours because the original window colour I wanted is not available for Lifestyle. Now I realize that the kitchen sink and mixer I want... the square bowls with vegie sprayer are from the prestige range.... enough is enough!!!!!

At the end of the day I am a Porter Davis customer.... that's all I care about! I really don't give a crap about Access, lifestyle or prestige... I have picked a 'Porter Davis' house!!! and its not as simple as saying pick a prestige house if you like those fittings. I don't pick a house for what fittings are available I pick a house that suits my needs.

I know about each range having different suppliers but I will say it again I AM A PORTER DAVIS CUSTOMER.... each range is from Porter Davis not different companies and I am a Porter Davis Customer.

It is an absolute joke walking into the 'Porter Davis' selection showroom when I am building a 'Porter Davis' house but cant choose half the stuff in there..... are you kidding me???

So as you can guess I am extremely annoyed.... and I have to say that the fact that access and prestige get to choose the same options available makes me, a lifestyle builder feel very much on the outer... this is really poor!

Oh and there is another one... yes the toilet.... lifestyles 2 choices.... crapppp!! pardon the pun.

skye02 · Feb 21, 2013 8:18 pm

Oh my, i thought i was the only person who was utterly dissappointed with the lifestyle range toilets. Arent they horrible ::sad::

djames · Feb 21, 2013 8:34 pm

skye02

Oh my, i thought i was the only person who was utterly dissappointed with the lifestyle range toilets. Arent they horrible ::sad::

Very!!!! and it is unbelievable that I am building a new house yet working out what I will change (if its changeable) when I move in)

I have paid my $1000 deposit but in all honesty another builder is looking good at the moment!

PD address these issues please! many unhappy customers regarding this issue.

chrystee · Feb 21, 2013 8:47 pm

Hi guys, just want to let you know I've updated the Porter Davis upgrades and costs page for anyone interested.
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=54817&p=983461#p983461

Superdaddy · Feb 21, 2013 10:15 pm

Hooray.... after slab pour last Wednesday, framing has started on Monday this week. The tradies have been busy the last few days, it's so amazing to now see the skeleton of the house taking shape. It's like a box of match sticks sticking up everywhere. You guys were right, it's so quick from now on.....

I have also updated my blog for those who want a read.
________________________________
http://micwaldorf44.blogspot.com.au/

mindabinda · Feb 21, 2013 10:23 pm

chrystee

Hi guys, just want to let you know I've updated the Porter Davis upgrades and costs page for anyone interested.
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=54817&p=983461#p983461

Great timing for us. Thanks chrystee!

Ok have checked the upgrade costs page but couldn't find anything for hot water service upgrade. We are a family of four and long term the 160L solar will not be big enough. Looking at upgrading to a 250l. Has anyone else done this and what was the cost?

Thanks in advance!
Bel

jnkbids · Feb 22, 2013 12:14 am

mindabinda

chrystee

Hi guys, just want to let you know I've updated the Porter Davis upgrades and costs page for anyone interested.
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=54817&p=983461#p983461

Great timing for us. Thanks chrystee!

Ok have checked the upgrade costs page but couldn't find anything for hot water service upgrade. We are a family of four and long term the 160L solar will not be big enough. Looking at upgrading to a 250l. Has anyone else done this and what was the cost?

Thanks in advance!
Bel

I am not sure about a 250L but I upgraded mine to 270L (since I have 4 bathrooms)at a cost of $401

seashoremontague21 · Feb 22, 2013 11:23 am

skye02

ftdt7882

Bel

Hey Bel
Welcome !

Unfortunately you don't generally get credits for upgrading, but it does depend on the item.
If you upgrade the the front door, you pay the full price for the new door, not the difference between the cost of the current PMAD104 door and the new schmick one you want. It sucks !
If you decided you didn't want the dishwasher installed, you get no dishwasher and no credit :-(

However with some upgraded options in promos (our promo came with the house carpeted) we were able to convert this to credit. We tiled the whole house and received a credit for the carpet back.

Push, query, fight, but dont expect the credit...
Good luck
Mike

Yeah definitely push that one and make sure!

We weren't happy with the standard floors, dishwasher or water tank and in the end we upgraded the floors and paid the difference (so got credit for standard) but took the dishwasher and water tank out completely and are supplying our own and got the credit back in full for those items. We did have to push for it though, basically had to tell them that if we didn't get the credit we would go elsewhere before they finally wrote the credits into our contract (and even then it was at the last minute!). It's worth the push though and sourcing your own where possible if you're adamant about it. We ended up getting the water tank we preferred at about $1,000 less than the cost of the PD supplied tank and through end of season sales got the dishwasher we preferred at almost the same price as the PD supplied.

Good luck!

Mali02 · Feb 22, 2013 11:31 am

seashoremontague21

Yeah definitely push that one and make sure!

We weren't happy with the standard floors, dishwasher or water tank and in the end we upgraded the floors and paid the difference (so got credit for standard) but took the dishwasher and water tank out completely and are supplying our own and got the credit back in full for those items. We did have to push for it though, basically had to tell them that if we didn't get the credit we would go elsewhere before they finally wrote the credits into our contract (and even then it was at the last minute!). It's worth the push though and sourcing your own where possible if you're adamant about it. We ended up getting the water tank we preferred at about $1,000 less than the cost of the PD supplied tank and through end of season sales got the dishwasher we preferred at almost the same price as the PD supplied.

Good luck!

What did you upgrade your floors from/to? This is one of my concerns... Any advice you could give would be great.

I am looking at upgrading the floor tiles from a Standard to a Porcelain (MAXFL124) for not only the wet areas but the kitchen/dining/family as we selected a promo to put tiles in the other areas and carpet in the bedrooms. The Promo is all Cat 1 stuff and is $7099. The RRP difference in National Tiles is about $15-$20 per square metre from a tile in their basic range to the MAXFL124... but PD want to charge us an upgrade price of $65 per square metre. I almost fell off my chair!

Lurgen · Feb 22, 2013 11:36 am

Next week is my contract appointment. Given the chaos that was my tender appointment, does anyone have any suggestions on things I should watch out for? Or things I can do in advance to smooth the process out.

I've requested updated diagrams (no response), sent the list of alterations (no response) but any ideas are welcome!

HD

seashoremontague21 · Feb 22, 2013 11:40 am

ftdt7882

seashoremontague21

Yeah definitely push that one and make sure!

We weren't happy with the standard floors, dishwasher or water tank and in the end we upgraded the floors and paid the difference (so got credit for standard) but took the dishwasher and water tank out completely and are supplying our own and got the credit back in full for those items. We did have to push for it though, basically had to tell them that if we didn't get the credit we would go elsewhere before they finally wrote the credits into our contract (and even then it was at the last minute!). It's worth the push though and sourcing your own where possible if you're adamant about it. We ended up getting the water tank we preferred at about $1,000 less than the cost of the PD supplied tank and through end of season sales got the dishwasher we preferred at almost the same price as the PD supplied.

Good luck!

What did you upgrade your floors from/to? This is one of my concerns... Any advice you could give would be great.

I am looking at upgrading the floor tiles from a Standard to a Porcelain (MAXFL124) for not only the wet areas but the kitchen/dining/family as we selected a promo to put tiles in the other areas and carpet in the bedrooms. The Promo is all Cat 1 stuff and is $7099. The RRP difference in National Tiles is about $15-$20 per square metre from a tile in their basic range to the MAXFL124... but PD want to charge us an upgrade price of $65 per square metre. I almost fell off my chair!

We kept most of the stanard tiles but upgraded from belero timber to the spotted gum flooring and upgraded underlay to the carpet in the bed rooms. As for water tank we deleted that and im getting a 2000l tank from thintanks 460mm wide so il goes up against a wall nicely and it onyly cost bit over a grand instead of pds $3500

Mali02 · Feb 22, 2013 11:43 am

seashoremontague21

ftdt7882

seashoremontague21

Yeah definitely push that one and make sure!

We weren't happy with the standard floors, dishwasher or water tank and in the end we upgraded the floors and paid the difference (so got credit for standard) but took the dishwasher and water tank out completely and are supplying our own and got the credit back in full for those items. We did have to push for it though, basically had to tell them that if we didn't get the credit we would go elsewhere before they finally wrote the credits into our contract (and even then it was at the last minute!). It's worth the push though and sourcing your own where possible if you're adamant about it. We ended up getting the water tank we preferred at about $1,000 less than the cost of the PD supplied tank and through end of season sales got the dishwasher we preferred at almost the same price as the PD supplied.

Good luck!

What did you upgrade your floors from/to? This is one of my concerns... Any advice you could give would be great.

I am looking at upgrading the floor tiles from a Standard to a Porcelain (MAXFL124) for not only the wet areas but the kitchen/dining/family as we selected a promo to put tiles in the other areas and carpet in the bedrooms. The Promo is all Cat 1 stuff and is $7099. The RRP difference in National Tiles is about $15-$20 per square metre from a tile in their basic range to the MAXFL124... but PD want to charge us an upgrade price of $65 per square metre. I almost fell off my chair!

We kept most of the stanard tiles but upgraded from belero timber to the spotted gum flooring and upgraded underlay to the carpet in the bed rooms. As for water tank we deleted that and im getting a 2000l tank from thintanks 460mm wide so il goes up against a wall nicely and it onyly cost bit over a grand instead of pds $3500

It pays to do your homework! That's a huge saving!

mindabinda · Feb 22, 2013 2:38 pm

jnkbids

I am not sure about a 250L but I upgraded mine to 270L (since I have 4 bathrooms)at a cost of $401

Thanks jnkbids and everyone else for that stellar advice. It's best to go in armed ::cool::

skye02 · Feb 22, 2013 4:26 pm

ftdt7882

seashoremontague21

Yeah definitely push that one and make sure!

We weren't happy with the standard floors, dishwasher or water tank and in the end we upgraded the floors and paid the difference (so got credit for standard) but took the dishwasher and water tank out completely and are supplying our own and got the credit back in full for those items. We did have to push for it though, basically had to tell them that if we didn't get the credit we would go elsewhere before they finally wrote the credits into our contract (and even then it was at the last minute!). It's worth the push though and sourcing your own where possible if you're adamant about it. We ended up getting the water tank we preferred at about $1,000 less than the cost of the PD supplied tank and through end of season sales got the dishwasher we preferred at almost the same price as the PD supplied.

Good luck!

What did you upgrade your floors from/to? This is one of my concerns... Any advice you could give would be great.

I am looking at upgrading the floor tiles from a Standard to a Porcelain (MAXFL124) for not only the wet areas but the kitchen/dining/family as we selected a promo to put tiles in the other areas and carpet in the bedrooms. The Promo is all Cat 1 stuff and is $7099. The RRP difference in National Tiles is about $15-$20 per square metre from a tile in their basic range to the MAXFL124... but PD want to charge us an upgrade price of $65 per square metre. I almost fell off my chair!

We have taken the flooring promotion out of our quote completely. For those nice porcelin tiles you were talking about (same as the Oakdale display) i was told to allow an extra $5,000.00 on top of the $7,099 (mind you that was not upgrading the carpet or underlay yet - the standard was very "standard").

We actually prefered real wood flooring and have been quoted under $10k for the wooden flooring and carpet of our choice and will do after handover.

inglewood · Feb 23, 2013 9:48 pm

djames

I'm also building a lifestyle home and and so far I have had to change external colours because the original window colour I wanted is not available for Lifestyle. Now I realize that the kitchen sink and mixer I want... the square bowls with vegie sprayer are from the prestige range.... enough is enough!!!!!

At the end of the day I am a Porter Davis customer.... that's all I care about! I really don't give a crap about Access, lifestyle or prestige... I have picked a 'Porter Davis' house!!! and its not as simple as saying pick a prestige house if you like those fittings. I don't pick a house for what fittings are available I pick a house that suits my needs.

I know about each range having different suppliers but I will say it again I AM A PORTER DAVIS CUSTOMER.... each range is from Porter Davis not different companies and I am a Porter Davis Customer.

It is an absolute joke walking into the 'Porter Davis' selection showroom when I am building a 'Porter Davis' house but cant choose half the stuff in there..... are you kidding me???

So as you can guess I am extremely annoyed.... and I have to say that the fact that access and prestige get to choose the same options available makes me, a lifestyle builder feel very much on the outer... this is really poor!

Oh and there is another one... yes the toilet.... lifestyles 2 choices.... crapppp!! pardon the pun.

Us too! We chose the Drysdale b/c of the floor plan. We would have chosen it if it had been in access or prestige.

Window colours - In our favour they changed the window colours, we can now choose White Birch, but when we first went to hometoun it was not an option for Lifestyle homes. Dune was available for the Drysdale when it was Optima (my cousin has Dune windows on her Drysdale), then it wasn't before Christmas and now it is again. Seems they can chop and change when they like.

I won't be happy if when we go for our colours appointment in less than two weeks and they've changed it again. PD want you to go in several times before your colours appointment, but what's the point if they change the colours without notice. I didn't see Ironstone available as a roofing choice either when I was there last weekend, but it was before Christmas. I've been agonising over our colours and don't know what I'll do if they change it again. If it's available when you sign up with PD, it should be available when you have your colours appointment.

BTW, they had both Caesarstone and Essa on display at HT last weekend, so I assume they are offering both - atm anyway ...

djames · Feb 23, 2013 10:01 pm

inglewood

djames

I'm also building a lifestyle home and and so far I have had to change external colours because the original window colour I wanted is not available for Lifestyle. Now I realize that the kitchen sink and mixer I want... the square bowls with vegie sprayer are from the prestige range.... enough is enough!!!!!

At the end of the day I am a Porter Davis customer.... that's all I care about! I really don't give a crap about Access, lifestyle or prestige... I have picked a 'Porter Davis' house!!! and its not as simple as saying pick a prestige house if you like those fittings. I don't pick a house for what fittings are available I pick a house that suits my needs.

I know about each range having different suppliers but I will say it again I AM A PORTER DAVIS CUSTOMER.... each range is from Porter Davis not different companies and I am a Porter Davis Customer.

It is an absolute joke walking into the 'Porter Davis' selection showroom when I am building a 'Porter Davis' house but cant choose half the stuff in there..... are you kidding me???

So as you can guess I am extremely annoyed.... and I have to say that the fact that access and prestige get to choose the same options available makes me, a lifestyle builder feel very much on the outer... this is really poor!

Oh and there is another one... yes the toilet.... lifestyles 2 choices.... crapppp!! pardon the pun.

Us too! We chose the Drysdale b/c of the floor plan. We would have chosen it if it had been in access or prestige.

Window colours - In our favour they changed the window colours, we can now choose White Birch, but when we first went to hometoun it was not an option for Lifestyle homes. Dune was available for the Drysdale when it was Optima (my cousin has Dune windows on her Drysdale), then it wasn't before Christmas and now it is again. Seems they can chop and change when they like.

I won't be happy if when we go for our colours appointment in less than two weeks and they've changed it again. PD want you to go in several times before your colours appointment, but what's the point if they change the colours without notice. I didn't see Ironstone available as a roofing choice either when I was there last weekend, but it was before Christmas. I've been agonising over our colours and don't know what I'll do if they change it again. If it's available when you sign up with PD, it should be available when you have your colours appointment.

BTW, they had both Caesarstone and Essa on display at HT last weekend, so I assume they are offering both - atm anyway ...

Well I am still fighting for the sink... I don't think ill have much luck to be honest... however lifestyle have a very similar mixer tap which to be honest I think is better than the prestige one (see below). The sink for lifestyle is Blanco and its double bowl underbench but more rounded rather than square.. It looks not bad but the square one is what we really wanted

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I went last week to hopetoun and I am pretty sure white birch is not available for lifestyle... they do however have a gloss white I think they call it... I'm not 100% sure but yeah that's what I have chosen for my windows.

inglewood · Feb 24, 2013 8:42 am

djames

Well I am still fighting for the sink... I don't think ill have much luck to be honest... however lifestyle have a very similar mixer tap which to be honest I think is better than the prestige one (see below). The sink for lifestyle is Blanco and its double bowl underbench but more rounded rather than square.. It looks not bad but the square one is what we really wanted

Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅

I went last week to hopetoun and I am pretty sure white birch is not available for lifestyle... they do however have a gloss white I think they call it... I'm not 100% sure but yeah that's what I have chosen for my windows.

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I took those pics on the 9th of Feb. Will be really upset if I can't have White Birch!!!!

And white was not available for lifestyle. One of us us not going to be happy!

MummaDJ · Feb 24, 2013 10:18 am

inglewood

djames

Well I am still fighting for the sink... I don't think ill have much luck to be honest... however lifestyle have a very similar mixer tap which to be honest I think is better than the prestige one (see below). The sink for lifestyle is Blanco and its double bowl underbench but more rounded rather than square.. It looks not bad but the square one is what we really wanted

Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅

I went last week to hopetoun and I am pretty sure white birch is not available for lifestyle... they do however have a gloss white I think they call it... I'm not 100% sure but yeah that's what I have chosen for my windows.

Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

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I took those pics on the 9th of Feb. Will be really upset if I can't have White Birch!!!!

And white was not available for lifestyle. One of us us not going to be happy!

We are doing Lifestyle house, did our selections on 4th of Feb, the colour listed on our selection plan is listed as " *NA* White SS ". Have to say now that not really sure what that means. We just wanted white windows and this is definitely white.

djames · Feb 24, 2013 10:41 am

Ok so I was there last weekend and definitely white gloss is available for Lifestyle which was a pure white... white birch gloss was still there but only for prestige... however don't despair cos the white birch looked creamy next to the white gloss for lifestyle... in fact it looked so creamy that it got me thinking that it could actually be a different colour from the old white birch.