NBG Buckingham 36E, Moved in and lots of pics... finally!!!

Mel&Em · Jan 24, 2008 4:43 pm

Hi all,

We have just joined this forum and have been researching ideas and comments from the users as we have just started the ball rolling on our build. We have chosen a builder and have just had our quote presentation. The base price of our house was listed at 234k, but we made a few changes and the quote came in at 300k (including site costs). We were kind of expecting this kind of price so it wasnt a shock and we are getting most of what we asked for. Are going to sign this week and get them started. They have said that it will take a few weeks to get the plans prepped and approved and then another 21 days to start building. From there 300 days for the build. 300 days sounds a bit long, but it is a double story. Is this normal. The house is the buckingham 36E from NB.

Our block is 17.7 wide and is at the end of a court. There is about a 2.5m slope along its length front to back. They are doing a cut and fill. The above price included side retaining walls and agi pipes for drainage. Any other retaining walls for cosmetic purposes have to be done by us later on. Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

Jet79 · Jan 24, 2008 7:46 pm

300 days does sound long, ours is 160 days and it's a 335m2 house (large for a single story).

Good Luck with everything, have you picked all your colours yet?

Jet

pasey25 · Jan 24, 2008 9:48 pm

my contract is 367 days!!

its a complicated build, sloping block cranes, lots of glass etc.

blessedpeople · Jan 25, 2008 11:56 pm

Welcome Mel,

We're going with NB as well. Currently awaiting the quote/estimate...prolly going with the buckingham 32 but might go for the 36 as it comes with the alfresco (haven't decided yet). It's a stockland estate and so we had to make some changes to the design to suit the design guidelines i.e. 25 degree roof pitch, extra windows etc.

Mel&Em · Jan 28, 2008 9:00 pm

Hi Blessed,

We were pretty lucky in that the soil test result came back with an "M" class slab area. I believe that this saved us around 6 or 7k as the "H" class is more expensive. I think most of your site costs are going to come down to how much fall you have on your block.

With the buckingham, we decided to reduce the size of the powder room and extend the pantry into the old toilet space. We combined the toilet with the sink room and that created enough space for the pantry to extend into. This only cost around $400 extra to do. (just thought that you might be interested in it as well)

blessedpeople · Feb 03, 2008 4:08 pm

Thanks Mel,

We are contemplating extending the pantry and minimising the huge powder room...$400 is an excellent deal if I do say so myself...and
M Slab ???? Wow, that is even better news....we went by the display home again today to have a look at "our" buckingham...the house is gorgeous...love how there is hardly any wastage of space...and love the huge garage...and the huge family area upstairs ....i also like the way the master bedroom leads to the ensuite with no doors....hehe...

When do you guys officially start building? Our quote is due back on 11th Feb..I hope that NBG keeps their promise cause we're itching to start the building process asap as we're planning this huge holiday next year during easter and need the house ready by then....

Keep intouch...it'll be great to share our experiences.

brittany · Feb 03, 2008 9:38 pm

Go the big pantry !! There doesn't seem to be anywhere in the kitchen ideal for a microwave so we put a powerpoint in the pantry for it.

Mel&Em · Feb 04, 2008 9:15 pm

Hi Blessed

Well we are waiting for the plans to get drawn up and approved. Paid the balance of the 2k two weeks ago. We're also itching to get started. We have also asked for paving all the way round the house which should come in handy. We had asked for an extra metre to the garage side, but the land size wont allow it. Just tossing up about the carpets. Have you decided on the type of carpet yet?

brittany · Feb 04, 2008 10:54 pm

If you include something in your plans that you are not 100 percent on and then cancel you cop a 20% fee to take it out. You can always add it after that original quotation easily. Also we have done post contract variations too. The contracted builders variations also are far cheaper than the ones organised by the company. Things like extra light fittings et cetera our builder is happy for us to organise directly with the electrician. We went with carpet from the builder - we just want a finished house. We choose this week so will let you know if it was a good choice!

Mel&Em · Feb 05, 2008 2:54 pm

Hi Brittany

I noticed in another topic that you had 49k in site costs. Can I ask which area you are building in? Also, why has it taken since July 07 for NBG to get started on your house. Was it a hold up from their end?

Regarding the carpet, did you get something from the standard range or go up?

thanks

blessedpeople · Feb 06, 2008 7:38 pm

Hi Mel & Brit,

Haven't decided on the carpets yet. Just got a call from NBG today saying our quote was ready so I'll be calling them tomorrow to fix a meeting on monday (husband's rdo). Considering that the quote was only due on 11th Feb and its ready on 6th. Let's hope its a sign of things to come

Thank you for the tip Brit about adding things to the quote rather than giving your wish list which may leave you wishing you didn't :lol:

Therefore, Brit, I hope I understood you correctly, for extra power points, you didn't ask NBG directly...nor the builder...but when the assigned builder's electrician comes by to do his magic, you then ask him to put in extra power points and pay him directly for it?

I also called the assigned builder today, and he gave me a list of his current projects as well as the addresses. very friendly bloke. looks like we have got the plans for our weekend cut out for us :wink:

My one apprehension is the fact that the builder told me he is currently building his first buckingham (due to complete in Sept 08)...that means, ours would be the second buckingham he would build.....is that enough experience?..Brit, how many bucks has your builder built?

They have constructed many of the single stories but currently in the midst of his first buckingham...anyways, he gave us the addresses for the single stories as well...we'll go have a look see and keep you updated.

So far, the customer service has been splendid from all sides i.e. NBG main office, sales rep at the NBG display home & NBG's assigned builder.

Mel&Em · Feb 06, 2008 8:11 pm

Hi guys

I rang NBG today for an update. My contracts should be ready by 14/2 at which time the new salesperson at the display house will call us to go through it all at a meeting. From there, another six weeks to get the plans drawn up and the builder to get it approved by council. Its then up to the builder to fit us into his build schedule.

We didn't realise that this initial process was going to take this long. Can't wait to see something happen at the block. Brittany, how long did yours take from paying your 2k to build start?

brittany · Feb 06, 2008 10:19 pm

We didn't upgrade the carpet - we went with the basic chocolate - we have pets and kids so don't mind upgrading later - today was the day to choose everything - what fun and exhaustion!!! It has taken a long time to get started on our house but we didn't even demolish till November and we signed off on final plans mid december but then we had to get another soil test done after demolition. We were in no rush and dragged our feet on quite a few things. Not sure if our builder has done any buckinghams - you are far more diligent than I on the research. I am more a people person - I like him, I can communicate with him and therefore I trust him. Probably will land me in mud! Carmel did our quotation presentation - she was excellent but the process was exhausting. Laura did our colours today - much more fun to choose colours than to look at contracts.

brittany · Feb 06, 2008 10:22 pm

Oh and it was the builder who told me to talk to the sparkie directly....

blessedpeople · Feb 07, 2008 7:41 pm

Hi Brit,

i think being comfortable with your builder is the main thin. Jason will be giving me a list of other builders who have built the buckingham on Monday when we go for the quote discussion. I think at the end of the day, we might stick with the original assigned builder cause like you said...its all about the feel of the person and whether you feel peace with them :wink:

Its great to see the progress both you & Mel are making with the plans....14.5 weeks seems a bit long Mel ...but then again builders have got us wrapped around their finger... :lol:

The main thing is that you have got the ball rolling and are making progress daily....its a step at a time aso i continue to remind myself

Brit, i totally favour the chocolate carpet....i really liked what i say at the display home and feel like telling the colour people, i will have whatever you guys used in the display home...lol...i am end up being hit with a huge upgrade bill :roll:

Speak to you soon!

blessedpeople · Feb 07, 2008 7:52 pm

Just re-read my post and it is full of typos...sorry! is it that obvious I just got home from work :oops:

Mel&Em · Feb 09, 2008 1:31 pm

Hi Guys

Have you been to the other buckinghams that have been built yet? Would love to know what you thought.

Mel&Em · Feb 16, 2008 10:35 pm

Hi all,
We signed our contracts today and paid the 5%. 350 days for build time. Did I see somewhere that Blessed or Brittany had 285 days on their contracts. Did that include delays or were additional days on top of the 285? I thought it was a bit much and they are going to query it for us. Otherwise, it looks like they should start building by around May and at 350 days they would be finished by April 09. Seems so far away!.........

blessedpeople · Feb 17, 2008 10:40 pm

Hi Mel,

You're building in Greenvale? On the list we got from NBG, they have a completed buckingham 36 built in Greenvale. If you would like more details, PM me

Mel&Em · Feb 22, 2008 4:48 pm

Just a quick update. The end date of our cooling off period was today. We were supposed to receive the amended contracts regarding duration of build from the assigned builder by today but we have not. I rang the assigned builder yesterday and left a msg with his office for him to call me with an update. He never called and his phone just rang out today. I reported the matter to NB and they also couldnt get in touch. I told them that I was not happy to go ahead with this builder if he wasnt going to return calls or live up to promises at this early stage of the relationship, so NB offered to assign a different builder. Hopefully the next one will be a bit more professional. They have advised that this wont affect the preparation of plans or the timeline at this stage or cost anything more. Fingers crossed.