Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jan 07, 2012 12:19 am Hello
I decided to start my own thread as I was encouraged to by a fellow Baldivian, Vans (Thank you Vans) I spend so much time on this forum reading everyone else's threads and questions, I thought I may as well put my journey up here too! I decided to build on November 6 2011. I put an offer on a block of land the following Sunday. I'd say I wasn't prepared for the emotional roller coaster ride, but that may be an understatement. I know that the 1 week interlude may seem ultra fast to some, but, this is just how I operate in life.... I sit on ideas and ponder them and do things very slowly and methodically before I make decisions, when I make a decision, that's it! Things can move extremely quickly and I don't always keep up with myself! Thankfully, I don't have to drive anyone else crazy with the way I operate (except maybe my family and the building company )... I am building my first home on my own. It's scary as all [can I say] hell, but I don't regret my decision. I've had massive moments of doubt, but at no point have I really wanted to pull out. I am very early in the process, but I'm hopeful that I can do this and end up with a home of my own within the next 12 months. I chose my building company very quickly too..... That's the one thing that was giving me major doubts, so I decided to pick another company I liked to compare them to. I'm starting to think this wasn't a brilliant idea and am tempted to check the other company's website for their latest "special offer"..... I know this would probably only cause regret, so probably best not to! I am building the Coogee with Activity by Aussie Living Homes in Baldivis in WA. I have changed the design a fair bit from the original. Because I'm new to this whole thing, the price went up a lot from what I was expecting because I kept listening to the sales rep's, "Oh, it will only add a couple of hundred dollars to do this..... and that..... and the other." I wasn't keeping very good track of those statements, so the original quotation was about $15k-$20k more than I was hoping for!!! In order for me to sign on, they knocked $10k off, but if I hadn't been so emotionally involved in the process by that point, I think I would have gotten up, thanked the guy for trying, but it was already at the upper end of my price range and we still had pre-start to complete. Little did I know, there was another step in between which could still alter the figures - the preparation of plans. The plans didn't take nearly as long as I was expecting them to. I thought it would take several weeks as it was approaching Christmas and I figured there'd be a bit of a gradual shutdown happening. I found the opposite was true and when I asked about the plans and contracts (after spending a week in Hong Kong) they were available for me to sign by the next day. I was stoked..... For about 24 hours. Quite a few of the provisional sums had gone up and one was substantially reduced. Overall, the contract quotation had increased by around $1700. Not a lot to most, but as I'd reached my limit already, this was quite worrying for me. I've calculated and recalculated my finances so many times since then, I just want to get to pre-start and have something more "concrete" in place..... Like a slab maybe?? Once I can see my vision coming together, that's when I'll start to get really excited! I'm already visiting my completely empty block every weekend!!! The block that I haven't even settled on yet! Because it's something tangible and it's just not sinking in, that I am doing this!!! I am building a house! I've chosen most of what I need to for pre-start, but wondering if there is anything I need to actually choose and tell someone, the building company or supplier (??), that I have chosen it. The house binder tells me I can select my tiles directly through the tiling company, which I have done..... But not sure if I can do this with anything else, like the bricks and pavers, for example. I don't really want to ask my contact person again as I don't think he was happy about being on call while everyone else in his company is on holidays. I also seem to hassle him with emails (mostly) or phone calls every two days..... Is that normal? Or am I overdoing it? Sorry about the long post, I'll try to be more brief in future.... and use more smilies ..... And start uploading photos!! I know how people on this forum love plans and photos!! (I know I do!) Carol. PS. I have a a blog too.... But you'll have to look for it EDITED: To change title of thread caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA - PICS! 2Jan 08, 2012 2:33 pm Ok, I went down to my not-yet-settled-on block of land yesterday afternoon and took some pictures... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ By caz_770 at 2012-01-07 My Block of sand! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ By caz_770 at 2012-01-07 My stairs to my block. Below are some of my preferred options for my house.... I don't have a scanner, so may have to work out another way to get the plans on here, like taking photos Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ By caz_770 at 2012-01-07 Colorbond Surfmist roof with similar coloured bricks to my choice. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ By caz_770 at 2012-01-07 Essa Stone benchtops for the kitchen, though the builder currently has essa stone in bathroom and ensuite too. Hopefully when I ask them to do laminex in the bathrooms, this will bring the price down a little bit I'll either go with this colour or dusk, which is similar, but with finer "bits" in it. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ By caz_770 at 2012-01-07 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ By caz_770 at 2012-01-07 First choice for the bricks and possible window frame option (either this or anodic dark grey). Stupid Microsoft Photo Editor makes the bricks look completely different. They are, in fact, exactly the same, just taken from a different angle.... Maybe I should consider investing in some photo editing software.... I'm tired of having my photos look like this... And finally, some of the things I would like to have in my garden. The two ground plants are currently growing on my block (obviously they'll be cleared to make way for my house!) and the other is a Banksia that is growing around the corner from my house, in the bush. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ By caz_770 at 2012-01-07 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ By caz_770 at 2012-01-07 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ By caz_770 at 2012-01-07 That's all for now! Just waiting patiently for pre-start and settlement to happen on my land Carol Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 3Jan 09, 2012 7:30 am once contracts are signed you will get given a portfolio wiht all teh options to choose from. Then a prestart date is booked in. This is wehn you go in and tell them your selections. You can soemtimes gets pricings for anything thats not base price before prestart but a lot of it you will have to wait until prestart and after to find out prices. Then once all your selections are doing and prices are in you can work out what you can/can't afford. From here you sign more paperwork ( triple check everything is exactly the right code/colour/size etc. You should get to take this all away to go through it before you do your final signing. This gives you a chance to check everything and if need be change your mind on certain items. Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 4Jan 09, 2012 9:39 am wow, congrats!!! so excited for you. and doing it all alone..whoaooaoa, you go girl!! stairs down?? what is that all about!! are you near the beach...no grass? i know you are in WA, but is there really no grass around? will you have probs laying turf later, or doesnt anyone have grass...ha ha, sorry...just cant believe it. i see nothing BUT grass!!! all the best, and take a photo of the plans then upload them....you know we ALL LOVE PLANS! Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 5Jan 09, 2012 10:07 am Well done on your thread! You are just like me, long threads!!! I photgraphed my plan from my phone and put it on here...i have my plan on the computer, but couldn't crop it to get rid of my name/address etc. Can't wait to see your plan and what changes you have made! Photos look great...I think I know where you are...but not 100% sure! All the sand has been removed from the area and the landscape looks so different at the moment...still trying to get my bearings! And I go there daily, or at least every second day! Is your land titled and you are waiting for settlement, or just waiting on settlement? When is settlement due? How is exciting! We "purchased" our land in October, we lived in Perth at the time! We would drive down twice a month to a non titled lump of sand! When we moved down here to where we rent whilst the house is built, we visited about every 3 days...again to untitled land! but it was now not just sand, but a block! Even before it titled, we were over at the block....so once titled, we were there almost daily, then settlement happened! It will be back to daily now as the brickies are back at work, although very intermittment! Pre-start, nope, you keep it all to yourself us, and the forum, for now! Wait until prestart and you give it to them, make more changes, and they give you your price! if you miss something, you will get time to choose. prestart is fun! we loved ours! some of the prices we got were GREAT, others...OUCH! it was gong to cost a ridiculous amount for stone benchtops, so we have laminate ones. But never mind! downlights were the other ridiculous price. About $140/downlight, not even LED directional ones. just plain white stay were they are lights! That is to install as well, but gees...we should be able to get good LED ones a lot cheaper...so put a few junction boxes in to do all that! I actually went over my electrical plan last night, we will be in the dark if we can't afford our electrician! But some of our lights we are just going to Ikea...they have nice pendants and matching tracklights....so a good option to save some money! Kiwi...we do have grass! It is a very new estate, so looks like a massive sandtrap! A lot of the grass in the neighbourhoods have gone to dust though as they got scorched in the few hot hot days we have had!!! However, we are encouraged to use waterwise options in these kind of estates...ground cover other then grass, but so far i think i have only seen 2houses go this way...everyone else basically wants LAWN! We will be having lawn...need somewhere to wash the grass! I also think the block is a cottage block, so rear access, and the steps go down to the footpath where guest parking is, and I think across the road is (will be) a park...plenty of lawn to see if she chooses not to have lawn! and Caz wont have to worry about watering or mowing the lawn!!! Look forward to following the thread...and we might see each other at our blocks one day! If you see us at ours, dont be shy, come say hello!!! Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 6Jan 09, 2012 10:16 am @kexkez Thank you! I have my file and my pre-start date is booked for Jan 24th. I was under the impression that pre-start is it!! If you make the wrong selection at pre-start, then too bad, you're stuck with it! What you have explained makes more sense. I can stop running round like a headless chook now @kiwi I'll be moving in to a new estate. It is ALL sand at the moment, except where people have actually built their homes. Then the developer comes in and lays some grass, plants a couple of trees and some native shrubs.... Then who knows. The stairs lead down to my street, with main access from a rear lane way. I have POS across the road, which is currently a large sandpit.... Popular with dirt bikes I will take some photos of my plans (currently scribbled on, for pre-start) and try and upload them over the next day or two Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 7Jan 09, 2012 10:19 am So if I drive down there I will see 2 saddos sitting in some sand on an estate within a km from each other? Lol. Enjoy the sitting...we would do it nightly on our block too!!! Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 8Jan 09, 2012 10:26 am @Vans Sorry, your post wasn't there when I replied!! I was considering downlights, until I read on this forum how much they were!!! Ridiculous! I'm hoping I can afford the junction boxes in the kitchen at least, everywhere else will be standard. I was hoping the landscaping could be ground over instead of lawn!!! So that's great news for me. I need a waterwise garden that is preferably native.... I'm a little bit of a greenie You seem to have my location pretty much spot on. I'm just waiting for my bank to arrange documents for me so that they can hopefully arrange settlement soon. I know my settlement agent has been in touch with them, so it is just the bank I'm waiting on at the moment. Catch you later!! Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 9Jan 09, 2012 10:40 am kiwi #80FF00 #80FF40 #80FF80 #80FFBF #80FFFF Yep! With just one big sandpit in between us!!! Caz, we paid $20 per junctionbox...they allow 6 electricals on it...so 6 downlights, 4 downlights + 2 pendants...but of course, they will all turn on at same time... Who knows how much we will end up getting our downlights for and electrician...hoping $50/downlight and pay by the hour for elect. We were lucky with our prestart, we had actually included a few things in our contract already, but when we did make changes laterm, like a wardrobe slider colour, we weren't charged for it. So no, never locked in! There are times during the build where you can no longer change. Eg we are trying to decide if we should get rid of the cornices in our WIR (we deleted the rail and shelf to add our own in) to allow our own wardrobe in...to fit flush, we can't have it with cornice. but the premade wardrobes from ikea or bunnings are not tall enough anyway, so we can keep them. we have to make our mind up by plate height, next week depending on these brickies! we need lawn, front and back, front for car washing hubby would prefer not though he hates to mow, and back for dog and child. no water wise for us! we will choose water wise plants and of course wetting agents etc! Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 10Jan 09, 2012 9:43 pm caz_770 @kexkez Thank you! I have my file and my pre-start date is booked for Jan 24th. I was under the impression that pre-start is it!! If you make the wrong selection at pre-start, then too bad, you're stuck with it! What you have explained makes more sense. I can stop running round like a headless chook now I d be double checking everything I've told you with your build company as some may do things slightly differently. We had a week or so to do last minute changes without financial penalties. You do need to have a good idea of what you want before prestart. If they've given you your file then you do need to go and choose what you are going to have. ring them and double check on anything you are unsure of so you know what to tell them at prestart. . It really depends on how many changes and mods your builder allows to things. Some companies don't allow many/any at all. For them prestart might be it. Check with some of the other people who have recently signed with them searching I found the following threads: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=53237&hilit=Aussie+Living+Homes viewtopic.php?f=31&t=52783&p=810252&hilit=Aussie+Living+Homes#p810252 viewtopic.php?f=31&t=52783&p=809738&hilit=Aussie+Living+Homes#p809738 Jodie who has been in a while now: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=22766&hilit=Aussie+Living+Homes Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 11Jan 11, 2012 1:34 am Hi kexkez, That's ok! I checked with my sales rep regarding what else I need to do before my pre-start.... He seems to think I'm pretty much on top of it and will have my pre-start over and done with in a couple of hours. I guess that's one of the bonuses of doing this on my own.... I know what I like and don't have anyone to argue over colours/styles with.... I just do what I like! I have either chosen most of the "big" things, or narrowed it down to a couple of options for each item. I know what I like, but sometimes I need a bit of guidance on the "design" side of things! Hehe... Most of the links you copied above are ones I started Thanks for doing the search and going to that trouble though! Today I found out my documents are ready for signing for my loan for my land (will be re-structuring once final plans are sorted for the build). Kinda scary.... Seriously considering moving in with Mum and Dad during the build, just to help lessen the financial stress, as well as the physical stress! Only problem with that is, I signed on to a Telstra "Home Bundle" deal for 2 years in around April last year..... Might not save much money if I have to pay that out! Actually, paying rent and a mortgage might be good practice.... For the next 30 years of my life!! Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 12Jan 11, 2012 10:02 am Caz - so many things in your first post sound like me! I'm not building by myself - I really admire that you are - but we have had the same kind of feelings. We first entertained the idea of building when we looked at Lightsview on Oct 8, and signed the land contract on Oct 13 so that was pretty quick. My partner had a bit of a panic and wanted to pull out before the end of cooling off, but we didn't and we don't regret it... yet... (PS - I know what you mean about the smileys! I am trying to get my practice in... I think I look a bit mean and serious if I don't use enough, but I am still yet to figure out what some of them even mean ) The costs are a little dizzying, aren't they (wait there's a smiley for that... )... Our builder has pleased us so far by including a remarkable number of things in their standard quote, which other builders quoted as extras - for example, heat/light/fan combo units in the bathrooms, one builder chucked another $500 on the quote for that, but our guys said yep, no worries, no extra charge... We also had them include quite a few PC items in the contract that we are not sure we will even use (such as landscaping - such a tiny block, it won't need much), just in case we need them, we don't want to be digging for extra funds in case we decide we need something so at least they are now part of the contract, approved and all. We are continuing to save for as long as we can, make sure we have extra cash in case of emergency, and if in the end we don't use it, we chuck it on the mortgage and we get ahead early All the best for you... love the sandy look of your block.. will definitely be following your thread. Kiwi, two saddos sitting on blocks a km apart... I shouldn't be laughing at my screen at work! 5.5m Terrace House - Lightsview (Northgate SA) Moved in!! - 22 February 2013 /viewtopic.php?f=31&t=53455 Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 13Jan 12, 2012 1:25 am Hi Caz, welcome to your very own thread! I'm another WA'er building on my own (if you don't count my six year old ) and I can assure you that I harassed every rep from the company with almost daily emails and still stalk my block so you are completely normal! It's all very exciting so enjoy every moment of it as it will truly go by very fast - even if it doesn't feel like it during the paperwork stage! Have a read through the 'Things that you forget' thread and try to prioritise the things that need to be done during construction - like internal power points, walls etc. and leave the more cosmetic things that can easily be done at a later date after you've moved in. D Custom build Perth Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=44112 Purchased block: May 2009 Building approval: July 2011 Bricks complete: Jan 2012 Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 14Jan 12, 2012 2:03 am @juski Oh thank goodness I'm not the only one!!! I totally felt like I'd jumped in head first with buying my block, so it's nice to know someone else took less time than I did!!! The problem with WA real estate - THERE IS NO COOLING OFF PERIOD! I signed my docs for the loan on my block of land today.... So far, I can say I don't regret it. I was so excited, I nearly asked for an early settlement!!! Why on earth would I want to start paying my mortgage early!?! Silly me @dayow Another thank goodness moment!! Someone else building on their own in WA! I'll check out your blog and thread in the morning.... I'm so tired. Also got my amended plans in today's mail as I'd asked for some windows to be swapped around prior to signing off on the original plans.... Think I'll start trusting my sales rep a bit more. He said they wouldn't charge me for the variation, and they didn't. I didn't know they were gonna mail them out to me though. All signed and mailed back. Back to twiddling my thumbs and working out how I'd like my kitchen to be laid out before I go to pre-start Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 15Jan 12, 2012 8:55 am Well done on signing the paperwork! Paperwork is an endless trail!!! And variation paperwork! AAARGH! so many times i have signed variations, and we didn't make all that many changes after prestart. those we made prior to prestart were all done before final contracts were signed. We wanted as much as we could in the intitial contract so we knew what we were up for. then we decided to change our shower and that put the price of prestart up a bit, that and the electricals! and we have about 4 areas of the house with no lighting...and still spent lots in electricals!!! AAARGH! I am checking the block daily, twice a day even! I am the biggest block stalker. Thankfully the builders don't know my car...yet! I look over the sand, which is disappearing fast (the sand hill next to us is the last one left!) and haven't seen anyone at any of the blocks i think are yours! One day we will see each other! Isn't it hard to know what and who to trust?! Our prestart consultant said she wouldn't charge us variations after prestart, unless it got to a ridiculous amount. And she never charged us. our changes were very very minor. But even when we considered paying for stone benchtops instead of laminate, still no variation cost. but still too much for us to change! damn budgets and money! What do you need to do for your kitchen? and when is prestart? EXCITING!!! Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 16Jan 12, 2012 9:29 am Caz My 4 top tips. Conduits: Conduit anywhere you would like a future phone line/net cable/ tv/fan switch/aircon controls if you want on an internal wall. If you think you'd like fans in the ceilings after build get conduits put in for where you want the switches to be. If you want them in them in the same place as existing light switches make sure there are conduits used for the wiring for those switches or you wont be able to use them. Otherwise you can only have fan switches on external walls. ( we missed this one and the sparky the builder used didn't use conduit to cut costs) Powerpoints: If the cost of additional power points is killing you or the cost of making power points doubles instead of singles. Get singles put in and where you want power points on both sides of an internal wall get them put in on one side only if you can bare to wait and are planning to get a sparky in later after the build is complete. Changing singles to doubles/triples and adding additional power points on the other side of a single brick internal wall are easy for them to do. Make sure you have a power point in the alfresco area and one in the garage/carport( we rented a place while we built without an external pp. what a pai in the ...) Zoning-doors: Look at getting doors or door frames anywhere you want to be able to zone off a house. Even with open plan it is good to have a door to close off passageways to bedrooms or to a lounge /theatre room if you have one. Great to stop sound traveling and for heating/cooling. Taps: Get a tap for front and back if not in your contract. BTW you can specify where you want them. Same with all power points and switches . YOU choose location not them. Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 17Jan 12, 2012 10:11 pm Ooo I agree with conduits! I put quite a few on internal walls so I could change and add things at a later date. Caz, I agree that it's nice to see another person building on their own. There is another thread on here by Snagger, he built on his own down in the Bunbury area but he's all moved in now so it's great to see another person doing it on their own - gives me hope I haven't bitten off too much to chew! Cant wait to hear about pre-start. But be prepared, they told me it would take a couple of hours and I was there all day! hehe Custom build Perth Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=44112 Purchased block: May 2009 Building approval: July 2011 Bricks complete: Jan 2012 Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA 18Jan 14, 2012 12:40 am Thanks for the tips kexkez! I've checked out the "Things you forget" thread a few times..... I just hope I remember at pre-start!!! I've drawn things on my original plans in pencil, but I keep adding things, or drawing them on one plan and not others!! It's all fun now, but I'm scared stuff will get lost in amongst the excitement of "pre-start day". Thanks for the heads-up dayow. I'm fairly convinced I'm ready for pre-start.... But I'm sure I'll get there and not be as ready as I think I am. That is, most of my "choices" are really options or ideas..... Except the big stuff, like bricks, tiles, roof colour.... Ok, I am about to upload plans.... But I'm working on a mac that keeps logging me out!! (Not a fan of mac computers!!! Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA - PL 19Jan 14, 2012 12:48 am Elevations!! Woo-hoo (yeah, I'm singing the U2 song in my head....) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ By caz_770 at 2012-01-13 The plan Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ By caz_770 at 2012-01-13 My kitchen.... The heart of the house Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ By caz_770 at 2012-01-13 Bathroom, Ensuite and Laundry Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ By caz_770 at 2012-01-13 Electrical plan Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ By caz_770 at 2012-01-13 I haven't uploaded my "doodled" on plans, just the clean images..... Spent so much time trying to change the layout of the kitchen the other night, then figured it was probably fine as it is! May seek opinions on it later! 'Night!! Re: caz_770's Building Thread - Building in Baldivis WA - PL 20Jan 14, 2012 2:38 pm Hmmm, all this talking of building and progress.... Think I might go and check out my sandpit this arvo!!! Apparently the WACA is choccas, so cricket is off the list of options.... well, that's half the reason.... The other half is that it is too damn hot to be sitting in the stands watching cricket!! Would rather sit in my air conditioned car and listen on the radio I recently finished my house and after landscaping, have begun to plan a fence. To be honest its been a bit of an afterthought so I'm after some much needed advice. The… 0 2055 Hmmm, I have checked your past posts and it seems that you are in NSW, not WA as I had thought. It pays to show your State in your avatar. Retaining wall regulations… 5 7865 Hi, you've probably already resolved this, however, Commbank will probably pay the funds to you after you send evidence the work is done regardless the change in the quotes. 1 35331 |