Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 04, 2012 7:44 pm Hi everyone, My partner and I have been looking on the threads here and it is great to read about everyone's experiences. We are first home builders and don't know a hell of a lot! We saw the Wild Orchid at Aldinga few weeks ago and fell in love with it. Fell in love with the layout, the colours, literally everything! So our block settles on 13th April and we have an appointment on 10th April regarding our quotes from Dechellis. We have decided to go with the Grande Spec with some added extras, namely, essatone benchtops and ends, full height tiling to ensuite and main bathroom and splashback to name a few. What we were really surprised at was the contingency allowance - $27, 000. We nearly fell over! Being as naive as we are, we did not know about footings etc. So soil report on settlement and hopefully comes in cheaper than allowed! But all in all, Sebastian from Aldinga display homes has been fantastic thus far, we have had many an email back and forth already, but like most people on here, this is our dream home. I just wanted to say that I have enjoyed reading others' post on their homes and I too will be adding updates on here as things progress and photos too, please, please feel free to add, reply, comment on anything. Remember we are newbies to building and we probably have not thought of it!!!! Kind regards Amanda Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 2Apr 04, 2012 8:06 pm Hi Amanda, I thought I would post a reply as it would be interesting for us to keep track of each others build. Yours sounds VERY similar to ours. We are building the Monaco by Dechellis and are also working with Sebastian (we live south so its much more convenient than traveling out to Munno Para, which is where the Monaco display home is). Our block of land settles on the 20th of April and the soil report is being done this week - hope it comes under our quote of $27k. We are building the 'As displayed' version of the Monaco and taking a few of the $$ items off of the list. Do you know when you will find out about your soil report? Where abouts are you building? Were you happy with your initial quote? Good luck with everything and keep us posted...I love the Wild Orchid, that was our 2nd choice for our build! Christina Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 3Apr 04, 2012 9:00 pm Hi Christina, We just started with the basic Grande Spec and added on from there, it has come to $254K with contingency allowance, when the as displayed was $246 without contingency allowance. Pete and I are building in Kanmantoo, on a 1500m2 block. I'm not sure how they work how much the contingency is I've heard they grade the soil as standard, medium, high and extreme and the price starts from there, if they find rocks etc How have you found Sebastian? Have you signed yet? I can say that we don't want to alter much with the colours and tiling with the display home, we just love it! What made you go for Monaco? I'm so glad you've replied, it will be great to follow your progress! Amanda Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 4Apr 04, 2012 9:16 pm Wow Kanmantoo is lovely, your house will be awesome!! We actually started with a quote on the Grande Spec and added and took off a few things which worked out to approx $250k (including the allowance). We then asked Sebastian to give us a quote on the 'as displayed' and worked backwards. It actually worked out a bit cheaper and we feel as though we are getting a bit more for our $$. It doesn't work out that way with most of the Dechellis homes though. The monaco as displayed is not 'upscaled' as much as some of the others. So far Sebastian has been great. He responds quickly to emails and is helpful when we meet with him. hope it continues =) We have only signed for the prelim soil tests etc but hope to get the ball rolling soon if all comes back ok. We are not changing much about from our display home either. We will keep the same/similar colours etc- mainly whites and greys. We are however changing the wall colour - I love the wall colour in the Wild Orchid (the grey with white skirtings). I think the style of the Wild Orchid is just lovely as well, so modern and fresh!! Keep us posted on the soil tests...would love to hear how you go. Do you know when they are doing the test? Are you building on a flat block? Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 5Apr 04, 2012 11:42 pm Good luck with it all. Enjoy the ride! There are some good threads on here from people who have built with D recently, check-out [/url]https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=45457[/url] Our footing allowance started at $30k, and came in at $24,880. That was a nice bonus. Our soil report came in at "M-D", we are in Golden Grove. We have just signed our contract today with Dechellis to build the Sorrento Mk2 (as displayed spec). Currently organising the Selections appointments, hopefully we shouldn't spend too much there - may even save some dough if we change some tiles etc! We are expecting to be in by Christmas Should start a thread one of these days. Will follow "monaco build's" & your threads Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 6Apr 05, 2012 11:58 am Hi Amanda I too fell in love with the wild orchid display, although we ended up making a few changes to the floor plan, i wanted the study on the outside, so we put that where the laundry was (getting extra room from swapping to the sorrento ensuite), putting the laundry where the pantry was and the pantry behind the kitchen, and the lounge wider. i absolutely love the kitchen, it was a must to keep the corner as displayed, but we changed the ends to accommodate the laundry and the pantry. i also loved the display colours.....you dont find many displays that arnt white/grey. we stuck with the similar colours, check out my thread our footings were 26-27k dingo, im also in GG, do you have a thread? Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 7Apr 05, 2012 12:34 pm Hi All, We are building with Dechellis too, we are going with a modified design on the Gladestone. We started with the homemaker spec and then added everything we wanted 2pac, essa, down lights etc etc the list goes on. We have been through council and the selection process. The selection process was great everyone was very helpful. We are now just waiting to start. Look forward to following all the new builds. Land Settled 08/11/11 Council Approval 23/12/11 Final Selections 20/01/12 Start Date 18/07/12 Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 8Apr 05, 2012 12:41 pm Hi welcome to Dechellis club, our footings were 25k. Good luck with your build Built the Monaco By Dechellis / SA https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=49855 Slab: 07/11/2011 Handover: 23/04/2012 Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 9Apr 05, 2012 2:46 pm I'd like to welcome you all as well ... have you read the "things you forget" thread? It has so much useful information and there is a summary page so you don't have to read through the whole thing. We built with Dechellis and our experience was soured by the fact that we didn't meet our supervisor till PCI (we tried) and it was then that we realised how very little attention to detail and quality finishes was paid to our house. Two other Mclarens were built close by and they both had to keep onto the SS to get a good job but as it was our first house we assumed that we could leave the builder to get on with their job and hand over a beautiful house. If you look through my thread you will see some of the problems we had ... most of them have been fixed now - it only took 6 months. Don't let me put you off though - we love our house. Hopefully you will get a good SS and a beautiful home! Good luck with your builds ... For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 10Apr 05, 2012 8:42 pm Hi everyone Thank you very much for the warm welcome! I have seriously enjoyed reading your thread Wild Orchid and yours too Mclaren, they have been very informative. As my partner and I are currently living 4.5 hours away on the eyre peninsula we're hoping that any problems we may encounter with the SS will be overseen by my partner's brother in law as he is a part owner of a metro commercial building business. It is daunting when I read about those sort of problems, being so far away and imagining inspections won't be in a timely manner! So hopefully we have this aspect covered... Wild Orchid, I have to say I felt your highs and lows whilst reading your thread, my partner and I, like I say, are virgin builders and are still very much excited in a naive way, so it is brung us down to earth. So thank you very much for opening our eyes, greatly appreciated, as potentially we may overlook things. Because when we speak to friends about building, there's so much missed and forgotten about in general conversation, at least I know there are numerous fabulous people on here readily available bursting with experience. 6 months is a good time and 4 months for you WO, wow. We are not in a rush thankfully. What time did everyone find as to when you signed with Dechellis paid $2k deposit to when the footings/slab went down? And what is 2pac? Stage#2, which one is the Gladestone? I couldn't find it in thay shiny Decehllis Homes book... What were the prices on your downlights? I have viewed your photos WO, your kitchen is amazing. We're keeping as is, colours and all, including the microwave cupboard, however, am considering the pots drawer - as I didn't think about!! We haven't changed the design at all, we fell in love with it about 6 months ago and always have come back to it when looking at other designs and builders. Dingo, do you know what made your report come in at M-D? It GG quite slopy in places? I ask this as, our block is 1500m2, flat, corner block. Apparently it used to be a nursery back in the day before sub division. The extra money would have been a lovely surprise in comparision to the one where I found out about contingency allowances! Here's to all of us for lovely surprises! I'm looking forward to reading about your selections Dingo. Christina, we are very happy with Kanmantoo, with the block size and the price was right! Esp it's only 10 minutes from Mt Barker. Tha's a great idea to go straight to top and work backwards. Sebastian seems to be right on the ball too and he does respond very promptly, given that this build is more than likely occupying our minds! Sometimes we have - already - had a few emails back and forth in a day! I will defintely keep you posted on our soil tests. I'm not sure when they will be doing the test, presuming once they get deposit (which is one Tues 10th April) and settlement is on the 13th April so not long after that maybe? Thank you again everyone, best thing coming accross this site! Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 11Apr 05, 2012 10:19 pm I would love to know what 2pac is as well?? We just had our soil test done today (i have pics of the soil on my thread - yes, mega nerd) although our block hasnt settled yet, so I dont really know how that all works?? I was worried they might accidently test the neighbours block (I have heard of that happening) but seems like they got the right one. Amanda I presume you had to make an appointment with Sebastian as you would be coming to Adelaide especially for that appointment? We just walked in and signed up without calling first so we were probably lucky that he wasnt busy that day! We only paid our deposit last Wednesday so we are happy with how quickly things are moving so far!! Let us know how you go at your meeting with Sebastian Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 12Apr 05, 2012 11:27 pm Things have gone quite quickly with us and seems people are getting hand over in 4-6 months!! We are having a 2pac kitchen aswell as ensuite and main bathroom joinery. 2pac is paint (instead on laminate) it's like the kitchen in the sorrento. The Gladestone isn't in their new book. Will have to upload a plan sometime. Land Settled 08/11/11 Council Approval 23/12/11 Final Selections 20/01/12 Start Date 18/07/12 Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 13Apr 06, 2012 9:20 pm Hi Amanda, We have just started the process of building the Wild Orchid - signed up on the 10th of March, and have just finished all of our selections this week. Our final selections appointment with Dechellis is on the 20th of April, and our build start date is the 29th of May - we can't wait!!! ORCHID Final selections meeting: 20 April 2012 Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 14Apr 10, 2012 2:06 pm AmandaC Wild Orchid, I have to say I felt your highs and lows whilst reading your thread, my partner and I, like I say, are virgin builders and are still very much excited in a naive way, so it is brung us down to earth. So thank you very much for opening our eyes, greatly appreciated, as potentially we may overlook things. Because when we speak to friends about building, there's so much missed and forgotten about in general conversation, at least I know there are numerous fabulous people on here readily available bursting with experience. 6 months is a good time and 4 months for you WO, wow. We are not in a rush thankfully. What time did everyone find as to when you signed with Dechellis paid $2k deposit to when the footings/slab went down? And what is 2pac? thanks amanda deposit to slab was 8.5 months for us, but that was when the 6 star energy rating just came in (at the time no one knew what to expect), i dont know if there may have been delays with that or if this is a normal time frame.?? 2pac is painted, the cupboards are really shiny and have smooth edges. i didnt really like the laminate strip edge (around the edges) if you get wood grain, or a slight spec in the laminate colour/pattern, the strip edge matches, but just plain colours, it looks a bit too plastic-y. but thats individual taste. i do think its good that they include silk range though (shiny laminate, not as shiny as 2pac) i probably would have picked that if we didnt have such large joinery doors (we needed the wood to be thinker than laminate, so 2pac paint was the only option.....or 2 joining doors that we didnt want) Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 15Apr 11, 2012 10:12 am Well, my partner and I had our appointment with Sebastian yesterday... and we signed stage one contract!! Yay! Block settles this Friday - all so very exciting! Sebastian mentioned to us that we could expect a soil report to be done on our block within six weeks and when they have done their report, drawn up a building contract adn we're happy with pricing etc, we sign off. Then stage two will begin. He mentioned that from when stage two has begun to when the slab preparation begins can be up to ten weeks - to allow for council approval, building approval etc. So working on these times, we can expect that our house build to begin end of July. How does this sound to everyone? Reason I ask, as I've read that when some people have signed and entered stage one and to when they have conducted and prepared soil reports, it has been a matter of two weeks. I'm not sure of this is a case of under promise/over deliver. But either way, we're not too fussed as we're not in a rush... I do have some questions for the experienced: Has anyone upgraded to R1.5 compressed glass in ceiling re heating/cooling? It was also suggested to us to upgrade the glass on windows to 6mm for same reasons as above, in addition to added security. Has anyone has stainless steel termimesh added to permiter of their house for added protection? The above was suggested to us, but not sure if anyone has found they have been worthwhile to add and if they have saved money in long run re heating/cooling? We have upgraded the ensuite shower glass to clear 10mm to match the as displayed toilet door in the Wild Orchid, added sliding doors to the ensuite, removed the desk to study and a single pantry door as opposed to the pull out door which was as displayed. There is so much to remember! Pete and I forgot to query the 'feature paint colour' in the grande spec, whether is is exactly that - one feature wall, or if it's the feature colour paint throughout the house?? We don't want a feature wall... Ah well, another email to Sebastian haha! We found Sebastian to be thorough regardless of our forgotten questions, so we're feeling happy and excited! Wild Orchid, Sebastian did mention the 6 star rating. Ah, I know what you mean with 2pac. Yes, it does look great! I take it that we'll get to those decisions on selections appointment?? Apparently the locations of downlight provisions are decided upon when we have our electrical appointment?? Thank you everyone Amanda Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 16Apr 11, 2012 11:17 am Good work Amanda. Yes you will decide on that at your Joinery and Electrical appointments, we found all the selection people fantastic to deal with. Land Settled 08/11/11 Council Approval 23/12/11 Final Selections 20/01/12 Start Date 18/07/12 Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 17Apr 11, 2012 11:18 am AmandaC Has anyone upgraded to R1.5 compressed glass in ceiling re heating/cooling? It was also suggested to us to upgrade the glass on windows to 6mm for same reasons as above, in addition to added security. Has anyone has stainless steel termimesh added to permiter of their house for added protection? There is so much to remember! Thank you everyone Amanda Hi Amanda Do you mean 1.5 insulation in the ceiling? We had to upgrade to 3.5 in the ceiling and 2.5 in the internal/external walls to meet 6 star requirements. No mention was made of upgrading glass or stainless steel termimesh ... There is a lot to remember - I made up a huge spreadsheet listing all the rooms, what was included, what was extra, etc etc and I still missed the powerpoint outside for the rainwater tanks that flush the main toilet!! I wanted to also tell you and the other Dechellis builders that even though you may upgrade the vanity/bath wastes to stainless steel you will still get a rubber plug (which we didn't realise at the time) - if you don't want that you will need to upgrade to a stainless steel pop up. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Edited to correct insulation thicknesses! For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 18Apr 11, 2012 11:22 am AmandaC Pete and I forgot to query the 'feature paint colour' in the grande spec, whether is is exactly that - one feature wall, or if it's the feature colour paint throughout the house?? We don't want a feature wall... Ah well, another email to Sebastian haha! I remember looking all over the Mclaren display for the feature wall that was listed and eventually discovered it was the whole study!! Lucky I made a note of it as it was not listed in the final paperwork so had to remind them! We even had to clarify it for the painter when he was at the house even though it was clearly marked on the plans For info on our build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=43093 Built the McLaren by Dechellis - slab down 22 Feb - handover 30 Aug 2011 - and gardens finished 9 Dec 2012!! Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 19Apr 11, 2012 1:54 pm we dont have termimesh to the whole house, just around pipes. the feature paint is just a wall, we dont have one, so it was a CR of $100 on our final paperwork. (better than nothing) kitchen colours are done at sampina appointment, we did go to laminex to get some ideas, but they cant help with whats included. the thing thats annoying is that not all laminate colours are included, the colour i picked for the laundry wasnt a standard colour and was going to be extra, sampina didnt even advise me of this. i think it depends on if its a popular colour thats readily available?? so we picked a different colour that was the closest. we didnt get the electical to do downlights, we are still indecided on what light fittings to have, i originally wanted a fancy dangly one over the dining table, so the electrician advised just to leave the junction box in the ceiling so we can put it exactly where it needs to be after our furniture is in. Re: Building the Wild Orchid by Dechellis 20Apr 11, 2012 8:30 pm Hi Amanda We have added termimesh to the perimiter of our house for added protection, as well as termite resistant timber to the wall frames for even more protection! DH is very stressed about termites, so wants as much protection as possible..... Orchid ORCHID Final selections meeting: 20 April 2012 go upvc window frames ensure insulation under colorbond. not just sarking, lighter color roof also not sure if you have seen this viewtopic.php?t=5823 last couple of pages… 4 110570 Even if it's not being sub-divided and you want to keep it as Torrens title, you will still need to talk to a town planner or Council themselves, to see if they will allow… 1 11035 |