Browse Forums Building A New House 1 May 12, 2012 7:34 pm We're at brick stage at the moment but am stressing a bit about our savings and whether well have enough after handover to have the house completely finished. Would appreciate anyone's prices/quotes on anything they had similar, or advice! We need - Clothesline Driveway (5m long by the length of 2 cars) Landscaping Concrete path down narrower side of house 2 side gates Letterbox Blinds Sparky to come in and install 24 downlights Retaining wall about 16m long by 700mm high Re: Finishing off a home after you get the keys? 2May 12, 2012 7:58 pm Driveway 30m2 should cost $80 a m2 for plain and $120 a metre for exposed aggregate. Sparky will take eight hours at $75 an hour, why not fit your own clothesline? Its looks easy on The Block @builderforlife Building inspector and passionate about construction When you need an expert to take a look. Re: Finishing off a home after you get the keys? 3May 12, 2012 8:06 pm Our building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=51657 Re: Finishing off a home after you get the keys? 4May 12, 2012 10:16 pm I suggest you prioritise what you really need after handover & then save up over time for the rest. For example I didn't get a clothes line for about 6 months (but they only cost about $250 for a rotary line) & still (18 months after handover) don't have window coverings in a couple of rooms. I wouldn't be doing the landscaping (including concrete path) immediately as that will be costly. And not to make you feel worse but there are a few omissions from your list; a tv aerial and light fittings (other than downlights) come to mind. Also is your builder including floor coverings? Good luck with it all Finishing off a home after you get the keys? 5May 12, 2012 11:15 pm Just do the important ones and then if you have money left work your way down the list. Everyone will give you a different answer to what they would do. Our must have was a paved driveway (18m wide x 11m long) as I couldn't stand having a dirt driveway but friends who built 3-4 years ago still have a dirt driveway and she couldn't care less Our driveway is costing $6000 (labour only) I think our pavers were about $6,000 as well so roughly I would think $60.00m2 but when we ordered our pavers we got about 30% discount Igot our blinds on sale 50% off from spotlight to do the whole house windows only $1100 Side gate - ours is a good neighbour I think was $2-300 Our side path will be pavers but we will do this ourselves Landscaping well that depends on what you want. In my old house the sprinkler system was $1500 back and $800 front (full automatic) and lawn I only have one quote was told around $10-15m2 and then it depends on what type and how many plants you want. I would get proper quotes and sit down and work out what to get first. Jasmin Hickinbotham Belmont - modified Signed: February 2011 Slab should go down before 2012 My build thread https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=52310&p=799483#p799483 Re: Finishing off a home after you get the keys? 6May 13, 2012 12:13 am The need for a 700mm high retaining wall along a 16m span makes me think you have a significant slope to retain or your house siting involved a significant cut and/or fill - I'd be prioritising getting those siteworks (and the associated agricultural drainage) sorted out if that is the case, because nothing will ruin your day more than excess water flowing down onto your block and eroding and/or saturating the earth around your slab. The driveway is also something you'll need to get done in some way, shape or form fairly quickly (whether it be gravel or concrete/paving) and if you have slope down towards the garage then you'll need drainage installed as well (or water will find it's way into your garage). Cosmetic stuff like clotheslines (just use clothes horses for now - not like you'll be putting the washing out on the line much during winter anyway), window treatments (just do the rooms being used for now - spotlight's 30-50% off sales are a good place to stockpile habadashery even before you move in), downlights (they'd be the last thing I'd do on your list as you can survive with battens even if they are the plastic "chinaman's hat" type that builders supply) and even landscaping (as long as the necessary siteworks have been done to sort out your drainage then you'll be able to live with looking out at dirt whilst you attack it piece by piece as you can afford it), etc can definitely wait a while. For a letterbox just rent a PO Box at your nearest post office (get one a couple of weeks before handover and arrange for the redirection to start the week before you move in) - shouldn't cost more than $50 for 6 months and they (Australia Post) offer a free mail redirection service during that 6 month period (you pay for mail redirection after the first 6 months). Also note that it isn't guaranteed that the mail run will extend to your home immediately after you move in unless you have built on a block in an already-built up part of an estate which is already getting a mail run. I'd also add a $1k-$2k for connections (TV antenna as mentioned, phone/internet, pay tv, etc) and things such as rates, bills, etc just in case you get some coming in soon after handover (better to have the money there set aside ready to use than having to scrape it together from money coming in). Some people apparently have nothing better to do than comment on other people's sigs. Finishing off a home after you get the keys? 7May 13, 2012 7:29 am Thanks Guys! Really appreciate all the replies - gives us something to think about Building Standards; Getting It Right! Don't think they are designed for double brick. WA has a particular way of building and unfortunately that's the way a large amount of sills are finished. 3 7014 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 4358 Any advice on a builder in NSW who is demanding an extra 22000k after the house is completed and contract paid in full .Standard HIA contract. Never received a variation.… 0 20526 |