Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 01, 2012 12:37 pm HELP!!!! Hi All, We have recently signed up with New Generation homes in the south west to build our very first home! Design Monterey! Although the process is the main reason im loosing sleep it is all very exciting! I do have a few concerns from reading previous posts We have recently done our prestart and about to sign final drawings, and as being a first home owner and my partner not much of a handy man, i thought it would be great to get some comments on what i should be looking for before we approve plans to be built! We weren't very happy with our prestart meeting as the lady was very pushy and our prestart only took an hour! We weren't given much options on upgrades i actually had to ask after she told us the standard would be fine. So im a little worried i have missed out on some good upgrades and if quality of materials are up to standard. If anyone has any comments or suggestions it would be greatly appreciated Thanks! Re: HELP! First Home Builder about to sign final drawings!!! 2Nov 01, 2012 1:14 pm Good luck with your build, I have a thred ( our Hartley build) which I've put a lot of my upgrades in. The first build we did way back was our first home. We went in with our eyes closed and relied on the sales rep way too much who missed so much stuff and it was only until we moved in we realized that we should of added so much more. Things can be added now or later of course but it depends on whats important to you Things like driveway, heating/cooling fly wire screens, concrete on alfresco area and porch, doors on certain rooms (like for us we added a door on the ensuite, study and living/thetre room. (this time around) also enquire where they lay the carpet as our first house had carpet at entry on the plan and being a traffic area would get dirty, kitchen extra cupboards, splashback, ceaserstone benches?? And the front door. With this build we had to request the style as the standard one was not what we wanted. If there is a display you like take a sales rep through it and point out what you like and get costs. The main thing for us was lighting no downlights are included usually just standard battens also power points, tv locations as they only usually install one or two in the cost, and finally the telephone point usually a trench needs to be dug builder can organize it or it can be done after handover.Hope this helps All the best Re: HELP! First Home Builder about to sign final drawings!!! 3Nov 01, 2012 1:51 pm If you are not truly happy with each and every item that you have picked I would not be signing anything yet. Even after prestart I was emailing our Pre start girl for a month making changes to selections. Make her do her job, look around for other possible taps/bathroom fittings/tiles and get quotes, this doesn;t hurt and then you will know for sure whether you are picking something because it's what you want, or not picking something due to budget constrains. Either way the decision will be yours that way and it's easier to live with than feeling like you didn't really have a good choice. I would tell your prestart girl that you are having second thoughts about selections and that you will be emailing her a list of things to get priced before signing paperwork. Also ask how long you have to make changes before the change fee kicks in. Good luck with everything! Re: HELP! First Home Builder about to sign final drawings!!! 4Nov 01, 2012 2:01 pm Good point about the change fee! if we made variations after signing it would cost an extra $500.00 don't sign until you are happy Re: HELP! First Home Builder about to sign final drawings!!! 5Nov 01, 2012 2:40 pm Thank you Yeh we have asked and the fee is $250 per item! we have alot of upgrades that we have added like stone bench tops, heating and cooling was included and we added in the flooring. I will be emailing the prestart lady with a few more requests! Im also concerned on things 'building wise' i have been told not to get the shower sealed with silicone instead with grout as the silicone wears away and causes leakage, has anyone had this problem? i have also heard if they dont leave the pad long enough it will crack under our flooring? wouldn't they have to allow sufficient time for this? The builders will be doing our flooring (vinyl planks) and Another concern is the fact it states on my conditions they have not allowed for floor preparation if slab is not suitable for our vinyl that we are having laid, is this something that happens often or is this the builders covering there bums I have tried getting answers from our builders but they keep passing me onto other people or stating we have nothing to worry about and not giving me particular answers! Thanks very much! And would the landscaper/contractor generally involve the engineer or is that something the client would do? Thanks for your help 2 10006 Peter In NSW your Certifier will have a copy, and the Certifier works for you not the builder. They are your representative so just contact them and ask for a… 6 2752 1 2965 |