Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 12, 2011 10:40 pm Hi Everybody! Melissa and I have been floating about and love this site its very informative and helpful but really wish we had found it earlier to give us more reading and info seeking time. We are about to start building in the Bendigo VIC area This is our first build and we have our block under contract and waiting for the title to be ready and have paid the deposit for our soil tests, etc so Dennis Family Homes can build us a Columbia 211...minus the garage, but with the meals area bought down to be in line with the pantry and entry widened and also had the plan flipped. http://www.dennisfamily.com.au/dfh/ourh ... Info=Plans] We have been very excited as the estimate was a great price with everything we wanted to have and everything seemed to be going smoothly. That was until we got a phone call yesterday telling us that the council have put a flood overlay on the block and there is almost a metre of fill right where we want (and have to put) our home! This means site costs have gone from $6,000 to $14,000 . We have to have the house 300mm above the landscaped earth and have 30 piers . Having spoke to council and asking if any over lays existed or if there was anything we needed to know about the block the answer was "No" --- but now look they exist now so apart from this little, slightly expensive adding problem we shall hopefully be in the building phase of our home . Please feel free to join our online journey and we shall see what we can learn. Tomorrow we get to see through a columbia being built so exited about that Dennis Family Homes Columbia 211 Deposit paid- 21/03/11 Re: Our Columbia 211 DFH 2Apr 12, 2011 10:50 pm Hello and welcome. I was going to ask you why no door from the garage into the house but then read that you are going minus the garage. Looks like it will be nice. What are your plans for the living area? When are your titles due? Are you building on a new development release? Ours were delayed some 6 months due to various issues including the floods in Victoria slowing up the developer (but also 6 week long argument between the developer and the council on how much cement should be going into the footpaths /eyeroll). It's starting to get rainy again I hope your title isn't affected. Pity about council moving the goalposts on you re: the overlay. Hope things go more smoothly from here and look forward to following your journey. Matt's Brando: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=46340 Started March 30th 2011 PCI July 15th Re: Our Columbia 211 DFH 3Apr 14, 2011 7:08 pm Hi Dr Matt! Thank you for the welcome! Last night we had a look down the road at a Columbia 211 that is being built and were both very happy with what we saw! We aren't making a huge amount of changes, but are very happy with the ones we are making after seeing the one last night. Here is everything we are changing and what we have decided to do so far... -Garage - Removing and having shed and carport further down the block. -Entry - Widening about 400mm. Having two 900mmx1800mm windows out to the future water feature and garden -Ensuite - Moving sink down to wall and having larger shower with tiled floor instead of base -Pantry - Deleting void and having extra shelves -Meals - Bringing wall down in line with pantry. Having sliding glass door out side and large window looking out to the water feature -Family - Large sliding door at rear of house. Having free standing fire place on the out side wall between the family and meals areas. -Laundry - Getting rid of broom cupboard and having bench with stainless steel sink -Bedroom 2 - Delete void and have extra shelves -Flooring - Wooden floor boards in entry, meals, kitchen and family. thinking about putting it in hallway too. - Tiles added to area between toilet, bathroom and laundry I think that's about it! Still haven't decided on the bricks or the colours yet, but we have a bit of time 'til our colour selection. Hopefully will have the titles in a couple of weeks depending how the weather goes. They were originally meant to be ready at the end of last month. But them not being ready has suited us. The sooner they are ready the sooner the repayments start lol. I really hope they aren't delayed 6 months though!!! That would have been an awfully long wait for you! We are are buying from a small subdivision. A developer bought an acre block and and has divided it up into 6 (our's and most of the others being 807m2 except one which is 838m2). Being such a small subdivision rather than a whole estate, hopefully it won't take too much to complete. Ben went to the council yesterday and they didn't seem to know anything about a flood overlay on the block. But referred him somewhere else (i can't think of where) to find out if they know. We are a bit confused as to what has happened seeing as the council have no record of it on their computers. Hopefully tomorrow we will know more! Ben has modified one of the plans so it is the way we are going to have ours. So we will try to get that and some photo's up soon!!! Dennis Family Homes Columbia 211 Deposit paid- 21/03/11 Re: Our Columbia 211 DFH 4Apr 14, 2011 7:23 pm ben/melissa Hi Dr Matt! Thank you for the welcome! Last night we had a look down the road at a Columbia 211 that is being built and were both very happy with what we saw! We aren't making a huge amount of changes, but are very happy with the ones we are making after seeing the one last night. Here is everything we are changing and what we have decided to do so far... -Garage - Removing and having shed and carport further down the block. -Entry - Widening about 400mm. Having two 900mmx1800mm windows out to the future water feature and garden -Ensuite - Moving sink down to wall and having larger shower with tiled floor instead of base -Pantry - Deleting void and having extra shelves -Meals - Bringing wall down in line with pantry. Having sliding glass door out side and large window looking out to the water feature -Family - Large sliding door at rear of house. Having free standing fire place on the out side wall between the family and meals areas. -Laundry - Getting rid of broom cupboard and having bench with stainless steel sink -Bedroom 2 - Delete void and have extra shelves -Flooring - Wooden floor boards in entry, meals, kitchen and family. thinking about putting it in hallway too. - Tiles added to area between toilet, bathroom and laundry I think that's about it! Still haven't decided on the bricks or the colours yet, but we have a bit of time 'til our colour selection. Hopefully will have the titles in a couple of weeks depending how the weather goes. They were originally meant to be ready at the end of last month. But them not being ready has suited us. The sooner they are ready the sooner the repayments start lol. I really hope they aren't delayed 6 months though!!! That would have been an awfully long wait for you! We are are buying from a small subdivision. A developer bought an acre block and and has divided it up into 6 (our's and most of the others being 807m2 except one which is 838m2). Being such a small subdivision rather than a whole estate, hopefully it won't take too much to complete. Ben went to the council yesterday and they didn't seem to know anything about a flood overlay on the block. But referred him somewhere else (i can't think of where) to find out if they know. We are a bit confused as to what has happened seeing as the council have no record of it on their computers. Hopefully tomorrow we will know more! Ben has modified one of the plans so it is the way we are going to have ours. So we will try to get that and some photo's up soon!!! Hi and welcome, it's seems strange that the council dont know anything about it! was it them that rang you and told you it was there or the builder? I hope it's all a mistake and doesn't cost you extra to build. Looking forward to watching your build. Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 5Apr 15, 2011 12:24 pm It does seem very strange to us too Ben's going to the Catchment Management Authority today who know all things water apparently. Hoping it is all a mistake. But the whole thing just seems a bit suss but being our first build spose things happen . From what we can work out, the people who did the soil tests through DFH are also part owners of the subdivision . If they got this info from somewhere and passed it on to DFH how come we weren't informed of this earlier if they knew about it? So we have a bit of investigating to do still! We are continuing with the build but treading lightly and thinking carefully for the time being . But if it turns out that there isn't a flood overlay or we are able to change the overlay before the contracts are signed (which is another 2 months away), they will credit us back those costs and everything will be the way it was a week ago! Fingers crossed! Dennis Family Homes Columbia 211 Deposit paid- 21/03/11 Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 6Apr 15, 2011 12:27 pm Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ WOO HOO got a photo on! Thank you Matt!!! So this is our plan and it will be on an angle on the block. Ben has made the changes to it that we said in an earlier post. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Dennis Family Homes Columbia 211 Deposit paid- 21/03/11 Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 7Apr 15, 2011 5:58 pm Our block... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ the fire wood (trees) for the next ??? years as long as im quick or it will be got by others as soon as it falls, it really is a shame they have to go as they are nice but very restrictive in terms of where the house can go and they are to be removed as part of the subdivision Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Dennis Family Homes Columbia 211 Deposit paid- 21/03/11 Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 8Apr 15, 2011 9:21 pm Hi ben/melissa Are you guys in bendigo as we are and building in Lockwood... such a nice area out there. Hope your build goes well. Bindi Contract signed - March 7,2011 Site Cut - May 6, 2011 Pre slab plumbing - 19th May, 2011 Slab - 10th June, 2011 Our thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=45044 Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 9Apr 16, 2011 2:55 pm Hi Bindi we are building out at Huntly, as its closer to work. Its nice out there, but out you way its nice too its a good part of the country . It's just one of those great days to be outside (don't really know what i'm doing in here). There doesn't seem to be a flood over lay on the block and as of early next week we should have it in writing from the catchment authority . Dennis Family Homes Columbia 211 Deposit paid- 21/03/11 Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 10Apr 22, 2011 2:50 pm just finished catching up on your build! Sounds like you have had a few flood issues! We are building in bendigo also (Epsom) and we too have had alot of issue's with flooding! Hope it all works out, look forward to reading more! Building the urbis through jg king homes Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 11Apr 25, 2011 8:57 am hi naybo how far into your build are you ? and have you got a thread yet just cant find it if you have , also have you been actually flooded or is it also an over lay , i know some of the courts in Epsom flood but unsure if its just the road way or more substantial i.e house and land inundation , have you seen the amount of fill being trucked into the estate at howard st, jobs gully road ( didnt want to name the estate ) We still are waiting, but progress is being made on the block/subdivision curb and channel are next i have been told Dennis Family Homes Columbia 211 Deposit paid- 21/03/11 Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 12Apr 26, 2011 7:06 pm Hi, I'm in the middle of setting up a new forum now... ill let you know once i've finished! We are in a area which the council believe is a flood zone however when we had all that rain it never flooded... didn't even hold much water so we aren't really sure what they are going on about! We have also had to pay a pretty high bal...but the land is beautiful and it the perfect location. (its in a really quite court.) I have noticed the amount of fill going into the new estate, its incredible! I would never recommend buying there. ( by the looks of it they are having issue's selling it ... seem to be alot of blocks still for sale) Our bricks are going up in the next 2 or so weeks so hopefully we will be weather proof before the rain set's in! How's everything going with your build? Building the urbis through jg king homes Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 13Apr 27, 2011 7:33 pm hey ,, Hope the weather hold off for a bit longer for you , bet ya excited All the blocks had a scrape over today and the farm fencing has all been rolled up, it is very much looking like a few houses are gunna go up there , still abit away from a title becoming available, when did council inform you of it being a flood zone ? Im all for building higher to get out of the flood path or just dont build in low ****** areas, , i wonder if its an easy way out just to say it floods there , so no law suits come their way . its not like we are digging a hole and putting a house in it , and it is the highest block there in the first place . Dennis Family Homes Columbia 211 Deposit paid- 21/03/11 Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 14May 03, 2011 1:51 pm Hey naybo, we sold our house which was in epsom was really nice out there but now it looks like its getting full with houses. We were on the same road that the display houses are out there. I wouldnt go buying land out the other side though the new estate out there is right near the waste water treatment plant so it might be a bit smelly Yes i find some councils just want ppl to build houses in flood areas so they can get money from rates... Although why would someone want to risk it is beyond me. Our house has almost started waiting on the site cut hopefully this week but will see how busy the earth mover is. Hopefully the weather stays like it is at the moment. Contract signed - March 7,2011 Site Cut - May 6, 2011 Pre slab plumbing - 19th May, 2011 Slab - 10th June, 2011 Our thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=45044 Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 15May 06, 2011 9:44 pm hey Bindi Epsom is growing pritty quick and across the road from the sports grounds half way to Huntly is getting divided up into subdivision from the train line to the highway, It wont be long be houses all the way to Huntly.. Ya right about the smell on a hot north windy day, at night ya got the mozzies , and winter it would smell of damp Dennis Family Homes Columbia 211 Deposit paid- 21/03/11 Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 16May 07, 2011 2:27 pm Hi Bindi, where abouts was your house in epsom, near the display homes near station st? Our land is in the perfect stop, we are in a really little court ... area from all estates! your right, the smell is horrible... so glad we are no where near there! Ben/melissa any news on your build? Building the urbis through jg king homes Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 17May 08, 2011 7:57 pm still waiting on the title spose about a month away yet , but atleast when its ready the build can start , the trees are still there but the gutters are getting done now, there is a builders sign on one of the blocks a couple of doors up but out block is just a block at the moment. Ben Dennis Family Homes Columbia 211 Deposit paid- 21/03/11 Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 18May 09, 2011 11:06 pm did a drive by today and the bloke doing the subdivision stopped me and asked where we want our crossover for the driveway so i showed him where and he linemarked it so thats one thing we want, a drive way where we want it , although we have already asked the agent selling it and requested it on the right hand side but obviously that wasnt passed on to him , Ben Dennis Family Homes Columbia 211 Deposit paid- 21/03/11 Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 19May 10, 2011 2:28 pm Our house was in Myrtle Rd near the corner intersection. We loved it there except for one of the neighbours was a douchbag was always having parties and loud music till 3am very inconsiderate. Glad he moved down to melbourne but just rented the house out. Its now on the market which is interesting ... obvously couldnt afford his mortgage and his maloo ute on his $14/hour wage LOL (we found one of his payslips in our back yard once) We sold our house to a couple from craigieburn way in melbourne . We had a 140 day settlement i think it ended up being, we drive past it regularly to have a look at it. Contract signed - March 7,2011 Site Cut - May 6, 2011 Pre slab plumbing - 19th May, 2011 Slab - 10th June, 2011 Our thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=45044 Re: Our Columbia 211 Dennis Family Home 20Jun 07, 2011 10:41 pm we have done quite a bit of selections ourselves Our Taps we would like nice rounded no sharp edges, just nice Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ kitchen mixer , tall enough to get stuff under Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Every house needs a front door we would love this one Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ For bricks we have chosen the Gypsy Rose Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The roof tiles are gun metal grey Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Our feature tiles for the bathroom and ensuite are Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ along with the bench top and cupboard doors and floor tiles in the back ground Kitchen splash back tiles could be Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ but we are still searching for a light green / mint coloured tile about 100mm x 200mm about this colour Dennis Family Homes Columbia 211 Deposit paid- 21/03/11 Hi everyone, Newbie renovator here, after some advice for combining our family room in the picture and the alfresco and make a larger family room. There is a flush sill… 0 4891 We already paid for somfy motors for the blinds. The quote above was purely for “pre-wiring” so the blinds company can install the motors and blinds. That’s why we… 5 16275 of course there are legal avenues. You've already mentioned it. Sue them. I find it odd that lawyers wouldnt be willing to take on the case, given CCT evidence and… 1 23765 |