Like a lot of people I have been stalking various blogs, and asking for advice, so I thought I should start a thread so that some of the stalkees can become stalkers!
So, to begin at the beginning. We had a 3x1 in Queens Park, which was fine, but we yearned for something more. I happened to see an ad for Taylor's estate back in 2011; we had a look and decided to sign up. The thought of being in amongst the wineries and 5 minutes from Guildford was very appealing! And the land titles weren't due until the next year, which suited us, as we had to smarten our house up and sell it in order to pay for the house and land.
We sold our QP house last March and moved to a small rental close to Caversham, expecting our titles around a month later. To date, we still don't have them!! From memory, They were due last April/May, then July/August, then October/November, then December/January, then March and now April. I may be slightly off with the exact months, I can't quite remember now, but I'm close.
The constant delays have been very difficult for us emotionally. Everyone says every time, "we'll, at least you can save more", but they don't really understand and hearing them say that becomes very annoying and to be honest we would rather just be in. We had hoped to be in last Christmas and now it's not looking very likely for this Christmas! The place we are renting was ok for a short time, but not so good for longer, and to make it worse we got burgled last year and now I hate the place. So, yes, it's all been a bit stressful! We have looked several times at buying existing, and could probably get a bigger place then the new build, but we really want to have a house the way we want it. We've also looked at other land, but nothing that fits all our requirements within our budget has come up. So on we plod with it.
But anyway, pity party over!
we do see light at the end of the tunnel - titles SHOULD be issued any month now! We have already done our pre-start - Redink have been great all the way along, and got us in for pre-start so that they can jump into action the moment they are allowed to. The developers have also said that the builders will be allowed on site to do whatever it is they do before the titles are issued, once they get to a certain point with the land (I don't know what it is they do really!) The developer is apparently doing all the pre work, so once the land is ours we can start building - I've heard of other people getting titles early but then they have to wait ages for stuff to be done to the land?
So, pre-start and interior designer done. I have to send back our extras costing this week. We added quite a bit! We found on the whole that the prices for extras haven't been too bad, and a couple of things appear to be cheaper than you can buy them yourselves.
We went for redink because a) we really liked jamie and b) they give you lots of cupboard space. The house we went for is the Benchmark, but we made quite a lot of changes, so it doesn't really look like that anymore! Jamie at Redink (who is excellent - I think he's at the harrisdale show home at the moment) said he'd just use that as a starting block - hence its name I suppose!
Although there is just me and my husband, we wanted a 4x2, so that we could put friends up in comfort, and overseas family, of which there is quite a bit. We also wanted an activity - for my husband to keep his graphic novel and comic art collection in! And a theatre, which will be my library! (Ah, the life of the non-parent, lol) so that's what we got. It's not big, but hopefully big enough for two!
Am jumping around a bit, sorry, but if you would like to know our choice they are:
Brick - provincial Calais
Porch render - solver beaver (unless I change it!)
Mortar - white
Roof - surf mist
Fascia - surf mist
Garage door - surf mist - Corinthian cosmopolitan
Gutters and down pipes - dune
Front pavers - pebble beach (upgrade)
Back pavers - seaspray - boral
Signature series (upgrade)
Windows - white
We were going to render the front, but changed our minds in the end, as we think (hopefully!) that the brick and mortar will be enough of a feature. I still worry that it might look old-fashioned, but worry is my middle name anyway, so what the hey! We have seen one or two houses built in that brick without render and they look fine, so hopefully we'll be ok.
We've upgraded the ensuite sinks to caroma carboni II and the other bathroom sink to the orbis, and the en suite shower to the caroma overhead with track
Ensuite tiles - white walls, black floor, black stripe, white cupboard, black bench
Other bathroom I'm not too happy with so it may change but at the moment it's a tile called silver on the floor, white walls, a feature stripe that has glass, metal and a wood effect in it, and slalom cupboard and bench top. ( I wanted a beach feel).
Front door will be PSLM 208, with the Gainsborough omni pull handle set.
We're having a glass panel rather than a shower screen for en suite, a solid door from garage to house, and glass doors on the theatre (library!
) and the pantry. I think that's mainly it.I will post a plan when a) I work out how and b) will probably wait until we get variations back to them and an updated plan, as over the 1+ year we've made so many changes to windows, walls, etc!
I hope you enjoy reading this thread as it goes along, and I hope I help people with ideas and questions, as other people have helped me.
it seems Jamie is good at selling Redink 
He was a major selling point in our decision as well and would recommend him to anyone considering redink as nothing is too much trouble! 
( they are expecting a baby very soon I think).
