Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 19, 2012 12:17 pm Hi Guys, Firstly, this forum has been a great resource for me and my partner we've certainly learnt a lot more on here than trolling on the net! I've got a few questions around some items/upgrades we're considering... We're building in moderate bushfire zone so our house is marked as BAL 12.5 (Wallan). We have to pay an extra $4500 on top of the build to cover for items that are mandatory because of the rating, including flyscreens on the windows. I'm wondering if its also mandatory for the builder to put flyscreens on the sliding doors? We're opting to have this included in our promo (paying $10,000 for $30,000 worth of upgrades) but if its already included then I'll find something better for the charge of $500 odd to have it. Also, we're really interested in having timber framed windows in the front of the house (this will be the master bedroom) as its standard to have alluminium I am wondering if theres anyone kind enough to share the cost of this upgrade? We were also thinking of staining it and having the front door match to a similar colour (from memory the lady in the Gallery said its around $250) And...the window glass - is there any pre glazing done as per factory standard? In the promo they've prices 5mm window tinting for the whole house at a hefty $4400... not sure we can fork this much out so we're still considering tinting after we've moved in (not for good looks, more for energy saving) Lastly, upgrading the benches to cat 1 ceaserstone in the bathroom and ensuite (we're extending the ensuite vanity an extra 30cm) - any approximate costs? We want to ave the same colour scheme in the kitchen and bathrooms We're building the Luxor and have added an extra lounge and alfresco. Its not confirmed yet if the alfresco has a concrete floor (initial sketch says it does but not going to count on it!) and it also doesnt state any light points in both lounge and alfresco - if anyone has added extra items such as these did light points come as standard? Guess I should also consider whether power points are as well So far we've put our deposit down with Simonds and they've been really good to us. We have a gallery appointment in the next 3 weeks. We went to the gallaery last week for a sneak peek tour and to get an idea of whats standard and whats not.. Luckily for us most of the stuff thats standard (bath, vanity, tiles) we actually like. We'll be upgrading the oven and getting stone bench tops in the kitchen...and a few other things...I'm wondering if we have left over promo money we are able to spend it on stuff thats not in the promo mag (like ceaserstone bench in bathrooms, blinds, extra downlights etc) Look forward to replies and thanks so much in advance ! Re: A few questions about extras and upgrades with Simonds 2Feb 19, 2012 7:04 pm Hi Camcam, I am building with Simonds and am in the final stage. I can answer some of your questions but not all. We signed the contract just before the added costs for the bushfire zones. Quote: I'm wondering if its also mandatory for the builder to put flyscreens on the sliding doors? No, we have no flyscreens on the whole house, we found it cheaper to put them in afterwards. You can send your plans to a few companies to see if they will give you a quote. In our contract is says aluminium sliding flydoor with nylon mesh to laundry sliding door with no locks on fly doors $290.00. Not worth it as in our last home we had a sliding security door with a lock for under $200. Quote: We're building the Luxor and have added an extra lounge and alfresco. Its not confirmed yet if the alfresco has a concrete floor ask them to extend the slab for you, same with the porch - imo - we did this for our porch. Quote: it also doesnt state any light points in both lounge and alfresco - if anyone has added extra items such as these did light points come as standard? Guess I should also consider whether power points are as well In your inclusions list it will state all of the power points that come standard, and in the lounge and alfresco you would think so. these prices are from September last year, so the prices may of gone up a bit, - additional internal light switch $51 - external light to front brick pillar $102 - exterior wall mount adjustable flood light $50 - additional internal power point single $51 - additional double power points $58 - quad power points $103 - good for computer and tv areas - weather proof power points $135 also if you want your heating vents to go to your laundry and bathrooms they are $165 Add as many power points in now as afterwards it will be more expensive unless you are or married to an electrician. Also you might want to think about data cabling. We did our own, and so do most people. Hope this helps We bought our own ovens and rangehood, that way you get exactly what you want, and there are bargains out there. We went the standard tiles with a feature tile, and the feature tile was not as expensive as we thought. Their standard baths are huge, and their standard tapware is nice as well. Good luck, hope it goes well, when you start a thread or a blog please let us know as I would love to follow it. hubby, kids and me all waiting for the Amberlea Site Cut 27 September 2011 https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=46637 http://www.dscml.com/ Re: A few questions about extras and upgrades with Simonds 3Aug 06, 2012 2:21 pm hi there! i too am building in wallan, and building the luxor, can i ask what the length of your kitchen/living room is? as per standard plans?, we went with the mossman facade, cheers Re: A few questions about extras and upgrades with Simonds 4Aug 06, 2012 4:50 pm Hi Boofnmike We didn't extend the kitchen/living room I think its standard at 7.2metres. From memory, it was around 4-5k to extend a further meter which results in one of the bedrooms losing its walk in wardrobe. Instead, we added a formal living and indoor alfresco (slotted between where the garage/kitchen and bedrooms meet) we are really happy with the layout. We chose the Kew facade Which Estate are you building in in Wallan? Re: A few questions about extras and upgrades with Simonds 5Aug 06, 2012 5:51 pm we are building in Wallara waters, how about you?, which sales consultant did u go through? and did you look at the luxor display home in wallara waters? i havent found anyone else who has built the luxor on here!! so sorry for the 100 questions lol Re: A few questions about extras and upgrades with Simonds 6Aug 06, 2012 5:57 pm Camcam We're building in moderate bushfire zone so our house is marked as BAL 12.5 (Wallan). We have to pay an extra $4500 on top of the build to cover for items that are mandatory because of the rating, including flyscreens on the windows. I'm wondering if its also mandatory for the builder to put flyscreens on the sliding doors? We're opting to have this included in our promo (paying $10,000 for $30,000 worth of upgrades) but if its already included then I'll find something better for the charge of $500 odd to have it. Do whatever you can yourself... as a rule you'll save 20%, that's what the builders mark up generally is. Use the bonus money for structural things that are difficult. I managed to persuade my builder to let me do a lot of stuff. Doing the LED down lights and solid timber flooring alone (not done by me, just organised externally) saved me 6.5k. If you are getting LED downlights, some builders are charging nearly $150 a light, which is highway robbery!! It's not hard to have the holes / wiring completed, then get your own sparky in to fit them off post-hand over. Additionally, the big builders don't like you using the 'bonus money' to spend on non-specified things. Basically, the price they set upgrade items at is inflated, so it's not costing them even close to what's listed. Most people will suggest you upgrade things that aren't easily done later, which is good advice. Re: A few questions about extras and upgrades with Simonds 7Jan 23, 2013 6:51 pm Hi We are building the turin and we used the bonus money up without down lights the windows at the front are below. I can't recall the cost I got past all the additional cost when the total came 100 k over base price. Re: A few questions about extras and upgrades with Simonds 8Jul 03, 2015 8:36 pm Is anyone able to shed any light as to the cost of timber windows in the front façade? And also the timber strapping/cladding above the windows and garage? I've seen this façade a lot and I love it, but Simonds don't see to offer it anymore? We are building a modified Palisade with Study and Kids retreat. Building a modified Simonds Palisade in Brentwood Forest. View my build thread here: viewtopic.php?t=76776 Thanks for that! Yeah, I was thinking timber front door. 10 22020 4 11466 Personally, considering your layout (study/work desks in bedrooms), I don't think you have any other option but to leave NW windows and make them as big as possible e.g.… 7 10789 |