Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 30, 2013 12:12 pm After months of looking at display homes, I finally found the one that ticks most of the boxes. Just one thing: I realky want shaker style cupboard doors and a farmhouse/apron sink in my kitchen. Homebuyers Centre has called me back to let me know that won't be possible. Something about waterproofing issues. I don't buy it. I also said I wanted to provide my own appliances. They said they couldn't hand over without appliances hooked up and their guys couldn't do it for insurance purposes. I'm starting to believe buying a ready-built home and slowly renovating it is the way to go, but I don't want to. I really just want new. I would have thought when dropping new house kinda money, a kitchen with cupboard doors and a sink i like isn't too much to ask for. Is it? Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 2Jun 30, 2013 12:18 pm hi i think it just depends on the builder but it definitely is not too much to ask go to another builder who will accommodate you i asked for with my builder a free standing bath and also for a butlers stainless sink and asked for them to be in the contract which they were . if they do not give you what you want try another builder or go custom Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 3Jun 30, 2013 3:05 pm Project builders only allow a limited range; and it's unlikely you'll convince them to hand over a house that's complete except the kitchen. If you want anything slightly unusual it's worth shopping-around in case you get lucky, but most-likely you'll need a custom builder. Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 4Jun 30, 2013 6:19 pm Thanks Rocky and Forg. I'll check into custom - only one small problem: I was under the impression they were quite a bit more expensive. I just want my sink and cupboards! LOL Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 5Jun 30, 2013 7:08 pm I found if I asked for anything that might be too hard, our sales rep said we couldn't do it mostly because he was lazy. Shame I only found out about it after the contract was drawn up and it was too late for alot of things! Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 6Jun 30, 2013 7:18 pm If you get the right builder then nothing is too hard. You will find most larger project home builders will allow for some changes, usually at a cost, but things are usually too hard for them. As an example, we were looking at a very large NSW/ACT based builder to build our home. We wanted concrete underground water tanks. Apparently it was all too hard for them, weven after I had provided quotes from 2 companies that I was happy to go with. In the end we went with a smaller local boutique builder, which did cost a fraction more, but we have been involved in everything. We were able to custom design our kitchen, laundry, ensuite and bathroom basins with his kitchen people, I approved the window schedule that was provided by the window supplier and I even got to approve the appliance and selections list that came from Harvey Norman Commercial. I even saw the prices my builder got the stuff for.... the same price he gave it to us for, ie no mark up. In the end, you need to shop around for the right builder that you feel comfortable with, it is a very big investment to make. Apr 12 - Land purchased. Aug 12 - Draft plans. Sep 12 - Deposit Paid. Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 7Jun 30, 2013 8:29 pm I am in a similar boat to you First and Last, except I have asked the questions, been told all is okay, signed up and now copping all the "no" answers. GRRRRRRRR. There was one thing in the initial contract which said we can't take window treatments, flooring and appliances out of the contract and I was told that a stat dec stating that we were supplying our own would be fine. There was nothing in the next contract and only now am I finding out that I CANNOT do ANYTHING. One thing I specified was the sink ( are you in Perth? Have you looked at the stone Superstore?) and another were the bathroom tiles. I like rather $$$ bathrooms tiles and having renovated not too long ago, I know what I like and want. "Yes, yes yes yes, but it may just cost you more to lay". Fine. Just got our prestart pack and the choice of 2 stores, NO owner supplied tiles and NO tiles over 30cm2. Now I am looking at tiles I dislike and the "choice" of ripping out a brand new bathroom after handover so I can get what I want. DEFINITELY look into everything first and get it in writing. I am SO disapointed. It would have been cheaper for me to pull out and lose my deposit, but we have gone too far now Good luck. ______________________________________________________________________ Signed up Jan 2013........Almost done! My thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65763 Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 8Jun 30, 2013 9:56 pm we went with a big builder and they let us pick our own sink. The cupboard door style would be something they would have let us sort out with the kitchen manufacturer direct... You just need to ask around. Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 9Jun 30, 2013 10:09 pm Felicity - Hubby seems to think the sales guy put in the "too hard basket" and didn't want to deal with it. Shame. We love *that* floorplan, but they'll lose the sale if i can't get the look I want for the kitchen - especially since it's open plan and affects the look of the dining room, lounge and alfresco. Budorat - That sounds so good! I should look into this, seeing I plan on this being my First and Last home purchase. We're in our 40s, no kids, so this is The One. Di - So sorry you're going through this. That's exactly what I'm dreading. I'm in Melbourne but I'll look that store up. I kept thinking it didn't make sense to pay for flooring to be laid and later pay for more expensive stuff that's not included in my mortgage. And I agree with you about the 30cm2 - nice but not what dreams are made of. I really want to get this right the first time, just that I really liked that floorplan. I suppose custom can give me the same effects I'm after. Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 10Jul 01, 2013 3:10 am we went custom and i feel it was not that much more but we had alot of input into our design and features , the end result was a fantastic home well worth it Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 11Jul 01, 2013 7:43 am where abouts are you located? our builder raised the insurance issue with us as well with regard to appliances, i just pushed back a little and am now allowed to supply my own. i just asked them to leave a gap for a 900mm freestanding to make it easier for everyone. i think it helps if you counter their concerns, eg i also didn't want their tilting in the wet areas but know that floor coverings in wet areas are needed for the cert of occupancy so asked if i could install roll vinyl as a temporary measure to get the coo so it can get handed over. Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 12Jul 01, 2013 8:12 am Hi Stacey - I'm on the Mornington Penninsula - building South East but we don't have land yet. My interest is piqued with the idea of doing a custom build, as I can't afford too many after-build renovations. Might have to settle on less than what I'm hoping for if finances make it unfeasible, but I do believe before giving up that I would do as you said - counter their concerns. I just didn't want to start with such big negotiations. I want a builder who can say "Yep - that's doable", as I can't see why it's not. Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 13Jul 01, 2013 8:39 am the problem you might find is that some builders might say yes, until it comes time to get it in writing, as dinosaur above mentioned. the same thing happened with our first builder, yes to almost everything then the closer we got to contracts things started changing to no. we're just working through similar things with our current builder but things are starting to get confirmed in writing now. what about a middle ground between custom and volume with someone like Gj gardiner? not sure what the franchisee is like over your side (we're on the bellarine peninsula) but here they seemed pretty open to almost anything, we just couldn't find a design we liked for our block. Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 14Jul 01, 2013 10:42 am +1 one for custom builder. Yes, the cost is higher but you're getting what you want. For me that makes it worth it. The volume builders want to be able to churn out houses, they can't do that if you want to change things around. Just hard work as far as they're concerned for no real benefit to them. My Hamptons build (completed): viewtopic.php?f=31&t=63370 Moved in Wednesday 11th Dec 2013 Front landscaping completed June 2016 Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 15Jul 01, 2013 11:56 am I would have thought it's about a $200,000 benefit to them, because if I don't get this I probably won't go through with the deal. But I see what you're saying, Cinder. Re: Can't I Pick My Own Sink? 16Jul 01, 2013 12:54 pm cinder +1 one for custom builder. Yes, the cost is higher but you're getting what you want. I'm not convinced that the cost is higher, for what you want. It appears to me that if you have a particular desire for anything that the project builders don't consider to be common, then hammering the square project-builder peg into your round particular-desires hole is an expensive exercise (and apparently rife with innuendo to boot!). You may still have a case, but your next step is to speak to a lawyer. 3 1609 Hi Mofflepop, I would recommend finding a building designer to prepare plans, they should design to your specified budget. The benefit is you can tender the project out… 9 20355 Have had stone benches with undermount sink (kitchen) and drop-in (laundry) and top-mounted basin (bathrooms) for coming up 13 years and not one chip/scratch of any kind.… 2 9673 |