Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Mar 10, 2014 5:47 pm Hi Guys. I've been feeding myself information over the past few months from this site, so thought it was about time I put pen to paper. We've currently got a sloping block in just north of Gosford and also in a flame zone. So, this just about rules out every project home builder for a sloping block except Montgomery Homes. Unless anyone knows otherwise? We're just waiting for our mate who's a surveyor to get the site survey back to us before we go ahead and get a tender under way, but thought I'd get this thread started. We really should have researched all the bush fire requirements etc prior to the buy, but you live, you learn.... I'm happy to answer any questions from anyone else in the same boat or take advice from anyone who's already gone through this process. I'll try and keep this thread updated as we move forward (or backwards) through the build process. Cheers, Shmacky Land Purchased 14th Jan 2014 Commencement Fee paid 14th May 2014 Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 2Mar 30, 2014 6:10 pm Hi Schmacky, We are going through exactly the same thing as you and are coming out the other side. We are building with montgomery in copacabana (nr Avoca) on a sloping block in a flame zone! We ahve had no dramas with the slope of the block as were happy with mntgomery designs etc from the start but the bush fire business has been a lesson and a costly one!! We were initally given the wrong info from gosford council re what zone we would be in (bal29) and came back as FZ and Bal 40 so the highest it could be pretty much! After finding out the changes we would have to make and the extra xost we hadnt budged for we decided its a beautiful spot and beautiful house so worth the added cost and stress. We had an offical bush fire report done which was well worth doing as it gave us an independant opinion which gisford council have just follwed his recommendations which we feel are reasonable. We also had to have a structural survey done as there has never been a house on the block we are building on (another$1000) requested by the council during DA application. So have you decided you are going to go through with Montgomery or still looking at different builders? Hoping it is all going smoothly for you! Beckie Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 3Apr 11, 2014 10:23 pm Don't Trust Montgomery Homes: We bought a block of land based on a tender from Montgomery. After settlement they doubled the site costs and added 20K in additional costs blaming prior employee incompetence (who was sacked). It has left us unable to afford to build and paying rent and mortgage on a single income, struggling to get by supporting two young children. Heartless organisation that is characteristic of Wall Street not building homes for Aussie families. Search Facebook "Don't Trust Montgomery Homes" or email donttrustmontgomeryhomes@outlook.com for our story Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 4Apr 21, 2014 2:51 pm Montgomery Homes would like to present some facts to the post made by HurtingFamily. These clients paid the first half of their commencement fee to us in June 2013. These clients signed 2 separate agreements with us - the first in June 2013 and the second in October 2013. Each agreement is only 1 page in length and does not contain any 'fine print'. There are only 4 conditions on each agreement and they are very clear and concise (ie. no legal jargon). On each agreement the clients accepted the current tender price, gave us permission to proceed to the next stage and agreed to cover our costs should they cancel. The price of the tender the clients agreed to in October 2013 is very close to the price of the current tender in April 2014 (less than a 2% price difference due to council/client changes). The clients paid the balance of their commencement fee to us 1 week after signing the second agreement in October 2013. Montgomery Homes is a family owned business employing 38 staff. We regularly give back to the community by supporting various charities and sporting groups. We are particularly proud to say that we sponsor almost 40 World Vision children. This client has engaged our services and now that they have cancelled they want to avoid paying the costs we have incurred on their behalf. This is simply not fair to Montgomery Homes. If anyone would like more information please contact the Operations Manager at Montgomery Homes on 4945 4000. Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 5May 15, 2014 10:14 pm Crumpsbuilds So have you decided you are going to go through with Montgomery or still looking at different builders? Hoping it is all going smoothly for you! Beckie Ignoring the few post above...... (If a forum moderator could delete these that would be much appreciated) We signed with Montgomery just the other day. Our Fire Report came back better than we were expecting, with only a section of the rear in the Flame Zone, some BAL40 & BAL29 depending on where we build on the site etc. It's funny you mention council giving you the wrong info - same thing happened to us. We'll know for next time round.... Here's hoping everything goes to plan. Will keep the post updated as the build progresses. By the sounds of it we'll need a structural survey done too then, as were on a vacant block also. Cheers, Shmacky Land Purchased 14th Jan 2014 Commencement Fee paid 14th May 2014 Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 6Jul 01, 2014 10:06 am Hi Schmacy, Congratualtions on signing and starting the process! You do tend the learn the hard way with a build dont you. Im just hoping there is no more suprises!! Our build has starting which is so exciting. Slab done and all electrical and tiling decided! (That was the last shock i am hoping!!) Ive got a blog started that I havent done anything on for a while as lost all motivation but now buikd has started all pumped up so am going to try and update it. Hope yours goes smoothly and looking forward to hearing some updates! PS am def ignoring the post above, sounds a bit one sided and have to just concentrat eon your own experience and what is good for you and your build. Weve had a few issues but I would be amazed if any owner/builder relationship is 100% smooth sailing! Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 7Jul 07, 2014 1:40 pm Good luck with the build, we are FZ/BAL 40 in Vic not far off signing contract. Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 8Nov 12, 2014 11:41 pm Hey Shmacky and Crumpsbuilds We are recently brought a block of land at Narara and when u guys all experience the fire zone that make me worried as i am not sure the block we brought is in bush fire area or not. When u guys said the bush fire business has been a lesson and a costly one can you be more detail about how much cost invote etc..... Our land is gently sloping too and the developer have not finish the site work yet so we do not even know how much site cost will be or if we need retaining wall or not. Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 9Nov 18, 2014 2:05 pm thebearof4 Hey Shmacky and Crumpsbuilds We are recently brought a block of land at Narara and when u guys all experience the fire zone that make me worried as i am not sure the block we brought is in bush fire area or not. When u guys said the bush fire business has been a lesson and a costly one can you be more detail about how much cost invote etc..... Our land is gently sloping too and the developer have not finish the site work yet so we do not even know how much site cost will be or if we need retaining wall or not. Is your block sloping away from your house? i.e. is your house at the top of the hill? What type of vegetation is around your house? grass, shrubs, trees? There are a lot of factors that go into deciding if it is in the flame zone and what fire rating it will receive. What area is Narara in? Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 10Nov 18, 2014 2:59 pm Hey ktotherose Our block is the new developing estate called Ridgeview Estate Narara http://www.ridgeviewnarara.com.au Our lot is not on the top side of the hill but sort of in the middle also developer put in retaining wall between each block on both side and try to level the middle part. We do not have grass ,trees or shrubs as there is big acres subdivide into 40 Lots. As in this topic ppl said sometime council can give you some wrong information about flame zone. So not sure which way we can find out or need do our own report on that. Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 11Nov 18, 2014 3:12 pm By the sounds of it your estate is clear of all vegetation? which means you will be in the low categories for bushfire attack level (BAL). Flame zone, what we are building in, is usually only for blocks that have sloping ground away from the house i.e. house is high and the vegetation around the house is dense mainly tall trees. it is certainly putting $100K + onto our build. hope this eases your mind Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 12Nov 19, 2014 7:43 am Shmacky Hi Guys. I've been feeding myself information over the past few months from this site, so thought it was about time I put pen to paper. We've currently got a sloping block in just north of Gosford and also in a flame zone. So, this just about rules out every project home builder for a sloping block except Montgomery Homes. Unless anyone knows otherwise? Generally what are the requirements to build in a flame zone ? Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 13Nov 19, 2014 8:54 am Materials have to pass the FZ testing as per the building in bushfire area standard and there are to be no gaps at all in the house where embers could get in. Basically concrete or earth walls! shutters over windows or FZ tested windows which are very expensive and there are only a few hardwoods that are permitted on the external of the house. its all doable, just more expensive. Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 14Nov 20, 2014 8:43 pm Hey ktotherose Thanks for the information and i did check u blog that u block looks very private and quiet with trees. The down site is cost you more to build as the flame zone but on the other hand you wont have neighbours too close by. We still not sure if we are in flame zone or not i guess we can find out by the developer soon. But like u said we wont be the high level of flame zone such relieve! Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 15Dec 01, 2014 11:45 am Hi everyone, My best advise after just coming out the other side of a bush fire regulation nightmare is get an independant certifier to do you a bush fire report. Dont rely on council or the builders as it is not their area of expertise. Also it doesnt hurt to get 2 reports or get a preliminary and then a repeat one done once your build has actully commenced. We did this and it reduced our level from FZ to BAL 40 which althouth the build requirments and windows were more costly ment we didnt have to have bushfire shutters and willl hopefully give us more freedom when planning the deck etc outside. Have a look at my blog and there is quite a lot of info in there regarding our site and bushfire etc. Good luck! http://ourcopacananahome.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Building - Montgomery Homes - Flame Zone - Central Coast 16Dec 01, 2014 4:14 pm We were required to provide our own report. I had an independent that gave us FZ I then re did the report and had it down graded to BAL 40 also. I am a botanist so I think this helped with permits etc. But anyone can do it as long as they do there research and can justify there reasoning. Hi All It has been a few weeks since my last update. The build has been progressing well. No major issues to report. The scaffolding was dropped today, gyprock will be… 96 356977 Anybody know any good and reasonably priced Air conditioning contractors/companies that could install a ducted air conditioning system in the Central Coast NSW for a small… 0 8994 Hi, I am wondering if anyone has built with Montgomery in the last few years on the Northern Beaches? I don't see the see them around, as I would love to ask how happy… 0 3190 |