Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 05, 2014 6:01 pm This is our first post (5th April 2014),, we are excited that finally site start for our new house in South Morang with Bentley Homes is now within the next 10 days. We have benefited from reading many posts on this site hence our decision to share our building experience as it progresses with Bentley Homes. It has been a long journey for us,, having bought our land in June 2013 and then the merry go round house viewing and deliberations with many builders around. Our block has around 3 metre fall hence our builders list quickly narrowed to about 4/5 builders who had accepted and quoted us. Bentley has quite good reviews on this site and they are also specialists in sloping sites thus helping us with our decision. We nearly switched to a different builder but we were lucky that for our site we got quite a good deal for the Palazzo House with a few inside modifications. So far the process with Bentley Homes has been impressive,, easy to deal with and quite responsive to our ever changing needs. We were even offered an appointment with one of the Directors to reassure us though we didn't take it up as we were quite happy to deal with our CSA (Georgie-Lee) who has been great. The sales office at Mernda were very helpful (Paul & Michelle),, many thanks for entertaining our many visits. We signed tender in October 2013 and contract in November 2013 and finance fully approved in December 2013,,, site start was scheduled for January 2014. This is the time we encountered our first glitch,,, apparently our house slightly overlapped the envelopes,, however this was due to inconsistencies between the plan of subdivision and PDL (Principles of Design Living) for our area. An application to vary this was done on our behalf by Bentley Homes (Wendy & Georgie-Lee) and finally approval came end of March 2014. Whilst Bentley Homes has been great so far,, communication with us by Bentley Homes during the problematic envelope issues was a bit slack and we nearly decided to sell the block. We only learnt that there was a problem almost towards the end of January 2014 when we had contacted them wondering when site start would commence. We are however excited that site start is within the next couple of days and I shall keep you all informed on how we are progressing. AT THIS STAGE WOULD I RECOMMEND BENTLEY HOMES TO ANYONE,,,,,,YES..responsive at a personal level,, accommodate changes and modifications with ease at competitive prices and,, access to their offices is easy and pleasant !!! So far so good!! Re: Building with Bentley Homes (Aust) P/L - with pictures! 2Apr 05, 2014 7:16 pm congrats on the building of your new home do you have pics of house plan and land Re: Building with Bentley Homes (Aust) P/L - with pictures! 4May 24, 2014 4:04 pm Sorry guys it has taken a while to upload pictures and give you heads-up,, I hope to be doing that now. I am pleased with the built so far,, started around mid April 2014 and already frame is up and roof tiles ready to go up. Lets start from the beginning with pictures as promised: This is our house, the Bentley Homes Palazzo House,,, with a few modifications/alterations inside only: Our site just before site-start (15th April 2014): Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Approved Site Plan: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Ground Floor: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Elevation A: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Site Start!!!!! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Building with Bentley Homes (Aust) P/L - with pictures! 5May 24, 2014 4:16 pm Slab Completed May 2014: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The cut and fill,, although happy with the building progress so far,, we were concerned about this deep cut next to the pavement but however,, Bentley Homes responded pretty quickly to our concerns and we are going to have a site meeting ref retaining walls etc,, I shall post pics ref retaining walls when its done! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The backayard,, its a decent size enough for our family needs Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ The front: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Slab overview: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ yes we do have a lovely view: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Building with Bentley Homes (Aust) P/L - with pictures! 6May 24, 2014 5:00 pm ALL THIS WORK DONE IN MAY 2014,, WE ARE PRETTY IMPRESSED,, SO FAR SO EXCELLENT!!
Frame - Ground floor: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Side View: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Front View: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Building with Bentley Homes (Aust) P/L - with pictures! 8Sep 01, 2014 9:06 pm Building progress (1st September 2014)......... Brickwork completed and scaffolding removed,, plasterer has been and kitchen cabinets now in,, now at fixing stage. Building time frame so far has been really good but however,, the cut at the front is terrible! The house itself is beautiful but unsightly at the front and side due to the cut.
Re: Building with Bentley Homes (Aust) P/L - with pictures! 9Sep 01, 2014 9:09 pm congrats on the progress . you maybe able to retain etc after handover and make nice garden. do you have pics Re: Building with Bentley Homes (Aust) P/L - with pictures! 11Sep 01, 2014 9:15 pm We got a shock of disappointment when the scaffolding was removed! We are literally buried at the front due to the significant cut (about 1100mm),, this has been our main concern right from the start and we even sought some reassurances from Bentley Homes prior to signing contract that we will not be buried. For us the earthworks resulted in a lot of site alterations (large cuts) and this looks unsightly. We are also disappointed that two fencers have even refused to quote us for the fencing due to the cut close to the path.
Re: Building with Bentley Homes (Aust) P/L - with pictures! 13Jun 23, 2015 10:04 pm Hi there! I imagine you are in your house by now. I hope you are enjoying it. I'm wondering how you resolved your front fence/ large cuts issues. http://www.housebythewater.wordpress.com From blank block to new home in Mandurah, Western Australia. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65564 Regardless of wall hung toilet or floor pan toilet your feet will be right on drain, seems to me the waste should not be in that location given the design. Also are you… 6 7035 Ask for references and speak to them. If they are defensive or try to avoid the request, walk. 1 74700 I would never build with Fowler homes. I built with them in 2021 and till date maintenance issues are pending. All their existing trades and businesses don't work with… 14 105530 |