Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 24, 2014 10:25 pm I'm curious to see what other people (who aren't owner-builders) did themselves after handover to save on costs, and how did it work out? Did you end up doing it or is it still on the "to-do list"? Any regrets? So far, this is what I have on my post-handover list: Floor tiles Wood flooring Skirting boards Lighting Painting Fences & gates Wardrobe fit out Window dressings What are you also doing after handover? Re: What did you do after handover? 2Apr 24, 2014 10:46 pm Our post handover list includes the above plus - Blinds/shutters Decks Driveway Retaining Soakwells Pool concreting/tiling aggregate shed outdoor kitchen air con retic landscaping pool fencing custom cabinetry wallpapering Bit scary now that I've actually listed it Re: What did you do after handover? 3Apr 24, 2014 11:06 pm I am such an idiot I had a reply and then deleted it our post handover list is as follows:
Window Treatments WIR Fit out Gates Landscaping Soakwells General Decorating (wallpaper etc) Solar Panels (thanks asha haha) No doubt that list will continue to grow Re: What did you do after handover? 4Apr 24, 2014 11:10 pm Does anyone ever really finish their homes - I know we never have even though to everyone else they seem done there is always something we want to add Oh and my list just grew solar panels Re: What did you do after handover? 5Apr 24, 2014 11:17 pm Soakwells, really? I thought that was a standard plumbing thing. Is it easy to do afterwards? Re: What did you do after handover? 6Apr 24, 2014 11:22 pm Most of the above is on my list More power points Pergola Flyover (undercover part of deck) Door bell/intercom Change tap Additional towel rail and hooks Possible feature brick wall Possible wood fire oven using a phone so please excuse any typos and abruptness Re: What did you do after handover? 7Apr 24, 2014 11:30 pm Trixee we have always done our own soakwells. Order them direct and then employ excavator and driver to put them in the ground. Hubby just hooks them up with pvc pipe. Generally half the price of the builder. We are also doing our own septics - same principal except we use a plumber to hook up obviously. Re: What did you do after handover? 8Apr 25, 2014 9:38 am What we have done so far (in the nearly 5 years since building...) Telstra trenching Flooring (boards and carpet - wet areas done through builder) Clothesline Decking to alfresco Window coverings Light fixtures, interior and exterior (I took down all those hideous white china man's hats the instant we got our keys!) Shed Garage floor painting Still to do... Front brick fence (requires dispensation from Council, one go at it and we've been putting it off!) Driveway Retaining wall All landscaping Side gate ...life kinda got in the way! Henley - Wilshire Mk 3 ... I love my house!! Site start: 4th Feb 09 Handover: 10th Sep 09 Blog: http://stormygirlscastle.blogspot.com/ Build Thread: viewtopic.php?t=7166 Re: What did you do after handover? 9Apr 25, 2014 11:22 am after handover finish pool area (after 12 months in house it is nearly done) finish tiling decking to alfresco (still to be done) garage floor coating ( just completed) fix driveway ( very slippery and have just completed this) more outside power points ( now done) window treatments including shutters and blinds screen the corner-less stacker doors (just finished this one) also screen front door hopefully complete in next couple of weeks landscaping fencing pool and side add screens to lower patio and front portico (just finished) add decorative screens above the garages( job this weekend for son and i to do) garden sheds (to complete) solar panels( now complete have 20 panels) still to do side fence and side gate also concrete down side of house having major storm damage to house put alot of projects on hold for a while Re: What did you do after handover? 11Apr 25, 2014 4:29 pm trixee That's a lot of solar panels! 20 panels isn't a lot. We had 33 on our old house, mind you they were only 180w panels. On the new house we'll be put on around 22-24 panels (250w panels) initially, and then adding on to when we go hybrid, and even more when we eventually go completely offgrid. Really the number of panels you need in these days of low or no Feed in Tariffs, will vary quite dramatically depending upon your daytime usage, or if you plan to do what we're looking at doing. Some people say don't get anymore than you need, as you will be providing cheap or free power back to the electricity retailer, others the opposite and say get as many as you want for the daytime demand you might have, so what if you feed power back freely to the power company, as it didn't cost you anything to produce it. Owner Building at Jimboomba Woods in Logan City Qld. Blog : http://bandlnewhomebuild.blogspot.com H1 thread : viewtopic.php?f=38&t=68283 . Re: What did you do after handover? 12Apr 25, 2014 4:56 pm We had nearly everything included - even turf, fencing, letterbox and clothesline - however we did all this ourselves in the end as we had to remove some items due to a low valuation. Things we did that were completed within a month of handover - Turf - Gardens - Clothesline - Letterbox (which I love) - Blinds (were completed during final stage of build) - Second driveway (not complete one year on, but now we are selling so will turf for new owner) Everything else was included as part of our build. 1st build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59376 *New*-2nd build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70324&p=1154282#p1154282 Re: What did you do after handover? 13Apr 25, 2014 5:59 pm Our after handover list *overhead cupboards in L'dry *overhead cabinet work in scullery *adding cabinets and bench top next to the fridge in the scullery *build the built in TV cabinet *lights in kitchen, entrance, master bedroom and the outside lights *paving out the back *patio *back garden *window treatment *washing line *letter box *side fence *changing over the kitchen taps *solar panels *limestone front wall *little jobs like adding a cupboard in the powder room we have all of this in our budget and will be done within 4 months the things that are not in budget The want list * bi-fold doors on the alfresco to turn it into a sun room *fully in close the front yard Re: What did you do after handover? 14Apr 25, 2014 6:48 pm It will depend on where some quotes com in at but I'm hoping to have to do very little. Will definately do: * Window coverings * Solar panels * HDMI cables in installed conduit * Pool (through builder affiliated pool guy though) Re: What did you do after handover? 15Apr 25, 2014 6:52 pm Good thread trixee. Things I'm currently getting quotes for to do post handover but hopefully include in the mortgage glass splashback Built in IT nook Painting All flooring except wet areas (bamboo and tile) Alfresco and veranda decking, or paving, depends on pricing Window treatments Solar panels Greywater Landscaping Re: What did you do after handover? 16Apr 25, 2014 7:02 pm Here's our list: Alarm system Security doors and window panels Window treatments Back garden landscape Extend driveway width to a true triple driveway (paving) Retaining wall Letterbox Washing lines (yes lines!!) Alfresco ceiling fans Wardrobe fit outs Additional tiling in ensuite Installing man-shed in backyard There's probably more, but until living there the list will never be complete. Re: What did you do after handover? 17Apr 25, 2014 9:16 pm Things we have budgeted for in the month following handover; *Driveway *Blinds *letterbox *Landscaping *Cabinetry handles relaced *Tapware replaced *Cooling *Turf *Towel rails etc And one day we will add; *Shed *Second Driveway *Deck *Maybe replace the category 1 tiles in wet areas Re: What did you do after handover? 18Apr 25, 2014 10:51 pm Cleaning, and lots of it! BLOG: http://www.ourphoenix38.blogspot.com.au H1 THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70454 Re: What did you do after handover? 20Apr 26, 2014 7:30 am The last time we did a build, the builder did a 'builders clean'. That means a very light surface clean that still requires the owner to clean again. BLOG: http://www.ourphoenix38.blogspot.com.au H1 THREAD: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70454 No the fireplace doesn’t work. It’s been enclosed. I’m not sure what was removed, as it was done quite some time ago - well before what I can see with photos online… 2 11765 yes it does, you've just not understood it. theres a difference. 4 5634 Your house should come in "as new" condition. It should be clean, and without stains 1 4810 |