Browse Forums Building A New House 1 May 25, 2014 2:43 pm Hi All, Probably as many I am here seeking advise to try avoid the unexpected. We are building in Munster WA, with WA Housing (BGC Residential). We are pretty happy with the floor plan and with the bonus we got from them. But not so happy with the elevation. Unfortunately we fail to make clear that we wanted to change and they failed to communicate when was the last chance to change it. Anyway we can't change it anymore, so we decide to put all our energy on the interior. As most first buyers we have a budget, I would like to get some recent prestart costs from any of you that has just being trough the process. 1 - Rendering cost: m2, only front elevation and whole house the builder charged you 2 - From standard 820mm Upgrade to timber entry door with one side panel 3 - Each additional external light (like the ones on the wall next to the garage) 4 - Each additional double power point (inside) 5 - Essa stone waterfall (we are getting waterfall to just one side) to kitchen benchtop 6 - Frameless shower screen upgrade 7 - Extend the shower tiles from 2 meters to full height titles (28 brick course) 8 - upgrade cupboards to glossy formica/laminex (apparently glossy is an upgrade) 9 - Upgrade toilet (the standard cost about $500 the one we like $800 on Caroma website) 10 - upgrade to kitchen under mount sink or those square model 11 - upgrade from Evaporative to Reverse cycle air con. I don't want to be put on the spot and make a rushed decision so any information you can share will help me a lot. I did search the forum and found some other prices but not recent prices for the items above. Thanks a lot. Re: First Home The Saga - Upgrade Costs, prestart in 2 weeks 2Jun 09, 2014 11:11 pm Hi everyone, Pre-start done today, a few hiccups which I will post here as well. It may help someone else. Ok, I will post some prices now and some more later. Electrical, turned out good, all done for about $1700 (no downlight). - Single power point $52 - Double power point $63 - 2 way switch $52 - light/electrical provision on ceiling $51 - outdoor water proof power point $170 - to move celiling light to the wall (external) $13 - from double to 4 power point $67 Downlight they wanted $300 each, a big NO NO. I have more prices to come, I will post them soon. Having price idea and a spreadsheet really helped me prioritize things. Now, while at pre-start we got told that we couldn't render the house as it would be structural change. they said they would have to change the brick... Anyway, I said I wouldn't sign because I was told through the entire process that render would be done at pre-start. Half an hour later I got an email saying that I could do the render. Just to frustrate me an ruin my day. Anyway, be aware of that, as your sales preson to be clear on what you can and can't do at pre-start. Document everything. Re: First Home The Saga - Upgrade Costs, prestart in 2 weeks 3Jun 30, 2014 2:35 pm Hi All, I received my final plans. As what seems to be normal here on this forum I also had a couple of mistakes, so had to send it back. I am just hoping it doesn't take forever. They added the waterfall on the wrong side of the benchtop (We are having just one side done) And also forgot to move a down pipe were we will have some stone cladding gone. Now, one other thing a brought to their attention and I am seeking some experienced or even technical advise. Our bedrooms are 28ceiling, the entry, entry corridor, and whole living is 31celing. Between the entry corridor and the living they've added a 25celiling opening. It will look so wrong in my opinion. I was expecting for the corridor ceiling just to flow flush into the living are. Not have a pice of wall there. Does anyone know if it has any structural reason? To me doesn't seem so. I think it is just they doing what is easy and not deleting it. Re: First Home The Saga - Upgrade Costs, prestart in 2 weeks 4Jun 30, 2014 2:41 pm Are you meaning in the "doorway"/entrance from your entry foyer (at 31c) into your living area also at 31c there will be some bricks across the gap? and they are saying it will be 25c? If so, maybe they are assuming you wanted, or they just assumed it would be door height? (i.e room to hang a 25c door?). Not sure, but I have been asked if in gaps between rooms where there is no door on the plan, if i want full height or door height brick work there. Re: First Home The Saga - Upgrade Costs, prestart in 2 weeks 5Jun 30, 2014 2:43 pm I can't tell you if it is structural or not, you will need to check with your builder, but often they put the 25c opening so that if you want to add a door later it is easy for you to do. My build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68002 Re: First Home The Saga - Upgrade Costs, prestart in 2 weeks 6Jun 30, 2014 3:00 pm I already asked, them. I am waiting for the response. But in the mean time I am trying to find out if there is any logic before putting up a fight. I think the same Beazley77, but there has never being a door or will until I live there. Re: First Home The Saga - Upgrade Costs, prestart in 2 weeks 7Jun 30, 2014 9:46 pm Ask them for the logic. If they have assumed your will be putting a door in, and you don't want to, then ask them to leave at 31c. If you think you might hang a door later, be careful as whilst doors are "standard" you might have to have one shortened etc. plus, if you're putting one in later, then you might want them to put at least the frame in during the build. Re: First Home The Saga - Upgrade Costs, prestart in 2 weeks 8Jun 30, 2014 9:52 pm It sounds like a soffit and they do add them to door ways as an architectural feature, to break up large expanses of ceiling space. It also makes it handy if you did want to put a door in later. Re: First Home The Saga - Upgrade Costs, prestart in 2 weeks 9Jun 30, 2014 10:09 pm I have one of one of those. I thought it was really weird to coz my partner is really tall . I asked them .about it . I never noticed the night of it in the plan . I could of put it higher . but it was too late . now I'm in and its painted doesn't bother me . it makes the entry way and living area separate .I have a picture on my blog I think Re: First Home The Saga - Upgrade Costs, prestart in 2 weeks 10Jun 30, 2014 10:13 pm Melsie68 ...it makes the entry way and living area separate. Yep, that's why they put them in. Creates delineation between spaces when there is no door. I like them, they finish off the space, rather than having a big floor to ceiling opening. Re: First Home The Saga - Upgrade Costs, prestart in 2 weeks 11Jul 03, 2014 12:58 am Hi guys, sorry for the delay. I was waiting on their response. You are right Marcia, it is a 'soffit'. And I can't remove it, too late now. I did mention I won't be having a door and even they having to correct the couple of mistakes on the drawings they said NO. In my opinion, maybe for a good customer service as there was mistakes, their mistakes, and they were going to work on the drawings they could've removed it for me. I understand they try keep the hours spend on the drawing as planned so they can make a profit. But on the other hand I am waiting for the fix, and that cost me too. So I would imagine to be fair and balance out the scale they could've done. Beazley77, they said it is to divide the space and that its always being on the plan. Anyway, plans were posted today, so I think I will get them tomorrow. sign and return to go for scheduling. I hope like Melsie68 said, when I move in it doesn't really bother me. I might stick a custom size mirror on each side. Oh, I will also try to time when that bit is being build, pop on site and see if whoever is building it can not put that bit in. What is your blog addresss Melsie68? Re: First Home The Saga - Upgrade Costs, prestart in 2 weeks 12Jul 03, 2014 10:18 pm Hi guys, Got the final plans, signed and I will drop them off tomorrow just to save a few days on the process. To be fair with the builder I must say, they were very quick in my case doing the corrections. I told them it was wrong on tuesday, on wednesday it was in the most and on my hands today. The soffit still there though. But just one small thing on the grand scheme of things. Hopefully soon I will be living there and not paying rent. Hi Everyone, wondering if anyone has done a prestart lately with summit homes in WA and what kind of costs were associated with adding gpo's and downlights? we are also… 0 3848 The fastest thing a builder will do is bank your cheque, those systems work perfectly with lightning speed, everything else is slow burn. Just the way it is. 1 8678 Can someone please offer some advice? Im DESPERATE. Because I'm completely and utterly exhausted. 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