Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1381Nov 16, 2015 12:14 pm Hi everyone, We have just booked in for our first day of appointments. In regard to the kitchen appointment with Knebel, the attached information says that any upgrades to baths, toilets etc need to be requested through Wisdom prior to the appointment. Is this just the allowance that we have made in regard to the upgrades? I feel so unprepared.....a big chunk of our time has been taken up with preparing our existing house for sale and we have not visited a single supplier location!! Any advice would be appreciated! Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1382Nov 16, 2015 1:49 pm Hi Vandm, you can upgrade the baths, toilets, basins, anything that's not in the actual kitchen itself with Wisdom after all the appointments, doesn't *need* to be before the kitchen appointment. I've just been through the whole process myself so I'll give you some pointers. Wisdom basically gives you 2 free 'variation tickets' - you'll use one at the colours appointment on the day and then you've got one more for all the requests that you forgot that you can submit a bit later if you need. After that you start paying $350/variation as a fee. With the bathroom fixtures, we visited Reece for less than half an hour just after doing the grocery shopping one Saturday morning because they have locations everywhere and it was handy, it was enough to decide which shower heads I wanted, which vanities I wanted, which mixer taps. We left the bathtub and toilets as standard. The standard inclusions are pretty good already so there's probably no need to change. But if you do change, you just give the model numbers to Wisdom. We never visited the kitchen supplier beforehand, the thing is, without knowing how much something is going to cost, you can't make a decision on whether you want it or not. Kitchen was actually the easiest appointment because it's quite straightforward and choices are limited, you just need to know which colour you want the for the bench and then everything will be designed around it - the only biggies are waterfall ends for islands, undermount sink and laundry fitout. I think Tiles are the hardest. We struggled here. I would've wanted to go to Di Lorenzo at least one more time (I went once before hand and I had my appointment). Interior colours - make sure you pick up the Taubmans brochure and swatches from Bunnings Exterior colours - I think it's a matter of driving around and taking photos of places you like Wisdom Homes Abode 27 KDRB - Inner West Sydney https://wisdomhomesabode27.wordpress.com/ Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1383Nov 16, 2015 5:24 pm Unfortunately you will have to go and take a look at these all independent of your colour and kitchen appointment. Things like the bathroom are only from Reece (we found this out after we had looked all over the place for a very specific bath). Like shuddabeenatradie said we knocked this all over in a couple of weekends - we upgraded the bath, loo's, sinks, taps, heated towel rail and the tap in the kitchen. You need to know the model numbers etc - we just sent an email linking everything we wanted on the Reece site. We also upgraded the skirting but as their supplier is only open M-F we went to Bunnings to see a difference supplier who did the same stuff to figure out what we wanted. The same with upgrading the doors. Basically anything that you want to upgrade you will need to go and do some recon on as they have very little in the way of selections at the colour appointment and your kitchen appointment only has stuff relating to the actual kitchen. I think they could get a lot more stuff upgraded if they had more examples when you go do your colours. We nearly signed with Metricon and we went to their colour place and they had 4 kitchens on display, 4 bathrooms, mini staircases, all the doors in the Hume range and all the cornices and skirting. It gave you the ability to really customise your house but that is just my opinion Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1384Nov 17, 2015 2:32 pm Hi lunar, just wanted to know if you have any more photos (aside from whats on your blog) of the main bathroom upstairs. We're modifying ours based on your layout. Are you happy with the layout? Thank you Building Majestic 40 at Bingara Gorge Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1385Nov 17, 2015 3:53 pm Kpatto1 Hi lunar, just wanted to know if you have any more photos (aside from whats on your blog) of the main bathroom upstairs. We're modifying ours based on your layout. Are you happy with the layout? Thank you Hi Kpatto1, We are happy with the layout but if I was to do it now I would change a couple of things. We wanted the main bathroom to be the same as the display one in the Majestic 40 at One Minto and then to include the separate WC in with it. Only difference from standard we were told was the display niche with glass shelf by the bath ($500) which we added. We also added full height tiling. We realised during the framing stage that the main bathroom had nib walls by the vanity whilst the show home didn't , we should have read those plans more carefully! I asked Wisdom if they would remove them and they would but it was too expensive with the $1000 admin charge as well. We added the loo in and it has rather a lot of space!! If I were to do it now I would give a little less space to the loo and add the extra space to the shower cubicle to make it even larger (it is a good size already). Unfortunately our internet is dire today and I'm not having much luck uploading photos. I will put some up later on if it decides to co-operate I am so looking forward to NBN at the new place!! Building a Wisdom Majestic 40 at Gardener's Ridge My blog: http://majestic40atgardenersridge.wordpress.com/ Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1386Nov 17, 2015 4:25 pm Great. Thank you so much for that advice. I didn't even notice the nib wall so thanks for pointing that out. No problems. I'll keep an eye on your blog anyway. Thanks again Building Majestic 40 at Bingara Gorge Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1389Nov 18, 2015 9:23 am I didn't notice it when I was there - there's 12mm laminates in different colours like 'Oak', 'Merbau' etc in the included range. I think with Bamboo you're better off deleting flooring and getting an external supplier to fit it afterwards. We thought about this for tiles but I didn't want an external tiler and the builder blaming each other for anything that goes wrong in the future and washing their hands of responsibility by shifting the blame. Wisdom Homes Abode 27 KDRB - Inner West Sydney https://wisdomhomesabode27.wordpress.com/ Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1390Nov 18, 2015 9:23 pm Hi Kpatto1, I managed to get in to take some photos today when they were cleaning the house so here you go: http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx82/lunar62/Main%20Bath%20Collage_zpskv9nk857.jpg The toilet is behind & to the right of door in the main photo. We hung the door that way intentionally for two reasons: 1. So that when you walk out of the Master bedroom & bed 2 you aren't looking at the loo all the time 2. If someone was on the loo and the bathroom door was opened they wouldn't be on show for everyone http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx82/lunar62/Main%20Bath%203%20Collage_zps0v7z4hba.jpg Since we moved the loo forward into the main bath it meant we had extra space in the upstairs Home Theatre/Bed 5 and I was able to put in a media alcove & shelves: http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx82/lunar62/GR%2018-11-15%20004_zpsen0ccswy.jpg I hope these photos help Building a Wisdom Majestic 40 at Gardener's Ridge My blog: http://majestic40atgardenersridge.wordpress.com/ Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1392Nov 22, 2015 7:11 am Lunar Hi Kpatto1, I managed to get in to take some photos today when they were cleaning the house so here you go: http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx82/lunar62/Main%20Bath%20Collage_zpskv9nk857.jpg The toilet is behind & to the right of door in the main photo. We hung the door that way intentionally for two reasons: 1. So that when you walk out of the Master bedroom & bed 2 you aren't looking at the loo all the time 2. If someone was on the loo and the bathroom door was opened they wouldn't be on show for everyone http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx82/lunar62/Main%20Bath%203%20Collage_zps0v7z4hba.jpg Since we moved the loo forward into the main bath it meant we had extra space in the upstairs Home Theatre/Bed 5 and I was able to put in a media alcove & shelves: http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx82/lunar62/GR%2018-11-15%20004_zpsen0ccswy.jpg I hope these photos help Hi Lunar, First time i looked into your blog. I have to google your profile and luckily found it. I love your design and selections. Looking into your timeline since you commenced the build, seems that it is longer than 6 months. Was there any delay? What was the estimated construction time as per your contract? Reason why i asked, we got the plan just last Monday afternoon. Even after detailed changes provided on the revised tender, there were so many issues with it. Not sure if the team in their head office communicate properly. Things that we wanted to be removed are still there, wrong window schedules, etc. while we discussed the plans, we are also discussing the contract and there is a provision of certain amount you can claim on delays. Other builder provide an allowance of 70% of your daily rent x number of delays if you are renting. Unfortunately this is not the case for WH and its not negotiable. So wanting to check the estimate and delays if there any based on your experience. Thanks, Addie Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1393Nov 22, 2015 8:56 am Hey Lunar your bathroom rocks! Thanks for sharing pics and loving the blog. Just wondering, how did you get that glass shelf in your shower recess? Was that part of your tender? Also have you had a chance to test the pressure of the shower? I'm not sure about how strong it would be judging by the looks of it. Thanks in advance! Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1394Nov 22, 2015 8:59 am Oh sorry I just realised that the glass shelf is not in your shower recess, looks like it's above the bathtub! Same question applies though. We are doing the ambassador and I don't know if you've ever seen the display but the recess goes all the way to the floor. We couldn't understand why you would bend down for your shampoo etc. so we shortened it but want to put a glass shelf in there as well so there's more room to put his and her stuff. Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1395Nov 22, 2015 2:28 pm Hi am99, I'm glad you like the bathroom and blog The bathroom niche and glass shelf was an extra ($500) which we saw in the show home at One Minto. I'm afraid I don't know what the shower pressure is like yet. Good hopefully! I can't wait to move in and be out of construction, it feels like this journey has taken forever but we are nearly there. There is light at the end of the tunnel and the house is looking good I believe our contract was for 26 weeks which ended in October but nobody from Wisdom's side mentioned its passing. Our PCI date letter gave us the number of 'Rain Days' they were claiming which added to our Contract end date ties in with our PCI date. I'd rather it tied in with our handover date instead! Our Construction has certainly progressed faster than our Admin. We were expecting a delay in Construction whilst we waited for brickies because of the brickie shortage but there was no delay there, bricks one day brickies the next. I believe our delays were caused mainly by waiting weeks for our lower roofs and then Di Lorenzo supplying an incorrect tile. Interestingly there are three of us building with Wisdom in a row. Our slab was laid first and then the other two slabs were laid three weeks later. One of their PCI dates is three days after ours. I know our SS is doing his best and trying really hard to get us all in before the Christmas shut down. He'll be ready for his holidays Building a Wisdom Majestic 40 at Gardener's Ridge My blog: http://majestic40atgardenersridge.wordpress.com/ Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1396Nov 23, 2015 12:32 pm Lunar Hi am99, I'm glad you like the bathroom and blog The bathroom niche and glass shelf was an extra ($500) which we saw in the show home at One Minto. I'm afraid I don't know what the shower pressure is like yet. Good hopefully! I can't wait to move in and be out of construction, it feels like this journey has taken forever but we are nearly there. There is light at the end of the tunnel and the house is looking good I believe our contract was for 26 weeks which ended in October but nobody from Wisdom's side mentioned its passing. Our PCI date letter gave us the number of 'Rain Days' they were claiming which added to our Contract end date ties in with our PCI date. I'd rather it tied in with our handover date instead! Our Construction has certainly progressed faster than our Admin. We were expecting a delay in Construction whilst we waited for brickies because of the brickie shortage but there was no delay there, bricks one day brickies the next. I believe our delays were caused mainly by waiting weeks for our lower roofs and then Di Lorenzo supplying an incorrect tile. Interestingly there are three of us building with Wisdom in a row. Our slab was laid first and then the other two slabs were laid three weeks later. One of their PCI dates is three days after ours. I know our SS is doing his best and trying really hard to get us all in before the Christmas shut down. He'll be ready for his holidays Thanks Lunar for your reply. You're almost there. I guess good timing for the move too. 1st christmas on your new home. Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1397Nov 26, 2015 3:29 pm Wisdom advised the BAL report is not a part of the standard reports done before tender presentation and they can do it but will cost $365. The developer advised to get it done via NSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE. Any idea how much will it cost? If its not a big difference in the charge I might get Wisdom to do it for me. Building Washington 29, Avanti Facade. Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1398Nov 26, 2015 8:32 pm We paid $300 to get a private assessor to do ours. It was worth it though because we got a downgrade to 29/19 vs the council's assessment of the block at 40 all round. Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1399Nov 26, 2015 9:16 pm Sorry, another question in regard to kitchen and tile appointments. Unfortunately we have been so busy that we have not been able to go to the Knebel to have a look at caesarstone and laminates (we went to Di Lorenzo last weekend). I have done a tonne of research on the internet and have an idea of the look and colours I like BUT I don't know what they would look like together in real life. If I need to pick my cabinet colours at Knebel and then my tile colours at Di Lorenzo, how do I know it will all go together? Probably a silly question...I think I am starting to freak out!! Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 1400Nov 26, 2015 10:16 pm We didn't go to Knebel either but i ordered every sample known to man from the ceaserstone website as well as the laminate ones that we liked. I then stuck them on our old kitchen wall for 6 mths just looking at them all the time. That way i could figure out if i would get sick of it after awhile. After the colours selection i then went to bunnings and picked up some board about 1 mtr by 1/2 metre, painted it the wall and skirting colours we had picked them kept moving it around the house in different light to make sure we still liked it. I then stuck our kitchen selections on it to make sure it all went. When we went to our kitchen and tile selection all our samples came with us including the engineered flooring that we picked (you will need this as you will have carpet or tile butting up against if if you are doing your own after handover). In hindsight i wish my colour sample wasn't so large as it was a complete pain carting it around and i did look slightly mental but i have to visualise everything - don't have a decorating bone in my body Get as many samples as you want - they are free or at least were for me. Dont stress though, the girl at knebel was great, we took a stack more time than our allotted appointment and she made us think of stuff that we hadn't considered or talked us out of things that she thought were a waste of money. it wasn't just "want do you want". Though take pics of what you like, i did that for all of my appointments and it at least gave them a starting point. Can someone please offer some advice? Im DESPERATE. Because I'm completely and utterly exhausted. How long are variations taking with other companies at the moment? We… 0 18435 In fairness nobody gave a crap about the ACCC and the gag clauses continued in the pro forma templates of a few other builders after the ACCC took on Wisdom, and more… 19 73284 Hi Everyone, I am exploring builder in NSW and received a very tempting quote from Wisdom home for their momentum series. I just want to know experience of building… 0 8207 |