Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 25, 2014 1:48 pm Hi everyone, starting my own thread to provide information to the wider H1 community about our experiences in this process. Read, comment and ask questions - I would like that. Don't read, comment and ask and I'll possibly cry myself to sleep each night.... Our plan is based on the Regent 360, although as you can see from the overlay below, it is heavily added to (both in size and consequently in price). Our main alterations have been: - Extended garage/workshop space - Add the alfresco and then mirror image it with the theatre - Upgrade to the Capri facade (incl balcony) Other than that, we chose the Regent 360 in order to keep the layout as similar as possible to what we actually wanted. Internally we added some extra costs (naturally!), the main ones being: - Extend kitchen, change cupboards to drawers etc - A/C throughout - Floor to ceiling tiles in all wet areas Click on the image below to see it at full 1280x1024 size and you'll be able to make out the details a bit more easily. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Seksui KDR in Sydney (2015-2016) Links --> | H1 thread | Final plans | Timing of works updated 9/3/16 | Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 2Jun 25, 2014 2:20 pm I'm subscribed! Amazing difference in the house HUGE! And just when I was squinting to see what was happening I read the line about opening it to be bigger! Did you manage to take on any of their promotions? Your mention of the AC throughout made me think to ask as we got our ducted AC as part of the package (and the kitchen/bathroom upgrade is the other thing we got) Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 3Jun 25, 2014 2:25 pm Thanks Yvonne - glad my tip on the image was useful (eventually) We had some promotions relating to kitchen upgrades, fly screens, higher quality bathroom fittings and baths - that sort of thing. At the end of the day, it's the final price that matters, because with most of these promotions the cost is being absorbed by some other component of the overall cost. I mean, they are not going to give you something for free that will actually cost them money are they! Seksui KDR in Sydney (2015-2016) Links --> | H1 thread | Final plans | Timing of works updated 9/3/16 | Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 4Jun 25, 2014 2:29 pm I'm going to be watching with interested. Did you get the letter about the change in paint? (now Haymes). I'm pretty happy about it as I do react to VOCs (and offgassing) so a low VOC paint will be good Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 5Jun 25, 2014 2:40 pm yvonneh I'm going to be watching with interested. Did you get the letter about the change in paint? (now Haymes). I'm pretty happy about it as I do react to VOCs (and offgassing) so a low VOC paint will be good Yes. We had asked for confirmation that the Dulux (edit: actually it is Wattyl/Solver) paint they were using was low VOC and had that confirmed. Then we noticed that Haymes low VOC was now on the list, so all good either way. Just not sure how our colour selection translates - but as long as it is close to the same we're ok. We learnt long ago that minor differences in paint shade are only noticed by those who are comparing them side by side Seksui KDR in Sydney (2015-2016) Links --> | H1 thread | Final plans | Timing of works updated 9/3/16 | Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 6Jun 25, 2014 3:15 pm yeah paint can definitely be matched, although I wonder if Haymes will have more of a selection as we only got the two cards' worth of colours to chose from the Wattyl/Solver range. (Odd that you got to choose from Dulux) Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 7Jun 25, 2014 3:42 pm Sorry, it was Wattyl/Solver. Just had Dulux on my mind for some reason! There was the little brochure of colours, but then they pulled out the full "fan" which has every available colour on it. Seksui KDR in Sydney (2015-2016) Links --> | H1 thread | Final plans | Timing of works updated 9/3/16 | Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 8Jun 25, 2014 4:57 pm maybe because you were spending up big you got the full fan we were told there were some colours which were guaranteed coverage in two coats and therefore we could choose from the two cards (called "essentials" and "finishing touch" ) We did have 3 coats quoted but based on the costing we pulled back on that and ended up with the standard... a paintbrush I can yield and EVERY house we have bought we have painted so why stop now Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 9Jun 25, 2014 5:53 pm Quote: we were told there were some colours which were guaranteed coverage in two coats We weren't told that - just shown the full fan. Would have been nice to know as we selected a dark colour for the front balcony (about 40sqm) from the fan as opposed to the little book. We were told at the colour selection meeting that it would be a small variation due to the price of the dark tint base. We were then given a price of an extra $750 for that 40sqm. Apparently because of the requirement for the third coat (and the dark tint base). We still haven't been given any explanation yet why a third coat of approx 40sqm costs over $650 (allowing a very conservative $100 for the dark tint base) despite repeated requests. Initially we were told things like: - render specific paint (should have been allowed for already) - colour not normally used as an external finish (it is listed as both an internal and external paint by Wattyl/Solver). - painters have to come back 24 hours later for the final coat (fair enough, but they are painting the whole house so surely they can programme their works so they don't have to come back just for that bit) - dark colour is more labour intensive to apply (no idea whether this is right or not. Wouldn't have thought so, but I am not a painter) Finally after my queries back to them, they have simply said that they confirm that "the pricing for the painting upgrade is correct". Basically - "accept it or choose a light colour". Looks like that is the attitude once the contract has already been signed.... Seksui KDR in Sydney (2015-2016) Links --> | H1 thread | Final plans | Timing of works updated 9/3/16 | Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 10Jun 29, 2014 3:53 pm I'm following too. It is so interesting to hear other people's stories and experiences. I love your plan, it's giant and fantastic! We haven't made it as far as the paint stage yet, so time will tell what we're told. Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 11Jul 08, 2014 2:11 pm Our CSO tells me that she lodged the DA with council last Thursday 3rd July. It is not yet showing up on the "Applications Received" section of the council website yet, so I am not sure if that's just a timing thing or if the DA was maybe mailed last Thursday and is yet to be handed to the correct person at council. Should find out in a couple of days either way Seksui KDR in Sydney (2015-2016) Links --> | H1 thread | Final plans | Timing of works updated 9/3/16 | Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 12Jul 08, 2014 3:25 pm For those of you noticing the gap in the dates between contract signing and DA submission, the delay pretty much comes down to one word - Landscaping. After giving Sekisui a week or so to get their documentation sorted out internally after signing the contract, I sent them this plan on 4th June to pass on their Landscape designer. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ On 11th June I received a call from said Landscape designer to introduce himself and we had a discussion about the plan, some options etc etc. All very friendly and pleasant to deal with. After a couple more conversations and a few follow up phone calls to check on the progress of works, I finally got a bit more direct and asked them to send me their current documentation to review as I was about to go away for a few days and didn't want to hold things up in terms of approvals whilst I was away. They sent me this plan that same afternoon on 1st July. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ After pointing out a couple of easily-fixed errors, it was then all good to be sent to Sekisui for the DA submission. So really nice and friendly people - but 3-4 weeks to CAD-up a pre-supplied plan onto an existing architectural plan........ Seksui KDR in Sydney (2015-2016) Links --> | H1 thread | Final plans | Timing of works updated 9/3/16 | Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 13Jul 08, 2014 6:27 pm I had to respond... We asked to take out the landscape fee from our contract as we decided we'd do it ourselves (mainly as we were concerned we wouldn't be able to come up with a plan if we didn't get proper consultation time). Any way in the end we were advised we didn't need one! Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 15Jul 08, 2014 10:10 pm It was $1210 for ours (which we got taken out) (img available for a couple of weeks) Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 16Jul 09, 2014 8:30 am Ours was only about $700. Whilst it was a bit more than I would have paid doing it myself, this way there is proper integration with Sekisui as they use these guys all the time and I wouldn't have to run around getting quotes, trying to get files between the companies etc etc - all of which would have used up more of my own (somewhat valuable) time Seksui KDR in Sydney (2015-2016) Links --> | H1 thread | Final plans | Timing of works updated 9/3/16 | Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 17Jul 09, 2014 9:03 am It's official, we are the proud parents of a brand new DA number! The process has started Seksui KDR in Sydney (2015-2016) Links --> | H1 thread | Final plans | Timing of works updated 9/3/16 | Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 18Jul 09, 2014 9:25 am Congrats! Hmm wonder how the pricing for the landscaping works! Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 19Jul 09, 2014 9:37 am Quote: Hmm wonder how the pricing for the landscaping works! I imagine it has a lot to do with what has already been included elsewhere and where they need (or don't need) to get some money back As I mentioned in a recent post, with all these offers, discounts and so on, the cost of the individual line items are almost irrelevant. At the end of the day you look at the total price and verify what works are included in that price. Seksui KDR in Sydney (2015-2016) Links --> | H1 thread | Final plans | Timing of works updated 9/3/16 | Re: KDR with Sekisui - Sydney 20Jul 22, 2014 3:17 pm I’m definitely following this! I love how you can see the under-stairs storage area and the garage.. HOOOWEE! I'd love to see the final product for that! Talk about a man's dream.. I'm already envisioning the tools and toys that I'm going to put in there. Please do continue to update us with the progress! We were lucky in that our old house was so small (86 square metres) compared to the new house, they were able to take enough readings around the old backyard house before… 8 37084 The biggest challenge will be if you take out a loan and then run out of money - you'll have an incomplete security and lenders do not like this so you can get stuck.… 2 18897 Hi, I am looking into doing a KDR in Melbourne and am contemplating using Kialla Homes. I am looking for feedback on them from others who have built with them. 0 13437 |