Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 30, 2014 2:31 pm Hi there, I'm considering a build with Homegroup WA and are just getting final design sketches drawn up. I'm so far pleased with the building consultant who drew something up just based on listening to me dictate my must haves and nice to haves... I have a few questions I'm hoping fellow HomeGroup WA'ers can give me some insight on to help my decision making process between this another firm. 1 - I've been told no changes after pre start (but then this was reinforced as being more "structural", and that cosmetic stuff could change, provided it wasn't already ordered etc which seems fair? What have people been charged for variations after pre-start? 2 - If people have changed things do you have a rough indication on price for things like the following? - waterfall ends to island bencthop - bank of 3 pot /plate drawers rather than two cupboards in kitchen - changing bathroom or ensuite tops to stone (I've been told about $600/lineal metre - aircon - did anyone add for a 4 bed/theatre requiring 4 zones (or are people doing after) - upgrade from builds standard carpet to one or two specs higher (4 beds and theatre) - raising bathtub higher off ground in bathrooms? - using their upgrade alfresco tiles? (the charcoal or limestone colour ones that have a textured surface) - have people said no thanks to their limited indoor tile range and provided tiles that they have installed? or have you had to do it yourselves after hand over - has anyone included painting as a single added extra? roughly how much was this and importantly, what was the quality like? - has anyone used stackstone or austral stonelite on front pillars/verandahs? 3 - would anyone have any tips on particular things to watch out for with HomeGroup WA? I can see perhaps people are frustrated at paper work time upfront and other things going wrong during the build. Although, I do recognise that stuff seems to go wrong with every build/er so i'll be on the watch out regardless. thanks for reading! Re: Considering HomeGroup WA build 2Jun 30, 2014 3:56 pm Beazley77 Hi there, I'm considering a build with Homegroup WA and are just getting final design sketches drawn up. I'm so far pleased with the building consultant who drew something up just based on listening to me dictate my must haves and nice to haves... I have a few questions I'm hoping fellow HomeGroup WA'ers can give me some insight on to help my decision making process between this another firm. 1 - I've been told no changes after pre start (but then this was reinforced as being more "structural", and that cosmetic stuff could change, provided it wasn't already ordered etc which seems fair? What have people been charged for variations after pre-start? $500 to change things after prestart. we change a few things at the same time which means we paid $500 once. 2 - If people have changed things do you have a rough indication on price for things like the following? - waterfall ends to island bencthop $1000 per end. there are other ways to finish off the ends of the bench - bank of 3 pot /plate drawers rather than two cupboards in kitchen $500 about - changing bathroom or ensuite tops to stone (I've been told about $600/lineal metre)sounds right - aircon - did anyone add for a 4 bed/theatre requiring 4 zones (or are people doing after)Air con upgrades are done through the aircon people. upgrade to gold duct $390, air touch controller $435, add zones $275, add zone after first $195 (all other additional zones are $195), add outlet $285 - upgrade from builds standard carpet to one or two specs higher (4 beds and theatre)unknown - raising bathtub higher off ground in bathrooms?unknown - using their upgrade alfresco tiles? (the charcoal or limestone colour ones that have a textured surface) unknown - have people said no thanks to their limited indoor tile range and provided tiles that they have installed? or have you had to do it yourselves after hand over you can upgrade to ones from the tile shop that maybe about $5000. to get back a credit could be about $3000 - has anyone included painting as a single added extra? roughly how much was this and importantly, what was the quality like? not sure what you mean? we added a extra colour to one wall it cost $250 - has anyone used stackstone or austral stonelite on front pillars/verandahs?unknown 3 - would anyone have any tips on particular things to watch out for with HomeGroup WA? I can see perhaps people are frustrated at paper work time upfront and other things going wrong during the build. Although, I do recognise that stuff seems to go wrong with every build/er so i'll be on the watch out regardless. the paper work was slow, but my build is flying along. We are overtaking the other builds and they started 6 weeks before us. thanks for reading! Re: Considering HomeGroup WA build 3Jun 30, 2014 9:51 pm Thanks 2-cupcakes-pls. Very useful! With regards to the waterfall bench ends, what do you mean by other finishes? What have you chosen to do? (If you have and island bench top) With regards to painting, I just wondered if anyone had asked WA to include interior painting, and what the finish/quality was like. I've been in a competitor build lately who said owner had organized the painting and it was awful!! Thanks for nothing you managed to combine a few changes with one $500 fee. Good to know! Re: Considering HomeGroup WA build 4Jun 30, 2014 9:59 pm I am painting my own house .built with red ink homes . I'm sure hone group was do a paint deal . if I was you I would take it . its a lot of work . but in saying that so many trades don't do a good job .this way you do it yourself . Re: Considering HomeGroup WA build 5Jun 30, 2014 10:02 pm 1 - I've been told no changes after pre start (but then this was reinforced as being more "structural", and that cosmetic stuff could change, provided it wasn't already ordered etc which seems fair? What have people been charged for variations after pre-start? 2 - If people have changed things do you have a rough indication on price for things like the following? - waterfall ends to island bencthop Quoted approx. $1200 per end - bank of 3 pot /plate drawers rather than two cupboards in kitchen About $500 per bank - changing bathroom or ensuite tops to stone (I've been told about $600/lineal metre) We got told about $4500 for bathrooms & laundry. Cost us $1500 to add it into our scullery in lieu of laminate - aircon - did anyone add for a 4 bed/theatre requiring 4 zones (or are people doing after) - upgrade from builds standard carpet to one or two specs higher (4 beds and theatre) approx. $1500 for mid range, $3000 for top range - raising bathtub higher off ground in bathrooms? - using their upgrade alfresco tiles? (the charcoal or limestone colour ones that have a textured surface) Cost us about $200 for our alfresco for the limestone textured - have people said no thanks to their limited indoor tile range and provided tiles that they have installed? or have you had to do it yourselves after hand over was only offered $3500 rebate, so left them. - has anyone included painting as a single added extra? roughly how much was this and importantly, what was the quality like? painting was included in our specs (Resort Range), but I believe it is about $5-8ooo cost to do whole interior - has anyone used stackstone or austral stonelite on front pillars/verandahs? Do it yourself, way too expensive. 3 - would anyone have any tips on particular things to watch out for with HomeGroup WA? I can see perhaps people are frustrated at paper work time upfront and other things going wrong during the build. Although, I do recognise that stuff seems to go wrong with every build/er so i'll be on the watch out regardless. Get everything in writing. Don't listen to sales reps when they say 6 months admin, 6 months build. Yes, we are one of the builds that have been delayed, but I can honestly say there pricing is up there with the best, the sales rep we dealt with was fantastic (apart from the sales faux par of build time!!) and for the most part they seem organised. Still waiting to go to site some 10 months later but the feedback I've seen and heard has been that the wait will be worth it. Which plan are you looking at? Re: Considering HomeGroup WA build 6Jun 30, 2014 10:18 pm Thanks for your time responding Marcia. I'm doing a bit of a one off design. I just told the guy what I wanted, he wrote a list and produced something pretty close to what I had in my head which was pleasing! 3 bed, 2 bath, study and theatre. Just waiting for a quote estimate. Did you manage to negotiate them down at all before you signed your final contract docs? Re: Considering HomeGroup WA build 7Jun 30, 2014 11:08 pm Hello Beazley77, Another HGWAer here (repeat client). Although I always shop around when it comes to choosing a builder I think we have found our fit here. Yes their build times for some clients appear to be stretching out - and as yet our may too but it is worth it in the end! Im not sure if it is because of metro vs southwest but some of our prices were slightly different to the above mentioned ones. Eg: Waterfall ends are just under $1500 per end. Variation changes $250. We have managed to put through a structural change quite literally at the last minute by changing our pelmet above the garage door to a T-bar lintel but I think we got lucky and this is definitely not the norm. Painting - No way would I let them do it but that is more because I actually really enjoy painting (strange I know) - I am really looking forward to a whole bare house to paint. I keep bothering my mum to paint her place but she wont let me. Asha Thank you so much everyone. This all makes a lot of sense. I guess when you talk to a builder who butters up everything to look very polished, you get to start believing… 7 17581 Hi, did you get any money from insurance? if you did, does it match what you've already paid the builders? 3 9565 Hi We have finally decided to complete a KDR on our corner plot in NE Melbourne suburbs. Given its a corner plot approx. 400 sqm just a standard design may not fit the… 0 8556 |