Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 11, 2014 12:24 am Hi everyone time to start my own thread, hope it helps any other newbies out there who are interested with either Providence in Wellard, Domain Homes or just generally building. I've never built before and have been renting for years, desperately wanting to get into my own house and finally my dream is coming true. I've been looking at display homes and dreaming for well over a year now. When you first start, you think oh wow, I can do this, it's so cheap! Then reality hits and you realise that there are things to pay for like crossovers and soakwells and site works and stamp duty and apparently you have to buy some land too - ha ha ha. I've been looking at Wellard for a while - sort of a country feel but still obviously metropolitan. Having a train station smack bang in the middle of Wellard was a real yes for me too since my family needs it for travel to work and school. Initially I was looking in the Village, I loved the undulating hills and the trees surrounding it. However, time marched on and the prices went up and land got more scarce and so then I was persuaded to look at Sunrise. I nearly chose Sunrise, but wasn't too keen because it was on the other side of the freeway and I was concerned about kidlets travelling to and from train and home, etc. I had dismissed Providence because of what I thought were a tonne of restrictions on building etc and also thought it was way out of my price range, as was Emerald Park. However, I happened to ring up the guy from Providence and he said he had a lot that someone else had given up (from Stage 4A) and was I interested. It turned out that this block was $17,000.00 cheaper than what I was looking at in The Village so I said yes! I also realized that the restrictions weren't as arduous as I thought either and so I went for it. Oh - you will need to have "pre-approval" before most developers will consider signing you up - there's just too many people wanting land so they get first priority. I have been waiting for about 2 months so far and apparently titles are due to issue very soon and settlement will be 2 weeks after that. I've been visiting my block ever since I first signed the offer and it's been exciting seeing it with no roads and piles of dirt everywhere to having a road, a footpath, a sign, street lights etc. I simply cannot wait until the pad goes down, I will be soooo excited! The hardest part has been deciding on a builder. There are SO MANY builders, so many display homes....it's so confusing. The only advice I can give someone new at this is: Look at as many display homes as you can. Figure out the basics of what you want - ie. 4 bedrooms, theatre, study or just 2 bedrooms with no theatre. Not all builders have display homes for all their designs, but you can ask them if they have a similar sized display home or are they building any that you could go and visit (my builder did this for me, it was great seeing a house exactly like I'm going to get going up, I could get a great feel of what size the rooms etc were which is really helpful). I ended up whittling it down to about 5 builders. I set up appointments with all of them. 1 was at their office, 1 at a display home at night in Harrisdale and the other 3 came to my house, so just ask them if they can come to you, it's much easier. I am lucky enough to have a brother who has built twice in the past 6 years so he's got lots of experience. He came up with a list of identical questions and asked each salesperson things like: Is crossover included? What floor coverings are included (ie. tiles - porcelain or ceramic, carpet, etc); What is your build estimate? What is the actual total cost of everything. Lots of other questions too. It was funny, two of them were really flustered at all the questions he had and didn't know the answers, the other three answered really confidently. It gives you an idea if they know their stuff. After this, I decided on two builders, one of which was Domain. I particularly liked how honest and transparent my sales guy at Domain was but the other salesguy was great too. It just happened that Domain had a few things better than the other builder. Both the designs were practically identical. So, once that happened, I rang up my Domain guy and said "sign me up"!. I signed the piece of paper which allows them to do soil testing and all that palaver and paid them $2,000.00. I organised a settlement agent (ring around - you will find most of them will offer you a discount if you ask - but check what disbursements they charge too - one lot wanted to charge me nearly $500.00 in "extra disbursements" such as postage and general office admin. I don't think so! I got a good deal with my settlement agent (I checked three out) and have been happy with them so far. That is all for tonight, there's more to come. time for bed! Love Daisy x Daisy's Providence Wellard build with Domain Homes - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=72176 Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunkett) 2Jul 11, 2014 2:05 am Hi Daisy, i just started my own thread as well. Building in Caversham with Ventura. This is our first build. Good luck to us both. Woohoo Exciting times ahead. Looking forward to following your build. Kdolls Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 3Jul 11, 2014 9:43 am Hi and Welcome! I'm also a first time home owner and home builder. We had a slab down a few weeks ago and now waiting for brickies to start. Looking forward to following your build. My build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68002 Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 4Jul 11, 2014 8:26 pm Exciting times! Welcome to Providence Estate, love knowing I am getting more and more 'neighbours'. Looking forward to seeing your plan and following your build Providence Estate - Wellard, WA - Ventura https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68532 Pinterest (all selections): http://www.pinterest.com/aimees88/final-house-selections/ Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 6Aug 02, 2014 7:43 pm OK, since I last posted, titles have issued and settlement is due next Wednesday - however I'm sure it won't go through as my bank not quite ready but should be all ok within the 3 day period so hopefully no interest will be charged! Visiting every weekend and just been there again today. Very exciting to see all the houses going up and more and more slabs down and piles of bricks everywhere. My block now has a tree, possibly in the middle of the driveway - what's the deal with that? Couldn't they wait til we showed them our plans? Do I have to move it if it's in the way or does the builder? Who knows! Anyway, Plunkett are working on my "working drawings" and then I will finally get to see the interior design service person, then finally I will be at pre-start. I simply cannot wait! Eeeeek! Also very exciting was evidence of the NBN being installed, apparently Providence one of the first suburbs down there to get it. Yay! Cannot wait to find out what the story is with the landscaping package with the estate too, like what do they provide, how much is it etc. I'm now busily trying to choose taps, fittings, colours etc and panicking slightly about money but hopefully I'll get there and as long as most of the stuff is there, I will be happy! Looking forward to the shops at the Village being finished too, they are coming on well. Talk later, Daisy Daisy's Providence Wellard build with Domain Homes - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=72176 Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 7Aug 02, 2014 10:54 pm Glad the title is ready and yay for the settlement. Cant u ask for a delay settlement if the bank isnt ready? Our bank is very worried about this and keeps pushing our builder to draw up a contract. The builder just isnt worried and told us that they will work with the developer for delay settlement. They aren't keen on drawing up contract until they can do the site survey. Good to be in the new suburb with NBN planned. Keep us updated on your selection. Exciting time ahead. Timeline: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76782 Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 8Aug 05, 2014 7:40 pm Agree - can't wait to see selections. Just go into prestart prepared. There were some things I HAD to have and some I couldn't care less about. The tree locations sure so seem odd! We are yet to get ours... Providence Estate - Wellard, WA - Ventura https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68532 Pinterest (all selections): http://www.pinterest.com/aimees88/final-house-selections/ Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 9Aug 13, 2014 11:28 pm Happy Birthday for last Friday and yaaay for settlement too Can't wait to see your selections My build thread https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70655&p=1164017#p1164017 Our House is full of magical things patiently waiting for our Home to be built Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 10Aug 25, 2014 10:50 pm Hi daisy. I'm currently building with The same builder - just thought I'd give you a tip in case you didn't know. Tiles being mitred doesn't come as standard it's something you have to ask and pay for. We didn't know and our tiles look awful as they are terracotta colour inside and it's all visible around the nib walls in the showers, around bath etc! Wish someone had told us! Good luck. Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 11Aug 25, 2014 11:33 pm And quite shocking to us that our sale person doesn't even know if we could do the mitred tile as no one has asked before!! Timeline: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76782 Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 12Sep 23, 2014 3:48 pm Alrighty, so settlement went through on 8 August and then I went and had my colour selection with the Domain lady which was quite fun. I just merrily added in lots of things and thought I would worry about the cost later. I then had pre-start about a week later. Pre-start itself was not fun at all, becuase it was all about the paperwork - it took from 9.30am to 4.30pm! Most of it was sitting around waiting for them to get pricing on everything for us. The good thing was they got approval from the developer while we were waiting. The bad thing was we had chosen two course bricks which we loved - Plunkett got a new brick supply company about 6-7 weeks ago - becuase I had mentioned months ago that I hated the brick colour of the previous company's 2 course bricks, someone had assumed I wanted 1 course and had drawn up the plans to suit - to change would cost about $3,500.00. On top of that, we had asked for a rear roller dooor in our garage, but it's got a tiny entrance - we all have to stoop to get in and out which seems pointless but I apparently have to pay for the ceiling height of the garage to be increased. I'm now tossing up whether to leave it or to just put in a normal door. I'm waiting on costing of some other things and THEN I will sign off on it and apparently it then goes to Shire/someone else? for approval and then approx 3 weeks after that, we get going. I'm really happy with my service with Plunkett so far, they have come back and given me the bricks I wanted and waived any change of fee and I feel that they have been helping me a lot. So far it's been a great experience. Fingers crossed that continues. The money I have spent for my upgrades is well under budget so I'm very happy about that too. I put in a tonne of electricals and added an upstand to my kitchen bench so that my power points could go in there. I also relocated my kitchen sink to under the window so I have a nice long kitchen bench. My corner pantry can stay. I have no idea how to easily upload photos, so I will just say that the bricks are red, the roof is silver, the facia is that dark blue-grey and the gutters are shale grey. ALSO, I am sure I read on here somewhere that the landscaping package was only $300.00? I'm not interested in lawn, so was asking whether I had to have the pipe under the driveway and the outdoor electrical switch etc. I got a call back from the developers who told me that the landscaping package will actually be in the region of $3,000.00 - it's through Total Eden. They will apparently make an appt to come and see me to plan out what I want and they will do stuff like obviously plans, but lawn, reticulation, soil conditioning etc. He said they are happy to also help us plan our back gardens. I was pretty happy with that - so I've decided to go with them - well, why wouldn't you?! That's all I can think of for now. The Estate is looking really gorgeous and I can't wait for the Adventure Playground to be built. Oh - FYI, apparently there's been a tonne of mail being stolen from The Village. Police and Aussie post know about it but apparently not much they can do. I do hope providence does not suffer the same fate. I found this out becuase I belong to the Facebook Page - Wellard Village Chat and residents post local happenings on there. It would be a really good idea, I think, to have a similar group for our Providence Estate when we get some people living in there so we can keep up with neighbourhood watch and pass on things to others - what does everyone think? Cheers, Daisy x Daisy's Providence Wellard build with Domain Homes - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=72176 Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 13Sep 23, 2014 3:51 pm Oh and I love the colour of the fencing that they have partially put up near one of the display homes at the entrance - it's a very dark grey colour - love it! Daisy's Providence Wellard build with Domain Homes - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=72176 Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 14Sep 23, 2014 4:22 pm It sounded like you have everything sorted! Congrats! Stealing mails? What are they doing with the mails? Strange........ Timeline: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76782 Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 15Sep 23, 2014 4:28 pm Yep, apparently trying to steal any deliveries, any cheques, any credit cards, pins, that kind of thing. One person was woken up at 2.30am by two "ladies" rummaging through her letterbox Daisy's Providence Wellard build with Domain Homes - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=72176 Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 16Sep 23, 2014 5:14 pm Congrats on titles.. ..the landscape sum seems a good amount , I thought it would be much less....with regards to the power switch, pvc pipe under the driveway its part of the estate covenant so it has to be installed even if you not having a retic or grass,.. no retic for me... your colours sound good..not good about the theft, neighbourhood watch sounds like a good idea... Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 17Sep 26, 2014 9:11 pm Congrats on pre start - and coming in under budget! That is a win! I haven't even enquired about the landscaping yet - we are hoping to get astroturf (we are slack) but I doubt that will be included but we will see what they can do Estate is looking great - I love the selection of plants, trees etc. It's all happening down there atm! Providence Estate - Wellard, WA - Ventura https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68532 Pinterest (all selections): http://www.pinterest.com/aimees88/final-house-selections/ Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 18Nov 01, 2014 9:42 pm Any update, Daisy? Timeline: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76782 Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 19Nov 11, 2014 8:51 pm Oh my, I have been lax in updating. Unfortunately, there has not been much to report. Because Plunkett had to change the bricks from one course back to two course, it went back to drafting - for FOUR WEEKS. grrr.... I then had to go in and sign off AGAIN on the changes. then it was going to Shire. I contacted the Shire and was told that it was still with the dude who takes care of that stuff and I should have an answer by last Friday. Well, on Thursday afternoon, he emails Plunkett and cc's me in to say that the "store" in the garage is wrong and it needs correcting. I got my brother to look at the plans and he said it was literally out by 7cm. 7CM!!! aarrggghhhhh!! So....I emailed my sales guy and my liaison lady and said eeeek and had a minor freakout. But by moving the door from the garage down the hallway a bit and extending the garage out by 3 measly cm - yes, only 3 cm..... - it was finally fixed. It was fixed yesterday. I was onto the Shire again straight away and bless his cotton socks, he had it approved by lunchtime today. I now finally have a building permit. I'm now waiting to hear from Plunkett what the next move is - still praying for a slab by Christmas and freaking out about possible brickie and other unforeseen delays! I swear, I will move into Plunkett's offices and live there with the kids and cats if they don't get moving! My neighbour next door and behind me already has walls up and neighbour other side has a tap - and we know what that means, so I'm so, so, so eager to get things moving. Living with rellies isn't easy and let's just say the relationship is a bit strained.... On the plus side, the final plan looks amazeballs and everytime I drive down to Providence, I'm excited to see the progress of the houses and have been through the two display homes - the third should be ready this weekend by the looks of things. Although last weekend, I was a bit sad because it does take an awfully long time . Daisy's Providence Wellard build with Domain Homes - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=72176 Re: Building in Providence, Wellard with Domain Homes (Plunk 20Nov 11, 2014 9:38 pm Holy moly Daisy, the builder can't even guarantee a 3cm precision for the build! This is nut. Hopefully, we will see some progress now. We would be lucky if we could even have a date for settlement before christmas. We haven't even gotten our final contract yet. Timeline: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76782 Ask for references and speak to them. If they are defensive or try to avoid the request, walk. 1 74701 I would never build with Fowler homes. I built with them in 2021 and till date maintenance issues are pending. All their existing trades and businesses don't work with… 14 105551 Hi there! Putting the feelers out there for those who have (or almost) built with Arli homes! Interested in your experiences who've built from their stock home designs… 0 23482 |