Browse Forums Building A New House Re: {dawn} Custom in S.E Melbourne - Countdown to Settlement 426Oct 01, 2015 11:36 pm aloenyx In other news. I have the final build price for my house with all my upgrades and inclusions and I'm super happy with it. Come in under budget (just) and managed to include all the upgrades I really wanted. I'll post tomorrow with more details and a full list of my upgrades but for now I'm so exciteeed! YAY!! How exciting! Congratulations Re: {dawn} Custom in S.E Melbourne - Countdown to Settlement 427Oct 02, 2015 10:03 am Thanks all! Wow, stage 4 sounds like ill be titling same time as stage 3. *panic* So in the light of day I've gotten a better look at my two new bunnies. It seems one is a full grown female black minilop and the other is a lovely chocolate brown but something larger than a minilop. For now we've decided to keep the little black minilop as a friend for my boy. As for the brown one, she's unfortunately too big and we just can't have 3 rabbits indoors. But she is a gorgeous lovely bunny if anyone is interested. Otherwise we will probably take her to the nearby shelter and see if they can find her a nice home. I've named the little black one Maggie and the brown one I'm calling Hazelnut till I have to give her up. I'll put up some pictures later. I'm out today enjoying this lovely sunny public holiday, will update everyone tonight on the house Re: {dawn} Custom in S.E Melbourne - Countdown to Settlement 428Oct 02, 2015 12:43 pm You cant go talking about bunnies without posting a photo
Re: {dawn} Custom in S.E Melbourne - Countdown to Settlement 429Oct 02, 2015 5:00 pm Fittings and Fixtures Lighting Kitchen pendants x 3 Bedroom & Bathroom x 4 En Suite x 1 External light over driveway LED downlights throughout rest of house Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Plumbing Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b439/Aloenyx/torinatoilet.png Appliances Re: {dawn} Custom in S.E Melbourne - Countdown to Settlement 430Oct 02, 2015 6:04 pm As promised here is a final list of my upgrades (above and beyond standard inclusions). UPGRADES AT NO ADDITIONAL COST Feature Entry Door Double Bowl S/S Sink Stone bench tops to Kitchen, Laundry and Bathroom Tiled shower base 40x40 shower niches External ducted rangehood Split system Recycled water tap Extended bathroom mirror Privacy locks to bathroom and toilet Frosted glass to en suite window Extend kitchen bench top, cupboards and window by 300mm Extend living room window to 1800mm Change laundry exit door to sliding Driveway Eaves to porch UPGRADES WITH AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE Exhaust fan to laundry Floor tiles to living area in lieu of carpet Laundry cupboard with inset sink in lieu of trough Extend height of kitchen overheads by 150mm Upgrade to cat 2 carpet Roof sarking Double glazed windows Awning windows in lieu of sliding 2700mm ceiling height Frameless shower to en suite Upgraded sliding wardrobe doors Brick infill above all windows and external doors Total Upgrade Cost $11,325 ITEMS REMOVED FROM QUOTE Dishwasher Blinds Mailbox Clothesline Alarm Total build price has come in just under my budget of $170,000. Overall super happy and excited to see the house be built Some other awesome inclusions that aren't upgrades but I'm excited about anyway are: Raft slab in lieu of waffle pod slab Porcelain floor tiles throughout Mosaic tiles in bathroom Toilet roll holders and towel holders provided Concrete pad under HWS Render to pillars and front bedroom wall (two colours) 3 telephone points in lieu of 2 1200x900 showers in both bathroom and en suite Rail showers in both bathroom and en suite Upgraded tap ware Soft close premium toilet Electric oven with gas stove upright cooker (I could have had 900mm, but choose 600m due to the space) LED downlights throughout in lieu of standard lights Pendant lights in kitchen and hallway Brick infill above garage door and to front facade windows and doors Sidelight window beside front door Window locks and flyscreens TV antenna Garage door with remote control Re: {dawn} Custom in S.E Melbourne - Countdown to Settlement 431Oct 03, 2015 2:48 pm Some good news about the bunnies. We are going to keep the little black bunny I've named Maggie and my cousin has taken the big brown bunny home and will be keeping it as an indoor bunny. Re: {dawn} Custom in S.E Melbourne - Countdown to Settlement 433Oct 04, 2015 4:24 pm What a big weekend! Well another one.. Picked up the new sound system, works really well Also picked up super large rabbit cage for the new bunny, its way too big for this house but will work perfect in my new house. Here is the promised photos of the two rabbits. This is Hazelnut, who was adopted by my cousins http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b439/Aloenyx/Animals/20151002_084111.jpg And this is Maggie who will be staying with me. My Baloo has decided he really REALLY likes her. http://i1043.photobucket.com/albums/b439/Aloenyx/Animals/20151002_084101.jpg On house matters got confirmation settlement should be late November. So will ask the builder to get moving on the plans later this week.. so close! Re: {dawn} Custom in S.E Melbourne - Countdown to Settlement 435Oct 07, 2015 5:59 pm Haha! Photos would be awesome. My builder is talking about soil tests *fear* I thought that I would sign contracts and lock in the price before they did that. Now I've found a new fear... unexpected increase in site costs!!! I am a little worried there was a tree on my lot that the estate took down and that might affect my soil classification. Oh well, I've confirmed to the builder I'm happy with the final quote.. and I will simply wait now until they provide me with plans and a contract.. and hope it comes before settlement does. *stressed* I can't wait to be pass this stage of building..and moving on to actually getting a slab down. Too many stresses right now. I'm worried about the contract not being signed before settlement. I'm worried about my finance being approved (seeing the broker on the weekend). I'm worried about unexpected site costs. I'm worried about the bank valuation. I'm worried about not having enough savings. I'm worried about the actual settlement and all the running around I might have to do... How do people survive this? Re: {dawn} Custom in S.E Melbourne - Countdown to Settlement 436Oct 07, 2015 6:13 pm I feel your pain! Will have our costings from the builder end of this week, mortgage broker coming round next week to get things started. Bit nervous about the site costs too! Re: {dawn} Custom in S.E Melbourne - Countdown to Settlement 437Oct 07, 2015 7:53 pm Eeee... its nerve wracking isnt it! I want to ask the bank for an extra $4k for the construction on top of my original preapproval amount. I'm about $13k above my very first approval limit (keeps being pushed up). It's not so bad I spent $3k less on my land.. so really only $10k higher than my original budget. I'm very happy with the builders final quote price just hoping site costs won't increase after soil tests *fingers crossed* Thankfully I've been saving hard for over a year now, so if I have to chip in a little extra I can.. though I'd prefer to save that money for the million and one things I'm going to need to pay for outside the mortgage/deposit. Re: {dawn} Custom in S.E Melbourne - Countdown to Settlement 438Oct 07, 2015 8:06 pm My mind is on landscaping. Can't decide if I need to hire a company to do it all, or just someone to do the more tricky bits. I am somewhat hoping my dad will be able to handle it.. but it might be less drama to just pay for a professional. I have a basic idea of what I want and it's pretty simple. Hardest parts will probably be laying turf and paving the entertainment area and entryway. Both sides will be concreted, so that will need a professional company to come in. I'm not at all handy My front yard needs to: - Meet the estates guidelines - Be full of native plants and I'd like it to be attractive to wildlife in the area - Be easy to maintain - Add to the value of the house - Be secure (fencing!!!) - Provide shade on the west facing bedroom windows My back yard needs to: - Provide an entertainment area/coffee area - Have turf for my assortment of animals - Have a spot for growing vegetables and herbs and maybe fruit trees - Provide shade - Only have plants that are safe for rabbits and cats and dogs - Not have any plants that are spikey (try chasing a rabbit under a rosebush ) - Provide a pretty scene from the living room and dining room windows/doors Sides of the house need to: - Provide scenery for the bathroom and kitchen windows on one side, and bedrooms on the other - House all the necessities, i.e. meters, condenser, HWS - Be super easy to maintain - Be pet friendly - One side needs to provide a cat/rabbit enclosure (my kitties will be indoor only, because I'm a good neighbour XD) - Provide access to the backyard Some early ideas are to have a cat enclosure down the wider side of the house, with an entry from the sliding laundry door. Fully concrete both sides of the house to provide stability to the slab and easy maintenance (with maybe some pots or wall plants). Have a square entertainment area off the dining room sliding door for outdoor furniture and maybe a firepit/gas heater. The entertainment area will either have a retractable awning or a permanent roof structure of some kind. The garden beds will have to be mostly raised (because bunnies will eat anything they can reach). I really wanted to do circle lawns, but I think if I am going to laying turf myself.. straight lines will be a lot easier! I absolutely cannot decide on garden edging *hopeless* I want something easy to maintain, like pavers. But easy to install.. for me. I also want stepping stones circling the house between the bits concrete, so you can get from one entry to the other without stepping on the grass. I'll have to draw up some plans over the weekend and post them. I think I need them anyways for the estate. Re: {dawn} Custom in S.E Melbourne - Countdown to Settlement 439Oct 09, 2015 8:49 pm Such a long day today! Had a day off work so was out to get some chores done *succeeded* Took me about 4 hours to get blue tooth working on my laptop Also paid for and picked up all my lights today Super happy with my choices. I think I spent about $1,000 all up for 10 lights, which isn't too bad. Re: {dawn} Custom in S.E Melbourne - Countdown to Settlement 440Oct 11, 2015 3:06 am aloenyx I can't wait to be pass this stage of building..and moving on to actually getting a slab down. Too many stresses right now. I'm worried about the contract not being signed before settlement. I'm worried about my finance being approved (seeing the broker on the weekend). I'm worried about unexpected site costs. I'm worried about the bank valuation. I'm worried about not having enough savings. I'm worried about the actual settlement and all the running around I might have to do... How do people survive this? My goodness, you just read my mind. I am so tired and I have hardly begun. Our land settles on the 20th of November - as in 1 month away! We have a house plan vaguely sorted but are months and months behind you as we dont even have a builder secured yet. Really love your ideas with landscaping also. Could you use recycled bricks for your garden edging? I cant remember what your facade looks like to know if this matches or not. Maybe have a look on Pinterest to see if anything takes your fancy. Im hoping we can do something simular to you actually with lilydale topping around the house and mostly natives. We wont have any lawn out the front, just natives. Backyard - well . . . thats going to be tricky. We are on 1000m on a slope so not really sure how we will work it out. Have been trying to get ideas from Pinterest but without much luck. Have been wondering if you can hire landscape designers just to get a plan as we are hoping to do it ourselves as well, save a few thousand $$ Did you know that Cardinia have days where you can get free native plants? I'd get the gutters to match your roof and pipes to match the paint - otherwise they become a feature. Nice pick with the paint colours! 1 34269 6 55346 So it looks like we finally have some movement on site! Definitely later than expected, but I'll take any progress at this point. I'll drop by over the weekend to get… 5 27713 |