Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 08, 2015 6:51 pm Hi, I thought with the differences between Henley & Plantation in the different states it would be nice to start a thread for Plantation Homes & tips on dealing with them in Queensland. Building a modified Simonds Palisade in Brentwood Forest. View my build thread here: viewtopic.php?t=76776 Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 2Apr 08, 2015 7:00 pm First tip... Do NOT compare differences between QLD and the other states. You will be very disappointed. Henley - can have 2 colours for kitchen cabinets. PH - only 1 colour, second is a upgrade. Henley - double shower head std to ENS. PH - upgrade. PH want to add retaining walls to almost every block. Do NOT accept it. Most times you will find you do not need them. Hmm... Maybe I should stay out of this thread lol. Cheers, Paul (& Lisa) Parkhill 36 by ClarendonHomes in Coomera Retreat H1 Build Thread And Blog Building Blogs List - Go Ahead And Add Yours!! Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 3Apr 08, 2015 7:25 pm No that's great to know! We have less than 500mm fall so if they try to add a retaining wall I'll fight it! Building a modified Simonds Palisade in Brentwood Forest. View my build thread here: viewtopic.php?t=76776 Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 4Apr 08, 2015 7:33 pm I did and eventually got them to remove them and associated costs which were significant. If they had done that from the get go things might have turned out very differently. Our block has about 600mm fall back to front over about 20 meters, so bugger all in the grand scheme of things. You also need to consider if they do a cut/fill, then you generally won't be cutting the full amount. It may work out only 300 fill and 300 cut which is nothing at all. Cheers, Paul (& Lisa) Parkhill 36 by ClarendonHomes in Coomera Retreat H1 Build Thread And Blog Building Blogs List - Go Ahead And Add Yours!! Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 5Apr 08, 2015 8:10 pm They have put a charge on their for $700 for cut and fill, which I couldn't understand because it's essentially a flat block? Building a modified Simonds Palisade in Brentwood Forest. View my build thread here: viewtopic.php?t=76776 Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 6Apr 08, 2015 8:58 pm Most blocks will still have some sort of "levelling" needed that they (most builders) will cover under the task of cut/fill. $700 is quite cheap I think so probably wouldn't be too concerned with that. Be worried if they add retainers lol Cheers, Paul (& Lisa) Parkhill 36 by ClarendonHomes in Coomera Retreat H1 Build Thread And Blog Building Blogs List - Go Ahead And Add Yours!! Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 7Apr 08, 2015 9:56 pm I'll put in my two cents about dealing with plantation homes QLD: Everything has been great so far, no major issues at all. All staff we have dealt with have been efficient in every email... and we have just had our contract and colours appointment. We did have to put in a retaining wall however it was necessary, however to our suprise it was only $3500 for around 20 metres of retaining wall (timber). We allowed around $15000 for site costs (I'm including the retaining wall in that) as I have seen most people's site costs are around $20k and ours are just over $10k so very happy. Yes you do have to pay for a different colour over head in the kitchen (around $120) and a double shower in the ensuite (around $150) but not many other builders include the level of inclusions they do? I.e. We got quotes from 7 different builders before choosing who to go with and most didn't even include overhead cupboards in the kitchen and the type of types and shower heads included as standard was crap with only one choice. Anyway we've had a really good experience so far but we made sure we allowed room in the budget for site costs and the prices of upgrades and we still ended up $2000 under budget. I do recommend you know pretty much exactly what you know and the placement of where everything goes as any variation afterwards you want changed, they will more than likely charge you for it. Happy to answer more questions if it helps!! 30/01/15 - Land Settlement 07/04/15 - Contract & colour selections 05/05/15- Council approval 28/05/15 - Site start Build Thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76068 Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 8Apr 09, 2015 6:52 am Was your double shower placed on the opposite wall? We had a rain shower put in additionally from the ceiling and it was $395, but I wonder if it's because it's installed from the ceiling? Building a modified Simonds Palisade in Brentwood Forest. View my build thread here: viewtopic.php?t=76776 Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 9Apr 09, 2015 6:55 am Tiled Niches $655 Ensure drawers $155 Wine rack option to fridge $575 Glass returns full height splash back $595 Soft close cupboards $1000 Timber windows to facade $2155 Timber/glass doors to linen, WIR & master $2055 Bin drawer to kitchen $395 Skylight $795 Remove back theatre window -$300 Shorten ensuite window - no cost Pot drawers to kitchen $400 Insinkerator $400 Under mount sink $52 Longer bath - San Diego $510 Shower Rose to ensuite $370 Pocket doors to kids retreat $980 Ducted air con $12570 Building a modified Simonds Palisade in Brentwood Forest. View my build thread here: viewtopic.php?t=76776 Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 10Apr 09, 2015 8:39 am We've had a mostly great experience with Plantation so far too, and I agree with EmKaralyn that their base level of inclusions is pretty good. We're building a Breakthrough plan (their discontinued entry level plan range) and we didn't have to upgrade much - and what we did upgrade, we would have had to upgrade with any builder. The overhead cupboards are a good example - Coral, who were our second choice, don't include them or a return on the fridge cavity as standard, whereas Plantation included the overheads and our fridge is actually in a properly walled recess (which means we can put stuff on the wall facing the bench, if we want). Also, in comparing Plantation to Henley, one of the BIG differences I've seen in Plantation's favour after reading the Henley thread is that if you want a cold water point to your fridge, Plantation do it as a recess in the wall, while Henley don't/can't/won't, which is causing people lots of dramas. One thing to bear in mind with retaining, that we found at least anyway, was that once they actually got to site the retaining was significantly less extensive than on the original site plan which they'd done off disclosure. So you might find the same. We were always going to need retaining across our back boundary whoever we went with because there's an 800mm step up to our rear neighbour. But our original retaining plan had retaining down both sides too, and then it was removed on one side, and then when they actually built it it was much less on the other side. If you are having any dramas, don't be afraid to ask to speak to the customer liaison. She's lovely and very understanding. I think every builder is going to have pluses and minuses, I'm yet to hear of one that has 100% happiness from everyone ![]() Jen (& Dave) Plantation Bronte, Ormeau Ridge, Gold Coast QLD 12/03/2015 - Commencement... 26/08/2015 - Handover! viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76446 Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 11Apr 09, 2015 10:29 am Remember these prices will vary depending on plan and any other mitigating circumstances. Provide a cold water point including duo valve (capped for future icemaker use), to fridge space. $195 Provide a standard staircase to suit 2740mm ceiling height in lieu of 2440mm ceiling height. $950 Provide 18-04 louver window to Ensuite in lieu of the standard fixed aluminium window. Note - Price includes a flyscreen. $743 Provide a credit for the deletion of the single roller door to the rear of the standard Garage. -$305 Provide 60mm Anticon blanket under sheeting to total roof area. $1,917 Provide for an approximate 3240mm extension to Elevation C of the Dining as per Plans. Note - Price includes the deletion of the standard Alfresco area. - Window changes have been costed separately. $1,613 (This price was to remove the Alfresco and convert it back into internal living. The original sliding door and window were retained) Cheers, Paul (& Lisa) Parkhill 36 by ClarendonHomes in Coomera Retreat H1 Build Thread And Blog Building Blogs List - Go Ahead And Add Yours!! Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 12Apr 09, 2015 5:36 pm Nysa and Lachlan, we have just added a double rain shower (upgraded the fitting to a rain shower as well but it's not coming out of the ceiling). We had our electrical appointment today, came in on budget. They were lovely and helpful. Our plans were also lodged to council today. 30/01/15 - Land Settlement 07/04/15 - Contract & colour selections 05/05/15- Council approval 28/05/15 - Site start Build Thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76068 Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 13Apr 09, 2015 5:58 pm Here's our upgrade list and prices, for those interested. We're building a Bronte 4 which is no longer available but its a 4 bedroom single storey house with 2 living areas, 212m2. Total electrical cost $5,826 (you can see my electrical plan in my thread, we went nuts with data points everywhere) Required upgrades for BAL 12.5 $4,626 Required upgrades for N3 wind rating $1,917 Credit for deletion of Master WIR shelving -$216 Credit for deletion of Butlers Pantry window -$85 Replace window in living with 21-21 sliding door $60 Obscure glass to ensuite and bathroom windows $197 Obscure glass to laundry half-glazed door $105 Glass splashback to kitchen $1,120 Upgrade to 40mm island benchtop $272 Undermount sink $771 Extra shelf in Butlers Pantry $120 Upgrade from Technika to Bosch upright cooker $1,237 Upgrade from Technika to Bosch dishwasher -$57 (actually a credit, it's cheaper, go figure) Upgrade from Technika to Bosch rangehood $380 Upgrade to designer range carpet in 4 bedrooms $153 Solar hot water $950 Recessed cold water point in fridge $195 Rain shower on rail to ensuite $127 Extra laminate colour in kitchen $120 Laying and grout costs for non-standard tiles/grout $854 (we colour-matched the grout and have rectified tiles in the ensuite and on the main bath hob) Shelf in ensuite shower $75 Jen (& Dave) Plantation Bronte, Ormeau Ridge, Gold Coast QLD 12/03/2015 - Commencement... 26/08/2015 - Handover! viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76446 Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 14Apr 09, 2015 9:04 pm What kind of undermount sink did you get?? Our upgrade to undermount was $52! Building a modified Simonds Palisade in Brentwood Forest. View my build thread here: viewtopic.php?t=76776 Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 15Apr 09, 2015 9:07 pm It's a lago double bowl and I believe a big chunk of that cost is from the extra finishing required on the thick benchtop. Do you have a 40mm stone benchtop too? ——— Sent from Tapatalk My build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76446 Jen (& Dave) Plantation Bronte, Ormeau Ridge, Gold Coast QLD 12/03/2015 - Commencement... 26/08/2015 - Handover! viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76446 Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 16Apr 09, 2015 9:11 pm Also I'm upgrading from breakthrough inclusions, so maybe there's a bigger cost there because your included sink was already better? ——— Sent from Tapatalk My build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76446 Jen (& Dave) Plantation Bronte, Ormeau Ridge, Gold Coast QLD 12/03/2015 - Commencement... 26/08/2015 - Handover! viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76446 Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 17Apr 09, 2015 10:26 pm I think the island comes std with 40mm in Plantation & the back bench is 20mm. That's the same bowl as us. Building a modified Simonds Palisade in Brentwood Forest. View my build thread here: viewtopic.php?t=76776 Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 18Apr 09, 2015 10:27 pm I guess it's the breakthrough vs regular range cost then. Our island had 20mm as standard and we upgraded to 40mm. And I guess the standard sink isn't as nice or something. ——— Sent from Tapatalk My build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76446 Jen (& Dave) Plantation Bronte, Ormeau Ridge, Gold Coast QLD 12/03/2015 - Commencement... 26/08/2015 - Handover! viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76446 Plantation Homes (Queensland) 19Apr 09, 2015 10:31 pm I wonder if it's the sink type or the undermounting that adds the expense? Building a modified Simonds Palisade in Brentwood Forest. View my build thread here: viewtopic.php?t=76776 Re: Plantation Homes (Queensland) 20Apr 09, 2015 10:35 pm I'm sure I remember them saying that a lot of the cost was the under mounting because of the extra work required on the stone bench. I could be misremembering though. ——— Sent from Tapatalk My build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76446 Jen (& Dave) Plantation Bronte, Ormeau Ridge, Gold Coast QLD 12/03/2015 - Commencement... 26/08/2015 - Handover! viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76446 1 10482 Building Standards; Getting It Right! We bought a house in 2015 advertised as a 7/2/2, 4br up, 3br down (7br), and to date, it’s a great house. However, we’ve just had it valued and it’s come in as a… 0 11986 I think you are getting different numbers because they all just based them on "other jobs" even though each job is unique. Often, with builders, unless you're speaking to… 3 3232 ![]() |