Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jun 08, 2015 3:41 pm Hi, We have just bought our first block of land and settlement is is a week or so (waiting in titles). We are doing a custom build given the small block size, and currently looking at builders. We have a few on the list so far, but it's not an easy task as our budget is $370K all up. My husband has done a floor plan that we have been told works well, just gotta find someone to build it! If anyone knows of any good recommendations we would happily take them! So far we have chatted to Switch, In Vogue and meeting with APG this week. Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 2Jun 09, 2015 1:01 am Hi JKro, We are building with Switch after a lot of research. We have found them to be fantastic to date. Yeh they can be a little slow and you have to double check (sometimes triple check) the plans and contractors but I would say that's the same with most builders. We prefer Switch as the upper level is a floortech system (metal truss with thin concrete slab) as opposed to wooden upper level which can be quite noisy. Also Switch pretty much designed a custom house for a fantastic price and no additions/ changes was too much trouble. Our design consultant was fab and still assists now if I think things are moving a little slow... We are just about to get our slab down so still a long way to go but so far so good... Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 3Jun 09, 2015 1:13 am Ben trager homes have good designs for smaller blocks, they use a metal truss floor system with concrete slab. Our build thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70984 Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 4Jun 09, 2015 7:47 pm Hi JKro we are currently TRYING to build a home with Switch we have found them great up to signing the contract now it is a nightmare we have had our siteworks date changed 4x so far it has been pushed back 4 weeks and counting. We signed our PPA 10 months ago we are not impressed with them atm. Hubby is having a meeting on Thurs with the bosses. So just be warned, I did take them to task over their slowness when we went in for our first meeting they assured us it was all ok now..... no its not Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 5Jun 10, 2015 11:38 am I think the most challenging thing is that when we get close to picking one.....we find someone whos had a bad experience and then we start doubting. But i am accepting now that every builder has their ups and downs. Switch has been amazing in the consultation phase and knowledge of the Freo council rules. The land was originally pitched as a house and land and a house had been designed for it. The Switch guy pointed out all the breaches in In Vogues plan. So we dont want to go with them now. Plus i have asked 4 times for a reciept for the 3K deposit they tricked us into, and i still havent got it. Not setting a good start! Meeting with APG this evening so will get to see what theyre like. They seemed good on the phone with their knowledge etc. We have also spoken with Great Living Homes and they had some great suggestions for shuffling the downstairs rooms a little. I think in the end it will come down to design and cost. I am ok with them taking longer if it will be good quality. In Vogue said we will be in by June/July. Switch said it would take two years. Right now i dont really trust In Vogue. But we will see! Ben Trager dont do double brick upstairs and we would certainly prefer that as we are on the top.of a hill and its coastal. Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 6Jun 10, 2015 11:45 am Switch were fab during the paperwork side of things but now it has hit a brick wall they have gone past the 40 day start which is states in the contract. They have given us a 12/15 month time frame our build is just under $500k. Good luck with whom you choose and I do hope it goes smoothly Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 7Jun 10, 2015 11:59 am 101 Residential has a display home in Annie's Landing in Ellenbrook whch quite impressed us. Double storey on a small block (ard 390 sqm?). However with the way they built it, we thought the house was on a larger block and it did not feel small at all. We are not building with 101, but just that we were impressed with the house we saw during one of our display villages jaunt! Our Build Thread: The "Extended" Marina by Visionone Homes Our Inspirations: Frank Lloyd Wright | Houzz Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 8Jun 10, 2015 12:04 pm Hi Hootie We looked into 101 but a friend of ours used to work for them and he advised us not to go there. The reviews also werent very good so we got a bit scared away of them. But we did like their design!! Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 9Jun 10, 2015 12:38 pm First impression with 101 are not good, even if their product was good, their sales reps put us off from the get go. You're working with someone for 6 months to design your house and guide you through the process, you need to be comfortable with them! We looked at Switch, the sales rep wasn't overly helpful but not too bad, and I feel had we signed with them our build would take even longer than our build could now with BTH. We looked at In-Vogue and Broadway Homes, both wouldn't help us as said they couldn't give us what we wanted within our budget, despite their houses starting at $80K less than we were looking for. My friend has built 2 houses with In-Vogue and raves about them. Great Living Homes were another contender, but I've heard of their builds taking 2 years also, there are 2 where my house is being built, they started off quick and have stalled the last few months and don't look to have progressed, maybe reviews were right. From what I have seen, they build the pod on site first (steel frame), then raise it up and support it, and then brick the walls under it, which is not a method I've seen before. BTH are who we ended up going with, their sales rep was amazing and I've since found out he no longer works for them, so whoever he is with now is very lucky, he was really really good (and good at putting up with me..) their admin process took less than 6 months and we got to site earlier than anticipated too, up until now our build has been progressing quickly, but we've stalled the last 2 months, we've had a site meeting so hopefully now going forward they pick up the pace again. I don't regret building with them as yet as long as the build keeps progressing. To be honest the timber frame doesn't concern me, as far as I know WA are the only state to do double brick construction, if timber frame is fine for every other state and I'm sure they build them right on the coast, then I don't see the issue in WA, our storms are nothing like theirs! Others to look at - Home Group WA (known to be slow), Danmar Homes, Asperion Homes Our build thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70984 Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 10Jun 10, 2015 2:36 pm JKro Hi Hootie We looked into 101 but a friend of ours used to work for them and he advised us not to go there. The reviews also werent very good so we got a bit scared away of them. But we did like their design!! JKro - Good call, I would be inclined to take your friend's advise too Our Build Thread: The "Extended" Marina by Visionone Homes Our Inspirations: Frank Lloyd Wright | Houzz Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 11Jun 11, 2015 12:45 am We did suss out Ben Trager, have heard good things. If we were willing to compromise on the double brick on top then i reckon they'd be the ones we would first consider. Had the meeting with APG this evening. They come across as not as openly flexible and into the custom builds as Switch, but have impressive reviews and a good trade base. Theyll do custom, but they felt a little reluctant, i think due to cost given we gave them a budget. Their build time is significantly shorter than Switch though which would save us on rent and interest. Their showroom and inclusions on the Lifestyle range also left Switch far behind. Inclusions were amazing. So i suppose we wait to see what plans they come up with for us and a price!!! Then the fun of making a decision. Still waiting on titles for the block though but timing is working out well. Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 12Jun 11, 2015 1:15 am APG have a breakthrough range which is cheaper however perhaps not as flexible and seem to suit long skinny blocks Our build thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70984 Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 13Jun 11, 2015 10:20 am We spoke to In -Vouge as I know someone who works there, we gave her a budget of $450k and it was a simple design they could not do it. We changed something downstairs that was ok then we wanted to changed a couple of rooms around upstairs (from bed-bath-bed, to bed - bed to use as dressing room -bath) she dumped the paperwork and said that's another $40k. So we walked from them. There are a lot of APG going up around us they look pretty good or have you tried Next Residential. In the end you have to decide and just hang on for the ride some very highs and some low lows Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 14Jun 11, 2015 11:30 am We did chat about the Breakthrough range, but it doesn't really suit our block and the requirements that we want for the house. So we are certainly looking for a builder to construct the design we have planned. In Vogue was in.....interesting experience. We had the same encounter you had. Asked to make the upper floor a bit bigger and BAM slammed us with over $40K extra. In comparison to Switch and APG, they are lagging on my pros&cons list thus far. And service has not been that crash hot..... We spoke to someone at NEXT at a display home and there was a lady there that drive us nuts, and they just wouldn't listen to us. Thinking about giving them another chance at the Port Coogee (where we live now) display home but we will wait until Switch and APG come back with their quotes. It is certainly great hearing other peoples experience!!!! Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 15Jun 11, 2015 11:45 am Switch were great at the admin stage, now it is soo slow the hubby is in there as we type to try and find out some answers. They were really good about changing the plans around and we are also supplying all our sani ware (taps, toilets basins the lot) and that was no problem. So I can't fault them there. I wouldn't trust invogue and I see the lady every tue and thurs awkward Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 16Jun 11, 2015 12:00 pm BTH allowed us to fully customise any plan, we spent months doing it before we finally decided to just make small changes to the existing plan rather than try and change it completely, we found them the only builder who was happy to do this and we never felt pressured to pay our deposit until the very end when we were happy with the design and to sign up. A lot of others wouldn't do that without the deposit paid. Next Residential have some great designs, but will probably end up out of your budget? There is also Amano Homes but I've never really heard much about them? Our build thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70984 Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 17Jun 11, 2015 12:14 pm We looked at BTH and liked some of their designs but the sales reps wasn't interested when we told him our block was sloping. You could always go to a broker and give them your budget and they will find 3/4 builders for you to choose to talk with a friend of mine is doing that. It really is a leap of faith somewhere during the build there will be a wait from what I have read on this forum. Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 18Jun 11, 2015 1:21 pm I am so over it already and it has only been a few weeks! I have never wanted to build, just so happened a block popped up in the area we wanted. I tihink time to build is just such an important factor given most people are paying rent, and everyone is paying a land loan and interest throughout the process. But it is the one thing you can't control really. To be honest, Switch is sounding great in terms of the plan and including our wants and needs and they are so helpful. The Salesman is great....but i am seeing recurring themes about their build time when i look at their forums.....which does scare me! And the husband has issues with floortech....he wants a solid thick slab, not a "footpath". There is a Switch home going up atm in Port Coogee we have been watching.....and admittedly it has been slow compared to some of the others going up in the area....but it is beautiful looking. Switch do great attractive designs. Ideally if APG can come back with the same plan/design for a good price i think we would be sweet! The guy said he could tell just by looking at us that our heart was set on our design and we wouldn't be ecstatic budging on things. My sister just built with Complete Homes and their build was really quick and smooth (single storey though). The only hiccup was that they forgot to schedule the renderer! So fingers crossed ours goes as smoothly. Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 19Jun 11, 2015 1:28 pm APG would be a great choice if they come in within budget, so fingers crossed for you! My partner does their SOR roof frames on a lot of their builds and he's never said there is any issues with them or their brick work, other single storey builders however..! Our build thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70984 Re: First build! Double storey, 220sqm block in Beaconsfield 20Jun 11, 2015 1:38 pm Oh well your partner may end up doing ours if we go with APG I have heard great reviews about them. We have a friend who is an elextrician and he told us not to go with Switch because they are their clients and he said the long builds are due to their site supervsiors being unorganised. He did say that the NOR supervisors are great though. Just the SOR one is not so crash hot. So much to think about and roll the dice. 1 4581 Hi Kristy Around $1.7-1.8m or around $4,600/sqm. if you PM me your email I will send you a break up in a spreadsheet so you can get an understanding of the costs for… 1 9952 Surrey Hills, Vic 3127 Garage is being built with metal, 3m distance away from my cover deck. It is parallel to my cover deck, living room, family room and kitchen,… 0 9617 |