Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 07, 2016 2:16 pm Hi there, Great to find this forum website as so much info on here. My husband and I are all very new to the world of building houses and renos etc. Looking into the strong possibility of a move from city to country to build a new home on an acre block and after lots of research and hunting around, are really liking the look of Porter Davis' Hillside 35. We are currently trying to work out our budget to see if this is doable and I guess I'm after some info from others that may have built with Porter Davis, on their budget above the quoted house price. Hillside is $241k ( first home owners price). We are trying to work out realistically what the house will cost us after we upgrade bits and make a few changes etc but also what else do you have to budget for after you have the house built eg- driveway? Garden? Fence? The consultant we've seen said roughly add 100k to the price just for the house. Is this realistic? We want a nice good quality home for our two boys but also are happy with quality not extravagant bits and pieces like fancy taps etc. How much do we need to budget for on top of the house price? Does anyone think this house and a somewhat completed driveway/ garden etc could be completed for under $400k? I know we've a lot more research to do ourselves including visits to the world of style but just thought everyone here might be able to offer their two bobs too! Thanks in advance! Jo Budget questions - potential build with Porter Davis 2Jul 07, 2016 2:48 pm Hi that house and size sounds about right. 100k on top of base price. But If 400k is your budget You could get an almost designer home The only problem that you could encounter are the hidden costs with site etc..costs could escalate or not and landscaping with larger areas. Best of luck on your build Re: Budget questions - potential build with Porter Davis 3Jul 07, 2016 2:53 pm Thanks Emmz70. We'd like to only spend 350k but I'm thinking we are more likely going to have to spend that on the house and prepare to spend 50k on all the after bits and pieces that's why I asked re 400. Re: Budget questions - potential build with Porter Davis 4Jul 07, 2016 3:25 pm Exciting journey love PD homes, we started with them but changed builders reason was the home we wanted the Drysdale 40 couldn't fit perfectly on our land. I'll watch out for your build on here. all the best Re: Budget questions - potential build with Porter Davis 5Jul 07, 2016 6:40 pm By the time we've landscaped I think we'll end up more like $250k over base, but that includes extra site costs (KDR + rock), plus we're doing quite a lot of upgrades, we're building a pool, buying lots of new furniture, plus some expensive landscaping because we need a few retaining walls. I think it would definitely be possible to get a finished house for base + 100 as long as you have reasonable site and landscaping expenses and sensible upgrades. Re: Budget questions - potential build with Porter Davis 6Jul 08, 2016 9:01 am An extra $100k sounds about right, maybe a little extra if you really want to kit it out and yes will depend on site costs. By the way, that home is lovely, really nice layout. We actually went to the Romsey display a few weeks ago and going to copy a lot of the styling for our new home, especially the kitchen . Re: Budget questions - potential build with Porter Davis 7Jul 10, 2016 10:52 am Thanks all for you're responses. A bit daunting a task to think about that's why I want to get my head around costs first. Yes Dani_J- the Hillside floor plan is a bit unique to so many others we've seen which is what's appealing to us. They're styling was nice but we like a bit more of a contemporary look to what they had at Romsey. Our block has a great view so want to utilise that also. We think we'd go the 35 and convert the lounge at entry to a guest room, the bedroom 2 to a study and add on the rumpus room option but have no wall between it and the living area and that would be the family room as we thought the family/dining area too small. We'd also extend the deck out from the alfresco area. All grand plans but we will see!! The consultant quoted us 50k site costs but it's practically flat and we don't see it being that much once he actually goes and sees it. Cheers Re: Budget questions - potential build with Porter Davis 8Jul 10, 2016 11:48 am Hughesjo25 The consultant quoted us 50k site costs but it's practically flat and we don't see it being that much once he actually goes and sees it. Cheers The only people you can trust on siteworks are geotechnical & structural engineers as they will certify your project...not the salesman. I suggest you start by gathering data, costs and design/engineering ideas based on the above first rather than base display designs with alterations and (LOL HD) Renderings of what your final house model may look like... Most battlers here complain about $ticker $hock (engineering) at the CD stage which, seriously, is what you want to avoid when on a tight budget..HTH Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Budget questions - potential build with Porter Davis 9Jul 12, 2016 11:17 pm Hughesjo25 Thanks all for you're responses. A bit daunting a task to think about that's why I want to get my head around costs first. Yes Dani_J- the Hillside floor plan is a bit unique to so many others we've seen which is what's appealing to us. They're styling was nice but we like a bit more of a contemporary look to what they had at Romsey. Our block has a great view so want to utilise that also. We think we'd go the 35 and convert the lounge at entry to a guest room, the bedroom 2 to a study and add on the rumpus room option but have no wall between it and the living area and that would be the family room as we thought the family/dining area too small. We'd also extend the deck out from the alfresco area. All grand plans but we will see!! The consultant quoted us 50k site costs but it's practically flat and we don't see it being that much once he actually goes and sees it. Cheers Sounds like a lot of changes! Sounds great too but be prepared to be slugged for it. That's the thing with volume builders. Hope it comes in under your budget. Good luck! Re: Budget questions - potential build with Porter Davis 10Jul 13, 2016 1:55 pm The Hillside 35 at Romsey is beautiful, so much so that we plan to build it too!! Are you going with the ensuite with the freestanding bath like the display? Be careful of making the lounge into a guest room. We thought of enclosing it in but it would really change the feel when you walk in the doors. It wouldn't feel so open and light. We opted against that change. $350k will be easy to hit very quickly. We have budgetted for the upgraded ensuite, the 2nd alfresco, the flooring package, driveway, stacker doors and are close to that amount already and we haven't been to WOS yet. If you went for standard choices at WOS I think you could get by with $350k (this would depend on your site costs though). Ask them to walk you through the house and tell you what is standard and what is an upgrade. Have you asked them to put together a quote for you? I would suggest you put everything you might possibly upgrade. You can always remove them if you need to bring in your budget. Good luck! Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/853390798159713/ Re: Budget questions - potential build with Porter Davis 11Jul 19, 2016 7:38 pm Hi inexp_user, Thanks for your post and info. It's all so full on these decisions! We haven't made up our mind yet if we are def building but this is the best house we've seen yet. Still trying to get more budget info. We've had a rough quote done and since going to WOS on the wk end ( just slightly overwhelming) we are getting another estimate done. We are in the ballpark $ wise but can see how quickly it would all add up. U don't even get a towel rail without paying! We wouldn't get the bath in ensuite but I think as I mentioned earlier, like the idea of adding on the rumpus but not having a wall between that and the family room. We would then put the dining table where the family room is and the rumpus would be the cosy family room. Would have to work out what to put in that dining space and also that study space if we turn a bedroom into a study. Where are u building? What interior and exterior do u like? I'd love to see a Hillside display built with a more contemporary feel and look. All the best with your build! Re: Budget questions - potential build with Porter Davis 12Jul 21, 2016 10:01 pm Yes the study is a funny space in the Hillside. I have already told my family they will not be using the study because they are too messy. It will be only a show room study! My husband and I have been talking about it and I think in time we may wall in the study and open it up in the main bedroom to be a parents retreat. We have already moved the bedroom door out to be closer to the laundry door in preparation for this change in the future. We are building in Romsey. We are going for the homestead facade and my style is Designer. I like the interior of the Charlton 33 in the London style. I will be trying to replicate their ensuite. I like clean lines, blacks and whites. Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/853390798159713/ Three options 1 Ask the liquidator 2 Find another PD customer and ask the source of their report 3 Pay for new report 3 12332 All 3 items listed are defects and are of concern. Please seek qualified independent inspector and/or legal advice for your state. 1 8211 Coming back to your old stomping grounds, huh? Renovations on a budget can be quite the journey. It's like giving your house a new lease on life. The twist of not knowing… 1 3475 |