Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 81Mar 05, 2010 12:45 pm Here's hoping there are lots of good stories, but just like everything you never hear of the good, just the bad. We are just about to sign papers to build the Preston down at the 'Coast' at Seaford Rise! Husband works away alot so when it comes to signing papers everything is a bit slow Is anyone getting an extra Gas tap connected outside/alfresco area to connect bbq instead of having a gas tank? If you are how much was it to have the gas lines changed to the bigger ones? Thanks Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 82Mar 06, 2010 12:10 am I think just the connection is around $200. I am not sure about anything else. However nothing seems a lot but when you add it up it accumulates. Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 83Mar 06, 2010 7:22 am I think it was $250 for the extra connection to the alfresco. Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 86Mar 10, 2010 3:57 pm Hi all, regarding the length of time for the build- i would say to expect min 12mths from signing of contract to handover. We are building one of their smaller designs, on a perfectly flat block close to the city. We also knew people in the local council so development approval was given very quickly, and we are first home owners so builder priortised us to meet the deadlines associated with the grant... it has been 8 months now and they are only starting the wall framing this week! So yeah, 12 mths min.. 6months of them stuffing around doing "admin" stuff, and 6months build time from their "ok to start date". Another tip for beginners- take the advertised price and add 50%, that will be approx actual price. Our sales guy told us at our first meeting, and its pretty accurate. Cheers, Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 87Mar 10, 2010 4:22 pm My friend just got her keys and they finished the house in 4 months. I could not believe it. I just got back from her house and it looks good. She is lucky because her uncle is retired builder and was monitoring every step during the building process. I think when they start they can actually finish the house very quickly however it is the question when they will start? Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 88Mar 10, 2010 4:26 pm I just calculated everything and it looks like it may be 30% that you have to add on including the slab. Its not that bad. However if you go with only basics house looks plain. I could not believe that how much everything costs extra. Some things I do understand, however some are just ridiculous. I think its pure rip off. Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 89Mar 20, 2010 4:44 pm We're thinking of go with Hickins...but some of my friends actually chose sterling~~~ I guess it sometimes all depends on the LUCK... Just wonder if we can ask them to put "must finish building within 12m" in the contract before we pay the deposit?? 3rd property but 1st home March 19,2010 signed contract Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 90Mar 20, 2010 6:40 pm Like every one says. Give them a inch and they will take a mile (or two) Keep a paper trail. I signed up in March last year, and they are still going. However the slab went down just before their xmas break. Due to my moaning and grunting. Also in saying that my house is around 1 month from being completed and very happy with the work so far, minus a few little things. So really from start of the build, it has been 3 months with about 1 to go. Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 91Mar 20, 2010 7:26 pm Hi everyone, if building with hickies then there is a part of their building contract that gives you the opportunity to state exactly how, when and what you want your new home standard to be its, where you get a chance to write into the contract the things you want done ie (if you want straight walls ,if you want square door frames, if you want your slab to be flat etc ,etc,etc.Anything and everything you want ,the way you want and its called the 10th and 11th SCHEDULE and its part of your building agreement with them which you will both eventually sign off on.You will notice both are blank.No one tells you about this because you just expect to get straight walls ,tiles that the grout lines match up, light globes that are in the centre of the room ,brickwork that is straight and mortar that is all the same colour ,etc etc etc .next time you go to a display home have a real good look at the mortar ,the cornice ,the doors ,skirting ,architraves ,check to see if any of these things are square and straight and you will get a big and im talking about any display home from most builders ,so take a big tip from me write everything into your contract no matter how trivial that way it will have to be done ,properly cause its written in the contract in the 10th and 11th schedule (I WISH WE HAD WE HAD KNOWN BEFORE WE SIGNED OFF Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 92Mar 20, 2010 9:52 pm issy jo Hi everyone, if building with hickies then there is a part of their building contract that gives you the opportunity to state exactly how, when and what you want your new home standard to be its, where you get a chance to write into the contract the things you want done ie (if you want straight walls ,if you want square door frames, if you want your slab to be flat etc ,etc,etc.Anything and everything you want ,the way you want and its called the 10th and 11th SCHEDULE and its part of your building agreement with them which you will both eventually sign off on.You will notice both are blank.No one tells you about this because you just expect to get straight walls ,tiles that the grout lines match up, light globes that are in the centre of the room ,brickwork that is straight and mortar that is all the same colour ,etc etc etc .next time you go to a display home have a real good look at the mortar ,the cornice ,the doors ,skirting ,architraves ,check to see if any of these things are square and straight and you will get a big and im talking about any display home from most builders ,so take a big tip from me write everything into your contract no matter how trivial that way it will have to be done ,properly cause its written in the contract in the 10th and 11th schedule (I WISH WE HAD WE HAD KNOWN BEFORE WE SIGNED OFF Thanks so much for letting us know before we sign the contract...... wonder if there is any sample we can take a look....really feel dizzy... 3rd property but 1st home March 19,2010 signed contract Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 93Mar 22, 2010 8:48 am Hi Orangepool not much to look at just put in writing exactly what you want the finish of your home to be dont use display home finish as a guide make up your own ,straight walls ,straight and level cornices ,level slab ,extra waterproofing in wet areas ,drains to line up with tile,flush and level skirting ,square door frames,etc,etc,etc,dont expect it to be done ,cause it probably wont be unless you put it in writing ,if you are really fussy put it in writing.They will tell you that you dont have to put these things in writing and that your just being silly.Be as silly as you want put it in writing and make them sign it,if its written down they have to build exactly they way you want ,its your money and in the end you will have a beautiful home built without all the hiccups that you read about in this forum ,read my thread Issys Hamilton Alfesco Take 2.We wished someone had let us know this before we signed ,boy would i have written down a big list ,but in saying all this the company has been exellent in fixing our new home and we now have a beautifull house and we would build with them again but i would be filling out the 10th and 11th schedule BIG TIME !!!!! you betcha. Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 94Mar 22, 2010 2:47 pm Hi All, I was just wondering if anyone knows who the private certifier is for hickinbotham? Somehow our planing still has not arrived with him. The guys from Hickis are telling us fibs naturally by saying that private certifier has been delayed so I am just curious to find out the truth? Thanks Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 95Mar 22, 2010 7:40 pm issy jo Hi Orangepool not much to look at just put in writing exactly what you want the finish of your home to be dont use display home finish as a guide make up your own ,straight walls ,straight and level cornices ,level slab ,extra waterproofing in wet areas ,drains to line up with tile,flush and level skirting ,square door frames,etc,etc,etc,dont expect it to be done ,cause it probably wont be unless you put it in writing ,if you are really fussy put it in writing.They will tell you that you dont have to put these things in writing and that your just being silly.Be as silly as you want put it in writing and make them sign it,if its written down they have to build exactly they way you want ,its your money and in the end you will have a beautiful home built without all the hiccups that you read about in this forum ,read my thread Issys Hamilton Alfesco Take 2.We wished someone had let us know this before we signed ,boy would i have written down a big list ,but in saying all this the company has been exellent in fixing our new home and we now have a beautifull house and we would build with them again but i would be filling out the 10th and 11th schedule BIG TIME !!!!! you betcha. I've put these words down !!! Thanks sooooooooooooooooo much!! 3rd property but 1st home March 19,2010 signed contract Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 96Mar 24, 2010 11:27 am Your very welcome and happy building ,if you get good tradesman and a good site supervisor you will have no problems whatsoever its a bit like buying a lottery ticket good luck Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 97Mar 24, 2010 11:35 am Hi all Hickies builders ? is anyone building a new home with a colorbond roof in a Wind category 2 zone and if so how much extra was it to build in this N2 zone and if anyone knows what extra requirements are there to build in this zone ,any info would be much appreciated Regards Issy Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 98Mar 25, 2010 9:10 am issy jo Hi all Hickies builders ? is anyone building a new home with a colorbond roof in a Wind category 2 zone and if so how much extra was it to build in this N2 zone and if anyone knows what extra requirements are there to build in this zone ,any info would be much appreciated Regards Issy Not sure about the colorbond (we went with roof tiles) but the N2 cat cost us couple hundred from memory. Queried them regarding that classification as we could clearly see on the government planning website that our house was in N1 (lowest wind category), and we confirmed this with council. After talking to a friend in the building industry he said that the cost was worth it, that not many people build to N1 anymore. The additional cost is for additional bracing in the roof to stop it blowing off in the wind.. Was warned just to make sure they actually install more bracing! Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 99Mar 25, 2010 9:24 am Just a quick note for anyone going through the initial stages- if you are promised something by sales consultant, colours person etc etc make sure to get it in writing.. AND if its something the building contractors need to know get it written on the plan and elevations! We were assured our living room windows and sliding doors would be installed so that they were all same height.. this was drawn on elevations, but not specifically noted on the couple pages the contractors work from. Therefore they just installed them "to standard" (not level). Fortunately we noticed before they bricked that wall. Got in contact with our SS whom luckily was relaxed about getting contractors back on site to fix it. Re: Hickinbotham Homes in SA 100Mar 28, 2010 10:45 pm Hi all, My Builder's Electrical contractor quoted $324.50 for a single Telephone point and wiring with termination box. $93.50 for an extra phone point. $325.00 for Clipsal TV antenna. Is this a resonable price? Anyone can give advise about this?Thank you. Ask for references and speak to them. If they are defensive or try to avoid the request, walk. 1 74813 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 105708 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 23598 |