Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Feb 19, 2017 7:08 pm Hubby and I are long time renters and (first) homeowner newbies. Created this thread in memory of our build. Finally took the plunge when we've had enough downpayment saved. Found vacant land in a new subdivision being constructed in Lisarow in Central Coast. Didn't know much about the building process essentially just went with our guts and lucky enough to buy in a beautiful area minutes away from the train station and the shops and schools. Our lot is a downhill slope (from the street) overlooking trees / bushland with BAL rating of 19. We chose Montgomery Homes to build with and so far everything has been going smoothly - except with the costs of the upgrades (but of course floor to ceiling tiles in the bathrooms and free standing cooker and oven- haha) and site costs. In deference to our budget, we've stuck mostly with all the inclusions offered (5 star) and didn't sign up for anything fancy. The only thing we've re-arranged in our Carolina plan is to remove the Home Theatre area, made the kitchen area bigger and made the pantry my dream pantry. In the future, thinking of figuring a way of putting in a dumbwaiter from the garage to the downstairs area and making the house more ageing in place friendly. Due to fall of the land, our builder tweaked the plan from a tri-level split to a full-split with the living areas downstairs and the bedrooms and garage in the upper level. Our little boy is looking forward to having his own room and maybe having a pet cat (or a dog if hubby has a say in it). Will post pictures soon. Re: Our Carolina (slightly modified) Build With Montgomery H 2Feb 19, 2017 7:34 pm Welcome to H1! Looking forward to following along!! Love to see your plan and he changes you've made ![]() GJ Gardner Modified Coolum 277 viewtopic.php?t=83643 Re: Our Carolina (slightly modified) Build With Montgomery H 3Feb 19, 2017 8:03 pm Welcome love the Carolina ![]() ![]() Re: Our Carolina (slightly modified) Build With Montgomery H 5Feb 20, 2017 8:50 am Beautiful outlook to the trees! We are also trying to future proof our house design for age. First for my mum who will be living with us in a granny flat and down the track for DH and me ![]() Re: Our Carolina (slightly modified) Build With Montgomery H 6Mar 12, 2017 7:03 am Hi, congrats on your new home! We are also looking at the Carolina, its stunning! Was it easy to modify the plans? Very expensive? We haven't spoken to anyone at the company yet just researching online. Thanks for any advice you can give us. Re: Our Carolina (slightly modified) Build With Montgomery H 7Mar 15, 2017 8:36 pm Hi ferrarijonesbuild - yes it was easy to modify, there are several options for the Carolina depending on whether you want the living area upstairs or at the bottom level. Expensive? - building on a sloping site will incur more $$ but in saying that all Carolinas are built on a downhill site so expect $$. Our salesguy is very easy to talk to and accommodating. Cheers! Re: Our Carolina (slightly modified) Build With Montgomery H 8Apr 23, 2017 5:14 pm Hi lia_dvm We have also bought at Lisarow and just started a tender process with Montgomery Homes, so would love to hear and follow your experiences. We are on the high side so will need an uphill design. Montgomery advertise that their designs are very flexible, but I didn't realise just by how much. From reading other peoples changes they've made, I'm now thinking of what we could have asked for in our tender - bigger kitchen etc. I keep changing my mind on designs and it is hard to work out whether to go for the larger/more expensive house, or to go cheaper and make modifications. ![]() Re: Our Carolina (slightly modified) Build With Montgomery H 9Apr 24, 2017 3:49 pm Following. I am also building with Montgomery on the Central Coast. Re: Our Carolina (slightly modified) Build With Montgomery H 10May 12, 2017 4:32 pm Hi lia_dvm! Good luck with your build ![]() Our Carolina (slightly modified) Build With Montgomery Homes 11May 19, 2017 4:19 pm In 2016, we paid the deposit in February for the land and April for the build. Unfortunately the land still has not titled and for every week that we haven't finalised the build contract it is costing more. Developer said that the council wasn't satisfied with something in the subdivision so want it rectified. At the rate things are going our house wouldn't be finished until 2018. Our Carolina (slightly modified) Build With Montgomery Homes 13May 19, 2017 4:28 pm Lower level with modifications: remove home theatre, re-orient kitchen layout, include walk-in pantry, include roof to alfresco, 3m ceiling height, change sliding doors to stacker doors, increase height of doors and windows, include fixed windows behind oven instead of tiled backsplash.
Re: Our Carolina (slightly modified) Build With Montgomery H 15Sep 13, 2017 12:11 pm Hi Lia_dvm, how is your build going? Hope your land has finally settled and it's all going ahead now. Our block in Terrigal was deposited 2 years ago and is now running 12 months late!!! We were meant to settle March 2017 and now forecast for Feb 2018. We are looking at building a modified Carolina 2 and would love to do a drive past yours in Lisarow so if you'd mind forwarding address to donandshelty@yahoo.com.au I will have a little peek when on my way past to Nth Gosford for work ![]() Re: Our Carolina (slightly modified) Build With Montgomery H 16Sep 13, 2017 12:24 pm Hello! Land just settled this week, and soon MH will be submitting an application to council for the build. Hopefully around November things will be happening, fingers crossed. I think the Carolina 2 is a good plan, we've removed the theatre so we can have a bigger WIP/storage. I'll message you the address when the build has started since there's nothing to see yet. Cheers! Re: Our Carolina (slightly modified) Build With Montgomery H 19Dec 07, 2017 10:59 am Hello! It looks like we are building directly opposite you 😀 It’s exciting to see things finally progressing isnt it? Were building a modified version of the Corsica and have been given the same start date as you. Look forward to seeing how it all goes. Re: Our Carolina (slightly modified) Build With Montgomery H 20Dec 12, 2017 12:44 pm Hello neighbour! It’s good to finally meet someone who’s building in the same estate and the same builder. We’re pretty much excited, and looking forward to finally getting started. ![]() I love the Carolina but Montgomery wouldnt build on our site. We have a completed Carolina a couple of streets away and drive by a mid build Carolina a couple of times… 2 3818 I second taking your plans elsewhere. They're yours (unless you ended up in one of those cheaper arrangements where you don't own the rights and the build will be tendered… 2 1847 of course there are legal avenues. You've already mentioned it. Sue them. I find it odd that lawyers wouldnt be willing to take on the case, given CCT evidence and… 1 25471 |