Clarendon Homes | QLD | Sheridan 41

Ahh right that makes sense - and yeah I believe they don't bother with council approval until covenant approval is received. Hopefully that happens quickly for you!

We had our colour selection appointment, and we're a little frustrated with the entire process. The first time we're upset at Clarendon.

Biggest grief point is the fact if you don't want handles on kitchen cabinetry etc, is that they force you to use the sharknose profile. We don't want this, but we also didn't want handles on the overhead cabinets either, so we've had to fork out around $1,500 for this profile for the overheads in the kitchen, WIP and laundry. We put handles on the base cabinetry.

Some of our choices:

For externals we're selecting Surfmist for roof, gutter, fascia, capping and the garage door. It was $1,400 for the Decowood look garage door, so we nixed that.





It was great to talk to the Carpet Call representative at our appointment, as he directed us to this carpet based on the fact we have dogs etc. He upgraded us to the 'luxury plus' underlay at no extra cost, and no extra waste cost for using two colours.

Some pricing for those interested:

• Two additional feature render colours for external: $500
• Stain on the staircase: $450
• 'Gold' range carpet: $2,905
• Feature paint colour to all theatre walls: $350

We also got the pricing for air-con:

• $3,300 to upgrade to the Fujitsu
• $1,500 for MyAir upgrade
• $320 for each additional zone

I like your colour selections.
Is that all of the selection appointments out of the way? Have they given you a start date yet?

What is the difference been the Fujitsu air-con and the standard?

No, we have our electrical on Wednesday and then all done. No, our CSC thinks we might get a date by end of November if the covenant etc goes quickly.

The main difference is the Temperzone they provide is a fixed temperature (fixed capacity system), while Fujitsu you can set within a min/max range (inverter).

We've now had our Electrical & Smart Home appointments with Zurcorp.

Firstly, we got a few wins back from our colour selection. They've agreed to do the 10mm overhangs square set to our overhead cupboards (yay!), and have now given us pricing for finger boxed on floor cabinets, which is way cheaper than sharknose (which is actual bevel edge but they keep calling it sharknose).

Some prices for those interested:

• Data Point (Cat 5e): $104
• Upgrade Data to Cat 6A : $74.50
• Double power point to island bench: $184
• Pool power (20amp): $435
• Downlight - Cool White 7w: $98 (upgrading existing light point to Downlight is $73)

Due to the size of the house and the amount of power points and lights we put in we also have to have additional power circuits, light circuit and also upgrade to get a sub board for more poles.

• Additional power circuit: $275
• Extra light circuit: $275
• Sub Board - Standard 30 pole: $320
• Sub Board upgrade to 45 Pole: $92
• Sub board to Mains Three Phase: $450

Note: They will not allow you to supply your own downlights, external fan, or exhausts (as they have to duct them out). You can do own ceiling fans (except the included alfresco), external lights, and wall lights (though they say post-handover as they just prewire).

That's your last one right? Now it's just waiting for approval and the authority to commence from the bank?

Are you doing any electrical or other fittings like curtains/shutters etc after? Or all through Clarendon?

Yep, appointments all done. We already got the bank approval, so just waiting on covenant and council. Our CSC is submitting to covenant on our behalf, though we provided the fencing and landscape plan part to her to submit with it.

No additional electrical outside electrical being added, just the fittings that we got the wiring done for. Window coverings we'll do post-handover, and same with the robe fitouts, since we removed the shelf and rail from them all.

Quick update.

Our CSC has not only been dishonest with us, but disparaged us to our Covenant for the Estate.

Back when we had our colour appointment, at the start of the month, we met our CSC and they offered to submit our covenant approval on our behalf as they knew the Covenant staff and the process, so it'd be smoother through that avenue. We agreed, thinking that it sounded great. The CSC also was going to send us landscape/fencing plan examples for us to work with for our submission that day.

We had to chase them for those examples. They also said they'd CC us when they did the submission.

On the week ending the 16th, we asked our CSC if the Covenant submission had gone in, as we hadn't received any emails. The CSC replied in the positive that they had submitted for us, but hadn't heard back yet.

Yesterday, we received an email from the Covenant stating our approval couldn't be processed as they hadn't received a necessary form. In this email chain we see that CSC only submitted to the Covenant on the 21st, and also make a rude remark about us.

So we don't have Covenant approval, and so it still hasn't been submitted to Council.

We are 100% displeased with our CSC and their treatment of us.

Well we now have Covenant approval. Yay.

Now just to wait on Council approval.

That's excellent news! Fingers crossed it goes through quickly

I just had a look back over your colours - looks like we have a similar palette. We have some of the same, including using the same stone for counter surface. Have you decided on any A/C upgrades?

Good taste then.

Yeah, we upgraded to the Fujitsu with 9 zones and MyAir 5 control. That came to $5,300.

Today we got our Council approval. Yay!

Interestingly, part of the drawings submitted to the council included the kitchen, WIP, and wet area elevation drawings (which we've never seen before), and we have picked up a handful of errors in them, such as missing pot drawers.

Got our official 'welcome to construction' email today.

Contacted by our site supervisor and he is starting to set things up to commence. Dates he's given us:

• Site cut/excavation: 18/1
• Survey set out for house: 22/1
• Underground drainage & electrical/communications: 24/1
• Slab preparation: 29/1
• Slab pour: 30/1

We got a new CSC (not sure if that is standard once you hit construction) and have received the final drawings. Unfortunately, there are a few errors, and some reversions that they'd previously fixed in other drawings.

So finally, we have forward movement.

That's excellent news! Looking forward to seeing the start of the build through some photos.

They've done the plumbing work and electrical in advance of the slab pour next week.

All the best with the build,
Hope all goes smoothly
Ur Color choices are great,should look fantastic

Thanks WowBingo.

Today, they did the slab preparation.

And yesterday, the slab pour.

That's awesome progress!

I'm not far behind - hopefully having my slab poured next week some time, but i'm still pretty jealous