Browse Forums Building A New House Re: A MUST have upgrades discussion... anyone?? 41Sep 19, 2008 7:18 pm Looking at this and wondering what we missed We did get reinforcing for cloths dryer but forgot to get exhaust venting put in
Better get onto that...... regards sean Re: A MUST have upgrades discussion... anyone?? 42Sep 20, 2008 2:16 am rear gas tap is a good one for bbq! always running down to the servo!
and a must, because ive always got the lousy job of cleaning out the gutters gutter guard! 2nd-Fix | Blog Building with Desyn Homes previously with the insolvent [url=https://www.facebook.com/7NewsAdelaide/videos/1162546323776021/]Endeavour Homes[/url] Re: A MUST have upgrades discussion... anyone?? 43Sep 20, 2008 12:07 pm Must haves
During build- A extra large study/office Ensuite shower to suit disabled access Decent lighting Lots of kitchen bench Lots of powerpoints Large area for all computers to be placed that could be seen from main living area and kitchen Lots of Storage 2 taps outside ( at least) external power points internal door to laundry Separate grill/oven Conduit for tv/lan/cabling and.... as much as I love the look of 2 storey homes it had to be all on one level We did upgrade a lot of things more than this though- Better door handles and locks to front door and all internal doors, Added a garage on the side and turned the original garage into an office, extended main bedroom extended kitchen increased pantry, added 2 half walls and capped jarrah trim to several walls went for colorbond instead of tiles added extra tiling in ensuite bathroom extended ensuite into original study and used the additional space to lengthen the laundry and main bathroom. changed basins to ceramic upgraded stove top and oven upgraded kitchen sink added dishwasher space Solider course of bricks below sills across the front of the house. changed laundry slider to a door with glass window. ( which looks like now would have been required by the shire anyway) I do wish we had gone for colorbond facia, gutters, downpipes and eaves (?) now. it wasn't offered/suggested but I'm assuming its a common upgrade throughout Australia not just an eastern states thing. I'd never heard of it until after we'd signed off on our contract. After handover- Soft flooring networked cabling installed for lan and phone ( Conduit will be in. Builder wouldn't allow access during build) Hmm our builder plans came with 2 taps, a privacy lock ( we switched this to the bedroom door instead of ensuite door and added privacy locks for all bedrooms) , drains (that others say weren't standard), double towel rails, toilet roll holders, flyscreens.exhaust fans in bathrooms and loo etc Blog http://wherethehearthis.blogspot.com/ Build https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=6634: Yard https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27687&p=378401#p378401 Re: A MUST have upgrades discussion... anyone?? 44Sep 20, 2008 12:46 pm Helyn This is very interesting - not just what people consider must have upgrades but what things are not standard which need to be upgraded, for example pirvacy locks on toilets and bathroom and window flyscreens are standard with our builder and laundry floor drainage is standard throughout SA - it is a legal requirement to have this in bathrooms and laundries. Thats true for us too, we get window flyscreens, laundry/bath(toilet?) floor drains, privacy locks, dble towel rails, 2 outdoor taps all as standard. What we will be getting later on though, is screen doors for the front and back. ETA: another upgrade that we thought was a 'must have' was obscure glass to the bathroom windows. Re: A MUST have upgrades discussion... anyone?? 45Sep 20, 2008 1:54 pm Quote: What we will be getting later on though, is screen doors for the front and back. ETA: another upgrade that we thought was a 'must have' was obscure glass to the bathroom windows. _________________ Yes, we added amplimesh doors to the front door and to the family room sliding doors, they were not included and in fact I notice the majority of people seem to prefer front doors without security doors now. Obscure glass to toilets and bathrooms was included with our builder. I debated about upgrading the laundry to obscure glass but decided against it. Re: A MUST have upgrades discussion... anyone?? 46Mar 01, 2010 10:01 am Hi all, just started a similar thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=30276 Listing all of the upgrades I am considering... REgards Alf.. Built Hallmark Home in SE Queensland - modified Flair 181 - no A/C: n/e orientation - 9 foot ceilings - copius insulation - loads of windows - fresh breeze - home... Re: A MUST have upgrades discussion... anyone?? 47Mar 01, 2010 11:50 am Our only non-negotaible upgrade for this build is 2700mm ceiling height to both floors - the builders did try to negotiate it many times We have added nearly $100K in variations but none of them were compulsory. Upgrading internal doors was very important to me but many wouldn't pay the $$$, as are cornices. I think anything you want that you can't do after needs to be seriously considered. Re: A MUST have upgrades discussion... anyone?? 48Mar 01, 2010 2:22 pm One thing I found absolutely ridiculous with a particular builder was that there was no door on the ensuite and the toilet was not in a seperate room! I love my hubby but do we really need to share everything I was a bit appauled that the door was an add on! Aside from that I'm all for heaps of storage! Maybe that is bad though because then you just collect more stuff! Re: A MUST have upgrades discussion... anyone?? 49Mar 01, 2010 3:34 pm I guess it depends on what comes standard with your builder like most others have said - we found that a lot of the must haves were standard inclusions with our builder - being that this will be our second home (and our last for about 20 years *fingers-crossed*) we now know what we can live with/without so these are the types of things we will be doing/have got: - the floor plan/design we chose to cater for children from newborn to teenagers! (we don't have kids yet!) - Trip switches internal (in the garage rather than the meter box) for security reasons - phone point with GPO in the Walk in Pantry (for cordless phone) I HATE SEEING CORDS!!! - GPO's in the vanities for electric toothbrush and electric shaver - again I HATE SEEING CORDS!!! - Refrigerated Air with 3 Phase power - Fly Screens (these were part of the promo, however if they weren't we would have got them!) - Removed the pillar from the Alfresco Area so we can extend this ourselves afterwards without it looking like an "add-on" or extension - GPO on island bench - Ducted Heating duct in Laundry (For drying clothes in winter on a clothes horse and to prevent excessive power bills by minimising the use of the dryer!) - Converting one of the cupboards in the laundry to a pull out drawer for a laundry hamper - Under Bench sink - personal preference for a streamlined clean look - The builders microwave with the guard/cover - again for the cleaner "complete" look - Privacy lock on the toilet/powder/bathroom doors - Garage door with the remote controls (again part of promo) - upgrade floor tiles and a feature tile - I think it was stated above or on another thread - we want the tiles to last as long as the house!! - we opted to get the bi-folds entering onto our alfresco and the bi-fold bar window - this is more of an aesthetic must have than a practical one! WE have just spent 5 years renovating our 20 year old place - and if we intend on being in our new place for 20 years - we don't want to be doing half of what we had to do in this place!!! Sleven Moved into our Atlantique MkII 36 by Carlisle Homes Re: A MUST have upgrades discussion... anyone?? 50Mar 01, 2010 5:54 pm Not all that I must have, but what I like. The builder may not have all these items as a upgrade either. For my future shopping list. Double Power Points, Double Shower, Double Vanities, Higher ceilings, Ice/Water Fridge, Dishwasher, Reverse Cycle Inverter Air-cond, Covered Alfresco, Internal Garage Entrance, Some Roller Shutters, Upgraded carpet and tiles, 3.5 R batts, Lever handles no knobs, Foxtel, Outdoor power, Garage power, Outdoor Gas, Flick mixers, Square vanity, Larger mirrors, Solar gas hot water, Solar power panels, NO verticals, light colourbond roof and brick colours, No Red or charcol/black roof covering/brickwork, Mesh Security screens, monitored alarm, oval-rectangle spa, No corner spas, love a fully fitted Home Theatre, Ducted vacumm, downlights and ceiling fans, larger rooms, No narrow hallways and doors, love Satin Chrome tapware /doorware and light fixtures. More bench space, more cupboards, double glazing, exposed aggregate, weeds in bricks I hate. Ziplock mesh outdoor blinds. Basswood White Plantation Shutters, a Garden with no exposed sand, Many Boarders to pay the mortgage. Re: A MUST have upgrades discussion... anyone?? 52Jun 04, 2015 8:36 am For me haves were higher 2700 and 3000 ceilings, anticon under colourbond, extra insulation in ceilings, extra insulation in walls, plenty of extra GPOs and internet all wall switched In conduits, extra conduits for smart wiring, and then a listing nice to have upgrades cosmetically. Re: A MUST have upgrades discussion... anyone?? 53Jun 05, 2015 7:40 pm Hi Beazley, What do you mean by the internet all wall switched in conduits and extra conduits for smart wiring. Just would like to see we are not missing something Re: A MUST have upgrades discussion... anyone?? 54Jun 05, 2015 10:34 pm Hot water tap on rear wall - next to cold tap - to wash our doggie Re: A MUST have upgrades discussion... anyone?? 55Jun 06, 2015 9:15 am TomCat Hot water tap on rear wall - next to cold tap - to wash our doggie You know, that is a very good idea that the cookie cutter builders could use as a big plus as standard for selling their homes. Since most homes have storage hot water systems, and they are located outside the house, and they are more than likely put out of sight, and in places not far from where you're likely to wash your dog, it could be for a builder a cheap bonus that no other builder is doing. You already have cold water there, and of course you have the hot water there too. If offered as standard, the sales people could promote it, or even offer to exclude it at no charge (they like to look like they are heros). Owner Building at Jimboomba Woods in Logan City Qld. Blog : http://bandlnewhomebuild.blogspot.com H1 thread : viewtopic.php?f=38&t=68283 . Thanks mate. Yeah good points! Leaning towards Option 3 to get a bit extra space in the cabinets but not going too crazy high (and expensive). Would require a mini… 13 39755 Hi All, I just wanted to close this topic out with an update. So we ended up agreeing to a number with the insurance company, and after an extensive amount of hand… 8 23405 You have mandatory building inspections and privately engaged building inspections. The difference between the two comes down to inspecting the building so it's safe and… 3 18083 |