Hi all,
Having been a member for a couple of months I thought I would start my own thread documenting our build journey. We are building with the explicit aim of accessing both the WA Builders Grant and HomeBuilder Grant. We are also accessing stamp duty exemption and FHOG. I thought this could be helpful for anyone else trying the make sense of these grants, and how they can access them.
A bit about our build:
- First home builders
- Building in Perth Hills
- Building with WA Country Builders, building The Malbec
- Building in a strata of nine lots. Our lot is 395m2, R20 coding with a common driveway.
- We bought our land for $310k and have a $260k build budget.
We started our process last year (2019) looking at display homes, narrowing it down to 4 builders in June.
Rural Building Co
Content
Blueprint Homes
Go Homes
We plan to take the grants and put the full 45k straight back into our mortgage.
We are currently waiting for settlement on our block (31/8), and are haven’t signed a PPA yet. Hoping to do that by the end of the week.
I have attached our plans, any advice/feedback is welcome.
WatchingStarredHistory
MembersPros
Browse Forums Building A New House Re: FHO- Building in WA using HomeBuilder Grants 5Aug 01, 2020 9:54 am  zoltaireAlso check with the builders to ensure you can actually get your slab down this year - there has been a massive surge in sales and you might find there is quite a backlog. One of the requirements is that the building must commenced ASAP Expect site works and Concreting rates to surge along with suppliers price increases Goodluck Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs  17 Jun 2020 24 WA Junior Member Re: FHO- Building in WA using HomeBuilder Grants 6Aug 02, 2020 11:15 pm zoltaireWatch out for build price increases. As soon as the grants was announced, some builders increased their prices by $20k plus. Also check with the builders to ensure you can actually get your slab down this year - there has been a massive surge in sales and you might find there is quite a backlog. I definitely agree, most builders have done exactly that. We’ve been pleasantly surprised by what our builder has presented us with budget wise. We’ve signed a PPA, so only real variable now is hopefully siteworks. There was a 4K increase in the house base price compared to when we first looked at the design at the beginning of the year, but I don’t think that’s too bad. Speaking with our builder on Wednesday he was remarking that although inquires and display home visits have increased dramatically for them, that hasn’t really translated to a big increase in contract signs. I think once people realized it couldn’t be used for a deposit, the interest cooled. May be different for bigger builders though. 21 Mar 2014 253 WA Silver Member Re: FHO- Building in WA using HomeBuilder Grants 8Aug 03, 2020 11:04 pm zoltaireWatch out for build price increases. As soon as the grants was announced, some builders increased their prices by $20k plus. Also check with the builders to ensure you can actually get your slab down this year - there has been a massive surge in sales and you might find there is quite a backlog. Currently the slab needs to be completed by the 31st March 2021, but it may be extended 17 Aug 2020 3 New Poster Re: FHO- Building in WA using HomeBuilder Grants 9Aug 20, 2020 1:26 pm zoltaireWatch out for build price increases. As soon as the grants was announced, some builders increased their prices by $20k plus. Also check with the builders to ensure you can actually get your slab down this year - there has been a massive surge in sales and you might find there is quite a backlog. Yeah, I bought land 2 years ago and have been working on the mortgage while looking at builders. Got close to narrowing it down and then HomeBuilder announced. Now everyone wants $2k and can't make any promises about getting the slab down. Hesitant about whether it is worth the hassle and maybe just wait until next year. 20 Aug 2020 5 Junior Member Re: FHO- Building in WA using HomeBuilder Grants 10Aug 20, 2020 1:42 pm We are doing this too - maybe carpet and curtain prices will jump around the end of the year  17 Jun 2020 24 WA Junior Member Re: FHO- Building in WA using HomeBuilder Grants 11Sep 03, 2020 5:08 pm Just an update to anybody out there interested 😂 We were supposed to settle on our block on the 31/8 - that didn’t happen! We put in our finance for the land with Westpac on the 21/7 and we’re told a 10 day turn around. That blew out to 6 weeks! The backlog due to COVID and these grants is just ridiculous. But never less we have our finance! Block settles next week on 9/9. We had our final structural meeting last week and plans going into engineering for final drawings. Waiting for last reports on the block for siteworks fingers crossed, no surprises. We are (optimistically) looking to have prestart in about a month. We are looking get timber flooring installed after handover, so looking at making that selection this weekend. We have also made a few other selections which I will include below. I have attached a picture of what the facade of our house will look like. We have changed this somewhat. Would love your feedback on the changes we've made. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ 17 Jun 2020 24 WA Junior Member Re: FHO- Building in WA using HomeBuilder Grants 12Sep 03, 2020 5:18 pm Our aesthetic is industrial We wont have the black bulkhead or blade walls. All the windows will remain the same. Axon cladding is included. 1200mm door We originally intended to keep the facade as is but my husband and I went to see the home down in Bunbury and were concerned how 70's the wood cladding is. Normally I'm all keen for the 70's vibe, but I didn't think it would date well or suit our area. So we have decided to paint the wood cladding a charcoal black, and change the render to face brick. We have selected Vintage Red Tumbled face brick. The vibe we are going for was inspired by these types of facades/houses Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We originally wanted recycled brick, but will save our money and put it else where in the house. Let me know if you think we made the wrong decision. I struggle picturing the completed picture in my head, so ever decision makes me nervous  27 Aug 2019 34 Junior Member Re: FHO- Building in WA using HomeBuilder Grants 13Sep 03, 2020 5:20 pm kelseyJust an update to anybody out there interested 😂 We were supposed to settle on our block on the 31/8 - that didn’t happen! We put in our finance for the land with Westpac on the 21/7 and we’re told a 10 day turn around. That blew out to 6 weeks! The backlog due to COVID and these grants is just ridiculous. But never less we have our finance! Block settles next week on 9/9. We had our final structural meeting last week and plans going into engineering for final drawings. Waiting for last reports on the block for siteworks fingers crossed, no surprises. We are (optimistically) looking to have prestart in about a month. We are looking get timber flooring installed after handover, so looking at making that selection this weekend. We have also made a few other selections which I will include below. I have attached a picture of what the facade of our house will look like. We have changed this somewhat. Would love your feedback on the changes we've made. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Hi Kelsey, your facade looks great. All the very best with the new build. Our build thread here: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=99835 08 Oct 2020 3 New Poster Re: FHO- Building in Perth Hills WA - WA Country Builders 14Oct 12, 2020 1:13 am kelseyJust an update to anybody out there interested 😂 We were supposed to settle on our block on the 31/8 - that didn’t happen! We put in our finance for the land with Westpac on the 21/7 and we’re told a 10 day turn around. That blew out to 6 weeks! The backlog due to COVID and these grants is just ridiculous. But never less we have our finance! Block settles next week on 9/9. We had our final structural meeting last week and plans going into engineering for final drawings. Waiting for last reports on the block for siteworks fingers crossed, no surprises. We are (optimistically) looking to have prestart in about a month. We are looking get timber flooring installed after handover, so looking at making that selection this weekend. We have also made a few other selections which I will include below. I have attached a picture of what the facade of our house will look like. We have changed this somewhat. Would love your feedback on the changes we've made. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ 6 weeks?! Did you have pre approval? Were you an existing customer? That’s ridiculous 17 Jun 2020 24 WA Junior Member Re: FHO- Building in Perth Hills WA - WA Country Builders 15Nov 14, 2020 11:57 pm Hi all, Just an update from our build. Some dates: Land finance in: 21/7 Finance approved: 16/9 Land settled: 21/9 Final contract signed: 22/10 Prestart: 24/10 Construction loan in: 10/11 Hopeful to get construction loan settled in the next three weeks and then siteworks to start before Christmas shut down. Some of our selections from prestart! I know most people love prestart but I found it overly stressful. Our rep at RBC is amazing, I just get choice paralysis 😂 Exterior: Hardie Axon Cladding: Monument Brick: Vintage Red Tumbled Roof/facia/ garage door: Surf mist Gutters: Monument Door: 1200mm timber/glass Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Tiles: (En-suite, Bathroom, Laundry, Powder) Wall: vertical stack subway tile Floor: Promenado Natural Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Our bathrooms are almost exactly the same as the above photo. Same tile arrangement, same vanity and same mirror and sink. Kitchen: Upper cabinets: Laminex Natural Oak Bottom cabinets: Laminex Charcoal We are doing our kitchen the same as the display home. As pictured below. Counters: Essastone Fino Venato Taps: Matte black Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Flooring: Main floor: Oak Timber (in the picture below) Bedrooms: Wool loop pile carpet Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We had lighting/electrical included in our contracted price, so most of our prestart was spent upgrading: - Floor to height tiling - Cabinetry in kitchen/ scullery - Floating vanities We are doing timber/carpet flooring, painting, aircon, curtains after handover. Our build price is 200k base house price, $253k total build. Plus Prestart upgrades 15k and flooring 14k So the total depth of internal beam is 450 mm on your drawing. But yes, if you place slab on top of the natural ground (although it would still require some smoothening),… 7 1183 You have to tell people who your land developer is first. Lend Lease? Mirvac? 1 1430  No I agreed to it I wasn't comfortable he was going to do a good enough job. We chose to walk away as the potential stress and heartache throughout the build would not be… 2 642 |
