Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Dec 18, 2013 5:10 pm Hi All, Have been reading threads here for a few days and have decided to document as I go along like a lot of people here. I'm hoping all you fellow builders will be a source of Knowledge, Thoughts, advice, and a lot of love & Support when it comes to those possible dark moments along the way if any. I'm building along League Street in 6B1 and apart form 4 months of delays with development I hear today from my Conveyancer that the mid to late January Settlement date should be on track now. Developer siting delays previously from a Sept 2013 Settlement date with weather and Contractors etc. I'm building the Portobello with Fairmont Homes with a few tweaks in the Kitchen and Outdoor Alfresco otherwise stock standard due to Price and Budget...... Single Guy, Single Income here. I really love the design of the Portobello and it suits my type of lifestyle of Entertaining and lots of dinner parties in the living space behind the main frontage of the design. My selections interviews are slated in mid January 2014 so Im excited about that but not the possible want for upgrading although I know I will want to up spec some things. Fairmont Portobello @ SM's Contract - 27/5/2013 Land Settlement - 10/2/2014 Selections - 28/2/14 SLAB - 5/9/2014 My Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68647 Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 2Dec 27, 2013 12:43 pm Welcome joffofoz! the portobello is a great design. I'm building with fairmonts also, the capri. Selections is lots of fun, a little daunting, but fun. my upgrades were mostly in the kitchen, otherwise most other bits I was fairly happy with their standard. Hopefully you find most of what your after within the standard range. Anyway Goodluck with your build, looking forward to following along My Build thread --- https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=67313 Final Builders Interview - 18th Nov 13 Site Works - 11th Dec 13 Slab - 16th Dec 13 Frame - 7th Jan 14 Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 3Dec 29, 2013 11:07 am Thanks Misslibe!! I got another update from Realty SA this week and everything seems (STILL) on track for mid to late January for Land settlement...... Fingers crosXsed. Cant wait for the Selections in Mid January!! http://www.flickr.com/photos/112790774@N07/11616717216/ Fairmont Portobello @ SM's Contract - 27/5/2013 Land Settlement - 10/2/2014 Selections - 28/2/14 SLAB - 5/9/2014 My Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68647 Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 4Jan 20, 2014 7:03 am Well Land is set to settle on the 30th.... I guess that means something is happening....... Fairmont Portobello @ SM's Contract - 27/5/2013 Land Settlement - 10/2/2014 Selections - 28/2/14 SLAB - 5/9/2014 My Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68647 Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 5Jan 20, 2014 7:32 am Welcome. I'm also building with Fairmont homes in SA. I'm building the Fremantle with some modifications. I'm still waiting on my land to settle and soil reports. However I did walk around direct interiors on Saturday for 2 hours getting myself confused by 1000 different shower heads Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 6Jan 20, 2014 7:39 am good luck with the settlement they cant really use the weather as an excuse unless it gets too hot lol. ours was late too love the house you have chosen. tammy your welcome to follow our build https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=64842 Block cut - 15th February 2014 Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 7Jan 20, 2014 9:07 am good luck for land settlement, building sure tests your paitence. Great floor plan, love the big alfresco. Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 8Jan 20, 2014 5:23 pm Thanks ST13, Tristam and TinaG "I Loves my alfresco" cant wait to entertain..... Yes I too have been to DI and SK and I'm very pleased with the choice actually! although theres lots I wish I could have and wont due to $$$ although I have my list of upgrade 'Must Haves" mainly my ensuite and Kitchen...... bugger it I have some extra $$ as it will be worth it in the end. I realize how much isn't really standard but its pretty damned good though, the mozaic tiles and extra tile height are one thing though and splash backs etc. The standard doors are so gone and Im spending more on the upgrades plus handles Fairmont Portobello @ SM's Contract - 27/5/2013 Land Settlement - 10/2/2014 Selections - 28/2/14 SLAB - 5/9/2014 My Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68647 Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 9Jan 29, 2014 7:12 pm Hi Joffo Very interested to hear how you go with your build. I too am building a modified Portobello with Fairmont Homes. Signed my contract on 25 Nov 2013. Had my selections interview with Direct Interiors today and will be visiting Supreme Kitchens on 19 Feb to complete the joinery. I suspect the final builders interview will be shortly thereafter. I will post a picture of my floor plan once I have it scanned and selections. Look forward to seeing how your build goes! Out of curiosity, have you decided yet what your facade will look like (i.e. brick colour, render or not, garage door, etc). I'm struggling to decide how to design it. Chris Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 10Jan 30, 2014 4:52 pm Hi Chris Im going two tone render it was abut $4K extra....But im not that interested in the exposed brick look for the facade. Im assuming the Standard garage door design is that one with the plank look panels ( like in the display at Trott Park)and not the others as in the fluted types with sectional squares.... I assume these will be extra cost/ upgrade designs?? And my colour scheme is going to be, at this point tuscan style light render colour with a grey roof, (although I may switch to white) due to people bashing me for using dark colours on my roof....... LOL and will go with contrasting Gutter or Fascias and same colour as roof roller door and front door and a darker Portico tone in a darker colour???? maybe a mocha colour there?? Im so far behind due to footings variations and final plans are still in unicorn land..... #waitingwaitingwaiting been to DI and SK already and pretty much chosen what I want and what I plan to upgrade, although not my official appointments due to final plans not being done yet. My land now has been delayed 3 more weeks as of last week........ sigh Where you building?? Seaford Meadows??? looking forward to travelling along with you.... Fairmont Portobello @ SM's Contract - 27/5/2013 Land Settlement - 10/2/2014 Selections - 28/2/14 SLAB - 5/9/2014 My Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68647 Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 11Jan 30, 2014 8:45 pm Welcome! Shame about the delays, hope you can get to your selections appts soon, so much fun! Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 12Jan 31, 2014 7:10 am I guess I should have the Belief of "it happens when it happens" but I definatley hope its soon I want to be in by Christmas....... Fairmont Portobello @ SM's Contract - 27/5/2013 Land Settlement - 10/2/2014 Selections - 28/2/14 SLAB - 5/9/2014 My Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68647 Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 13Jan 31, 2014 12:37 pm Best of luck that it does happen soon. Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 14Jan 31, 2014 1:11 pm Hi Joffo, really like your render colour ideas. To be honest, the render colour at the Trott park display home did look very nice with the Cedar look garage door. The $4k render cost at this stage is just out of my budget, however I might enquire as to what the cost would be to render the Portico only. I am building in Campbelltown. Have you selected the tiling colour for your bathrooms? I was pretty impressed with the selections that were available in the standard range. Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 15Jan 31, 2014 4:50 pm Yeah I am very happy with the standard stuff although I am pimping out the Ensuite and the Kitchen with a bigger cooktop and Vegy Washer Tap etc, I am going to chose some non standard Laminates too..... aaargh the list could be endless LOL Fairmont Portobello @ SM's Contract - 27/5/2013 Land Settlement - 10/2/2014 Selections - 28/2/14 SLAB - 5/9/2014 My Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68647 Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 16Feb 10, 2014 6:55 am YAAAAH!! Got my soil report/footings variation on Thursday.... quite a lot to take in... The Extra $11K is now not needed and my Contract estimate comes in under the $15K so I'm in front about $1900....... although the footings changes and to my design now having a sunken/split level at the back at the end of the hallway leading down in to the Lounge Kitchen dinning area, due to a rear sloping block it was intended to off set so much retaining wall need and having a sloping driveway due to cut/fill etc. So fingers crossed, I got all the final plans on Friday so I'm good to go and get my Selections booked officially now. Anyone know how long I might wait for council at Seaford??? I'm dropping everything off to FH's tomorrow all signed and then will wait........ Fairmont Portobello @ SM's Contract - 27/5/2013 Land Settlement - 10/2/2014 Selections - 28/2/14 SLAB - 5/9/2014 My Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68647 Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 17Feb 10, 2014 7:26 am Sounds great. Hope all goes well for selections. Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 18Feb 14, 2014 6:47 am Well, I m booked in for Bricks next Friday, the Direct Interiors "Official" appointment is the friday after and my Kitcen appointment is two weeks after that........................ I have been out to both DI and SK already so have a very good head start.....now Im trying to figure out my Lighting plan and my power point and switches plan..... i have scrapped and re done and scrapped and redone 3 times already........................ I want it all the right way and not get to the end and go................. DOH!! should of thought of that... adding extra water proof outdoor power around the house and Im adding extra bayonet lights outside too...and I am going over my quote for 27 double PP's to about 30 throughout just to make sure. HAve thought about adding LED down lights now.... particularly in the Hallway, Alfresco and main BR and the two Bathrooms, its quite expensive @ $130 per DL to add in......any thoughts people??? Should I get a door bell wired in now to save the hassle for later down the track?? I want to get a "DOORBOT" and install later but it needs door bell power to run ad I can at least do that. Fairmont Portobello @ SM's Contract - 27/5/2013 Land Settlement - 10/2/2014 Selections - 28/2/14 SLAB - 5/9/2014 My Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68647 Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 19Feb 14, 2014 7:39 pm Hi Joffofoz I am choosing my light fittings at the moment - to be installed after handover. If I run out of money at the end, I can put up with bayonet fitting lamps. I have however really splurge on a 4 pendant light fitting over the island bench in the kitchen and a matching 3 light fitting over the kitchen/dining room table. They look like flying saucers and cost as much as a flying saucer. But first I had to work out how much light I could expect from an LED light. I still think in terms of incandescent globes. I keep a conversion table with me whist I shop. I have also leant that LED lights need a transformer, but many of them have this built in. I am also exploring have dimmable lights. For the pendant lighting, not only do I ask for dimmable lights, I also need a dimming converter which I am told the electrician provides. And I have been warned to make sure he chooses the right one or I will wreck the light fittings, In a modern open plan house, I might consider dimming the lights over the kitchen bench asn leaving them on all night. That should not use up two much electricity. I asked for combined light/fan/heater fittings in each bathroom. But those lights are not really brigh enough. So I have purchased a pair of wall lights to put on each side of the vanity in case I can't see my face with the IXL ceiling fitting. Boral have a low energy CSIRO house on display. They do not use downlights, but have some interesting LED lights. If their spotlight systems look OK for them, they will be OK for me too. I have purchased a 4 spotlights on a bar fitting for the main hallway and 2 X 3 spotlights for the hallway on the first floor. I will point 3 of the spotlights at the artwork I have in a niche in the hallway, and the fourth spotlight, plus a so far undecided light to the person who wants to look at himself in the mirrir in another niche in the hallway. These were quite reasonable price I am not getting downlights anywhere except 3 downlights in the porch ceiling. They are quite large in diameter and were reasonable in price for an LED light, eg $119 for the 4 spotlight fitting with a bright LED fitting. I can't tell you how they will really work as my house is still being built and it will be 6 months before I move in. I hope I am not in for an unpleasant surprise. Re: YIKERS!!! My First Home, My First Build... 20Feb 16, 2014 4:57 pm Yeah Im now wondering how many LED DL's I need per meter?? Im thinking up the hallway so about 7 or 8?? and Im going with 6 in the alfresco ceiling. Who has Three pendant lights over kitchen central cupboard/sink?? are three enough and should I add other lights behind to cope with cooking etc, I was thinking 2 extra LED DL's behind so I can see what I'm doing in the fridge/toaster cook top etc, IM torn now whether to have plain simple Bayonet lights and just spend the $$ elsewhere......................... AAAAArggh Fairmont Portobello @ SM's Contract - 27/5/2013 Land Settlement - 10/2/2014 Selections - 28/2/14 SLAB - 5/9/2014 My Build - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68647 Soak wells and electrical run in happening this week! Summit has told me they will relocate the laundry plumbing after the walls are completed. I'm actually pretty happy… 13 38029 hi guys. Please be nice. First time home builder in Qld. I would like some feedback please on whether I should build my granny flat first before my main house at the… 0 5438 granny can live in the garage. just give her a few extra blankets rofl 8 1477 |