Masterton Homes - The next thread 4.0

red brick · Feb 24, 2014 5:38 pm

Ours was half recessed. Lucky as its the side with only 900mm clearance and also the side the gas bottlea are on .

Cello_Collaroy · Feb 24, 2014 10:55 pm

Sfok5959

Added some photos

http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/sfok5959/story/28713

Woow Sfok5959!!!! We're building the cello too. So excited to see yours nearly finished!!! I love it! We are just finalizing our colours so hopefully w'ell be building soon. It still feels like a dream to me - even though I've made a million decisions this week. It feels like it's for someone else! Thanks for sharing! Would love you to keep posting as you do more! Thanks and congrats! How long did the build take?

lili · Feb 25, 2014 5:15 pm

Hi all,

this is my first post.
I'm considering building the villina 32.
Still early stages, working out all the costs, whether it'll fit within my budget etc. and whether to put down a deposit this week.

I've just got a few upgrade questions-

-is there a choice of skirtings/architraves in the mansion package. Does any one have a photo of the standard options? I know I could always upgrade to the platinum selection, I do like the bigger architraves, but it is quite a bit to upgrade.

- I'm going for a grey/white theme and was wondering if the tiling company have a good selection of grey/white tiles for laundry/bathrooms/balcony. Or would i have to upgrade the tiles.
Does anyone know how much this would add to the budget.

- what's everyones approx. electrical costs. I don't want to do too much. extra tv points, maybe power points, hopefully wiring and light battens for future downlights only to downstairs (depending on price). Maybe a couple of light outside at the front.

- does anyone have a pic of the painted internal hume door HA40

Stessed already, haven't even put down a deposit!

allyman · Feb 25, 2014 5:37 pm

Warning! I am about to vent.....

I am so unhappy and disappointed in our site supervisor. Isn't it part of his job to keep us informed with what's going on? He never returns our calls or texts, such a dodger! I want an explanation as to why they still have not started our brickwork. Was meant to commence yesterday, but nothing has been done and there has been no explanation as to the hold up and no messages returned.

Honestly it has been one drama after another. There was a problem with some of our roof trusses and they had to be re-cut. That held us up more than a week. Now bricks just sitting there.....

So frustrating when the four homes surrounding us (EB and Mac Jones) started after us and are way more advanced and the EB next door almost at lock up.

What to do? Call head office and complain? I am sick of driving out there every day for nothing except to get depressed over how far along our neighbors are.

He really doesn't seem to give a crap. If we treated our clients like this we would be out of business.

Vent over but still angry and sad.

Ally

sandyglenn23 · Feb 25, 2014 6:20 pm

Hi Ally

so sorry to hear that you seem to be having problems and are so frustrated - especially with the SS. Whenever I call to ask a question - if I leave a message - he gets back to me. If I have said something is wrong - then it slows things up whilst it gets sorted, but I would rather have the house the way that I planned

than rushed through.

Don't forget he has 20 other houses to manage - and is trying to co-ordinate multiple trades as best he can. I know you want your house built ASAP... we all do. I have just sold my home and in 8 and half weeks will be homeless if our new house not complete.

Just try and cut him some slack - he is an awesome supervisor.... and I am sure that many people on here will tell you - it is the SS that is what makes or brakes your build. I have heard some horror stories from many people - trust me - our guy is one of the good ones

sorry - that is my 10 cents worth. Don't forget we run a trade business ourselves - and I know that is hard to juggle jobs - I do it every single day - and we always do the best we can. As for juggling - I reckon our SS is amazing.

Sandy

Pikey · Feb 25, 2014 6:24 pm

lili

Hi all,

this is my first post.
I'm considering building the villina 32.
Still early stages, working out all the costs, whether it'll fit within my budget etc. and whether to put down a deposit this week.

I've just got a few upgrade questions-

-is there a choice of skirtings/architraves in the mansion package. Does any one have a photo of the standard options? I know I could always upgrade to the platinum selection, I do like the bigger architraves, but it is quite a bit to upgrade.

- I'm going for a grey/white theme and was wondering if the tiling company have a good selection of grey/white tiles for laundry/bathrooms/balcony. Or would i have to upgrade the tiles.
Does anyone know how much this would add to the budget.

- what's everyones approx. electrical costs. I don't want to do too much. extra tv points, maybe power points, hopefully wiring and light battens for future downlights only to downstairs (depending on price). Maybe a couple of light outside at the front.

- does anyone have a pic of the painted internal hume door HA40

Stessed already, haven't even put down a deposit!

Hi lili
There is a choice of architraves and we chose a standard one but we elected to have ours stained and not painted which cost extra but was what we wanted.
It's well worth having a look at Dons Tiles selection you can go into their stores at any time. The cost of upgrading is not so much its the extras like mosaic and features and how high you go up the walls that costs the most.We chose lots of grey tiles as well.
We have just signed off on our electrical it is 50.00 for each extra light and if you want it to be a downlight later you need to tell them that.
The electrical costs do add up but of u are on a tight budget then just concentrate on downstairs being right.

lili · Feb 25, 2014 7:01 pm

Thanks pikey

I did actually go visit dons tiles. I was surprised by the collection. Didnt actually ask about the non red dot tiles and how much it'll be to upgrade. Mainly looked at the standards.

Yes, I hear downstairs is hard to add down lights too after it's built.

I forgot to ask about the staircase balustrading. The standards are the wooden or iron railing. What types are available in the next price range. I hear the horizontal wire type is like $3000. Which seems like the biggest rip off.

Good luck with your villina. Hope it goes smoothly for you.

Pikey · Feb 25, 2014 7:51 pm

lili

Thanks pikey

I did actually go visit dons tiles. I was surprised by the collection. Didnt actually ask about the non red dot tiles and how much it'll be to upgrade. Mainly looked at the standards.

Yes, I hear downstairs is hard to add down lights too after it's built.

I forgot to ask about the staircase balustrading. The standards are the wooden or iron railing. What types are available in the next price range. I hear the horizontal wire type is like $3000. Which seems like the biggest rip off.

Good luck with your villina. Hope it goes smoothly for you.

The standard staircase is all painted which didn't suit us so to have it and the surrounding woodwork stained was about 1800.00 so we were happy to upgrade to the stainless steel and wire with maple handrail and stained surrounds for an extra 2K.
If you go on the Genstairs website you can see the different options but not the pricing.
I'm pretty sure the glass is top of the range to upgrade (same as Homeworld South Villina Grande on display)
Surf the net for the Quantum Quartz stone benches and cupboards as well its good to research it in the beginning and then you can ask for prices in your tender.
Also bricks...upgrading can be expensive depending on what you like.
You can also look at the YES flooring be it Santorini tiles at Don's or Bamboo at Accent Carpets.
There are lots of people building the Villina on this forum so fire away with any queries you may have.

Pikey · Feb 26, 2014 4:30 pm

Good news today - we have moved into construction phase. Yay !! Maybe we will have a slab in April?

GillyM · Feb 26, 2014 5:00 pm

Pikey

Good news today - we have moved into construction phase. Yay !! Maybe we will have a slab in April?

Yay Pikey!!!! Although I am jealous...... M said they are expecting to have us out of pre-construction by the end of February, but I haven't heard anything yet...... we still have 2 days so we might make it!! Then we too will be waiting for something to start happenning on our block!!

Sfok5959 · Feb 26, 2014 10:49 pm

Cello_Collaroy

Sfok5959

Added some photos

http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/sfok5959/story/28713

Woow Sfok5959!!!! We're building the cello too. So excited to see yours nearly finished!!! I love it! We are just finalizing our colours so hopefully w'ell be building soon. It still feels like a dream to me - even though I've made a million decisions this week. It feels like it's for someone else! Thanks for sharing! Would love you to keep posting as you do more! Thanks and congrats! How long did the build take?

Thanks. It still does feel like a dream to us too. We started construction end of Oct, so about four months including Xmas break. Did you do much modifications?

Kuric · Feb 27, 2014 8:09 pm

New member here.
I have been reading about everybody experiance with masterton homes so far and today i decided to jump in and share with u guys.
I am building single story 4 bedrooms house in marsden park,sydney. Its a custome floor plan designed only for marsden park.
Few things i wana ask if sombody has similar experience before with M. In my tender, site costs are included in the tender price but its only for 1mitre fall and fill of the soil. Any digging or filling more than 1 mitre is going to cost me. I dont know how much an how M will calculate. Probably in kilos. Just want to know if its standard with other tenders as well.
I am currently at external colour seletion stage. Little worried about my kitchen. I want bigger pantry and about 800mm longer benchtop along with cupboards. Can anyone plz share if they got any such upgrade from artline and how much it cost to u.
Kev.

Arielbj · Feb 27, 2014 8:47 pm

We got the masterton contract today and I am started to get worried. If we agreed with all the terms. We got to pay 5%.
We have a provisional allowance for storm water drainage line for $14000.
Have anyone paid more than this amount? When will you find out what is the real cost?
Can someone tell me how much have you paid for this part of works.

Thanks a lot

Ariel

Arielbj · Feb 27, 2014 8:54 pm

Our contract have a specifically clause that you can not put any issues with masterton home on the media such as Facebook.
Have anyone get this deleted from their contract?

Vatche · Feb 28, 2014 8:25 am

Arielbj

Our contract have a specifically clause that you can not put any issues with masterton home on the media such as Facebook.
Have anyone get this deleted from their contract?

This is becoming standard clause in any business contract.

Basically, if you have issues, do not rant them here, facebook or on any web site. Resolve the issues with M directly. No one going to stop you from complementing M ::wornout::

Sfok5959 · Feb 28, 2014 11:43 am

Yeh you have to pay the 5% so they can start on the submission to council. We paid the 5% from our own funds.
We didn't have a provisional for storm water drainage line but have storm water drainage line and connection to kerb for $2500. But the cost I assume your land is sloping block and falls a lot so can't they determine the exact cost? How much fall do you have on your land??

Arielbj

We got the masterton contract today and I am started to get worried. If we agreed with all the terms. We got to pay 5%.
We have a provisional allowance for storm water drainage line for $14000.
Have anyone paid more than this amount? When will you find out what is the real cost?
Can someone tell me how much have you paid for this part of works.

Thanks a lot

Ariel

GillyM · Feb 28, 2014 3:39 pm

Woohoo !!!!!! We're now out of pre-construction...... 20 days to go and building begins!!!! :z:

Villinaeliters · Feb 28, 2014 3:59 pm

Quick question re Granitestone/stone benchtop selections ... have checked out the full range of quantum quartz colours, but still have my heart set on a Ceasarstone colour which has no equivalent in the quantum quartz colour range. Does Masterton allow you to use Caesarstone benchtops (and charge you for the privilege, clearly), or are you limited to the quantum quartz range? thanks guys
PS we are one step closer - contract and 5% down this week - just have to get past the 20 page list of objections hand delivered by our "friendly neighbour" who seems hell bent on denying us a 2 storey house due to shadows!!

Vatche · Feb 28, 2014 4:17 pm

Villinaeliters

Quick question re Granitestone/stone benchtop selections ... have checked out the full range of quantum quartz colours, but still have my heart set on a Ceasarstone colour which has no equivalent in the quantum quartz colour range. Does Masterton allow you to use Caesarstone benchtops (and charge you for the privilege, clearly), or are you limited to the quantum quartz range? thanks guys
PS we are one step closer - contract and 5% down this week - just have to get past the 20 page list of objections hand delivered by our "friendly neighbour" who seems hell bent on denying us a 2 storey house due to shadows!!

Your 'hell' neighbour can give you 200 pages, it is worth nothing. He has to submit it to the council. As long as your build meets all council requirement, even 2000 pages wont do a thing! ::lol::

Unless it is land rights or regulation requirement related. Council requirements may be to have frosted windows glasses on that side of the house, for privacy issues. That's it ::wink::

Pikey · Feb 28, 2014 6:12 pm

Villinaeliters

Quick question re Granitestone/stone benchtop selections ... have checked out the full range of quantum quartz colours, but still have my heart set on a Ceasarstone colour which has no equivalent in the quantum quartz colour range. Does Masterton allow you to use Caesarstone benchtops (and charge you for the privilege, clearly), or are you limited to the quantum quartz range? thanks guys
PS we are one step closer - contract and 5% down this week - just have to get past the 20 page list of objections hand delivered by our "friendly neighbour" who seems hell bent on denying us a 2 storey house due to shadows!!

A subject close to my heart...I wanted a caesarstone benchtop so bad but got a big NO.
Which caesarstone do you like? We ended up choosing White Swirl which was a more modern pattern and no one else building with M had ever chosen it. It has a caesarstone twin which is organic white. Go to the WK website and have a look at their gallery. I researched for months until I came across my perfect shade.