This is my build thread. Thanks to all that have gone before me, I have profited greatly from all the information on this forum.
[Updated 2018-12-20: we have changed to the Merricks 42 Clarion, and tried to upgrade everything to match the designer range that we had chosen with the Vantage. I have left this post intact, as most of the information is rather the same. New house plans will be included below when I have them]
Our floor plan was the Metricon Vantage 48, and we've chosen the Plantation façade and rendered Hebel construction, as it is very nice and also suitable for the area in which we're building. The area is subject to planning overlays that govern the 'neighbourhood character', and the council have advised against submitting plans that include brick veneer.
Our land has a moderate slope, but the sales consultant has advised that the build will be feasible with the caveat that site costs will be elevated. We're waiting for the soil test and neighbourhood character survey results which were carried out last week, to update our budget for the fitout appointments.
From the standard floorplan we included some standard options: shower to Powder, large Laundry, and workshop extension to Garage. Also, we reconfigured WIL spaces to enlarge the Butlers pantry and create a WIR for one of the upstairs bedrooms. See my sketch below:
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Our options/upgrades:
- 40k upgrades for 10k (promotion)
- Hebel & render construction (promotion)
- 450 mm eaves to whole house (as displayed at Greenvale)
- 1200 mm wide front door
- 2700 mm downstairs / 2550 mm upstairs ceiling heights
- increased height of doors and windows throughout
- provision for recycled water connection to toilets and garden taps
- standard variations to Laundry, Powder, Garage
- custom variations to Butlers pantry, upstairs WIRs
- rebated aluminium stacker doors to Outdoor room
- cavity sliding doors to Living room, Study, Ensuite, Pantry
- windows above Stair void and Dining void enlarged to 3m tall
- stained stair treads with painted risers/rails/posts and stainless balustrades throughout voids
- under stair storage with door, painted plaster finish and light
- tiling to ceiling height on all walls of wet areas, stone benchtops and floating vanities throughout
- full length tiled wall niche to showers
- mirror doors to bedroom wardrobe
- engineered timber flooring downstairs, carpet with 10mm underlay upstairs
- cold water, waste point and gas connection to Outdoor room
- cold water point to refrigerator position
- evaporative cooling upgrade and 7 outlet points
Options we have had quoted and decided to remove, or do later:
- Hebel subfloor
- security system
Options that I'd like to squeeze in if the budget allows after site costs and fitout:
- solar energy generation & storage
- gas log fireplace in Living room
- refrigerated cooling