Somerfield Estate Keysborough

AnnYes · Mar 18, 2011 6:57 pm

Hi Guys, I am new to this and were bought in stage 1L. We are close to starting construction but got our final site cost back to $13000 today. Did you guys have to pay around this price? Our soil is P class.

the_milesy · Mar 21, 2011 8:03 am

AnnYes

Hi Guys, I am new to this and were bought in stage 1L. We are close to starting construction but got our final site cost back to $13000 today. Did you guys have to pay around this price? Our soil is P class.

Hi AnnYes,

My total site cost was over $20k with a P class waffle designed slab. The slab itself was about $14000. that was for a 2 story place. Hope that helps.

Milesy

RnBMac · Mar 21, 2011 4:18 pm

Hi All. We are looking to buy a block at Somerfield. Does anyone have any tips for us; i.e. things to look out for, questions to ask. All tips much appreciated.

AnnYes · Mar 21, 2011 9:05 pm

Hi Milesy
thanks so much for the info. It is good to know we are not being fooled. Can't wait to start building in 2 wks. How is u're house?

RnB Mac Somerfield is good but a lot of guidelines that bring costs up! What size block do you want?

the_milesy · Mar 22, 2011 10:11 am

We are hoping to settle in 2 - 3 weeks. CANNOT WAIT!

RnBMac · Mar 22, 2011 1:55 pm

AnnYes

Prob bout 500m2.

Prisdenn · Mar 22, 2011 2:35 pm

the_milesy

We are hoping to settle in 2 - 3 weeks. CANNOT WAIT!

Great news hope all goes to plan for you and you are settled in 2 - 3 weeks.

We also got great news DAP Approval yesterday and Building Permit granted today, now we can finally start.

the_milesy · Mar 22, 2011 3:42 pm

@ Prisdenn: Congrats. The house will be up in no time. Its the internal fit out that seems to take forever!

@RnBMac: Welcome to Somerfield! If you have settled on the estate, then really you have 2 options. Buy a block, and then get a house to suit, or buy a house and land package.

If you want to buy a block, contact the estate office and talk to the people there. They can show you whats available and when. I know last year people where queuing for 3+ days to get blocks. Not sure what its like now. After that, you can start looking at houses that will fit your block. 500sqm should fit most of the designs in the display village.

If house and land, go to the display village and have a look. Find the house you like and talk to the sales reps there. They will show you which blocks they can provide.

Good luck with your hunt

Milesy

AnnYes · Mar 22, 2011 4:59 pm

Yes 800mm fill... but I know someone got site cost $2500 for P class soil 12 blocks down :/ bit perplexed but anyway I will go with it cause I just want them to start building

Thanks all

J & C · Mar 22, 2011 8:05 pm

Hi everyone,

We received an email from Sommerfield informing us that the land settlement for our stage has been delayed. I am sure many of you are in a similar situation, has anyone considered delaying the payment to the developer. We had divided out initial payment as 5% and 5% and the rest at settlement.

Cheers,

J & C

the_milesy · Mar 23, 2011 7:20 am

Quote:

Yes 800mm fill... but I know someone got site cost $2500 for P class soil 12 blocks down :/ bit perplexed but anyway I will go with it cause I just want them to start building

$2500? that can't be the site cost. That might be the cost to clear the fill or something. Looking at my contact the $20k was for the slab, the extra pads, the solar panels, etc etc. I guess different builders define site costs differently?

J & C, I'm pretty sure every stage in Somerfield has been delayed over the course. At one stage the company doing the development went under, so that didn't help. The Rain hasn't helped either. As for payment, I would pay my initial payment (what ever was agreed) to hold the block, then don't pay a cent until the land is ready to settle.

RnBMac · Mar 23, 2011 9:14 am

Milesy - thanks for reply. Yes, haven't decided which route to take yet. Will let u know.

the_milesy · Mar 23, 2011 10:00 am

FWIW, I bought a block form Somerfield, then went through the process of getting a house. If I was starting again, I would just get a house and land. A lot easier! Only have to worry about 1 loan, dealing with only the builder, etc etc.

AnnYes · Mar 23, 2011 1:52 pm

Yeah I know $2500 seems very low, oh well lucky them...

J&C we paid our land 2 days late and they did not charge us any penalties but I would not suggest doing that because the contract state they can charge you...

I agree with you Milesy, 1 house and land package so much easier, especially since it turns out to be the same price...

Thanks for info

guagua77 · Mar 24, 2011 11:57 am

Council opposes soil treatment plant at Lyndhurst
PLANS for a soil treatment plant in Dandenong South have been opposed by Greater Dandenong Council amid concerns the facility could treat hazardous waste.

But the project could still go ahead if given the all-clear by the State Planning Minister and Environment Protection Authority.

SITA Environmental Solutions’ proposed facility would treat contaminated soil at the Lyndhurst tip on Taylors Rd.

The waste management company is yet to secure the EPA’s works approval and rezoning of the land.

The council last week voted to write a letter of opposition to SITA’s plans, and has sought to speak at a panel hearing for the project.

The council was concerned about the types of waste that would be treated at the site.

It was noted a decision on the plant should not be made until the results of a State Government health study into the impacts on nearby residents of the Dandenong South hazardous waste zone were released.

The council also did not support rezoning of the land, suggesting it should become a park in the long term.

SITA Victoria general manager Daniel Fyfe said the zoning and works approval would go to a panel hearing where the council’s submission would be heard.

“We’re certain that our proposal for the new facility will protect the environment and be safe for Greater Dandenong,” Mr Fyfe said.

This is from Leader newspaper.

I am still very concerned about this contaminated treatment plant as it is so close to us if it is on Ordish Road.

Prisdenn · Mar 31, 2011 7:14 am

Hi Milesy,
Reading through posts and was wondering if you have settled and moved in? If so hope all went well.

the_milesy · Apr 01, 2011 7:41 am

Not yet

Tradies are useless! I don't understand how they can be booked in and then just not show up. And I'm not talking someone I've hired. These are tradies contracted by Simonds. Anyway, Carpet in today (hopefully). Tiler finishing touches on Monday, and then the inspection process starts. Hopefully we don't find anything major.

Milesy

Prisdenn · Apr 01, 2011 9:24 am

It is so frustrating for you hope all goes well next week let us all know how it goes with the inspections.
I was so excited yesterday 2 weeks ago all plans finally approved and waiting to hear from supervisor as to when they start and when I visited block there was a builders name up. ::surprise::

Still no word from supervisor but hopefully something should happen next week ::smile::

REfL3ct · Apr 01, 2011 12:41 pm

finally prisdenn. good luck hope you ahve a smooth build!

ours is at brick stage (half covered)

so far we haev had a really smooth build. happy with builder for now.

Kamma · Apr 05, 2011 10:21 pm

hi SF's , newbie here and need some advice urgently. we bought a 400sqm block and due to unforeseen circumstances have just begun talking to consultants about the homes we have been investigating online for the past 12mths. last week we found out some really devastating news about a rescode reg about a minimum required distance of 5m to your neighbour for their north facing windows. i have been told we only need to comply if our neighbours already have a certificate of occupancy. on the other hand if we are granted a building permit before they get certificate of occupancy we are exempt from this regulation. having a bought a 12.5m wide block this would be a disaster if we couldn't build a home designed for this size block.

now, the neighbour which we need to comply with has just begun is building with places.

does anyone know the approx build time for a single story home with this builder?

is there a work around this regulation?

how long does it take for a building company to get a building permit, how long are building permits valid for and are they renewable?

any advice and information would be greatly appreciated

thanks