Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Dec 28, 2011 12:59 am Hi everyone I stumbled across this forum a couple of months ago now and thought I should create my very own thread - so here it is!! My boyfriend and I purchased a house and land package "off the plan" in September this year. The block is in a new estate called Whiteman Edge which is located just off Lord Street (in between the Swan Valley and Ellenbrook). We initially heard about Whiteman Edge after friends of ours said they had purchased a block there. We were curious to see where they had bought so we went and checked it out - little did we know that we would be leaving there with a block of our own!! We called our friends that night to tell them that we would be living in the same suburb and found out that we had bought the block right next to them - what are the odds!!! We always said that we would never buy "off the plan" but when we came across this house and land package it was too good to pass up - not only was it within our budget but it was also in a great location (considering a few years back we were very close to buying all the way out in Butler!!) Titles for our block are due to be released in May 2012 (fingers crossed). We are building The Optima with Aussie Living Homes (ALH) and since signing with them in September we have found them to be extremely organised and helpful (our poor building rep has had emails and phone calls from us nearly every other day!!) We have made quite a few changes to the original plans and I will upload pictures of these in another post (when I figure out how to do it!!) Its all happening very fast and at 23 and 24 years of age we are verrrry excited but also very scared. So far things have ran really smoothly (touch wood). Our pre start is booked for February 6 2012. We have nearly made all of our selections, just a few final things to decide on. I will set out all of our selections in another post also. Anyway I think this was a pretty decent first post!! I look forward to hearing all of your feedback during our house building journey!! Frannny First timers building in Whiteman Edge 2Dec 28, 2011 2:27 pm Hello again
Ok so we have finally figured out how to upload pics! Here is a picture of our site layout - our block is 450sqm Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ As promised here are the plans for our house - The Optima. These are the original un-amended plans (however we never had the study included) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ And here is a copy of our finalised plans Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ You will see that we have made quite a few changes: - We extended the garage out to be a zero lot wall. We didn't like the idea of having 2 sides of access and who doesn't need extra room in their garage. This was probably the most expensive addition, it came in at just under $5,000. - We extended the ensuite out to be in line with the WIR. This means that we get extra bench space, extra cupboards and an extra basin (YAY)!! We were expecting this to be quite pricey but were very surprised when it came in at only $1,200. - We changed the layout of the kitchen to be like another ALH display home - The Retreat. This turned out to be a lot easier than we thought, our building rep literally cut out the new kitchen and pasted it onto our plans and it fit perfectly! I think in total it cost us about $40 (including the extra walls to the entry of the theatre! - We added 31c ceilings to the living areas and 28c to the alfresco and garage. This was a bit procey (but we were expecting it to be). It came in at just under $5,000. - We sunk the theatre -2c. This came in at around $900. - We replaced the window in the activity room to be a sliding door. The Retreat display home had this and it really opened up the room. This came in at about $300. - We included a brick lintel at 24c on the wall between the kitchen and the activity room. We got this idea from The Retreat display home too. - We also changed the front facade - before it was a standard square window but we had it changed to a reverse 'L shape' window with a front feature wall - this came in at about $1,200. Im sure that a photo will be better than my description! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ All in all we are very happy with all of our changes. The only think i am a bit iffy about is that our garage now has a flat roof rather than a point. Our building rep said this is what happens when the garage gets widened and not lengthened... BUT im sure this is something that I can live with! Next is to tackle all of the pre start changes, then we can relax!! Looking forward to hearing your feedback! Franny Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 3Dec 28, 2011 2:46 pm Welcome Franny! I'm on my phone so haven't looked too closely at the plans but wanted to say hi! Good luck with your titles, hope they come through on time my new build thread- Ben Trager https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=89826 my switch build thread (2011) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36569 Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 4Dec 28, 2011 8:26 pm Thanks Tinkster!! Have checked out your house and it looks stunning!! Well done on such great colour choices!! We too are thinking of an all white kitchen. Thanks re: the titles! They were originally scheduled for release in July 2012 and we were informed in early December that they have been pushed forward to May 2012 so no complaints from us!! Fingers crossed it all stays on track! Franny Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 5Dec 28, 2011 11:01 pm Hi Franny, WELCOME! Actually, I'm pretty new here too, just thought I'd say 'hi!' I'm building with ALH too. I think we've both made a great decision. My pre-start is booked for the 24th of Jan and I'm hoping to start building as soon as possible after that. I have read on this forum a lot about titles taking longer to issue than they were originally told, so having your date brought forward sounds fantastic. Lucky for me, my block was titled before I bought it. Good luck with your build and I look forward to watching yours progress, possibly at the same rate as mine.... Although, mine has been going rather quickly as I only put an offer in on my block on November 13..... ALH have been great in upholding their end of the deal Carol. Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 6Dec 28, 2011 11:48 pm Hi Carol! Thanks for your post! Its good to hear from others that are building with ALH too. I have read and heard a lot about titles being delayed too (my boyfriends mum works at Landgate so she sees it all the time). But im going to stay positive that they are going to be released on time / early because that is all that I can do for now! Ooh how exciting, not long at all until your pre-start appointment! Have you decided on everything? I would love to see your selections! Lots should be happening in the next few months with you then, good luck with pre-start! I look forward to watching your build! Franny Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 7Dec 29, 2011 12:15 am Hey Franny, Good luck with the build! Plans look great . We're building nearby in Vale (Aveley) just on the other side of Ellenbrook closer to the Vines! Good luck with titles and good luck for prestart! We were really lucky in that our land was already pretty much titled when we bought so it's been one thing straight after the other.. prestart and everything complete within 3 months - and we're starting in Jan. All very daunting, especially the mortgage / rent part! (I'm 23 and my partners 26 - so we're young first timers too!). Cheers! Michael Done it once.. Lived in it a year.. Sold it.. Doing it again! Addicted to Building.. Building with Dale Alcock in Ashby, WA https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=66684 Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 8Dec 29, 2011 8:42 am Hi, we are building at St Leonard's down the road. Our titles are also looking like March too. We looked at Whiteman Edge but we found a block at St Leonard's that was 800 sq m so couldn't let that one go. We are also a young couple building for the first time and I have found this forum great.. We did the same thing and went and looked at a display home on a Saturday and ended up with a block of land and a house by Monday morning.. it wasn't planned like that but now we can't wait. Good luck with it all! Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 9Dec 29, 2011 8:54 am hi and welcome. how exciting for you both. soooooooo young and so daring!! whoaoao! but the best investment you could make, so well done. you will love having a home you designed for your needs. (did you know the ensuite isnt in line with the wir on the plans? or maybe I cant see it) anyway, all the best and roll on titles (how funny you bought next to your mates, at least you know your neighbours really well) Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 10Dec 29, 2011 12:08 pm Thanks everyone! Kiwi - thanks for pointing that out about the ensuite / WIR - i must have uploaded an older version of the plan, oops! Such a coincidence that our friends are next door - we have always said that we wanted to know our neighbours, and now we already do haha! Brad592 - congrats on building in St Leonards! We originally went and looked at some blocks there, but the ones that were left were all out of our price range. 800sqm that is awesome, well done!! Good luck with it all, fingers crossed for March! Michael - Thanks! We are very happy with our plans, especially since we got to change a few things and make it "ours"!! Its going to be great when we can actually see it though!! I cant wait for that day! Congrats on building in Aveley - we have actually been driving through there a bit recently, just getting ideas on colours etc etc. It looks like a really nice place to live. Sooo lucky that your land is already titled, that must make such a difference! I cant imagine how fast it is going for you, cos i know how fast it is going for us and we don't even have titles! It is very daunting, but i just think it is the best thing to do, especially at young ages. The rent and mortgage thing must be tough though. Luckily for us, my boyfriends parents have let us move back in to save some money. I don't think we would be able to do it if we were still renting. Not long at all until your Jan start - bring on the slab! Ill make sure to check in on your build journey. Good luck with it all! Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 11Mar 30, 2012 9:06 pm Congratulations we're building in whiteman edge also on a street to be named ardwick road, I think you guys made the best choice for location. We also looked at ST. Lenards but those big cancer towers nearby there was a little bit off putting... So close now to titles I drove past their last weekend and they're putting the round about in at lord street now can't wait until they road it in their and I can check out our block. My wife and I our 27yrs old first time builders 2nd time owners with a 1 yr old. Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 13May 11, 2012 10:51 pm Yayyy!! How exciting about titles! We still have a bit of a wait for our titles though cos we are in stage 2B.. They told us to expect them on or around the 25th of May, so fingers crossed! My boyfriend and I have been Whiteman Edge stalkers the last few weeks. It has majorly taken shape now, its looking great. We've taken a few walks out to our block too was soo exciting to finally be able to see something! Who are you building with, are you all ready to start building? Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 14May 12, 2012 10:58 am I drove past there yesterday, but I was too scared to go in because the round about is still closed. Do you guys walk too your block from the sales office? We're building with Commodore homes but haven't done a pre start yet. They sent us letter in the mail that we had to fill out that goes to the council that gives them permission to communicate about our block in regards to building on it (I am not really sure to be honest but I am hoping they hurry up lol). Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 15May 12, 2012 6:54 pm We went and visited the site today we drove in through a limestone road on park street our house is so close to that park. Looks like there is gonna be a large mote go around the park too which will be pretty cool. Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 16May 12, 2012 9:58 pm We walk to our block through the limestone road just off Park St (which is the future Partridge St). Congrats on securing a block close to the park, that will be a nice view! Our friends who are building next door to us are building with Commodore too. They are in stage 2B and have done their prestart... Maybe you should follow up with Commodore about that? So now that titles have issued you have 21 days to settle is that right? Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 17May 13, 2012 1:52 pm I just tried calling commodore then but couldn't get any information, until tommorrow they said cause the office isn't open. Have you guys and your friends already made your new Alinta Gas and Electricity accounts? In the Commodore pre start book it says we have to get this arranged before pre start, but we weren't sure because we don't know what number our house will be yet so we haven't made accounts. We are living on Ardwick road btw. Yeah we were given 21 days to settle. I am still not really sure what is going on as our banker at commonwealth bank has gone on holidays and they email my wife and left it in the hands of another guy so I think we will find out something this week aswell. We're only getting a loan for the land at this stage as we haven't sorted out what commodore want yet. What house with commodore are your friends building, we're building the challenger But I want to make some modifications in extending the alfresco out. Have your friends had any problems with them yet. My wife tried calling them a couple of days ago and came across a rude receptionist that wouldn't give us any information and was condesending. We have since sent a complaint email to commodore about her. We have read about Commodore on the product review site after we put down a deposit, and all the reviews have been terrible but in saying that people only tend to review when they have had problems. Yet I am still a bit anxious in how we're going to be treated by them through out the build. Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 18May 13, 2012 3:10 pm We haven't opened the Alinta and Synergy accounts yet. It isn't possible to open them until you have a street number. In the Aussie Living pre start folder it said that we had to fill them out before pre start too but as we bought off the plan they knew it wouldn't be possible so they said just send through the account info when we can. I think our friends are building The Challenger as well, although, they have made heaps of changes, it barely looks like the same house! Without trying to scare you, our friends have had a terrible experience with C so far. They complained about the receptionist as well and were given such a run around from different sales reps, at one point C couldn't locate their file that contained their plans, so had to start over. Although after speaking to a few other people in the industry, if you haven't already signed with them, it may be worth looking elsewhere. Again, im not trying to scare you, i just think this is probably one of the biggest investments of our lives and if you aren't being looked after, you shouldn't be paying them!! But if you are happy to stay on with C, as long as you stay on their case at all times im sure things will be fine. Re: First timers building in Whiteman Edge 19May 13, 2012 6:48 pm I'll see how we go this week with them, I might have to play no more MR nice guy and be a bit more vocal if I start getting walked over by them which isn't normally in my nature but with a big investment like this I spose you gotta speak out if required. We're thinking about extending the alfresco out, sinking the theatre room, and recess the ceiling in the theatre room, adding a feature wall in to the activity room and adding a extra sink in the ensuite and extending the WIR. Did it cost your friends a lot of money with commodore, or are they comparable with Aussie Living. If anyone elses is viewing this thread and has built with commodore recently or currently building with them aswell feel free to comment First timers building in Whiteman Edge 20May 14, 2012 11:17 pm +1 for Aussie Living here (so far, up to roof frame stage). I don't know anyone who has built with Commodore and only read homeone and online reviews about Commodore. I think Aussie are in the same price range as Commodore, maybe cheaper? Don't know. I'm also kinda using this house as a learning experience. Was very emotional in the beginning, but have since calmed down. If my first home building experience turns out to be ABSOLUTELY PERFECT, then I am one lucky lady! Hello everyone, After some suggestions and ideas about how to put a concrete path around the drop edge beam area on our new build. We are required to have a concrete path… 0 13279 get them to replace the chipped tiles. It will stick out like a sore thumb overwise. Also tiler will be siliconing the miters rather than grouting. Grouted miters crack… 1 4221 |