Building @ Harcrest, Wantirna South

My understanding is that because NBN is being rolled out in Harcrest, therefore you won't have any copper service. As such, you cannot use ADSL2+. This is why Mirvac is handing out reimbursements for current residents who are short without any broadband services while NBN is being rolled out.

The only alternative is really the USB Wireless Internet. With the $50 compensation, that will buy you at worst 3Gb.

And since you can't have ADSL2+, you can't have copper-based telephone services, which means new numbers most likely.

Your only hope is VOIP.

Hi guys

just wondering if any of you have had quotes for fences? Any info would be great!

Hi there and welcome to the forum. And Congratulations on securing your lot. Are you in stage 3? Have you already settled on the land as yet?

There's a lot of advice and experiences on this forum so its best you go through each of the posts to identify common issues us lot owners have been facing - site costs, design guidelines, colour selections and so forth. That will prepare you for what's coming and ask the right questions to your builder.

I have to say the majority of the process has been very pleasant and I found the developer to be approachable - though sometimes constant followup is required.

Re site costs, there is no conclusive way to figure that out - a few variables come into play, the builder, the soil classification and the slab etc. You builder will do a soil test once you pay the initial deposit but they can only do so once the land is settled. The developer will also provide you with an engineers report but the builders will want to do their test anyway as they provide the structural warranty.

I'd say about $25K is what you can reasonably estimate as site costs - though some people may have paid significantly lesser and I hope that is the case for you.

Again, good to have another neighbour on the forum!

Lot 88 is the one on the northern boundary, corner lot. This is stage 2.

Given you are just coming in, you are probably spared of the difficulties encountered by those who purchased the lot during the Ballot (back in 2010).

That lot of yours is relatively flat, in my opinion your site cost should not be anymore than $10k (tops $15k, even that is too expensive). The thing with site cost is that it has inclusions of fall like 300mm. Certain builders have special discount on site costs but if your fall is less than 300mm, your site costs should only be influenced by the slab grade (P the most expensive, M1 should suffice and cheaper, M is the cheapest - Cost Zero if fall is <300mm), the Infrastructure Tax (Bracks/Brumbies' legacy) worth about $4k, and OH/S Tax worth about $3k.

Mirvac does give you a compaction report which will confirm the fall. Use this when going to a builder as many builders will try to make a buck out of site costs. In my opinion (and it's up to you), any offer to fix the site cost SHOULD BE refused especially on a flat land. I did with my builder and has saved $15,000 (I know this because there are others in this forum which are stung by the fixed cost of $25k).

Then the frontage. Those who purchased during the ballot were told 6 metres distance from street to front door (frontage?). However, a house in Cerise Street successfully went around the Covenant and made it 4 metres, thereby having bigger backyard. Insist on this as I know my neighbour is using this Cerise Street house as a basis of 4 metres frontage and there is nothing Mirvac can do about it to stop it.

Certain estate covenants can be done outside builder. Often builders charge 25% markup on things like water tank (I am a victim of this). If possible, have this done outside builder (and thus, post contract) but saves you money. A bit inconvenient I know.

My 2c

Regards

Zz

Hi Gren,

Who did you go to for the fencing and how much in approximate?

As for the COO, how would Mirvac know if you have been issued one anyway? I didn't think it matter.

I am in the middle of asking the Sales Coord of what is she requiring for the $10k bond to be returned.

Hi aasa1978,

We went to Rob Kuhne Fences and gates. Most people on the estate have used his service, and he produces an impressive fence. Cost will depend on how many retaining walls you need. As we only required 1 retaining wall, total cost was about $2500.

gren