Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 22, 2012 12:34 pm Re: Narrowed it down to 3 designs....any ideas?? 2Apr 22, 2012 4:10 pm Casey + Gary + 5 kool kiddos + 1 funky Frenchie + 5 happy hens = barrels of fun in Muswellbrook Re: Narrowed it down to 3 designs....any ideas?? 3Apr 22, 2012 5:22 pm The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Narrowed it down to 3 designs....any ideas?? 8Apr 22, 2012 8:13 pm Plan A has best potential for passive solar orientation... Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ Re: Narrowed it down to 3 designs....any ideas?? 9Apr 22, 2012 9:03 pm Are you sure you can enter a build contract whilst your land is not registered? Building with Jandson Homes - Eclipse 18. http://adgnetworks.blogspot.com/ Re: Narrowed it down to 3 designs....any ideas?? 10Apr 22, 2012 9:57 pm Thanks Kiwi, hubby thought it had something to do with how the roof was engineered, for some reason the houses with the bigger open areas are more expensive. I guess they have to put more bracings in or something but I really have NFI Deemaree, thanks for that - we are really trying to be conscious about how the house is going to be energy wise etc - our block is east/west facing (east at the back, west at the front) which is good as if we end up getting solar panels for electricity and hot water they will go on the north side which is apparently the way they need to be! Our builder is fantastic though, they will look at a house plan and tell you what needs to be done to get more stars energy wise! There is probably a better way to phrase that but I am not good with the whole builders lingo!! adgn, we've been speaking to the builder for a few months now as we were originally looking at another block but that one sold and then this one came up (and turns out it was better haha). They are more than happy for us to sign the contract now, even though there is at least 18 months until we build. They will hold the pricing for 12 months from when we sign and then it will probably change a bit because of the carbon tax etc. We've explained the situation, they're a local builder & have a good working relationship with the developers of the estate we've put the deposit down in and they know the full story. I'm sure there are other builders out there who wont but they have been sooooo helpful. And if for some reason we cant get the loan or something happens with the block when it comes to titles or something and we cant build, then we will just lose the deposit we paid them I guess (and in the case of not being able to get the loan, the deposit we put on the block too) but we've spoken to a mortgage broker & a bank manager and they're both fairly confident that if we save up the extra 15% for the deposit that we'll get it - so we were willing to take that risk based on their advice Keep the ideas & info coming guys!! Every little bit helps x Re: Narrowed it down to 3 designs....any ideas?? 11Apr 23, 2012 6:19 am Just some of my thoughts. Design A-Put the kids play area where the computer is, put the study where the alfresco is and put the alfresco behind the kitchen / family. Design B- The meals area is definitely too small for a large table and a large family, the family room is too big and the kitchen needs help so this area needs a redesign. Put the bath along the wall with the shower, move the toilet door back and put the basin in a little alcove jutting into the bathroom. Put linen/broom cupboards opening into hall opposite bathroom and new hall entry off family room. Design C-Bedrooms 2/3 and theatre look very small & agree with extension, study size and position questionable. Will put copy of my plan up for ideas as it allows for every item on your list but you would have to squash the kids into bed 3 and the gym and have bed 2 as kids rumpus with a sofa bed in there for guests. This house is marketed to use the study as a nursery with an opening through to Bed 1. Our base price was $205k and we ended up paying $322k to the building company (heaps of upgrade$ plus drop edge beams and fill) then add all the extras on top after handover. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Regards, Grumbles Re: Narrowed it down to 3 designs....any ideas?? 12Apr 23, 2012 8:02 am Thanks heaps for the ideas grumblebum! When you say the total was $322k was that including absolutely everything - front & back landscaping, curtains etc? The people whose house we looked in just before handover stage for design A spent $330k on the house alone with the base price of $254,000 but they had a few upgrades we wouldn't want - plus they'd changed the original design around a bit but I preferred theirs to the base one!! But then the upgrades that we want are the expensive ones , like the rc ducted aircon (which I think is an extra $9k), solar hot water and maybe electricity, carpet, paint etc!! I was thinking it may have been cheaper to get the carpet laid by a 3rd party but don't know of anyone that's done this!! Will have to look into it =) we were also going to get the standard tiling done in the bathrooms - which I think they do up to around the skirting - and get them to order extra so hubby can do the floor to ceiling tiles later on but that's not a necessity, just something I'd do if we had a bit of extra $$$ lol Re: Narrowed it down to 3 designs....any ideas?? 13Apr 23, 2012 10:22 am gb you have a gym and a bar..whoaoaoao! workout party at yours. Re: Narrowed it down to 3 designs....any ideas?? 14May 15, 2012 10:27 am Hi guys, Just an update - we ended up going with design A, the one we liked most =) I've started my own thread in case you want to keep up with progress!! Which will be veeeeeery slow as titles arent expected until at least April next year (and it won't bother me at all if they're pushed back 6-12 months as it gives us longer to save for a car & for landscaping!!) Thanks for all your advice & thoughts! Hope to chat with you all soon! Kimmy x Re: Narrowed it down to 3 designs....any ideas?? 15May 15, 2012 10:32 am you mean I didnt win!!??? boo hoo, but congrats on a plan though Re: Narrowed it down to 3 designs....any ideas?? 16May 15, 2012 1:50 pm kiwi you mean I didnt win!!??? boo hoo, but congrats on a plan though Haha nah.....our hearts won out over our heads!! The floorplan is COMPLETELY different though (well, not completely, but we have changed quite a bit), works much better for us we think =) Would anyone on this forum know of a builder/company in Brisbane with house designs for a shallow block. I have a block 20 x 20 so with front and rear set backs I need a… 0 4864 😃 will do an exclusive one for Simeon.. COVID back at home.. kept it simple & we moved in.. & yesterday was the first day at our new home.. Few more bits to go -… 4 23554 |