We are In..............................

It was great day on 18th September 2013. That was when i got my keys to new home. Such a great building experience.Site Supervisor was so great and finished my job even 1 and half months before the deadline with quality of work . I am more than happy with the service i got from my builder.

Here are some pics for you guys to checkout.But my glass splash back is different to what i selected . Builder mistakenly did that. But it came out better than what we were selected. Kitchen is standing out really good with that maroon colour of splash back. i did solid timber floor separately. its Australian Spotted Gum..I am just loving it.

Kitchen,Bathrooms,paint.

Slab and Frame Done ...!

Council Approval

My Builder launch my applications on 19th Feb and by  8th March we received approval. It was great to see pegs on my site. it's ready to Rock n Roll .....

Colour Selection

We already finished all the selections which need to to be done. 

Which including,
        
        Internal/External
        Bricks         : PGH
        Roof            : Bristile
        Electrical    : Clipsal
        Flooring     : Dilorenzo  [http://www.dilorenzo.net.au/]
        Kitchen       : Timpelle kitchens [http://www.timpellekitchens.com.au/]
        Landscape  : Wisdom Homes

We had to visit most of these out side contractors to finalise most of above items. But it was fun and had involved lots of research.  

Things To Remember 

   1:  Do your research as much as you can .This will help you to finish these selection with minimal efforts.So builder will not have time to hanging there and keep extending your building process.
           Visit Model Houses
           Go to see some of your suppliers and bring some samples . 
           
   2: Remember all the changes you have done . Sometime  things get out of sync when multiple people involving in this process. Eg. You need to inform your electrical guy that you have changed the way door open. Sometimes your builder will not informe suppliers about changes you made . Once all the selections finishes builder get updates from each of these outside suppliers . 

Here are some of my selections ........

1: Roof   : Bristile Prestige Range  Tungsten

2: Bricks :  PGH Gravel

3: Gutter : Monument

4: Barge  : Monument

5: Fascia,: Surfmist

6: Eaves : Surfmist

7: Down Pipes: Surfmist

8: Garage Door : Surfmist

9: Gable infil : Surfmist

10: Windows : Anodic OFF WITE

11: Driveway : Main Body  Large Tile on 45' angle with brick header  [ Colour : Gunmetal , Border : Brick Header] 

 12: Deleted WIP and WIR shelving. In Bunnings they selling DIY type shelving which i would be able to install all these shelving for a fraction of price. 

14: ENSUITE ,LUNDRY & BATHROOM VANITY         

       TOP : Snow(Caesarstone)     
       Doors : Avignon Walnut (Laminex)

15: KITCHEN

       CAESARSTONE TOP : Snow   
       UNDER BENCH CUPBOARDs: Laminex Oyster Linea Silk Finish 
       OVER HEAD CUPBOARDs    : Laminex Pumice Silk Finish   
       GLASS SPLASH BACK         : Antique White 

16 :INTERNAL PAINT COLOURS 

    Bristol White Canvas (In Taubmans Brand)

Bath Room Tile

ENS Tiles

Carpet 50/50 Wool

Kitchen [Oyster Lenea, Pumice]

Cornies

Tile For Porch

Kitchen and wall colours will be exactly same as in this picture . Only change will be Glass splash back with Antique White.

Things picking up

We signed contract with WH on just the day before xmess holidays was about to start.had nice break and almost missed track about everything.I am now going through colour selection process and will post some pics in future.WH is actualy prety fast of organising things.they already book me for landscape ,tiles,electricle appoinments.so far iam happy with the process .Also they are very helpfull as well

Drawings

We just accepted drawings on last week. Hopefully contract will be ready to sign very soon. There were some errors in the drawings. Like..  

1: Few doors designed to open in wrong way 

2 : Re-Located AC unit to the side of house .So that i can completely utilize my back yard for the out door entertainment area  

3: Re-Located Gas Hot Water system near to the ENS to ensure quick water supply for the bathrooms and kitchen. 

Tender Acceptance

Good news everyone ....!

Finally, we decided to move ahead with Wisdom Homes. Once step closer to build our first home. So far the experience was good. Also I checked some other builders but Wisdom got perfect plan for us. 

I must say something about Fowler Homes. They are the best sales team i ever met. Also their inclusion list is top of the range even it includes 20000 worth of inclusions on top what we getting with WH. But we were so happy with the floor plan we had with WH. so decided to move ahead. 

Now i am look forward to receive all colour packs which help for the next stage 

While waiting for tender …!

It’s time for us to do shop around to check whether we can do some task by our self. This will save us $$$$$. Remember builders got mark-up for the every upgrade you asking. 

So things like   

   1: Façade deco

   2: Landscape (Plan, Construction)

   3: Driveways and Paving

   4: Fencing

   5: Flooring (We are thinking to do timber flooring. Tiles sooo cold in winter and Timber looks nice)

Façade deco

Wisdom charging me $3000 to just to do rendering on one column in the façade .This is required by the ponds guidelines. But then I checked with local dealer. It seems I can do stone cladding for façade not just for one column but also to a larger area than that. For a one column it just $1200.

Landscaping

Wisdom home asked me $750 for just to get plan. But after sending few email messages I was able to find reasonable good contact under couple of $100 less than WH.

Things to consider when dealing with landscape guys . 

These are the questions I asked

1.    Consultation with Owner by phone and email.

2.    Review all relevant documentation to be provided by architect / developer: architectural plans & elevations, hydraulic drawings, details & survey information.

3.    A Landscape Plan will be drawn at suitable scale (1:200 to match architectural on A3)

4.    Addressing the design and treatment of all landscape areas and proposed finishes, levels, existing & proposed vegetation and surrounds.

5.    Reference to council D.C.P planting lists for suitable plant species selection.

6.    Planting schedules including proposed planting location, species, heights, spreads quantities & pot sizes.

7.    Typical detailing of proposed hard, soft cape works and specification notes for landscape works.

8.    Review Council guidelines discuss project with council staff to identify relevant landscape issues as required. 

Note: These questions will be valid when you building on vacant land .If there are any existing trees, and then the story will be different

Here is my contact, But still I haven’t tried these guys yet .But according to the response these guys pretty good and they have done lots of projects in The Ponds area .So they know the rules and guidelines

Exterior Australia Pty Ltd
Tel: 8805 6262 | Mob: 0414 268 154
www.exterior.com.au

Driveways and Paving

http://www.jimspaving.net/index.php?/services/driveways.html

Saw few comments about these guys. But not sure and need to contact them very soon

Fencing

http://www.ezyclipfencing.com.au/

Saw few comments about these guys. But not sure and need to contact them very soon

 Flooring

I don’t have any contacts yet .Will post once I got

Tender Time

We already put deposit with Eden Brae on 1/08/2012.We are expecting tender presentation on 28th  this month .

Meantime we are going to get tender with Wisdom for Prosperity 24 as well . Here we go ....List of upgrades

• Expand Bed 2,3 by 500mm (Up to bath room wall)
• Swap the stacker door and sliding door (if alfresco cannot fit in to current location)
• Make it short media Alcove in Lounge room -credit
• Sliding doors for bedroom robes without mirrors (if hanging doors more obstruct room) -credit
• Bigger windows for Master and bed 2
• Driveway
• Allowance for site cost 
•   H class Slab - 2950 
•    Saline Soil Requirements - $3200
•    Landscape plan - $750
•    Part Render to facade - $3000
•    Assumed level for additional site costs to be confirmed - Approx $5000
•    Posible site costs due to the sewer location 
• 3 Phase power supply
• Squre set of cronies to entry to,foyer and home theatre
• Provide 3No Laminated shelves to dining/leisure feaure wall cut-out
• Kitchen bench width to increase to 900mm
• Ceiling mounted shower head to main bath
• Upgraded mirror sizes to bathrooms
• Extra zone for AC
• Privacy locks to bath rooms
• Drinking tap water outlets to near the commode
• Alfresco -credit
• Delete tilies in living areas (Except bedrooms ) -credit

Eden Brae Vs Wisdom Homes

Our aim is to build single story home with 4 Beds. Size wise thinking to build 24sq (Excluding Alfresco). Reason behind we chose to build single story house was that it's easy to maintain. I hate going up and down for the weekend cleanups.

Also master bedroom not in the front of the house. Not sure why everyone need master in the front. Anyway both of us need more privacy.

Eden Brae 

They seems to bee very good at pricing. Also i believe their 2sq for 2500$ is a killer offer. No one can really match that deal. Also other promotions .I have visited their design gallery, brick selections all standards inclusions are actually not too bad unless you are very choosy.

I am more than happy with the sales person in Kellyville Homeworld V (Gaven ) .He was the most professional sales guy i ever met . He is so supportive. But they don't have proper floor plan, which suit us .The closest one we met was Manchester 22 . We went to see both model houses and they are quite good. With the two sq promotions actually it became 25sq.Also done lots of customisations.

Finally we asked them to do tender with few additional items .Not sure what will be the tender price. .... Because of customisations price might get high. But we have backup plan with Wisdom if all goes wrong.

Wisdom Homes

Prosperity 24 is 100% spot on . Seems like we need to do very minimum changes .Also better inclusion list

But 

   1: It's already 20K higher than estimate given for the Manchester.

   2:  Since my land still not registered,they cannot provide fixed price tender.So worried about site costs . 

   3: Seems like Allowance (5500$) is not enough for the driveway .where EBH fully covered .

  4: Some delaying issue with admin process. 

	Wisdom Homes	EBH
House	Prosperity 24	Manchester 24.6
Do we like layout	100% Very good functional Design	75% Even After making lots of changes
Cost	258000	237000
Fixed Price Tender	No (Site cost are TBA on land registration)	Yes (All site cost included and NO MORE TO PAY)
Promotions	· Prestige Inclusions 5990, · Acton Free Air Con with 2 Zone · Roof Upgrade	·Life Style Inclusions 4890 · Acton Same Air Con with 3 Zone 2$ · Kitchen Upgrade 2$ · Roof Upgrade (Monier or Color Bond) 2$ · The Expansion Sale 2sq for 2500 ·Eden Brae Home Grant 5000 credit
Allocated Start Date	Not Sure	Yes
Guarantee Completion Time	Not Sure	Yes
Driveways	Allowance 5500 (Some say not enough)	Yes Included
Capped Price Extended Start Date	Not Sure	Yes

Here is the list of items you get with Wisdom  in comparison with EBH inclusion list(For the extra 20k you paying for WH) - Not too bad huh ....!

Kitchen

Decorative glass splashback to Kitchen (up to 3m2 with 2No. GPO cut-outs)

Bulkheads

Undermount double bowl kitchen sink

Blum motion soft close Kitchen drawers and pot drawers

  

Laminated overhead cupboard above fridge space

Set of pot drawers to Kitchen

  

Stainless steel orgaline cutlery tray

Bathroom

Caesarstone to vanities throughout (standard range - 20mm thick)

Full height tiling to two walls only of Bathroom and Ensuite (main visible walls) 

Floor Coverings

Ceramic Tiles to Entry

Floor and Wall Ceramic tile upgrade from $25m2 to $35m2 throughout

Laundry

Built-in laminated Laundry unit with stainless steel drop in tub, mixer tap set and 20mm caserstone top

Outside

External Finishes

25 degree roof pitch in lieu of 20 degree roof pitch

Off white mortar to brickwork in lieu of natural coloured mortar

Aluminium awning windows to front facade and Bathrooms

Garage

Plasterboard lined interior to Garage in lieu of face brickwork

BASIX

Whirlybird roof ventilator for better cooling & BASIX score

Do you think it's worth it with Wisdom...? 

That is the question that i am struggling at the moment .Since we like Prosperity floor plan . if Eden brae tender comes close to 250K mark  we are going to build with Wisdom. .