After 1 month of researching, searching, viewing, comparing… we returned to see V at the display centre to sign the documentation related to the building of The Majestic.
Officially we now enter Stage 1 of the building process. Whilst I didn’t realise we needed the Certificate of Title for our block at this meeting, everything else was smooth sailing. We requested the Scottsdale Façade at an additional cost, along with the Grand entry from the Windsor Façade. The only structural change was the removal of the wall between the his and hers walk in robe to the master ensuite and we followed up that their will be two sliding doors leading onto the balcony, not just 1 and a window. Additionally, we will include a rear roller door to the garage so we can drive into the back yard for washing cars, and get drawers in the bathroom in the master ensuite. At this point we thought we were being quite conservative with our money, although going for the extras we really wanted. Then came the optional additions we didn’t know about – insulation, instantaneous hot water… and the extras which just haven’t been mentioned to this point but I had listed as questions – footings?, storm water (to follow up ourselves), electricity for 2 stories (3 phase power), connections … In total the cost has come to over $100 000 more than budgeted, without C-bus, solar panels, rain tanks, colour selections (e.g. Caesar Stone Kitchen bench top)… but does include air conditioning and floor coverings. V informed us it was okay for me to fax through a copy of the certificate of title today, which is required for Stage 1 to proceed any further.
Officially we now enter Stage 1 of the building process. Whilst I didn’t realise we needed the Certificate of Title for our block at this meeting, everything else was smooth sailing. We requested the Scottsdale Façade at an additional cost, along with the Grand entry from the Windsor Façade. The only structural change was the removal of the wall between the his and hers walk in robe to the master ensuite and we followed up that their will be two sliding doors leading onto the balcony, not just 1 and a window. Additionally, we will include a rear roller door to the garage so we can drive into the back yard for washing cars, and get drawers in the bathroom in the master ensuite. At this point we thought we were being quite conservative with our money, although going for the extras we really wanted. Then came the optional additions we didn’t know about – insulation, instantaneous hot water… and the extras which just haven’t been mentioned to this point but I had listed as questions – footings?, storm water (to follow up ourselves), electricity for 2 stories (3 phase power), connections … In total the cost has come to over $100 000 more than budgeted, without C-bus, solar panels, rain tanks, colour selections (e.g. Caesar Stone Kitchen bench top)… but does include air conditioning and floor coverings. V informed us it was okay for me to fax through a copy of the certificate of title today, which is required for Stage 1 to proceed any further.
The whole process has been really exciting – deciding on roof tiles, colours of tiles, type of flooring in each area, air conditioning… and also mind consuming, creating some sleepless nights thinking about what are the best options and what if we make a wrong decision.
We now have a ‘Complete Home Manual’ which guides us through each stage of the building process, including all the pre-building admin stages like what we are entering into now. I’ve already read it from cover to cover of course, and D picked it up last night have a skim read through the first sections.
Previously I was concerned about D being equally involved in the selections, but I think all has turned out well with him having input in everything and us being in agreeance before any contact has been made with Henley.
Stage 1 is meant to take approximately four weeks. The paper work we signed on Saturday will be checked and accepted by the office. Then Henley will arrange a soil test, siting and site survey by contacting D for us to line up a time with the current tenants of the house on the block. Within two weeks a colour selection appointment will be made with Cosham Interiors for us to put forward all the other exciting decisions we have made and gain more of an understanding to the full extent of cost. The consultant with either be T or C, who may well follow through with us the whole building process. I met T when D's mum and I went to their selection room to view the Bristol paint range and she was more than helpful in answering the many questions I had at that stage. That appointment will last approximately 3 hours, so D and I may well need to take a day off work (or at least get out early) as Henley (at Wayville) are only open Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm. Two weeks after the colour selection a tender will be presented to us (another 2-3hour meeting) showing final costings for the entire build.
In the lead up to the meeting with V on Saturday, we were also preparing to sell our home. I have been busy packing, painting, cleaning, pruning… Then last weekend we had a working bee. Friends and family came round to complete some of the larger tasks – cutting back trees, removing trellis, hard waste dumping, buying and laying of Forever Red bark chips. On Friday night before meeting V we organised a meeting with AS (a real estate agent) (highly recommended by WM) and signed a contract to put our house on the market. So now we have simultaneous processes underway of selling and the early stages of building. The tenants have also moved out of our investment property, so many boxes have been moved over there to reduce clutter here for open inspections and in anticipation of our move, creating less work at a later date.
Stress to this point has been kept to a minimum, with just a few moments popping up here and there. Being stressed is one thing but feeling like we are on top of things and organised is another. The later being more how we have felt about the process.
We look forward to many more exciting times ahead, but of course are not wishing the time away. We want to enjoy the experience.
P.S. V said that currently the build process is at 38 weeks for The Majestic, with the current admin stage taking approximately 20 weeks, including council approval.
We now have a ‘Complete Home Manual’ which guides us through each stage of the building process, including all the pre-building admin stages like what we are entering into now. I’ve already read it from cover to cover of course, and D picked it up last night have a skim read through the first sections.
Previously I was concerned about D being equally involved in the selections, but I think all has turned out well with him having input in everything and us being in agreeance before any contact has been made with Henley.
Stage 1 is meant to take approximately four weeks. The paper work we signed on Saturday will be checked and accepted by the office. Then Henley will arrange a soil test, siting and site survey by contacting D for us to line up a time with the current tenants of the house on the block. Within two weeks a colour selection appointment will be made with Cosham Interiors for us to put forward all the other exciting decisions we have made and gain more of an understanding to the full extent of cost. The consultant with either be T or C, who may well follow through with us the whole building process. I met T when D's mum and I went to their selection room to view the Bristol paint range and she was more than helpful in answering the many questions I had at that stage. That appointment will last approximately 3 hours, so D and I may well need to take a day off work (or at least get out early) as Henley (at Wayville) are only open Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm. Two weeks after the colour selection a tender will be presented to us (another 2-3hour meeting) showing final costings for the entire build.
In the lead up to the meeting with V on Saturday, we were also preparing to sell our home. I have been busy packing, painting, cleaning, pruning… Then last weekend we had a working bee. Friends and family came round to complete some of the larger tasks – cutting back trees, removing trellis, hard waste dumping, buying and laying of Forever Red bark chips. On Friday night before meeting V we organised a meeting with AS (a real estate agent) (highly recommended by WM) and signed a contract to put our house on the market. So now we have simultaneous processes underway of selling and the early stages of building. The tenants have also moved out of our investment property, so many boxes have been moved over there to reduce clutter here for open inspections and in anticipation of our move, creating less work at a later date.
Stress to this point has been kept to a minimum, with just a few moments popping up here and there. Being stressed is one thing but feeling like we are on top of things and organised is another. The later being more how we have felt about the process.
We look forward to many more exciting times ahead, but of course are not wishing the time away. We want to enjoy the experience.
P.S. V said that currently the build process is at 38 weeks for The Majestic, with the current admin stage taking approximately 20 weeks, including council approval.
2 comments:
Just a word of warning - V too told us about a 38 week timeframe and we signed late January and expected to be in by around Christmas! We are only at lock up stage now (we are building the park lane). We have recently spoken to the State Manager - our advice is to keep at them right from the beginning!
Thanks Anonymous. I must say even though we have been told 38 weeks we are expecting about 1 year anyhow. We are in no particular rush, so anything prior to 12-18months is actually a bonus for us.
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