New House Build. Help/Suggestions please(HVAC, Cinema, Electrics, Cladding, Timber etc)

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725 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1541011 24-Apr-2016 09:33

darylblake:

Wow that looks like a pretty sweet place. I have TRIED to keep my build under 500k, but its not gonna happen. I am estimating 550k but its probably gonna hit close to 600 by the time its done :(.

So im building mine, well... trying to. I just go an earthworks resource consent and getting a building consent at the moment. We have to spend about 80,000 on retaining and digging because its on a sloped section. There is no site access for a few weeks so that should match up nicely with the building consent time the council need to fluff around, so all in all im pretty excited.

Our house is going to be fully brick. We have picked a Euro brick, white for the whole house.

I have a separate lounge, and open plan dining living area which has our kitchen and indoor/outdoor flow.

We have tried to be practical about heating etc. So have gone for Gas hobs and hot water but decided on using a heating system (heat pump) for the actual heating.

We have a scullery going in and have upgraded our kitchen bench top to engineered stone.

I am going to get the house wired up with cat5e/6 for the network and probably pop a couple high quality access points in for my network, a patch panel in the garage and have my modem/router out there.

We have shunted the idea of getting tiles. Personally I really like them but my wife hates them. So we agreed on getting some Karndean laminated flooring (it looks like wood planks) in most of the downstairs and the wet rooms upstairs.

Once piece of advise, we actually got a colour consultant in to help us pick colours, it cost $120 dollars but I rekon it was worth every cent.

Good luck with your build.

How big is the house you're building and is it single or two story? Am in the process of getting our plans priced currently, we had a budget of around $500k also but expect it to go around $550k also, just interested in seeing what you're getting for a similar price.

darylblake

1162 posts

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#1541013 24-Apr-2016 09:48

House is 2 story and 238sqm. Seriously got good $per sqm when we signed up.
I will share plans shortly.

We only have the scullery because we converted the laundry into a scullery and put the washing machine and dryer into the garage.

D.W

725 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1541025 24-Apr-2016 10:18

darylblake: House is 2 story and 238sqm. Seriously got good $per sqm when we signed up.
I will share plans shortly.

We only have the scullery because we converted the laundry into a scullery and put the washing machine and dryer into the garage.

We're looking at 2 story 240m2, so very similar.

Here are our plans:

Ground floor: http://iforce.co.nz/i/jrd3zk35.bfy.png

First floor: http://iforce.co.nz/i/nxaxmmb0.4fl.png

pipe60

127 posts

Master Geek

#1541098 24-Apr-2016 12:15

billgates:

Yep. At this stage start date is set to 4th of July and finish March 2017. I am building in Flagstaff. Good luck with your build. Would love to see fellow members house design plans. Are you in Flagstaff/Rototuna way as well?

No just North in Horsham downs on a 11ha block.

Not the best img but gives u an idea

http://iforce.co.nz/i/zhe44cks.iae.png

billgates

4705 posts

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#1593636 16-Jul-2016 18:36

Hunt for new builder begins. 15 months and countless amount of my hours wasted. Not sure what the building company was thinking when they decided to come up with a final contract price that has increased by 27.5% (more than 1/4 cost of the 2nd estimate).

Do whatever you want to do man.

blakamin

4431 posts

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Inactive user

#1593638 16-Jul-2016 18:41

WTF? When did they decide this?

billgates

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#1593644 16-Jul-2016 18:57

5 months ago we got the 2nd estimate which as per their wording was "98% accurate". 95% of my fittings/fixtures and brand/model of flooring, cladding etc was finished with the 2nd estimate. Added a bookshelf, and a feature wall as extra which I was given fixed costs for. The final aluminum joinery quote came out $10k cheaper. I even added 5% (really is between 2% ~ 3% cost increase in April from framing company across NZ and plumbing) and the figure did not jump by more than $50k. $50k being very generous here. $225,000 extra was added. Had meeting and they could not justify the hike of at least $160k. Either they low balled the first 2 estimates from day 1 or they forgot to add some major costs in first 2 estimates. As I wrote in one of the previous posts, they added a unexpected price hike in the 2nd estimate which we agreed to meet the middle ground for but looks like they even forgot about that middle ground figure in final contract price and dropped this on us. Complete waste of our time.

Taking couple of months break. Architect + Independent builder looks like the way to go.

Edit - Atleast price of our current house we have in Hamilton has gone up handsomely.

Do whatever you want to do man.

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blakamin

4431 posts

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Inactive user

#1593645 16-Jul-2016 19:04

Oh, jeez, dude... I have words we can't use here... Hope all goes well next time!

Talkiet

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#1593647 16-Jul-2016 19:15

I just met today with one of two companies I am getting to design and quote for a house to go on a section I have purchased (and meeting the other company tomorrow)... Although I am spending a lot less than you I wanted to keep my entire build including land at $500k (in Rolleston, Chch) so after spending $175k on the land I asked the places if $325k for a 3BR, single level house with a larger than normal garage and nothing opulent was reasonable. They both said "Absolutely, yes" at earlier stages...

However today after beginning the process with one there's already some backpedaling going on and comments like It might be more like $360k.

I'll be interested to see what place 2 says tomorrow and what the quotes say in a few weeks when I get them.

(Both places know I am having 2 places quote, and I am paying a non-refundable $3000 engagement and quote fee with one of them - I was prepared to pay that for both but the other place doesn't charge if they are convinced the customer is genuine - and presumably buying a section qualifies)

(I'm avoiding naming the companies at this stage - both seem excellent so far)

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

billgates

4705 posts

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#1593648 16-Jul-2016 19:22

Strongly recommend that you have everything in an email. Make your own meeting minutes. I have a section in my OneNote just for this that I used when I was dealing with this building company. I pulled them over in the final meeting and prior phone calls and emails with a lot of their own emails content promises that we exchanged over last 15 months. Not that it helps them from screwing you around when it comes to a final contract price but naming and shaming them if you decide to go that route with evidence or court.

Do whatever you want to do man.

billgates

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#1593650 16-Jul-2016 19:26

@Talkiet if you have not already paid the $3k non-refundable fees, I strongly recommend getting a concept drawing done with floor plan and SMW (scheduled material of works with a price for total house build). Might not be entertained with this request with your house build budget but give it a try. If they agree, atleast you will have a SMW with contract price listed in their for your concept drawings/floor plans to stand on as your final pricing should only be 2% ~ 3% of first estimate.

Do whatever you want to do man.

Talkiet

4792 posts

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#1593651 16-Jul-2016 19:30

Thanks.... The place I met today was the free option - tomorrow is the one I am paying. Apparently the $3k includes the drawing and SMW with a complete list of itemised costs, down to things like appliances and sinks and light fittings... "Apparently" I can then remove whatever I like if I can supply it, or add extras (like extra lights/powerpoints) at the itemised price.

If I accept that and proceed they claim fixed price with no PC sums and if I have no variations that's what I walk through the door paying.

I expect they'll do the same thing, I gave them a $325k budget they said "Yeah, shouldn't be a problem" but I fully expect the quote to come back at about $360 as well.

Thanks for the idea though.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#1593689 16-Jul-2016 21:17

billgates:
Hunt for new builder begins. 15 months and countless amount of my hours wasted. Not sure what the building company was thinking when they decided to come up with a final contract price that has increased by 27.5% (more than 1/4 cost of the 2nd estimate).

So sorry to hear this. I did say previously that the price sounded low for the size so suspect they made the error from the beginning unless they were desperate for work . One thing is that builders are in higher demand now,and some price high if they don't really want the work. At the moment I can't get a decent roofer to even quote on a job I've designed,due to a lack of resources and quality tradespeople

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#1593704 16-Jul-2016 22:27

Talkiet:

Thanks.... The place I met today was the free option - tomorrow is the one I am paying. Apparently the $3k includes the drawing and SMW with a complete list of itemised costs, down to things like appliances and sinks and light fittings... "Apparently" I can then remove whatever I like if I can supply it, or add extras (like extra lights/powerpoints) at the itemised price.

If I accept that and proceed they claim fixed price with no PC sums and if I have no variations that's what I walk through the door paying.

I expect they'll do the same thing, I gave them a $325k budget they said "Yeah, shouldn't be a problem" but I fully expect the quote to come back at about $360 as well.

Thanks for the idea though.

Cheers - N

Good thought out design is one of the most important things with a house, and it is often overlooked. So I would be worried about a house that was designed for just 3k. Sounds like it will just be an extruded plan with a hipped roof plonked on top. Many people get their builders to design the house, and it shows, as builders aren't usually qualified designers.

Talkiet

4792 posts

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#1593706 16-Jul-2016 22:43

mattwnz:

Talkiet:

Thanks.... The place I met today was the free option - tomorrow is the one I am paying. Apparently the $3k includes the drawing and SMW with a complete list of itemised costs, down to things like appliances and sinks and light fittings... "Apparently" I can then remove whatever I like if I can supply it, or add extras (like extra lights/powerpoints) at the itemised price.

If I accept that and proceed they claim fixed price with no PC sums and if I have no variations that's what I walk through the door paying.

I expect they'll do the same thing, I gave them a $325k budget they said "Yeah, shouldn't be a problem" but I fully expect the quote to come back at about $360 as well.

Thanks for the idea though.

Cheers - N

Good thought out design is one of the most important things with a house, and it is often overlooked. So I would be worried about a house that was designed for just 3k. Sounds like it will just be an extruded plan with a hipped roof plonked on top. Many people get their builders to design the house, and it shows, as builders aren't usually qualified designers.

You're right. I'm under no illusion that this won't be a landmark architectural work of art. It's a modern, warm box for me to live in that has a huge garage for toys. I'm keeping the budget way down so I don't have to sell my current house and I can rent that out.

Next time I might do something interesting :-)

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

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