New Build?
- Thread starter redwing
- Start date
I'm presuming the list is pretty much the same nowadays, though there would be a number of new companies climbing the list?
I couldn't find an update of the top WA builders beyond this piece though?
Source
We dropped into a display village the other day and really liked the Ventura, Dale Alcock, Gemmil & Blueprint homes, we'll be going back soon to view the rest
I couldn't find an update of the top WA builders beyond this piece though?
Source
We dropped into a display village the other day and really liked the Ventura, Dale Alcock, Gemmil & Blueprint homes, we'll be going back soon to view the rest
Long way from where Dave (work?) or the CBD
Some builders appear cheaper but have less inclusions eg, single power points. When you increase to double the price goes up heaps. I think it would be best to chose a builder whose design you like, where you don't need to make any changes. Celebration homes has an e-newsletter, and they send out special offers every so often. I've known a couple of people who have built through them and been really happy with end result.
I work in Burswood/Vic Park area... the house im building is in Forrestfield. Got my pre-start appointment to choose all the colours and crap in a couple of weeks.
Forrestfield's not too bad if you disregard the bushfires, home invasions etc 
You do get great views of the water bombers and helitankers though
Actually, we know a few people out Forrestfield & High Wycome Way and they love it out there
There seems to be a number of new subdivisions out that way?
You do get great views of the water bombers and helitankers though
Actually, we know a few people out Forrestfield & High Wycome Way and they love it out there
There seems to be a number of new subdivisions out that way?
We've heard good things about Celebration for a stock standard investment property also
Forrestfield's not too bad if you disregard the bushfires, home invasions etc
You do get great views of the water bombers and helitankers though
Actually, we know a few people out Forrestfield & High Wycome Way and they love it out there
There seems to be a number of new subdivisions out that way?
Yeah is, i bought a block through this mob http://landwa.com.au/estates.html
172K isn't too bad
Also Sweet Home 3D
And I love those 3D Images as my brain can't fathom a floorplan...however, drawing/sketching etc comes easy to me; does that make me right sided or left sided?
Hope you find these handy
Redwing, just found this thread. Some great tools you have linked too. Thanks a lot.
I recently completed my first home build in the outer suburbs of Perth and won't be building again for a while and probably not in W.A for numerous reasons. That aside, some things to watch out for are listed below.
The land sales people are just that "sales". There objective is to make a sale and it's not their problem once that transaction has taken place. Doing business with some kind of integrity unfortunately doesn't exist and I was foolish to think otherwise. Never trust a vendor/ salesperson is something that I will remember moving forward.
Some things you have to watch out for are;
Reduced front setback option. Eg 6 to 4.5 metres
This may be available in the estate/development but be aware that you will be charged for this option. Something that the sales people don't mention.
Easements
When I was looking for land, this was an important factor as it limits what can be built on your land.
Minimum setback requirements (R codes)
This also limits what you can build on your land. The R codes has all the information relating to setback requirements including overshadowing information.
Estate restrictive covenants
In the modern estate there exists multiple restrictive covenants which can include but not limited to;
Facade- Colours, Material used, colour ratio (has to be a feature etc)
Roof pitch/Colour- Some require a minimum roof pitch and the use of a specified palette for the roof colour
Commercial vehicles-
Restrictions of commercial vehicle parking on the premises. Includes utes / trucks etc
Garden design-
Restriction on garden design (turf to garden ratio) Minimum # of native plants etc
Driveway / Crossover materials-
Limitations on the type of materials used and colours used. Eg no natural concrete.
Advertising-
No advertising of home business or roller shutter companies etc
Car parking spaces-
No carports unless it has a door on the front.
Rubbish bins/ displaying of clothes etc
No rubbish bins and clothing items to be in view of the public and must be behind screens/ gates.
Telstra packages;
Some estates have deals with Telstra that excludes any competition for internet access. They prevent you from having an external aerial unless it's away from public viewing or in the roof cavity. Satellite dishes require written permission from the estate before installation.
Solar HWS, Evap A/C-
Colour of unit shall complement the roof colour
Rain water tank-
Some estates require rain water tank installation, some are provided by the estate but you have to pay for the tank footing, GPO and plumbing to the toilet/ laundry.
Landscape packages-
Minimal information given and quite restrictive with what you can have. Boundary fencing and side return fencing/ gate required to be installed before the company will provide the "package". 90% of the work you have to carry out (preparation) and they just slap some plants in and roll out turf.
Building itself;
Watch out for the "standard builders specification" excuse. Watch out for GPO heights and the finish of the solid plaster. "That's painters prep" excuse gets thrown around quite loosely. Not too bad if you're not the painter......
The small things catch you out in the end. You engage the professionals hoping that they can work with you and provide some type of guidance, in my experience this approach failed on many levels with myself pointing out multiple mistakes (poor workmanship incorrect paperwork etc) In the end it was easier for me to just deal with the work and rectify it myself once handed over. I learnt many lessons during the building process and will be better armed in the future.
The land sales people are just that "sales". There objective is to make a sale and it's not their problem once that transaction has taken place. Doing business with some kind of integrity unfortunately doesn't exist and I was foolish to think otherwise. Never trust a vendor/ salesperson is something that I will remember moving forward.
Some things you have to watch out for are;
Reduced front setback option. Eg 6 to 4.5 metres
This may be available in the estate/development but be aware that you will be charged for this option. Something that the sales people don't mention.
Easements
When I was looking for land, this was an important factor as it limits what can be built on your land.
Minimum setback requirements (R codes)
This also limits what you can build on your land. The R codes has all the information relating to setback requirements including overshadowing information.
Estate restrictive covenants
In the modern estate there exists multiple restrictive covenants which can include but not limited to;
Facade- Colours, Material used, colour ratio (has to be a feature etc)
Roof pitch/Colour- Some require a minimum roof pitch and the use of a specified palette for the roof colour
Commercial vehicles-
Restrictions of commercial vehicle parking on the premises. Includes utes / trucks etc
Garden design-
Restriction on garden design (turf to garden ratio) Minimum # of native plants etc
Driveway / Crossover materials-
Limitations on the type of materials used and colours used. Eg no natural concrete.
Advertising-
No advertising of home business or roller shutter companies etc
Car parking spaces-
No carports unless it has a door on the front.
Rubbish bins/ displaying of clothes etc
No rubbish bins and clothing items to be in view of the public and must be behind screens/ gates.
Telstra packages;
Some estates have deals with Telstra that excludes any competition for internet access. They prevent you from having an external aerial unless it's away from public viewing or in the roof cavity. Satellite dishes require written permission from the estate before installation.
Solar HWS, Evap A/C-
Colour of unit shall complement the roof colour
Rain water tank-
Some estates require rain water tank installation, some are provided by the estate but you have to pay for the tank footing, GPO and plumbing to the toilet/ laundry.
Landscape packages-
Minimal information given and quite restrictive with what you can have. Boundary fencing and side return fencing/ gate required to be installed before the company will provide the "package". 90% of the work you have to carry out (preparation) and they just slap some plants in and roll out turf.
Building itself;
Watch out for the "standard builders specification" excuse. Watch out for GPO heights and the finish of the solid plaster. "That's painters prep" excuse gets thrown around quite loosely. Not too bad if you're not the painter......
The small things catch you out in the end. You engage the professionals hoping that they can work with you and provide some type of guidance, in my experience this approach failed on many levels with myself pointing out multiple mistakes (poor workmanship incorrect paperwork etc) In the end it was easier for me to just deal with the work and rectify it myself once handed over. I learnt many lessons during the building process and will be better armed in the future.
Visit these places a fewyears in and see who's sticking to the rules, or who's even interested in enforcing them
Another one is Private Estates (i.e. no Homeswest)
Sales & Marketing....
I built in the Glades estate in Byford W.A through the Summit group.
Redwing is correct 100% with regards to sticking to the rules & enforcing them. We stuck by the rules all the way through the build but unfortunately there seems to be way too many that do what they want. Over time the standard that was created by the estate gradually erodes and the area ages faster than it should in turn having a negative affect on property values. I can see the estates point with what they are trying to achieve but unless it's enforced it pretty much not worth the paper it's written on.
A good example is crossovers. They are to constructed of either paving or decorative cement. There are numerous properties that have gravel. As you could imagine, this looks cheap and the gravel ends up all over the road. The thing that upsets me the most is I used up a fair chunk of my paving allowance ensuring that the crossover was paved as per the estate rules.
Blinds are another one. Cheap temporary curtains aren't that hard to find especially on the street facing windows. Some houses use newspaper and tin foil an as you can imagine, it looks rather average to say the least.
No Homeswest housing was one deciding factor when choosing an estate. At the time of choosing land, there were 5 estates in the area. From memory most of them had a Homewest housing component, something which I want to stay clear of if possible.
Redwing is correct 100% with regards to sticking to the rules & enforcing them. We stuck by the rules all the way through the build but unfortunately there seems to be way too many that do what they want. Over time the standard that was created by the estate gradually erodes and the area ages faster than it should in turn having a negative affect on property values. I can see the estates point with what they are trying to achieve but unless it's enforced it pretty much not worth the paper it's written on.
A good example is crossovers. They are to constructed of either paving or decorative cement. There are numerous properties that have gravel. As you could imagine, this looks cheap and the gravel ends up all over the road. The thing that upsets me the most is I used up a fair chunk of my paving allowance ensuring that the crossover was paved as per the estate rules.
Blinds are another one. Cheap temporary curtains aren't that hard to find especially on the street facing windows. Some houses use newspaper and tin foil an as you can imagine, it looks rather average to say the least.
No Homeswest housing was one deciding factor when choosing an estate. At the time of choosing land, there were 5 estates in the area. From memory most of them had a Homewest housing component, something which I want to stay clear of if possible.
Not always. We recently designed a home in Mt Claremont and ran the design past the planners during the design phase. They gave us the go-ahead via email.
We submit the plans for planning approval - REJECTED.
We send the emails the council sent us saying it would comply. Too bad. It's still rejected.
We then have to alter the plans accordingly.
