Putting Our Stamp on The Nolan

Today we've met with our SC at the Underwood display homes to see which features we would like to include in our Nolan. Obviously the displays have all the upgrades and finishes to the "live the dream standard" so it is very easy to get carried away as they make their houses look incredible. Do not assume that just because it is in the display home that it is automatically included in your house as most of it will not been unless you request it and are willing to pay the premium. We have decided at this stage to take an "if we like it it's on the wish list approach" so at least we can get it costed at the preliminary contract and then change to something not so flash and smiko (our term for top of the range) if the prices were getting really silly.

So far we have added:

steel frame ($3,500 extra as part of the Neo Dusk promo)

timber and glass sliders/cavity sliders to both study and en suite

reconfigured the powder room to have the door at it's entrance

changed part triple garage to work shop and gym area with a window instead of garage door

added a massive island bench in kitchen

upgrade bifold door to extra high and added another onto grand outdoor room

cedar cladding to outdoor room roof

picture windows from dinning area

reconfigured bathroom to remove interconnecting doors from bedrooms
reconfigured bathroom layout added extra vanity basin and larger bath
larger bath in en suite
air conditioning
provision for $10K of electricals
reconfigure the laundry
extra cupboards and shelves in both kitchen and butlers pantry
flush tile drains
recess shelves in showers
chrome wastes in sinks
render to the portico area
mirrored sliders to wardrobe doors
and the list goes on

We felt it was better to make as many of our additions at the stage to get a more realistic costing to work from rather than keep adding things as we went as we didn't want to receive a nasty surprise and blow the budget out beyond control. This was a slight mistake we made on the renovations we did for the business and it is very easy to get over the top when you see something gorgeous at the display or on the net and whamo you've spent another $20-30K before you know it. Thankfully with the Neo Dusk promo we get some really nice finishes and options thrown in already.

The visit took about 2 hours and our SC was great at giving suggestions and letting us know what options were available, he even explained that we would only get basic electrical fittings and to factor extra in the budget, that it may be cheaper to get a concreter to do our driveway rather than M (Metricon), that render as shown in the brochure is not standard, that there are differing ranges and upgrades to be aware of which will affect the price and which things are included as part of our build and those that are not.

Left feeling happy with the changes and additions and that we had been able to put our own stamp on the Nolan. And as our SC says "you can have want ever you want with in reason as long as you have the money to pay for it!".  With that comment ringing in our ears we can't wait to see how much we have pushed the price up over the basic house fee.

Guess we'll find out in a few weeks once the prelim contract has been drawn up and then we'll be most likely crossing things off and lowering our expectations.