Pre-Build Timeline & Progress Payments

Here's a rough idea of how long the overall build process for a double storey is likely to take and when Metricon will want some of your hard earned cash.

• So you've decided to go ahead with your build pay $1500 deposit then wait around 10 weeks while they do soil and site tests
• Prelim Contract pay another $1000
• 4 weeks to Final Contract (FC)
• Minimum 10-12 weeks until Site Start
• At this stage you should get a commitment from M as to how long they expect build to take - anywhere between 20-26 weeks or more

Progress Payments

• FC 5%
• Base Stage 10%
• Frame Stage 15%
• Enclosed Stage 35%
• Fixing Stage 20%
• Practical Completion 15%

Heathwood Display

Another fact finding mission to the display houses at Heathwood near Forest Lake. The displays here show more of the standard finishes such as aluminium windows, basic cabinets, shower frames, doors and handles. Not much in the way of fancy CaeserStone, timber windows and flash upgrades but it's good to get an idea of the differences in quality and what you get for the money.
We have specifically come to look at the Newhaven as it has the timber, cantilever stairs which we have only seen n photos so far. When looking to invest $8k in something I want to give it a test drive first.

Entrance

The Newhaven has been done to a higher standard than the other 2 houses on site and has the exact carpet we have picked out, shoes off let's see how it feels. Soft and warm but not very plush, in fact it feels like walking on concrete. Oh how disappointing, craftly lift a corner of carpet up to check out which underlay they have used, it only has upgrade rubber 1 which we thought would be ok but after walking on that we will be investing in the best underlay we can afford.

The stairs look smart but I don't like them in the pale finish and now I'm concerned that the balaustrade in the leisure room may end up looking like a cage due to the stainless steel bars. Must see if I can find photos of that to put my mind at ease.



Master suite wall with niche





Rendered portico - like the colour?







Stairs and stair lights

Recessed shower shelf



Colours and Laminate Samples

Back to Studio M to go through more colour selections, will have to pluck up courage to face all those laminate samples again today. Best to start in the Tile Studio I think.

Tile Studio
There are 13 colours to choose from in the standard range, both the floor and wall tiles look more than suitable, we'll be able to create a fantastic look with those. We considered upgrading for a split second until we found out it would cost $50-$150 per sq meter to do so. Gulp!
Tile consultant explains most people choose their cabinet and paint colours first then do the tiles around that so there is no more putting it off laminex samples here we come.

Studio M
It's nice a quiet when we arrive so the atmosphere is much more relaxed and we can take our time to confirm our choices, make our way around each section and ask questions when confusion sets in. So this is what makes the list today:

• Gutters, fascias and downpipes - Monument (colorbond)
• Garage colorbond Dune
• Cladding not sure if we can choose a style but will want to paint it similar colour to Dune
• Carpet - sisal. Have 3 colours we like a lot will need help deciding. Will upgrade underlay to rubber not sure which grade
• Confirm happy with promo taps, door handles
• Wall hung vanities continue to look gorgeous and Sandy just "simply must have them"

How we choose cabinet colours - one goes off and picks all the laminex and bench top samples they like whilst the other sits and watches DVD's with the kids then we swap, if we have both picked the same sample it makes the top 10 and those that are single picks are left to be defended, justified and campaigned for once we get home after hitting the beach. Pretty simple eh?

Cabinet and Paint Colour Contenders

Fine Tune Prelim Contract

Popped in to the display homes at Underwood for another look seeing as Austral bricks is only a few minutes drive away and were surprised to see our SC Greg there on his day off, apparently he had swapped shifts. He suggested that if we waited an hour we could go through and make amendments to the prelim today rather than Sat morning as scheduled. No problem saves us another trip so I'm off to relax by the pool while Sandy goes and takes some measurements and more photos.

Amendments:
Upgrade doors on butler's pantry and powder room to 2340mm and change to timber with translucent glass
Provide eave over front of garage door and gym area
Remove laminate finish to bulkhead above overhead kitchen cupboards as we have changed our minds after looking at the kitchens this morning
Alter fridge opening to 1000mm and provide plasterboard bulkhead over
Fly screens to all openable windows and sliding doors. Approx $45 a window - good price.
Get a quote on 2kw solar system

This appointment took about 90 minutes as there are a lot of points to cover but it is worth it to make sure you get what you ask for. Once the plans go to final contract you will have to pay to have the plans redrawn if you make any structural changes so it makes sense to spend the time and effort getting right. However, there is no fee if you want to change cabinetry layout or design after this stage.
Didn't sign off on the prelim today as want to go to Studio M, Tile studio and the Heathwood display houses this weekend so felt it best to wait in case we get tempted to add, alter or remove more things.

See you next week Greg - hope we're not turning in to the Nolan build from hell.

Austral Bricks

Off for another family day trip to look at bricks and yes it's another sweltering hot, humid day thanks to cyclone Yasi pushing hot air from the north, odd that there is no breeze.
Have heard that the top upgrade clay bricks from Boral may have issues with lime leakage and Metricon will not be responsible for any inconsistencies. Worried about paying an extra $4,500 for smart bricks that may not meet expectations so want to check out Austral. The Austral display is only a few minutes from the display homes at Underwood so will pop in there after for another look.
I much prefer the Austral display it is really well laid out and has a couple of shaded areas to take refuge whilst making your choices.
Not impressed with the standard range brick it is just not contemporary enough for our taste, however the metropolis range is rather nice with a great choice of colours. It scores bonus points as it is only a category 2 upgrade (less than the Boral one we had opted for).
Headed in doors to ask a few questions, collect more colour samples and get out of the heat. The lady at the desk said if we waited the colour consultant would be here in a few minutes if we'd like a chat. Never ones to turn down free advice we said that'd be great.
Colour consultant gave us some great advice and several options which were very helpful and even gave us a free sample brick.
Just calculating how many times we would need to come back before we had enough free bricks to do the build?!

Metropolis in Stone

Crossover Application

Sandy has been in to council today to ask if we can get a relaxation to have a double crossover and driveway as the front 10m of our land has a council native vegetation convenant on it. The provisional land plans show provision for a single drive at the far right edge of the block which will make it tricky to get in to the garage unless we set the house back even further and loose half the backyard. Cost $64 to lodge the application and someone from the council will ring us soon to organise a site meeting.
The land is still not registered at this stage as there have been delays due to the floods which is understandable.

We have a new CSC

Received a letter today advising us we have a new CSC (Customer Service Consultant). Seeing we had never even spoken to the original one it can't be something we said. Hope this isn't a sign of things to come and that this one lasts more than 2 months.