Package Cost and Site Fees

The breakdown of the package price of $367,019 so we know what we get for the money:

• Nolan 45 Chateau               $325,780
• Site Works                           $11,075  (including Cut & Fill, Building Pad preparation, slab upgrade, concrete piering, retaining walls, storm water drains and surface drains, storm water rubble pit, etc)
• Rainwater Tank                   $6,355   (including all connections, pump, concrete slab, etc Mandatory)
• Additional Garage               $13,438
• Grand Outdoor Room          $6,425
• Butler’s Pantry                   $3,946
• Total                                  $367,019

Some times Metricon offer to do fixed price site costs as part of the deal which can prove to be good value if you think your site may throw up unexpected challenges. We opted not to go with this as the block of land is so flat we knew we wouldn't need much cut and fill and we had a relatively good idea what class the soil would be from having soil tests done recently in the next suburb for the business renovations.  Initially we were quoted nearly $14,000 site costs so you can see in our case we made the right choice as we saved $3000. Our original construction costs also included a driveway at $11,200 we decided not to include this as we already have half a drive pre-prepared so can most likely get it done for half this price after the build is complete.

Amended Floor Plans



These are the preliminary floor plans for "The Rachel and Sandy Nolan" as interpreted by the draughtsman, not quite what we sketched but close. Phew it's a big house isn't it? There are a few modifications not shown here they will be drawn up when the final contract is prepared.

• The gym has been made smaller to give us a storage/workshop area
• The powder room door is to be relocated to the entry and the room has been reconfigured as it had a linen cupboard in it which we have taken out creating an alcove in the sitting room. Wall near WC has been shortened/removed
• Laundry has been reconfigured but they have the sink and washing machine in wrong place
• We have added another picture window so there is one on both sides of the dining room

Upstairs is basically as it comes off the plan other than the bathroom, we have removed the interconnecting doors to the bedrooms, moved the bath, shower and vanity area then added a second basin.



Still waiting for a quote on solar and a break down of what the site fees are. 

 

Note the plan diagrams have been removed at the request of Metricon

Our Block of Land

Our bit of dirt before building starts

This is our 1000sqm of land, it actually extends past the tree to the left of shot but I couldn't fit it all in on this snap.
Oddly enough no matter where we have lived we seem to have gotten a power pole out front. We don't mind too much though as this one also doubles up as a street light which always makes us feel more secure.
Due to a vegetation covenant council insists the house must be set back a minimum of 10m not the normal 6m from the front boundary and that the 10m wide strip must be planted with natives. We are not the most avid of gardeners and find it almost impossible to distinguish between a plant and a weed yet alone what is a native plant or not.
Can't wait to see our little Metricon board go up like on one of the other blocks. I wonder which house they have choosen?

North Lakes Display



Kitchen and Butler's Pantry

 I think we are becoming obsessed with houses as we couldn't help but pop in to the new Metricon display at North Lakes on the way home from visiting family on the Sunshine Coast. There are 2 single storey homes including a Belize, a double (sorry can't remember which one) and another double a Franklin to be completed in March. This display is gorgeous the homes are beautifully presented with the most amazing furniture thanks to those clever interior designers and feature all those wonderful upgrades which sell the dream so perfectly.

Sandy and I used this opportunity to get a detailed look at the lighting, checking out configurations and seeing where it looks too dark, the walk in robe areas seem to suffer from a lack of light so I think we'll be opting for an extra fitting or two to compensate.




Powder Room



Landscaping

The sales staff were marginally more helpful than our last visit but have a total lack of interest once they either find out you have not bought a block of land yet, you are not after a house and land package nor are you wanting to build at North Lakes. Cynically we figure it's because there is no commission in it for them so why waste their time when there is so much fresh meat ready to buy and to upgrade to anything because they have fallen in love. At least I scored a new brochure today, the old one is only holding together by shear will power and much sticky tape after being thoroughly explore from cover to cover.



Family Room

Floor Tiles (definately an upgrade)



Prelim is Signed!

After triple checking the preliminary contract several times and agreeing everything we wanted was listed I noticed last night that the window in the reconfigured bathroom was ultra tiny and looked quite lost from the rear elevation. We have asked for it to be made larger and higher. Glad we caught that before the final contract as it could have cost us an extra $1500 in drafting and drawing fees. I knew there was a reason for waiting another week before signing off on it.

So with the fine tuning completed  and a flurry of initials we signed the papers and paid another $1000 - looks like we are building a house!!
It will take around 4 weeks for the final contract to be drawn up and then we will know what the spend is so far.

Couldn't help but go for a drive to admire our patch of dirt and grass afterwards, it's hard to imagine what it will look like in a few months time once the build is underway.

How Much?

We are working out our expected total build cost so have been researching how much our hard and soft landscaping is likely to be as we only have limited idea what to budget for. I can recommend going on forums (all though half the time it is people rabbiting on with little substance which I find annoying as I just want a simple answer!), getting quotes from tradies websites or finding out how much things cost per square meter and working it out from there. Obviously doing some things yourself like the prep work for the lawn can save you money as long as you have the know how to do it correctly.
This is what I have worked out so far:
Driveway $4-5k
Pavers and laying $10k. No idea what prep is needed yet or what that will cost so this figure is probably way out.
Fence $10k but should be able to get neighbours to pay their share.
Turf with top soil and laying approx $35/sqm. Looks like we'll need 400sqm.

We have a fairly large 1000m block and have taken a less than educated guess that to do the driveway, pavers, fence and lawns will cost up to $50k (gulp!). It will be interesting to see if we are anywhere near the mark when the time comes.

The House is Sold

At last we have a contract on the house! Our agent has had to work extremely hard against a falling market and nervous buyers. It is disappointing to have to accept an offer that is below what the house is worth but there are times when you have to face the fact that it is all people are willing to pay. Anyway on a more positive note settlement is due 6th April which is one week after we have to settle on the land so fingers crossed it all goes to plan. Then we can look forward to moving into a one bedroom studio apartment annexed to our business. Living over the shop in a space smaller than our current living room.......it's going to be fun!