Denali Demo and Rebuild

[blackcat20]

Example below, theres not a builder in this country that can build you a house for under $300K but people get taken in. Sales rep is "we'll include a $20K allowance for site costs" ect but you have no idea how much its really going to cost. Our site costs were $60K not including all the double glazing, insulation upgrades that we had included in our tender price.



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Ours was only a smidge over $300k to build, with all the upgrades. Our site costs were under $20k. Of course, prices have gone up very quickly since then.

 

[Denali]

Ours was only a smidge over $300k to build, with all the upgrades. Our site costs were under $20k. Of course, prices have gone up very quickly since then.

Todays market, its $2000-$2700 per mtr on average. Ours was $2750 inc solar and upgrades but not inc driveway

 

[Pushka]

Todays market, its $2000-$2700 per mtr on average. Ours was $2750 inc solar and upgrades but not inc driveway

There's a two story place being built opposite us at Port Broughton (north of Adelaide) and the cost is 1.3 million. The family group who pretty much own the seafood industry on Yorke Peninsula try to out build each other. He loves golf. There is a golf simulator room. We have bets on when it will be finished. Based on your experience I've predicted April next year. Husband at end of year. This was the build that required the electricity pole to be relocated

 

[Denali]

Construction Manager on site today. He said their tradie will be here tomorrow and Monday and after that he will take us through the house for any outstanding items for the 90 day warranty list. Then he will give us a practical completion inspection date so I can arrange my inspector to do his thing.

We also had our plantation shutter final check and measure come in and the guy was here twice as long as the measure, asking questions about our house and looking around . Hes impressed with our garage size, the rear stacker doors/alfresco/deck area, the solar batteries and the smart toilet (which he asked to use)

We were talking to him about the blue tape thats up and how some places we dont know why its there and we're going to take the blue tape off our SS. Window guy was impressed that our builder is doing so much taping.

So feeling hopeful.... so I celebrated with more shopping!

Today was a new knife set, some pantry storage items, induction stovetop protection thingies and Im sure a few more things but Ive blacked it out so it'll be a surprise when it shows up

 

[Denali]

The portaloo cleaning man has a plan.

Him: Where is your Prince today? (Mr Denali)
Me: Hes at the Chriopractor
Him: *confused look*
Me: The back doctor (and I wave and I go inside)

Then I go back outside
Him: Your neighbour building a beautiful home, I hope next year I can buy a home.
Me: Thats our house we're building, we're living here (points to MILs house) while we're building that (points)
Him: So your husband has been admitted? (as in a hospital?)
Me: No, he'll be back in an hour, its just a check up
Him: Im hoping to find a partner as well so I can buy a new home and stop paying rent

followed by idle chat until I can go back inside.

I told Mr Denali that the portaloo man was scoping out his chances of an easy inheritance

Mr Denali

 

[prozac]

The portaloo cleaning man has a plan.

Him: Where is your Prince today? (Mr Denali)
Me: Hes at the Chriopractor
Him: *confused look*
Me: The back doctor (and I wave and I go inside)

Then I go back outside
Him: Your neighbour building a beautiful home, I hope next year I can buy a home.
Me: Thats our house we're building, we're living here (points to MILs house) while we're building that (points)
Him: So your husband has been admitted? (as in a hospital?)
Me: No, he'll be back in an hour, its just a check up
Him: Im hoping to find a partner as well so I can buy a new home and stop paying rent

followed by idle chat until I can go back inside.

I told Mr Denali that the portaloo man was scoping out his chances of an easy inheritance

Mr Denali

Sounds like a catch.

 

[Denali]

Sounds like a catch.

He has a steady job..... which is more than I can say about Mr Denali since 2015

 

[Denali]

Landscaping quote received today...... $202K

And its not fancy or ornate. I feel I dont need $10K in custom laser cut screens when I can get 10 x $100 Stratco ones.

I said to Mr Denali, landscaper can do the hardscape (driveway, retraining walls, ag pipes and deck) and we bit part out the rest.

Plus Im not paying $18K for garden soil, bark and plantings. I'll get an airtasker to dig a hole and stick the plants we bought over a year ago in and soil and bark is practically free for me via work contacts.

Mr Denali is not in a happy place so Im giving him space right now

 

[Pushka]

Landscaping quote received today...... $202K

And its not fancy or ornate. I feel I dont need $10K in custom laser cut screens when I can get 10 x $100 Stratco ones.

I said to Mr Denali, landscaper can do the hardscape (driveway, retraining walls, ag pipes and deck) and we bit part out the rest.

Plus Im not paying $18K for garden soil, bark and plantings. I'll get an airtasker to dig a hole and stick the plants we bought over a year ago in and soil and bark is practically free for me via work contacts.

Mr Denali is not in a happy place so Im giving him space right now

That is INSANE! Retaining walls can be expensive if they are a certain height. So those shows, eg Selling Houses Australia, must spend gazillions on their garden makeovers. Are Gardens the new Wedding price-surge victims?

 

[Denali]

Still in shock, I knew concrete and decking would cost a lot but some of this is nuts. Will be getting alternative quotes but I trying to get Mr Denali to understand we can focus on concrete/retaining walls first, then deck

Excavation $16K
Concrete $39k
Decking $44k
Retaining walls $33K
Soil and planting $20K
Sliding gate (dont remember asking for this) $21K
Decorative screening $11K (I was happy with Stratco screening)
Pool fence $10K
Prov electrical & Plumbing $8

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Still in shock, I knew concrete and decking would cost a lot but some of this is nuts. Will be getting alternative quotes but I trying to get Mr Denali to understand we can focus on concrete/retaining walls first, then deck

Excavation $16K
Concrete $39k
Decking $44k
Retaining walls $33K
Soil and planting $20K
Sliding gate (dont remember asking for this) $21K
Decorative screening $11K (I was happy with Stratco screening)
Pool fence $10K
Prov electrical & Plumbing $8

Costs, including labour, have gone through the roof lately. Hearing the same from a number of people, plus the quotes I've received for apartment renovations (although a big job, including structural wall removal) are universally high.

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

Pool fence you can get second hand from marketplace or similar for a fraction of the price or Bunnings.

 

[Denali]

Today was a walk through with construction manager N who pointed out a few (majority cosmetic) issues and gave us April 19th as our tentative PCI date so fingers crossed they will meet this date. I appreciate the many hours/couple of days given to inspecting our build with a "if this was my house" attitude and had to laugh when inspector M questioned my bad taste in selecting a black power point on the island bench (which will be changed after hand over).

On the plus side, liquidation damages are in our favour and accumulating daily .

Some of the items are like a power point, tap or tile is 5-10mm not aligned or tile trim not finished correctly or fix painting or grout finishes. Overall not concerning but we will be eagerly watching next week for tradies return and the clock is ticking for April 19th.

 

[RooFlyer]

Some of the items are like a power point, tap or tile is 5-10mm not aligned or tile trim not finished correctly or fix painting or grout finishes. Overall not concerning but we will be eagerly watching next week for tradies return and the clock is ticking for April 19th.

Do you get given the opportunity to sign off a particular 'defect' and accept as is? Or would you never do that, as you are collecting damages and don't need to move in ASAP?

 

[Denali]

Do you get given the opportunity to sign off a particular 'defect' and accept as is? Or would you never do that, as you are collecting damages and don't need to move in ASAP?

I would say yes, as long as the builder has proof that we accept it. I emailed them about a couple of items during the build that we accepted, like the pantry shelf issue, to save total rip out/redo.

The plan is to let them do these works then I get a PCI date (Apr 19th fingers crossed) and my own private inspector goes in. Some things can go on the 90 day warranty list but the builder said yesterday they prefer to get things fixed before we move in so they dont have to come back, especially if its paint or tile related.

 

[Quickstatus]

I reckon @Denali is the Site Supervisor...

 

[Denali]

Yesterday we had plumbers return to remove the ensuite taps from the wall as they are 5-10mm out of alignment so I think the tilers have to come redo tile/cut so tapware re-installed. They also did mysterious storm water grate stuff but didnt complete the drain under our outdoor shower yet.

So good to know and will be looking for more tradies on Tues.

 

[Denali]

We've been handed over from Site Supervisor to Construction Manager and still aiming for April 19th for PCI. Once we hit PCI, I have my inspector come in and hopefully by that point he'll only find small things, if any.... then its hand over.

Only issue is we have city hotel bookings for April 22nd, 23rd & 24th so lets keep our fingers crossed for April 26th!

Today we had plaster people in to do something and Im told 7am site meeting on Friday with tiler.

 

[Denali]

Busy week and we've had painters, tilers, electrician, aircon and now, at 6pm, we have cleaners

Tomorrow (Friday) is 8am walk through with the Const manager and Monday will be our private inspector Practical Completion Inspection

Fingers crossed only min issues found

 

[Denali]

Oh and I know our situation isnt the norm but the cleaners didnt know the code to unlock the gate lock and didnt have a key to go inside.

We, being noisey and pushy, well me being pushy, have the code and key.

Wonder what would have happened if we werent here? Being from an industrious nation of smaller sized people who aren't afraid of obstacles, would they have scaled the gates and slipped through a window somehow?

Edit: Or we are currently being robbed