November 2010 - Chose builder and Demolition Application

Most builder's designs accommodate for normal width blocks, while our blocks is 50 meters wide.
Therefore even we find a quite similar layout: Freshwater from GJG, there are still some changings and extended, but overall the shape is still the same. The builder accommodate layout changing in certain degree and allow us to supply certain items. So far I deals directly with the builder and not the sales team. This is an advantage since you will know exactly the changing is possible or not.

The builder did the contour survey on 29 November 2010 after we paid $2.2k deposit when preliminary contract signed. He didn't do the soil test at that time, as he said that it is better to do it after the old house is demolished.

There is an old double brick house at our block which gonna demolished and build new house at the same location. Therefore we submit demolition application on the 7 November 2010. The application was approved within 5 working days.
Beside an old house, there are big sheds at the block which we gonna kept them as working area and sheds.

Finally after several meetings, we have our first preliminary concept on 30 November 2010.
The total area including alfresco is 347 m2.
One level house with brick face, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrom, 2 cars garage and three meters ceiling, caesar stone to kitchen and wet areas except laundry and conventional concrete slab (not floating slab with styrofoam). We had tried to put as much as changes as possible in the contract to get better price deal, such as tiles to all floor except media with wooden floor, ducted air-con etc. But still most bathroom's accessories are basic one unless you are going to upgrade later. All about budget limit.
Signed and agreed with the drawing. The foundation allowed is for M type soil.

Time will tell whether our decision to build with other than metricon is right or wrong.
When you look for a modern house and such a beautiful display home, probably metricon is the right one, especially when it is your first project. But other element on this decision also is about trust and pricing. With this builder, the inclusion is mostly basic things,  to get the outlook like metricon display home and their promotion package, you need to make changings and probably ended up more expensive. Once again time will tell.....

Next step is looking for approval for development as our block is located in an Environment Protection Area.