Land... nothing much!

This was the land estate early this month... there was nothing! I hope it gets somewhere real soon

The Upgrade Prices

When I’m reading everyone’s build blog, I always try to look for the upgrade prices. It’s useful for budgeting, and also save me some embarrassment of asking and not being able to afford it. I did say “it’s out of our budget” … a lot… :-|

I thought I will give you some indications for the upgrade cost. It will be different for each house plan and I did’t put the exact dollar in, just rounded number. I didn't choose most of the upgrades below. The below is general and old price, way before Boutique includes their base price on the website. Many of the items also need to be requested specifically for your house plan, e.g. double glazing cost really depends on the window size, bathroom/ ensuite tiling will depends on the size of the actual bathroom, etc.

UPGRADES

Ceiling height to 2700mm - $3600

Square set cornices - $1500

Electric

Refer to this post

Upgrade to 3 phase power - $1400

Room

Window to sliding door - $500 each (excluding double glazing)

Double glazing - expect about $500-$700 per window depending on size

Heating/ Cooling

Refrigerated cooling - $13000

Upgrade to 5 star ducted heating from 3 star - $1500

Facade

Modern, Viva and Metro - Standard

Contempo, Luxe and Vogue - $4500

Eden - $13,500

Roof

To metal roof - $1600

Cat 4 roof tiles - $2000

Brick

Cat 2 - $750

Cat 3 - $1100

Cat 5 - $4500

Cat 16 - $31000

Off white mortar - $800

Doors

Cavity sliding in lieu of standard - $300

Add a cavity sliding - $650

Upgrade door to Hume LIN1 - $650

Flooring

Main Flooring Cat 2 - $620

Main Flooring Cat 3 - $1,450

St Tropez 28 Display Floor Tiles - $5500

Laminate flooring cat 1 in lieu of carpet to master bed - $550

Laminate flooring cat 1 in lieu of carpet in hallway - $250

Ensuite Floor and Wall Cat 2 - $200

Ensuite Floor and Wall Cat 3 - $500

Bathroom Floor and Wall Cat 2 - $60

Bathroom Floor and Wall Cat 3 - $400

WC Floor Cat 2 - $20

WC Floor Cat 3 - $55

Laundry Floor and Wall Cat 2 - $80

Laundry Floor and Wall Cat 3 - $170

Caesarstone Benchtops

Cat 1 – Standard inclusions

Cat 2

• Kitchen - $250
• Bathroom - $30
• Ensuite - $60

Cat 3

• Kitchen - $700
• Bathroom - $80
• Ensuite - $180

Cat 4 – I didn’t ask

Shelves

Melamine Matt Shelves - Standard

Kitchen Sheen - $350

Kitchen Gloss - $900

Bathroom Sheen - $60

Bathroom Gloss - $200

Ensuite Sheen - $120

Ensuite Gloss - $500

Tapwares (some of these are not available in showroom – I requested pricing for some specific items)

• Caroma Luna W/F Toilet - $790
• Stylus Dorado W/F toilet - $500
• Stylus Banksia W/F toilet - $250
• Caroma Track Inset Basin - $190
• Caroma Orbis inset Basin - $15
• Caroma Basa 520mm wide inset basins - $255
• Dorf Villa Basin Mixer - $120
• Dorf Viridian Wall Mixer - $110
• Dorf Viridian Basin Mixer - $20
• Caroma Quatro Basin Mixer - $80
• Caroma Leda Above Counter Basin in lieu of standard - $60
• Caroma Cube 320 - $200
• Caroma Liano 430 - $550
• Caroma Leda Inset Basin in lieu of standard - $100
• Cirrus Basin Mixer in lieu of standard - $125
• Mystic Rail Shower in lieu of standard - $100
• Cardinal Mixer in lieu of standard - $190
• Caroma Liano Swivel Bath Outlet in lieu of standard - $95
• Sink in Montauk Display home – Caroma Contura Inset Basin $545 http://www.caroma.com.au/bathrooms/basins/contura/contura-530-solid-surface-inset-basin

Ensuite

Tiled niche - $500

Timber Look Tiles (was cat 4 now cat 5, so the upgrade price would be more than the below)

• Ensuite Floor Only - $350
• Ensuite Wall Only - $420

Ensuite full wall tiling

• Cat 1 – $1100
• Cat 2 – $1400
• Cat 3 - $1650
• Cat 4 – $1900
• Cat 5 - didn't ask

Bathroom

Shower niche - $300

Full wall tiling

• Cat 1 – $1150
• Cat 2 – $1400
• Cat 3 - $1700
• Cat 4 – 1950

Kitchen

Glass splashback - $1000

Mirror splashback – was $1000 (when the Glass splashback was a standard)

RAVINE shelf (Evolution Range) upgrade base and overhead cabinetry - $1,500

THERMOLAMINATED shelf (Evolution Range) upgrade base and overhead cabinetry - $2,200

Bevel Edge Option in lieu of handles - $30 per drawer

Soft close to all doors and drawers - $1300

Colour Selections and Electrical Appointment

Start of the day

We woke up at 4am to catch the early flights. We arrived at 8.15am and I was feeling deflated after I found out Boutique Homes has change their pricing and their new base price (now listed on the website) is approx. +$10K less than our current one. That, and the fact that new customers get another $8,000 worth of bonus - either a luxury kitchen pack or higher ceiling (I WANTED THIS!). 

The colour appointment started with lengthy conversation on what have changed in the new plan, and why we are paying a LOT more when we signed up earlier. Some of the changes:

• 6 star energy rating - only for BEST orientation (old version include ALL orientation). This look like a small details if you have North facing block, but could be an unknown cost if you have the most inefficient house plan. Double glazing is expensive and from memory, they will add approx. $1200 provisions for this in the new plan.
• Bushfire provisions - this will increase by approx. $2000 (old plan at $5490) fly screen was no longer a standard inclusion.
• Fly screen - no longer standard. You will need to add this yourself - from what I read in forum, will cost about $1000 for standard nylon mesh
• Insulation - they downgrade the insulation quality (thought I didn't see the difference in writing). It will affect the 6 star rating assessment
• Dishwasher and Microwave no longer included - if I exclude these from the old plan, it's about $900 back. Or if downgrade to Westinghouse, approx. $600 back
• Glass splashback no longer standard inclusions, only tiles - if I exclude this from old plan, it's approx. $1000 back.
• Tiles are no longer included for main area - not a big issue for those who choose laminate options
• Standard laminate flooring - reduced to 3 options (was about 10 choices - the Rustic range and Nordic range)
• Standard carpet choices - reduced to about 5 (was about 9 choices)
• Standard cat 1 tiles are reduced - most tiles in cat 3 are now in cat 4, cat 4 in cat 5 etc
• Garage - The wood colour (Caoba and Cedar) are no longer standard
• Bathroom are now framed on pivot doors (they're ugly) - cost about $500 to make it frameless on pivot
• ILVE appliances - now the lowest of the ILVE range. It used to be the highest of the range. This is no big deal unless you're a big cook. you can also choose to downgrade to Westinghouse
• Internal door - reduced to 2040 (was 2340mm high) - again no big deal

We have decided to stay with our current PwC due to the unknown cost for 6 star energy rating. Still not sure if all of these worth +$10K but I reckon I can shave cost on selection if need be.

Colour Selection

Our current choices - not the best pics as I forgot my camera :-\
Tapwares selection is covered in the previous post :)

The full selection

Pompeii for coloured concrete driveway

Hakea door handles - matt silver for internal, gloss for entrace

Kitchen handles - the largest one (1534223) bathroom is the smaller one (1534217)

External selection
Roof - Gunmetal
Gutter - Basal to match the roof
Downpipe - Off white to hide it
Front door - Off white
Window frame - Silver
Brick - Praline (Cat 3)
Render - Flooded Gum
Garage - Caoba Mediterranian Profile

Laminate flooring - the lighter colour (Rustic Stone) - this is no longer Standard in the new pricing
Can only find the UK website for listing of the Bolero laminates https://www.woodfloorsbrighton.co.uk/product/bolero-rustic-stone/

Kitchen selection
Top cabinet - Grey sheen
Bottom cabinet - Polar white sheen
Benchtop - Alpine Mist

Ensuite tiles - Category 2 Tiles - Full Tile option
Wall tiles - Dolomite Sand 300x600
Floor tiles (this will go up to one wall) - Dolomite Ash 300x600

Bathroom tiles - Category 3 Tile - Full tile options
Grey Matt Porcelain 300 x 600
It's category 4 on new pricing (but still category 3 for my option)

Stylus Banksia Upgrade

Cosmo 900mm double rail (600mm for bathroom as 900mm won't fit)

My carpet selection is the very left one. The grey one on the right no longer standard in new pricing.

Gunmetal roof (middle)

Laminate Floor options - no longer standard in new pricing.

Cat 2 tiles - Dolomite range

Ensuite colour - the very bottom one

Ensuite rail - Matt Silver (middle)

Carrara Bianco for kitchen splashback - matching the marblish benchtop

Ensuite and Bathroom vanity - Polytec Cherry Matt and Caesarstone Frosty Carrina

Example of wood looking tiles - I didn't choose this because it will look weird next to the laminate flooring

Electrical Appointment

The computer system were on maintenance, so we do this manually.

• Oranges - light battens - there's probably about 38 of them
• Blue - power points - need to count this
• Orange TB - 2 Fluorescent lights for garage
• Four Flood lights
• Yellow - Enforced battens
• Opted for surge protector
• Two weatherproof power points 

Polytec cabinet colour samples

Finally got some samples arrived on the mail :)

Ordered the maximum samples from Polytec, mainly on their lighter range colours - Oak and Walnut. 

Ravine Bleached Walnut

Ravine Soft Walnut

Marni Lini Matt

Washed Oak Matt

Not a good pic, but this is the few Matt Range. Very flat texture (i.e. no wood grains feel by touch)

Actually, I quite like Marni Lini Gloss

White Wood Matt

Marni Lini Gloss

Riga Salt Fine Grain - some texture

Ravine Drifted Oak - it has texture

Laminate - Ravine Bleached Walnut and Ravine Soft Walnut

Caesar stone samples from the mail. Can you guess the colour? ;)
Top left - Organic White
Top right - Alpine Mist
Bottom left - White shimmer
Bottom right - sleek concrete

Another Caesarstones samples
Top left - Dreamy Marvil
Top right - Bianco Drift
Bottom left - Frosty Carina
Bottom right - London Grey