Tender Meeting - List of questions and things to remember

I collated this list via much reading on Home One forum and from friends. Some things are repeated and simply not possible with PD but at least this list might help someone else thinking of building.

Site works and administration:

·         Want Copy of site survey & soil test. Check elevations.

·         Make sure contract reflects that the start date is the date that work commences onsite.

·         Check that contract only allows for rainy days being claimed before roofing is installed and only if there has been more than 5mm of rain.

·         Independent Inspector & PD response to correct issues found

·         Confirm setback from street 9m or can we apply for less? Current carport 4m, house 9m.

·         When will application be submitted to Glen Eira Council?

·         Start date issue

House:

·         Correct orientation of house, garage on correct side.

·         Upgrade carpet underlay, blue

·         Check location of windows is exactly where you want on final plan before signing off.

·         Check all windows are the same (awning) and from the same manufacturer so you don’t have two sets of keys

·         Check window position, are they in the center of the rooms

·         Think about location of water tanks,

·         Ensure insulation is installed correctly......... between floors. Sound battens 

·         Check extended eaves

·         Check double glazing for windows

·         Check location of manhole, in relation to ducted heating if it is too close to all the big ducts then you can’t access any other part of the roof space

·         "Whirly Bird" or other roof ventilator(s) .

Structural:

·         Be aware of the INTERNAL dimensions of your garage.

·         Insist on a three-coat paint job (1 * sealer, 2 * top coats) / Use a premium paint product for a longer-lasting finish WASH & WEAR

·         Install extra noggings / studs / trimmers for mounting heavy pictures, TV's, projectors, screens, curtain tracks/blinds/school bags / jackets / dog leads in laundry / hall / cupboards understairs/ hang on walls, pictures, televisions, speakers, coat hooks, clothes dryer, toilet paper, towel rails, in hall cloak room, future shelves need noggins/ ceiling fan electrical provision and nogging in bedrooms and outdoor entertaining area (alfresco / gazebo) 

·         Check position of power meterbox & which side

·         Check position of hot water, evaporative cooling, water tank, pool equipment, Will you be able move wheelbarrow past this section of house.

·         translucent (no see through) glass on the front door side panel.

·         Acoustic batt insulation - dense/heavier, between floors, all walls.

·         Termite Barriers are they included?

·         Retro Façade & FULL hebel to house (clarify if any areas not hebeled)

·         Façade tiling was quoted at $150/m is this correct. MAXFL1740 tile to pillar and render area on façade (?20sqm)

Doors

·         Check rail for flyscreen doors added to backdoors (A&L range)

·         Check theatre sliding door type. Cavity sliding door.

·         Door heights increase with higher ceilings and noted on contract (upstairs too)

·         Locks are keyed-alike so you don’t end up with multiple keys to lock up doors/windows.

·         Are door stops included and installed?

·         secure internal door from garage into house instead of light non lockable standard door

·         Rebating external sliding doors so that the door sill is flush with the concrete slab

·         Electrical/Lighting

·         Zoned lighting, controls for Shabbat, load spreading.

·         3 phase power pit organised

·         Install electrical conduit to provide 12 volt electricity for garden lighting

·         Install household surge protector at meter

·         Circuit for pool equipment

·         Digital TV Aerial

·         Front door, confirm window next to it on one or both sides of door.

·         Bulkheads for kitchen cabinet doors and wardrobes in bedroom

Plumbing:

·         Rain water tanks - plumbing for washing machine / laundry / toilets (auto flickover to Water supply), garden

·         Move laundry taps so easily accessible

·         Check downpipe locations

·         Waste points in floor in laundry, bathrooms. Check locations.

·         Check the location of your HWS, outdoor taps, Hot/cold shower outdoor, pool

·         HWS is seated on a concrete footing (or slab) rather than on top of the ground

·         Consider pre-laying the toilet vent PVC pipe in the wall cavity so is not visible other than outlet through roof

·         Make sure taps are placed at correct spots on drawings

·         Check location of downpipes

·         See my laundry layout designs re location of WM & Dryer. Extended bench, overhead cupboards,  

·         Location of outdoor taps

·         Check that venting from exhaust fans toilets and bathrooms & kitchen rangehood goes outside, not to roofs space.

Heating / Cooling:

·         Check the location of ceiling vents for heating and cooling in bedrooms so they aren’t directly above beds

·         Zoned heating & evap cooling

·         heating duct to laundry and ensuite upstairs

·         ability to set timers

Kitchen:

·         Check size of fridge area (Need greater than H178, W 91.5, D78)

·         Install fridge water tap inside kitchen cupboards next to it (check not a draw)

·         Rangehood encased in cupboards, streamlined look.

·         Rangehood vented outside

·         Check cupboard and bench top heights

·         Size of pot draws

·         Get adjustable shelves in kitchen cupboards for different sized items with additional holes for adjusting heights.

·         Depth of shelves in WIP & overhead shelves minimum 30cm deep.

·         Cupboards on island bench (bar stool side), also what is depth of gap under bench that side

·         Mitered edges, waterfall benches in kitchen

·         Kitchen island benchtop, check where joins will be placed. What max. cut? Confirm size.

·         Splashback join locations, whats max. length of cut?

·         Size of window in kitchen, largest possible in that splashback space. Centered.

·         Soft close handless draws

Bathroom:

·         Bathrooms to have floor to ceiling tiling

·         Check height of tiling behind toilets

·         Partially Frosted windows in bathrooms, cost?

·         Check which way shower doors open and stipulate door opening direction in contract for all doors (entry, pantry, wardrobes, shower, internal)

·         Upgrade shower screens to Grange Series Overlap semi frameless. Master ensuite shower single panel of glass. 

·         Check location of taps in shower

·         Vanitys, Do they have draws or cupboards.

·         Extraction fans vented to the outside

·         Towel rails and toilet roll holders

·         Bathroom mirror – how long it is, full length? Tiled behind it or plastered?

·         Sealing tiles - Polished porcelain tiles and natural stone products may need to be sealed.  

·         Ensuite sliding cavity door

·         Floor to ceiling tiles in all bathrooms; half wall tiles to powderrooms

·         Drainage waste points in floor of bathrooms.

·         Guest ensuite sliding door & WIR sliding door

·         How big is the window in the master bedroom ensuite? What is its height from ground?

·         Will the bath tap in the master bedroom ensuite come from which wall or have to be a floor mounted spout? 

·         If floor mounted tap I want to know what tap you use as standard.

·         Also in the master ensuite upstairs the location of the towel bar is a challenge, suggestions welcome.

·         Finally re the master ensuite, the size of shower is large. Instead of a stegbar shower screen we want a frame-less panel of glass be used as screen

·         All bathroom basins to be Caroma Pearl 545 Inset Basins (Reece code 9503584) with Dorf Pearl Basin Mixer Chrome (Reece code, 2205964). 

·         The upstairs toilet we need to discuss the size and location of the sink as this area may indent into the bathroom as we want a cupboard & sink. I would like the Caroma Pearl basin on a small wall hung cupboard, ie a small version of bathroom, big enough that i can put a soap dispenser on it & in single cupboard fit a spare toilet rolls etc. I have exact version sample photos if you need. If I can't do this then can I suggest the White Stone Hox Mini Basin (Reece code 9500530).

·         All baths to have MIZU push plug chrome.

·         Location of towel rails, toilet roll holders etc in bathrooms/toilets,

·         We want the MIZU drift toilet roll holders (but varies from left/right depending on toilet). the MIZU drift Single towel bar chrome we'd like but need to confirm length for each room based on where we can place them. Also the MIZU drift robe hook chrome wanted in couple of places. And the MIZU drift Towel Rack Chrome is wanted in the Guest bathroom downstairs above the bath.

·         Downstairs powder room, location of the sink and toilet need to be swapped. This would create a better flow to the room and makes it safer for less abled persons trying to access this room with frames etc. Also the indent into WIP can be removed as fridge not going there hence creating more space in WIP/toilet.

Bedroom:

·         Mirrored sliding wardrobe doors

·         window in boys room double horizontal window (see stegbar design or A&L )

·         windows check type opening, air ventilation issues,

·         manhole in area out of sight (WIR)

Laundry:

·         heating duct

·         Cavity Sliding entry door

·         Space for dyer on floor next to washing machine

·         Drainage waste hole in laundry floor in case washing machine floods

·         Overhead cupboards (see my plans)

·         Confirm what cabinetry included.

·         Dimensions of sink in prestige homes?

Living Areas:

·         Row of nogging to hang pictures

·         Sliding doors x2 to be recessed into floor so no step over; if not on slab pour do a cut into concrete.

·         Fireplace installed with natural stone mantel piece and floor piece. See my pics/plans

o   Heat & Glo 6000 TRSI-AUD (rear vented) unit

o   TRIM 3 black, bevelled

o   Set half in and half out. Therefore has to have stone mantle & base (as per display)

Alfresco / Patio

·         Check material used for ceiling roof in alfresco is for outdoors

Driveway/Garage:

·         height of garage door >1.9m

·         garage internal door, deadbolted

·         Check garage external hebel & internal plastering

Contract Meeting - List of Questions and things to remember

Here is my list of things for our Contract Meeting, will also add our Tender meeting questions as they are different.

Contract Meeting Questions/Reminders

·         Site survey & soil test.

·         Start date is the date that work commences onsite.

·         Check that contract only allows for rainy days being claimed before roofing is installed and only if there has been more than 5mm of rain.

·         Confirm how many days they are off for over xmas/ny period

·         Independent Inspector & PD response to correct issues found

·         Confirm setback from road & height of house within council guidelines

·         Glen Eira Council response to garage & set back.

·         Landscape plan do we need one? 

House:

·         Correct orientation of house, garage on correct side.

·         Windows are same (ALL awning)

·         Window position, are they ALL centered

·         Double glazing to ALL windows *** add glazing to windows not done by PD 6star rating

·         Insulation add thickest to everywhere possible not done by PD for 6* energy rating

·         Height to upper floor increased

·         Stairs – correct option 4 – with Carpet runner to stairs

·         Check façade tile code NT14-6000FL is 1/3 tile lay

Structural:

·         Confirm the alfresco/dinning roof as <25 pitch roof not 25deg, check how this effected upper bedroom windows & privacy screening needed on fence.

·         Kitchen window size needs correcting

·         Lounge window should be top opening Awning, same as others.

·         Check bedroom 3 & master bedroom windows correct size (MB 15*21, B3 15*15)

·         Check alfresco & dining depth width same 4210deep*4850wide

·         Check fridge capped water point on plan

·         Ht wardrobes. Check increased

·          Install extra noggings / studs / trimmers for mounting heavy pictures, TV's, projectors, screens, curtain tracks/blinds/school bags / jackets / dog leads in laundry / hall / cupboards understairs/ hang on walls, pictures, televisions, speakers, coat hooks, clothes dryer, toilet paper, towel rails, in hall cloak room, future shelves need noggins/ ceiling fan electrical provision and nogging in bedrooms and outdoor entertaining area (alfresco / gazebo) 

·         Acoustic batt insulation - dense/heavier, between floors, all walls.

·         Study – feature opening closed as per tender request.

·         Confirm internal walls of garage are plastered or brick

·         Confirm what got added for 6 star energy rating

·          

·         Zoned lighting, controls for Shabbat, load spreading. Smoke alarms must be on own circuit for this.

·         Sliding door handles POA - ?omit & use lockwood cavity sliding door locks

·         Surge protector

·          

Plumbing:

·         Location of taps and shower rails, shower hose, bath spouts

·         All showers – Increase - Hose outlet 1500, top of shower rail 1850, mixer 1100

·         Location of towel rails

·         Location of outdoor taps

·         Venting from exhaust fans toilets and bathrooms & kitchen rangehood goes outside

·         Check Cold water point for fridge on plan

·         Check bath spout was changed to movable spout not fixed due to location

Heating / Cooling:

·         Check the location of ceiling vents for heating and cooling in bedrooms so they aren’t directly above beds. Move locations near the

·         Zoned A&B - heating

·         See if can get heating duct to laundry and ensuite upstairs

·         ability to set timers

Kitchen:

·         Rangehood vented outside

·         Check cupboard, DW, oven, sink layout on plans

·         Check island bench correct length/width

·         Check Cupboards on island bench (bar stool side)

·         Size of window in kitchen, 600*3m, check Centered.

·         Double check both miele dishwashers listed

·         Check both AFA cubeline sinks with drainer board listed

·         Check miele h6400BM oven in tower not island

·         Check r/o full extension runner and insert organisational dividers

Bathroom:

·         Check height of tiling behind all toilets

·         Check shower screens upgraded to Grange Series Overlap semi frameless in bathroom and guest ensuite

·         Check Master ensuite shower single panel of glass as per requested

·         Check location of taps in shower

·         Extraction fans vented to the outside

·         Check location of Towel rails and toilet roll holders, hand towels, towel nobs placed correctly

·         Bathroom mirrors – confirm type and size in kids bathroom & master bedroom. Check the size of mirror, no response from emails.

·         bath tap in the master bedroom ensuite come from which wall.

·         WC upstairs - White Stone Hox Mini Basin (Reece code 9500530).

·         Check all baths & sinks have MIZU push plug chrome.

·         Check kids bath size was increased

·         Check freestanding bath was Lure not arc

·         Check tile lay & grout of façade

·         Check mixers are mizu smooth not drift

·         Check bath mixer and outlet for guest bath mentioned

·         Check only paying for 4 toilets not 5

·         Check total of towel rings total is 5 not 2

·         Check tiling is in ALL toilets/WC

Bedroom:

·         Mirrored sliding wardrobe doors

·         Wardrobe heights increased as per request to 2400. (Thomas Malone)

·         STILL haven’t seen quote for wardrobe fit outs.

·         Boys bedroom window must be centered as per tender request

Laundry:

·         Check final plans of laundry cabinetry

·         Check sink on correct side

Living Areas:

·         Remove entire quote from BIRK SOLUTIONS

·         Check Fireplace details

o   Heat & Glo 6000 TRSI-AUD (rear vented) unit

o   TRIM 3 black, barrelled

o   Log burner

o   Check position on plans & amount of projection into room

Electrical

·         Check Intercom prewiring - upstairs too

·         Slimline light switches instead of std profile 

·         Confirm smoke alarms – photoelectric & ionisation (1 different type upstairs). On own circuit

·         Add 2 way switch to entry light when coming in from garage

·         Clarify how many powerpoints in tv room (is it quad as looks like a 1)

·         In study move point closer into middle of wall.

·         Move one GPO to the other end of island bench

·         Add GPO to boys room near door

·         In kids bathroom GPO inside cupboard above sink

·         SMOKE alarms on OWN dedicated circuit.

Study

·         Remove all quote for desk and bookshelves to $$ 

Things we forgot but should remember if ever do again:

- PD reward/discount card 

- check bulk heads of kitchen cabinets and wardrobes in bedrooms (do at tender)

Floor Plans in brief

Many of you wanted to see our floor plans, here are the basic plans. PM me if you want more detailed ones. 

Post handover we will put a decking from dining room sliding doors all the way across alfresco area. The swimming pool will be along back fence area offset to the same side of alfresco. It should leave us still with several meters of cricket pitch or mini soccer field between house and pool (I hope). 

Contract meeting

What a pleasant relief that is all over. The climax of stress with the new house selections and colours, electrical, tiles etc stuff, extreme sleep depivation, our baby's hospital visits, the four kids challenging us all in their own ways and the demolition stuff was getting way too much.

We went into the meeting ready, fully prepared and aware many things may not be done but our building coordinator was great. Finally no one to handball to, answers right then and there. Things were done with ease and weren't difficult like previous encounters. Our BC completely changed our view of PD and gave us confidence they are there to help us get us what we need and want for our dream home.

The meeting reviewed the contract, first drawings, then the contract wording. Luckily I'm good at details so lots of little errors noted and corrected. Feature holes covered over, wording matching drawings, details and quantities correct, all areas correctly tiled despite completely missing from drawings. It took 5+hrs and we called it a day, still not signed but the following day I returned for a few more hours to review final corrected document and sign everything. 

The team behind the scenes, the estimator and draftsman we never saw but they work hard and fast. Would be nice to see them briefly to say thanks but they remain hidden. 

We are still waiting for final costings for a few things but will be added as post contract variations. The glass panel in shower, the tiling for a toilet forgotten on plans, add more insulation, the final site slab costings which can't be confirmed until after the second site survey completed after the demo team finishes (another saga, why they haven't finished is a good question) and a few electrical changes awaiting costing. 

We are so relieved that the bulk of the decision process is done. The relief in the house is great, kids party on weekend was a party of freedom from stress and to celebrate good health (bub almost better). 

Now back to demolition and those hiccups, waiting for electrical pit quote still,waiting for more fencing quotes and then got to finalise pool design and get that dug before PD start. 

Yippee a few steps closer to our own home.

Porter Davis new World of Style - Selection days

Well PD have done it again, we had confirmation letter and text messages confirming our appointments over two days. We were super organised and ready to start our selections as fast as possible as we knew there were huge amounts to do and we knew our stuff. I'd even done a complete electrical plan almost identical to the one we did with the staff member did. I rushed to get to the appointment in time, I left my sick baby in hospital with husband so as not to cancel appointment BUT guess what PD didn't have us in the booking system and weren't expecting us. I had to prove I had booking and wasn't there on wrong day. Wtf?? So I sat there for ages waiting. Really pissed by this point.

At last I started colour selections but apparently computer wasn't working so manual selections done. Still they couldn't tell us prices for it all up front, yet expect you to sign away. The lovely girl who did it with us doesn't do this job normally so again a bit of a screw up. The departments are all trying to get used to their new space and had no idea the flow of the day. They need to give a clear schedule to staff for each client. At one point we were waiting 1 1/2hrs on the couch for review with colours selections well past the scheduled end time. I thought hubby was going to explode at them as our baby was unwell yet we still came. 

The two days was stressful and rushed. They need to give more time to do colours and tiles, we truly rushed through them all, despite already having the codes for all our selections. If you have no idea what you want before your final meeting, good luck to you. They could spend less time at window furnishings and after review of each area give the document to owners to review as we had plenty of time in between meetings while waiting for one staff member to review final colours. Lots of prices we still are waiting for despite this we have 48hrs to review and alter then changes can't be done until contract or via BC. My prediction is our contract meeting going to be a real challenge. 

Hubby has done a mock up of our front facade.

Our other choices all set and I will put in electrical floor plan when I can.  We are also getting the kitchen culture department to quote on our custom bookshelves and study area. Awaiting quote from wardrobe team but he said he has to send it to BC and not directly to us. How can I review it and make changes if given this at contract?? 

The tile selection was ok but again none of the paperwork was there to do all of quote so our price doesn't include 2 of our toilets and our facade tiles. We have been asking for a quote of our facade tile choice since pre tender, hand balled to Tender appt then to colours selection then to tile selection and we still don't have quote. Soooo annoying. Now have to wait till contract, what is going in?

This whole process is laughable. Imagine going to a car dealership and saying I want car A. Sure you can just sign here and tell me what extras you want. It's $x but that's not the price total and I can't tell you that until we have your deposit and contract so your trapped. Now let's go shopping for your extras, don't worry if you can't afford it or not, just pick it all out so we can keep you in the dark until the last minute. Here's the total for all of your selections, we haven't included it all but you should get this soon or at contract signing, just sign here to state this is what you've selected. You can't make changes after 48hrs now or we will charge you a fee, no we won't tell you all prices yet and all changes will have to go via a guy who never answers calls or emails in full, he loves deferring to others or contract day. Final contract meeting comes (my prediction), ok price is $xxxx dollars, a bit more than you planned you say, oh don't worry we can change that but we only have 30seconds and the alternative choices you can't see as they are 50km away at our display centre. Here have a look at your plans, quick you have 2minutes and sorry no the plans aren't complete or correct so we can make the corrections post contract and yes we will charge you for changes now on everything despite you asking for these since you originally saw a sales rep in out display home. Oh and we forgot to tell you your house won't be ready for at least 12 months, sorry. 

Demo fun continues

Demolishment continues with a few hiccups along the way. Trees gone but many remain for demo crew to do. Asbestos gone, a few panels left as they can't access and will have to wait for full demo team to help with access. Electricity gone. Waiting new 3 phase electrical pit quote to arrive then approve that, should be here soon I hope. Gas finally gone after 30 working days and lots of calls to united energy and red energy (each slagging the other off). Red energy finally got a manager onto it and sorted it out. Various things sold on eBay gone. We took a few tiles and things to play with. Dad chopped a bit of wood for fireplaces. Random people coming and going. Roof tiles gone. Then bits of wood gone.

Suddenly all worked stopped due to bees. A quick google search and the bee wrangler came out and removed them all within a day. I don't even know where they were as a sit in hospital with my bub running the show from iPhone! 

Colours electrical tiles window furnishing and kitchen cabinetry selections done at the new World of Style. PD had the old showroom Hopetoun which we seen several times but then they opened this amazing new showroom. It presents brilliantly as it should. Will write more on that soon. 

Tender meeting

Well in summary the meeting was a disorganised mess on their part. They started an hour late, which wouldn't have annoyed us too much off we didn't have 4 kids to organise. They didn't have paperwork ready to review when they finally did start so we started reviewing random paperwork for an hour or so then redid it all when paperwork was done around midday. The day was huge, no breaks until 3.30  when we rushed off to get baby then returned to hopefully sign correct and completed document. Let's just say by 6.30pm we left as it still wasn't finished or correct. 

So much more to say on the tender meeting but will do another day. 

PD were happy to go with most of our structure changes but we were given a no to many others. Very disappointing but we accept that volume builders have contracts with certain suppliers for some of their styles and that can't be altered. They won't do insulation between downstairs and upstairs which really disappointed us as it's the only chance we have to install this. However if we wanted a custom home we could have done a custom build, just our budget won't allow it. 

Will include a list of questions we took with us soon. Or PM me and I can send to you.