Getting Started /29.06.23
Real-life Knock Down Rebuild : Part 3
How Laura and Latham built their dream home with Clarendon Homes
In this article, we’ll share Laura and Latham’s knockdown rebuild success story in their own words. You’ll learn valuable insights from Laura and Latham’s journey plus their essential tips to help you create your own successful knockdown rebuild with Clarendon Homes.
1. What were some other highlights of your build process with Clarendon Homes?
Our Site Supervisor was great. Also, the Contract Presenter was too - he’d been there for years and gave us some smart ideas.
We built during COVID so the Northern beaches was in hard lockdown. We were staying with Laura’s parents, out of the area. Our Site Manager knew we couldn’t get to site so he’d send us photos and give us updates.
Handover was on 21st December. We had all hands on deck at our handover. Our Site Supervisor was there for handover too. We moved in that day. All our friends were over. It was fun.
2. What do you feel were the main challenges with your build process?
It was more the demo and trying to work with our demo company. Clarendon doesn’t do the demo. They start when you’ve got a cleared site. So the main challenge was dealing with the demolition process and getting a good demo company. It’s a lesson learnt.
We had to get rid of the pool. There’d been lots of rain so the fence was falling sideways. The whole site was waterlogged and we had to get the compaction done. The pool was where the lounge area is now. It was a bit of a disaster but we got there eventually.
Our advice is to ask around for demolition company recommendations before you get started.
3. What advice would you give to someone who was considering a knock down rebuild?
My advice is always to have a really good think about what you want.
You’ve got to know what you want your house to be. Once you’ve signed that contract you have to limit the changes because they do cost. So really get it right the first time. Clarendon will help you.
Don’t be afraid to ask. And take your time. Don’t try to rush it. We took 3 or 4 months. Go round and look at everything in the Clarendon display homes. Then really look at that contract to see if you want to change anything.
When you do your selections, don’t go in with, “This is the oven I want and this is the stovetop I want”. Just go in with some options, Clarendon will help you figure it out.
I know people who’ve tried to pick the perfect oven before they go in and it comes back too expensive so they’re stuck trying to figure out what to do next.
Look around, to see what your options are. Go to Winnings appliances, have a look at a few different things you’re happy with and get them priced.
Then you can say, “This is my cheap as chips, this is my mid-way, this is my super-duper of what I want”. And get all three of them priced. Then you know what you can get and which you’ll need to go with to stick to your budget.
4. What else should people consider when they’re planning a knockdown rebuild with Clarendon Homes?
Landscaping isn’t included so always make sure you’ve got a budget for that. Don’t sit there and think we’ll do it ourselves. We thought, let’s just pay the money and get it done and we’re so grateful we did.
For us, landscaping was about 10-15% of the cost of the house. Budget for that and you’ll be fine.
Solar panels are such an essential thing these days. Huge savings in that. It dropped our bill from about $1000 to $300 a quarter. Make sure you look at where the panels can go on your roof.
When selecting your colours, think about those things that you can’t change down the road, all your structural requirements and spend your money on that. You can live with the basic kitchen for 10 years until it’s time to upgrade but you can’t change any of the structural elements.
So think about things that are going to be in your house forever. Those things that are harder to change later, like recessed bathroom floors and ceiling heights.
This is Part 3 of 3 of Laura and Latham’s real-life knockdown rebuild story. If you missed Part 1 or Part 2 they provide valuable insight for your own knockdown rebuild with Clarendon Homes – an expert in new home building for more than 45 years.
Ready to create your own knockdown rebuild success story?
Visit a display centre near you today. Our experienced sales consultants will show you what’s possible for your block and your budget. Which means you’ll get the guidance you need to choose the right home for your family in the area you love
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