They were seriously 2 full on days! If you're keen, you can do them one after the other but I wasn't. We had a week break in between to talk and fight about our upgrades haha.

None the less, all our upgrades are complete and all PCVs have gone through to Eden Brae which we have also now approved.

It was a fun experience. Would I go through it again, yeah probably.. just the doing the selections and nothing else! haha

Now it's just the waiting game of getting our land registered, oh and we really should see our broker now to get things started!

Slowly but surely we're getting there!

** very late post **

We completed our tiling and carpet appointment with DiLorenzo a couple of weeks before Christmas. Our budget for carpet and tiling as $7k (I know.....)!

We were introduced to Annabee who was going to be our consultant for the day. We started off with tiling first for the bathroom. There are a few options to choose from the standard bathroom range (remember the building standard rate for Eden Brae is marked with a yellow sticker).

Because we had been to DiLorenzo a couple of times, we were pretty much set with what we wanted in terms of tiling, but things soon changed when I realised that some tiles that weren't in the builders range, we just had to pay for the labour on top.. score!

We initially wanted our bathroom wall time from the builders range, but Annabee recommended a matt finish white wall tile 300x600mm (which we will lay horizontally). For our floors, I didn't really like the builders range of bathroom floor tiles (and because they were only 200x200mm big,) so we ended up upgrading to a 300x300mm matte grey tile (where you just have to pay extra for the labour as well). You get a free vertical strip of decorative tile for each bathroom. We decided not to go for this and change the tiling in our niche instead. I chose a hexagon tile that we had to pay extra for (unfortunately) as it was italian stone tile. I knew I wanted it from the beginning so there was no changing that!

Left: Our niche tile, Right: Our bathroom floor tile

Next was our floor tiles for the rest of the areas (kitchen, dining etc). Again, I chose another tile that was out of the builders range. It was a glazed porcelain 450x450mm tile (as from what I read, it was recommended to get porcelain instead of ceramic). Yes, I went for another grey tile (I love grey)!

Our floor tile is #5 (Smoke Matt)

Next on our list of things to choose was our carpet. I initially asked Annabee if it was viable to get the standard range in carpet and upgrade our underlay, but she suggested that if you do that, that you either upgrade both or upgrade none (I don't know how much truth there is to that)! Anyway, we ended up not upgrading anything and left it with the standard builders range for the carpet and the underlay (which is only 3mm). We ended up going with the California Gully II - 98 Jaguar Minster carpet. It was pretty good carpet for carpet in the builders range which was also a shade of grey! haha

All up, our total upgrades for tiles and carpet came to (surprisingly) $3153.00. Happy we came under budget, and I was going to push to and ask for floor to ceiling tiling in the bathrooms but I thought I should just stay in my happy place and not ask for anything more!

Here are some prices (per m2) to help you with costs for labour etc:

• Labour to Lay 300x600mm Wall Tile - extra: $18.50 
• Labour to lay alternative tiles to Niche (1000mm x 1999mm wide): $150.00 (one off price not per m2)
• If you were supplying your own shaving cabinets (like we are) and want tiling from the bathroom countertop to the bottom of the shaving cabinets (we did a space of 540mm upwards):
• Supply Wall tile to 1800mm High (Above vanity only): $27.50
• Labour to lay Wall tiles: $48.00
• Labour to Lay 300x600mm Wall Tile - extra: $18.50
• Silicone to Vanity Height: $50.00

Day 2, and we were ready for our electrical appointment! The night before, we plotted out on our house plans where we wanted power points (and extra power points), downlights and tv outlets. Us planning the night before made it so much easier the next day.

We were introduced to Malinda who would be our electrical consultant for the day. What I loved about the appointment was that pricing was shown in real time, so we were able to see it slowly adding up! For this appointment, we budgeted $7k, and I think we were close to it. We got some extra things just because we thought that it was easier to do it there and then, and Malinda agreed. For example, all downlights downstairs we added in and Eden Brae will install them, we just need to provide the downlights (which saved us a lot)! We also included our alfresco fan through Eden Brae as it was cheaper to buy it with them and install it.

Ok, so we went over budget, but not by that much. We got everything that we wanted so we were very happy with the outcome!

The electrical breakdown is quite in depth. We mostly splurged on downlights and powerpoints. Instead of writing down our variations, I'll just outline how much each unit costs to give you an idea. Note: that most of these were included and prices are as of December 2015:

• Batten Holders (for downlights): $75.00ea

• Double Fluro light (for garage): $181.00ea

• Outdoor lights: $119ea

• Double floodlight (for backyard): $197ea

• Junction Box: $79.00

• Switches: FREE 

• Powerpoint (1 socket): $76.00ea

• Powerpoint (2 socket): $79.00ea

• Powerpoint (Outdoor 1 Socket): $114.00ea

• Powerpoint (Outdoor 2 Socket): $137.00ea

• Phone Socket: $110.00ea

• TV Point - Digital: $110.00

• Data Cat6: $146.00ea

• Digital TV antenna: $635

• Provision for wall mounted TV: $165.00ea

• Exhaust Fan: $156.00ea

• 3 in 1 lamp (for bathroom): $272.00ea

• Smoke detector: $152.00

• Motion detectors: $159.00

• Additional alarm keypad: $238.00ea  

• Upgrade to Navigator keypad and slimline siren/strobe (alarm): $284.00

• Keyfobs and transceiver (alarm): $225.00ea

• Install downlights: $48.00 per light

• Supply, wire and install ceiling fan in alfresco: $285.00

Once you electronically approve your variations, Kitchen Culture send you your kitchen drawings. It looks pretty cool! Surprisingly there were no changes to these drawings! haha

Final drawings attached:

After having some lunch, it was time for our final appointment for the day. Earlier in the morning, we were pumped and excited but by the end of the day, we were exhausted!

We were introduced to Mary Ann, who was new (she started about a month ago). She was very quiet so I felt awkward because we were so loud!

Anyway, my initial budget for the kitchen was $7000. But after our appointments in the morning, I dropped our budget down to $5000 so I was hoping we were able to stick to it!

There were a few things that I wanted which were waterfall edges to both sides of the kitchen island (20mm was fine with me!), and handless cupboards. Everything else that would come up would be an extra 'want'!

Mary Ann advised that for the initial consultation, that you put everything that you want, and then slowly remove your upgrades. We ended up going through 5 variations haha! I don't know if that's a lot, but it felt like a lot to me! The good thing about Kitchen Culture is that you can get most pricing for things on the day so that helped with removing items later on that night!

We ended up with the following:
Tender Items:

• 800mm wide kitchen benchtop with 200mm overhand or 900mm wide kitchen benchtop including 300mm overhang (house specific) - (I don't know how they determined this, but we only had the 800mm x 200mm benchtop. I asked why this was and Mary Ann couldn't answer)!: Included
• Portrait style overhead cupboards either side of rangehood in lieu of standard kitchen windows (where applicable): Included
• Eden Brae's Best Ever kitchen, ensuite and bathroom: Included

Next on the list was our Cooks Plumbing appointment. We were matched up with Peta who was very helpful!

Can I just say that everything that we spoke about was an upgrade so whatever I write below will be on our upgrades page! haha

So this was all plumbing stuff and appliances. We were initially shown in a book what the standard range was, and pretty much everything at HOG is an upgrade!

Peta was very helpful with chopping and changing some things around, for example, we didn't want the soap dishes in both the ensuite and main bathroom so she replaced it with a double towel rail instead of a single towel rail in the ensuite etc.

I think we upgraded everything except for the tapware and bathroom bowls =( Surprisingly, it wasn't that expensive as I thought it would be so I was very happy with that!

Details below:
We upgraded the toilets from the best ever sale (I wanted toilets that were flush with the wall as they are easier to clean). The next toilets up were around $80 to upgrade each. The next upgrade after that was $200 each, which was a massive jump! We were happy with the $80 upgrade!

With the upgrade of the toilets we had to pay additional costs for installation =/

The $80 upgrade for our toilets

Ok, so I really wanted the Pete Evans sink that is currently in Kitchen Culture. I guessed it would have been about $600. Peta let me down gently and told me that it would have been about $1000. So I scrapped it! She did recommend the black Blanco sink. I never looked at it in the HOG (there's a sample there) but after thinking about it, I loved it, also because it was only $350 to upgrade!

The Pete Evans sink at Kitchen Culture

The Blanco sink that we're getting :)

I love it!

We also got a matching sink mixer (which was expensive but my husband loved it since he said that HE does all the washing)! Including the sink and sink mixer it ends up being the same price (nearly) as the Pete Evans sink. Never mind. I love it. It's different so why not!

Our sink mixer. It comes off and becomes a hose!

We upgraded to the SMEG package through Eden Brae which upgraded us to a 90cm freestanding oven, a rangehood and dishwasher. What we didn't know was once you upgraded, it deleted the included microwave!

We also wanted a rain shower head and detachable shower handle. The one that we wanted was about $500 so we scrapped it. Peta recommended another shower head that was more in a our price range. It wasn't a rain shower one but it was a bit bigger, so we were happy to get that!

Our shower head that is at the HOG

Overall, our experience with cooks plumbing was great! Peta was helpful and we left without that many upgrades!

Our final upgrades were the following:

• Gallery Salvador deluxe wall-faced soft close suite white x 3: Per unit: $79.55 Total: $262.51
• Additional installation costs for toilet suites x3: Per unit: $34.32 Total: $113.25
• Caroma classic 1700 white (from 1500): $78.22
• Novelli Mondo 6 rail shower (for the ensuite): $206.05
• 2x soap dishes have been replaced with 1x double towel rail and a robe hook: No charge
• Blanco silgranit 1+1/2 bowl sink + drainer LHB only: $385.88
• Blanco Alta-S Compact swivel sink mixer pullout: $590.52

Our next appointment was for air conditioning which was with Glen. He was cool and very helpful!

He showed us what air conditioning was included, then showed us a recommended upgrade (yes.. upgrades everywhere)!

So he recommended that we upgrade to ESP plus, which saves about 60% energy compared to the standard air conditioner we get. He also advised that in the classic version we only got three zones, though if we upgraded to ESP plus the fourth zone is for free.

To see the difference between the 2 you can get all info through the Actron Air website:
Classic: http://www.actronair.com.au/residential/ducted/classic
ESP Plus: http://www.actronair.com.au/residential/ducted/esp-plus

You could upgrade again from that, which is ESP platinum, which saves you about 75% in energy savings. http://www.actronair.com.au/residential/ducted/esp-platinum

The price difference isn't massive, but we rarely use our air conditioning now! Good to know though!

Another fun upgrade: Actron connect. It's an app on your phone where you can wirelessly connect to your aircon and do whatever you want with it. Honesly, we were thinking about it haha, but we have decided not to get it. Good to have though! I did email Glen the next day and asked him if this was something that could be added on later and he said yes! So if we have some pocketmoney later maybe we can add it in! Further info about Actron connect: http://www.actronair.com.au/residential/actronconnect

Glen also advised us that with our house plans we need to make edits to one of our walls in either Bed 3 or 4 for a duct to be in the dining room. He said it would be around 450mm x 450mm. Had no choice really. I'd rather have that in the room so that we can get proper air conditioning downstairs.

Pricing for the upgrades was as follows:

• ESP Plus: $2580 incl. GST
• ESP Platnium: $2843 incl. GST
• Extra zones: $193 incl. GST
• More than 4 zones, 8 zone module will be required in classic and ESP+ models: $254

Ok, I think we did pretty well with our upgrades... I think!?

Amy was very helpful with providing ideas for some of the changes that we were after.

Our initial PCV (which still requires items to be deleted) was:

• Provide off-white mortar in lieu of standard: $236
• Provide aluminium flyscreens with aluminium mesh to all sliding/awning aluminium windows: $735
• Provide 1No.Additional Cold water point to fridge space: $147
• Provide stain finish to front entry door and frame in lieu of standard paint finish: $119
• Ensuite Options:
• ENSUITE SHOWER OPTION 1: Provide 2NO. panels 10mm fixed glass to Ensuite shower, leaving corner open $1,535
• ENSUITE SHOWER OPTION 2: Provide 2NO. panels 10mm fixed glass to Ensuite shower, leaving corner open. Provide tiled nib wall approx. 1000mm high on shorter side of showerscreen, and glass panel above. Nib wall to be tiled both sides: $1,320
• ENSUITE SHOWER OPTION 3: Provide Stegbar Grange semi-frameless (no overlap) showerscreen to Ensuite in lieu of standard semi-frameless overlap showerscreen: $680
• Delete Item 21-9 of Contract Tender: (Provide 2No. Gainsborough 100 series privacy adaptor to - Main Bathroom and Powder Room ): -$102
• Provide 3No. Gainsborough 100 series privacy adaptor to Powder Room, Main Bathroom and WC: $99
• Delete mirrors from Bathroom and Ensuite only: -$350
• Handle Options:
• HANDLE OPTION 1: Provide Gainsborough Omni pull handle to entry door in lieu of standard. Stainless Steel finish: $318
• HANDLE OPTION 2: Provide the following items to front entry door, in lieu of standard: 2NO. Gainsborough Oblong Pull handle (back to back) in matt black finish 9266PH600MB, 1NO. Gainsborough Square Deadbolt Single Cylinder in matt black finish 1846SMMB and 1NO. Gainsborough roller bolt mortice in satin chrome finish 775SC60: $570
• HANDLE OPTION 3: Provide matt black finish to Gainsborough Trilock in lieu of standard finish. Part no. 8901ANGMB: $263
• Provide moroka textured paint finish brick letterbox to including letter slot: $680

Day 1 started at 9am. With peak hour traffic, we got there just in time!

So we decided to trek out to PGH bricks on a hot Saturday! It wasn't that hot, but you could feel the heat especially if you're out in the sun looking at bricks!

We entered the foyer and walked straight up to the reception area. We advised the consultant that we are building with Eden Brae. As soon as we said that the consultant turned around, went to her Eden Brae drawer and took out the brick list. She highlighted Range 'A' and advised us that this was the standard brick range and that if we were interested in any other bricks to come back and she could give us an upgrade price.

Out at PGH Bricks

We looked at Range A and already knew that there wasn't really anything that we liked. Our design guidelines for our area are a bit strict as well (smooth bricks only and no cream colours). But that's what we were there for, to see the bricks in person! Here are some photos of the bricks out at PGH:

PGH Pavers Collection

These were the bricks that we were considering:
Range A: Outback
Range B: Gravel
Range D: Sorbetto, Vino, Espresso, Chocolatto and Loam.

They have a coffee machine (free coffee!) so we decided to have a coffee and discussion to cut down our selection where we ended up cutting it down to:
Range A: Outback
Range B: Gravel
Range D: Sorbetto

The centre was very helpful. They had books with photos of houses with specific bricks, and at the back of the folder, there were addresses of houses with the particular brick that you were after which was very helpful (hence the addresses I hand wrote on the pages)!

We went back to the consultant to ask if she had the prices for the brick upgrades. Unfortunately, they didn't have our house on the list and she advised to contact Eden Brae directly.

The list and document of the Eden Brae brick ranges are below (excuse my handwriting)!

Range A & B

Range C & D

Ranges E, F & G

Range H

Range H

Range H

Ok, this was it! Pretty much every night for 2 weeks I was researching, adding, subtracting and changing this on our house plans. I made sure that I went and documented all inclusions that we had were in the tender as well, and any questions I had were put into a spreadsheet!

We had an afternoon meeting, so we met with our Tender Presenter at around 2:30pm. Eden Brae's office fit out is awesome! Nice and modern and welcoming.

We were offered coffee and biscuits and off we went!

So basically we started off with the whole tender which they had put together, showing all inclusions and exclusions of the tender. We were surprised that there were a lot of things included. These are things like:

• Landscaping plans (just the plan)
• The driveway (paved or concrete)
• All BASIX requirements for your council
• All site costs
• And other things (which I don't remember)

It was good because it was a fixed tender, so most prices would not go up if there were delays with council etc.

Our tender presenter was very attentive and knew what she was talking about.

I had a long list of questions. Most of them were internal changes which she advised that she did we did not have to go through these (kitchen changes etc) as these will be made all separate appointments.

The most important thing about the tender presentation is that you can negotiate pricing. This will probably be the only time where you can do this. You can probably shed a couple hundred here and there but hey, every cent counts! I think we did ok.. I think?!

We were ahead of schedule with the appointment and we were very surprised that it all went well. All questions were answered and it was a great experience.

So these were the following upgrades/changes we made at tender appointment (which can also be viewed on the upgrades page):

As soon as you leave the sales office, you basically have about 14 days until your tender presentation. The most important things you need to think about are your structural changes, so anything that is connected to the walls of your home.

When we initially looked at our house plans at the sales office and knew that we wanted to add and subtract some walls. Even though we thought of it then, we were able to change it at the presentation.

Because we also bought a H+L package, we couldn't really extend out, as the the house plans were already pretty tight on the block.

So some things to think about for your presentation:

• Adding and subtracting walls (e.g. we extended our front living room wall to make it into an enclosed media room instead of an open front lounge);
• Changing window sizes and moving them around;
• Gas points (alfresco or inside);
• Upgrading ceiling height;
• If upgrading ceiling height, upgrading window and door heights;
• Size of shower niches;
• Your facade;
• Obscure glazing to your bathroom windows;
• A cavity sliding door (CSD) to your ensuite (yep, doors aren't included!);
• Recessing your tracks for your sliding or stacker doors; and
• The width of your front door.

To be honest, when we were at the sales centre at Eden Brae, we didn't expect to walk away with a deposit on a house and land package!

We were probably talking for about half an hour, trying to get a grasp on the house and land plans. Half of the phrases I didn't even understand! What happens when you cut and fill land? You have to level what? It was a bit overwhelming!

30 minutes isn't a long time to think about signing your life away but it had to be done.

We quickly called our broker to make sure all was ok, and when it was we went back in and placed a $2k deposit there and then ($1k for the house and $1k for the land). During this time, we were already able to make structural changes and additions to the house. These changes would be made and prepared with actual costings when you arrive for your tender presentation.

This is what we ended up getting:


The package included:

• Land (312.5m2)

• House (Richmond Mk2 27)

• Air conditioning

• Smart living series inclusions

• Kitchen, Bathroom & Ensuite upgrade

• Alfresco

• Roof upgrade (to Monier tiles or Colorbond)

• Fixed price site costs

• $12,000 smart home buyer bonus (which was removed from the total cost price)

• And a lot of other things (which was great!)

The main things that weren't included were:

• Landscaping (including fencing and mailbox)

• Window blinds

• Tiling to alfresco

We were quite happy with the total price. I couldn't believe that it was finally happening!