June 26: First Meeting @ Metricon

So today, the luckiest girl in Caulfield and I headed off to Metricon to have our first meeting.

We met with a sales consultant, Mark, who was incredibly friendly and helpful. During the week I had already emailed him a copy of the title, so he could start planning what houses could fit on the house, and raise any potential issues with us.

He came armed with plans of the different types of houses, beautiful images of the facades, prices for absolutely everything, and an answer to all our questions. I found it especially interesting talking to him as an investor and his experiences, as he pointed out a lot of tips, and gave us a heads up about things we should definitely put in versus things we could look at putting in after the build.

We went through every room, and all the different options, coming up with more and more questions as we went. Houses were discarded after their costs blew out, and we ended up deciding on the Glendale.

And by deciding on the Glendale, that's where we are at right now. This could change. I love the Riva, the Tribeca, the Burleigh and the Addison. It's a big big big decision. More to come...

Lions and Tigers and Bears... Oh My!

Metricon, Henley, Simmonds, Burbank or Porter Davis? Oh My!


Which one? Why? But does it include that? How much extra is it for that finish? Can I change it? 

So so many questions. Zero answers. Yet!


One thing I have to say is these companies have fantastic websites. Especially Metricon. You can refine your choice of homes, by $$$, by lot width, by number of rooms, and by number of bathrooms. It helps narrow the somewhat overwhelming choice pretty quickly.

But just as soon as you narrow the choice down to 3 or 4 of the stunning stunning homes, another 18 questions pop into your head. Is a $300,000 home really a $300,000 home? Or is it $300,000 for the shell, and then you need to add for carpet, add for a driveway, add for a garden, and so on and so on.

So am I really looking at a $240,000 house, plus the extras, and then it will amount to $300,000 by the time I'm all finished?

I'm going to make an appointment to meet with Metricon to find out some of the answers, and will report back.

In the meantime... what's your experience? Who did you choose? Why?

18 June 2011: Going Once, Twice, Sir not even $1,000 more? No? Sold, to the young couple to my left!

"There's a 5% chance that we'll end up buying this property today", I told my wife. Partly to temper her expectations, partly to alleviate any disappointment she might have to soon face.

But, as luck would have it. Every single thing went our way. From the auction date being recorded incorrectly on domain.com.au, to the current economic climate, to the fact that there was only one other bidder.

In one of the quickest auctions I've ever seen, we were the proud new owners of a four bedroom house on 460sqm.

Now to knock down and build.... our very own Metricon McMansion.