VIC -Custom Home Build - Carter Grange Vs Masterpiece

niish150887 on 29/02/2024 - 11:17
Last edited 29/02/2024 - 11:37 by 1 other user

We are looking to knockdown and rebuild our family home in Southeastern Suburbs of Melbourne and have been discussing the potential build with Carter Grange and Masterpiece. Masterpiece appears to be relatively cheaper and have been advised that they are backed by Simonds. Carter Grange is approximately 10% more expensive (Approx $90K) for a 45 square home for similar design and inclusions.

Carter Grange is a popular builder and I have seen many houses constructed in the area but haven't seen many from Masterpiece. Masterpiece have only one display home and I am concerned if i would have any issues as we proceed through the build.

Has anyone built with Masterpiece and how was their experience?

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  shinichiduy on 29/02/2024 - 13:32

  Interested in this as well for VIC as I am looking for a custom builder to build 2 townhouses. Can I please ask how much you are quoted for your 45 square home and what the level of finish (luxury, investment or mid range) is?

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    niish150887 on 29/02/2024 - 13:41

    Which suburb are building ?

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      shinichiduy on 29/02/2024 - 14:56

      I am building in Doncaster

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  bazingaa on 29/02/2024 - 13:58

  -1

  45 square home

  45 or 450 sqm ?

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    Euphemistic on 29/02/2024 - 14:41

    +3

    Sq is an imperial measure. "Builders square" = 100 sq feet.

    45sq approx 418m2

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      bazingaa on 29/02/2024 - 15:03

      never knew that until now. I only knew about sqf and then sqm :D

      The square is an Imperial unit of area that is used in the construction industry in the United States and Canada, and was historically used in Australia.
      Construction in Australia no longer uses the square as a unit of measure, and it has been replaced by the square metre. The measurement was often used by estate agents to make the building sound larger as the measure includes the areas outside under the eaves, and so cannot be directly compared to the internal floor area. Residential buildings in the state of Victoria, Australia are sometimes still advertised in squares.

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        pizzip on 29/02/2024 - 15:16

        Same. So in reality, it's only used by dodgy REA and developers to misinform buyers, sounds about right. I guess they'll be advertising in USD next to make everything seem cheaper. Or maybe advertise their build time in Mars years.

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          JimB on 29/02/2024 - 15:48

          +1

          @pizzip: Nope.

          Squares is the default sales/marketing speak that everyone in the building industry and older people are use to.

          Nothing dodgy about it. A bit like 'he's 6 foot tall' rather than 'he's 183cm' tall.

          In the contract itself, they won't state Squares, they will use SQM for any legal measurement.

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          Euphemistic on 29/02/2024 - 15:48

          @pizzip: Even if they did use the area under the eaves at least the 'square' measure is consistent and therefore comparable. In my experience its a measure that often used for new builds, not so much existing houses.

          I fndnit interesting that US tend to point out internal sq ft while innAussie real estate its more about the plot size and how many bedrooms not just the house floor size. Maybe its changing, but over thebyears ive bought houses and never known the floor size, but always known the land size when searching for a house.

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            JimB on 29/02/2024 - 15:54

            @Euphemistic: Land size is easy to measure.

            floor area is harder to measure, especially if not rectangle.

            Sometimes Realestate.com.au and council rates will state the floor area if there is a record of it.

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  MrThing on 29/02/2024 - 17:48

  these look awfully like volume build cookier cutter houses

  nothing "custom" about a pick from a book design