Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 think he is in Kofu, Yamanashi Link to post Share on other sites
DumbStick 13 Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 We're hoping to get building started in late April with a view to moving in October/November. Estimate was actually less than I was thinking it would be. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Yrs I am in Kofu in Yamanashi Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Cool. It is exciting stuff getting a house built isnt it. Dumbstick where are you getting your house built? We're hoping to get building started in late April with a view to moving in October/November. Estimate was actually less than I was thinking it would be. Link to post Share on other sites
DumbStick 13 Posted March 22, 2013 Author Share Posted March 22, 2013 To the north of Numata. Link to post Share on other sites
DumbStick 13 Posted March 22, 2013 Author Share Posted March 22, 2013 Really pleased with building company. They are going out of their way to be helpful. Digging it. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Cool stuff. Yeah we too are pleased with our building company. It really makes things so much easier when you have builder that really wants to help and you can trust! Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 To the north of Numata. I see. I used to pass through Numata loads of times when I used to go to Gunma a lot! Used to have a second house in Takayama mura about 15 mins up the mountain from Numata Link to post Share on other sites
DumbStick 13 Posted March 23, 2013 Author Share Posted March 23, 2013 It's strange, I thought I would be feeling the need to really press on cost. But they have come up with extremely reasonable costs and actually added some stuff in for us that was not expected. I almost feel bad trying to haggle more. Once we get the final costing I will of course try, but I doubt I'll be as gung-ho about it as I originally thought I would. I'm quite amazed at how much work and effort they have actually put in without there being any kind of agreement/contract. I realise of course if and when they do get the contract it is a nice bit of work, but they have put in many many hours and indeed we do not have any legal obligation towards them yet. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Yestetday we got loads of outside wall panel samples from our builder as well as loads of wall paper samples door designs window designs to bring home and look at. It is great having actual samples to hold look at and compare in our own time. We still debating which outside method and what style we want to go with so its so nice to have so much to choose from. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 when all has been agreed on, signed for, built and delivered what other ongoing monthly costs will there be? Other than your mortgage repayments of course....I'm assuming some extra form of tax......anything else? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Yestetday we got loads of outside wall panel samples from our builder.... I thought you were going with the painted look, snowdude? Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Property tax. Other than that of course the regulat bills telephone, electric,water,.etc.In our case no gas as we are going all electric. Link to post Share on other sites
snowdude 44 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Was because of the lines but our builder has found us some panels that will not show the join lines. Will also be a lot cheapet and less maintenence if we use the panels. So now giving them some thought as well especially as he has found some I like. Also debating on whether to go for the Japanese modern or something totally different such as really modern or even northern European. Good thing with our builder we can chop and change intil we decide on exactly what we like even though we signed the contract. Just the building shape and size we cant change without extra charge. Yestetday we got loads of outside wall panel samples from our builder.... I thought you were going with the painted look, snowdude? Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 I quite like some of the more modern panels. Having said that, some of them are awful - the 'fake brick' look is not a good look! Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 If it's done right, it can look authentic. I've seen horrible ones tho that make it look as if built from Lego. There's one round the corner from me that's like this and coloured Puke Yellow.....not nice Link to post Share on other sites
DumbStick 13 Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share Posted March 24, 2013 Got a catalogue with all of them in. Hopefully see some real ones when we need to make that choice. One choice we have to make now is the actual position of the house on the land. It's kind of difficult as it is not easy to imagine it. We have a mock up of it on the computer but actual positioning more tricky than I thought. And it's not something you can change once it's done! Don't want to be jamma to neighbours and stuff like that. Don't want them to hate from the beginning. Though we have over 4m between the border of their land and our house in our current position so that seems a pretty big space to me. So many things to decide, lots of them things you have never thought of before. Link to post Share on other sites
muikabochi 208 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 If it's done right, it can look authentic. I've seen horrible ones tho that make it look as if built from Lego. There's one round the corner from me that's like this and coloured Puke Yellow.....not nice Yes some are definitely ok, but like you said there's some shockers too. I prefer the non brick look. Dark greys and creams, there's a nice one near where I live that looks good. Link to post Share on other sites
NoFakie 45 Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 We had our place done with a render. Its yellow (the 501/502 blend) and has got bits in (carbon fiber) for full puke points. Its pretty close to the colour of local clay which our kura is covered in. Our place backs onto woods, so I chose the roof colour by holding up the samples and selecting the one that blended in best. Aside from renders, the other siding material I really like is yaki-sugi, basically cheap planking that has been charred with a gas burner. The burnt outside wears off leaving a nice patina. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 No Mr W that looks natural colour....this is puke yellow!! literally looks like it's made from plastic as well....if I have time I'll take a snap of it Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Very interesting thread. Good luck with it all new house building peeps. Not sure I like the burned planks of wood look there Mr Wiggles. Link to post Share on other sites
DumbStick 13 Posted March 26, 2013 Author Share Posted March 26, 2013 It's fun but takes over your life completely! Link to post Share on other sites
teikiatsulover 6 Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Great thread this. My wife and I are also getting into the housing market. One problem I have found is that some of the lots we have found we have to buy through Sekisui or another one of those companies, which we don't want to do. Some of those prefab houses just look terrible. Granted, I have seen a few (2-3) that made me think, that's a prefab house? It looked great inside and outside wasn't bad either. Those were few and far between unfortunately. I wanted to say thank you for all the information and points to keep in mind when we start looking seriously, too. So many questions have popped into my head that I'll have to reread this, go through all those links you all provided and get my thoughts in order first. Thanks! I'd like to see the "housing thread" as well once it gets started. You must be very excited Dumbstick! How long is your mortgage going to be for? 30 years? How much are you looking at putting up to cut down on your monthly payments if you don't mind me asking? I know many questions become too personal when it comes to $$$ etc, so don't worry if you don't want to answer. Link to post Share on other sites
IIIII 2 Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 Stupid question but what makes something... prefab? Link to post Share on other sites
DumbStick 13 Posted March 26, 2013 Author Share Posted March 26, 2013 You must be very excited Dumbstick! How long is your mortgage going to be for? 30 years? How much are you looking at putting up to cut down on your monthly payments if you don't mind me asking? I know many questions become too personal when it comes to $$$ etc, so don't worry if you don't want to answer. Thanks yes. We're going to pay for the house 100% on completion... so no mortgage. We are luckily able to do that, and I just hate the idea of giving banks my money. Link to post Share on other sites
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