Any Southgate End owners

[jrb]

Hi,

Is there are any Southgate end owners in this forum?

[BrianNSara]

237-5 feb 25 2010

[jrb]

Hi,

Its great there is another Southgate End owner out there.
I had a difficult choice between the Southgate End, Southgate Corner and the Hespler End.

I went with the Southgate End because it had a bigger eat in kitchen, bedrooms and a large front pourch.

The first time I saw inside that model was a few weeks ago when I walked through a Southgate End being built in phase 1

Are you considering any structural changes.

The structural changes I am considering are as follows:

door to garage
I might make the wall just inside the front door between the front entrance and formal room longer....ie 3 feet. In the townhouse I walked through it was about a foot long. My only regret with that model is you walk in the front door and you are immediately in the formal room. I think by expanding that wall, it would give a bit of separation between the formal room and the front entrance.

I might replace the kneewall on the bedroom level with a railing and pickets. I think that would look a lot better.

Other things I am doing are more cosmetic............ie. flat ceilings, upgrade stair case, cornice molding, hardwood, replace tub in master with a shower etc....

If you have any thoughts regarding structural changes to the model let me know.......I always like to hear what other people are doing.

[BrianNSara]

Well that all sounds good but you are way ahead of me i just singed the agreement about a month ago, I have yet to see them in any phase, I only have the floor plans and some of the upgrade options. So i will be looking for some advice from you.

"wall just inside the front door between the front entrance and formal room longer"
i will be doing this for sure..


"replace tub in master with a shower"
how will this be done is there anyway to have a bath and a separate stand up shower in the master?

i also love the upstairs floor plan the rooms are not the side by side type they are well spaced out .

[jrb]

Hi,

In the master bath i think i would have to replace the tub with a stand up shower. I think it could be one or the other......Right now I am speculating. My possession is Oct 2009. I hope to get my design book in jan or feb.

I think the Southgate end is a great design....the rooms are a comparable size to a single family home..........

The windows in the Southgate are huge....LOL......I was really happy when i toured through a townhouse being built.

I saw a Southgate on MLS.......and they reconfigured the kitchen.....instead of the island, they just had "L" shaped counter. Not sure I would do that......Maybe it makes the space look bigger between the great room and kitchen.

I might try to have a corner fireplace. I am not sure they would do that.......The corner is a waste of space anyway and it would free up wall space.

Have you been out to the site yet?
I am working out of town right now [mexico...lol] i return end of month. I cant wait to go to the site and hopefully there is a Southgate i can tour through.......that isint locked.

[BrianNSara]

When you get your design book i would love to see it, if you could make it a ".pdf" file, also do u still have the link to the MLS website? and for going to the site i have been there 2 or 3 times but i din't go into any houses. i hope i could reconfigured the master bath so i could have both..

[Style]

that design book would be huge and would take quite along time to copy. I remember how excited we were to get our design book a few months back! All done up nice with your last name and lot # and model on the end,till we saw the prices! Good luck to you and your plans!:)

[jrb]

try this link........

http://ontario.bytheowner.com/home-for-sale-cambridge-ontario-102574

if it does not open..........you should be able to find it........

i googled mattamy townhouse for sale cambridge............

#102574...

there is a phone number listed....i am assuming it is the owner.....519-740-7592

you could always call them and say you are interested...lol...just to tour a finished townhome....lol...

let me know if link works...

jason

[jrb]

price isint right it says 369....lol

it was 249,000 and it says now a reduced price......sounds like a great deal.......

[BrianNSara]

WOW it looks like a nice house cant wait for mine..

I dont like how they reconfigured the kitchen I am keeping the island.

And about the book if its huge never mind i thought it was cupple of pages or so lol..

Maybe i will check out that house for sale next time im up at the site looking around just to get a better picture... 249k thats a deal.... and by the way how is mexico must be nice to work there but dont drink there water... lol

[jrb]

Hi I will let you know about the book when i get it......it could be that only a few pages are actually prices....and I can scan.....

As far as Mexico..........it isint as glamorous as it sounds.....lol............I am in the North.........probably 4 hours from the beach, the first location I was at was along the texas and mexican border.........the drug cartel capital of Mexico....lol...............a poor area....................

[BrianNSara]

is this a southgate end? http://ontario.bytheowner.com/home-for-sale-cambridge-ontario-87636

[jrb]

Hi BriannSara,

No that is not a Southgate end...............

That isint even a Mattamy home......................

[Rachel125]

I got a southgate End also
Closing April 10 2009 lot 11-3
went up there last night all the framing is done and roof :p

[jrb]

hi Rachel,

I have been touring through a Southgate end in phase 1.

It is a great layout...............I am really happy with my decision.............

I just got the design book yesterday.................

I hope to get rid of the kneewall on the bedroom level.........LOL

JRB

[jrb]

Hi Brian,

I picked up my design book for Southgate end yesterday [november 1st]...............

It is big lots of pages...............LOL

Did you get your book. If you want information let me know..............


jrb

[BrianNSara]

no i have not received anything yet my closing is not far off from yours about 4 months if i remember right mine is Feb/25/2010 whens your again?

and yes please let me have some INFO and prices PLEASE!!!!!!!!! I need something to hold me off till we get ours lol....

Also do u have any pictures of the one you have been touring?

We bought ours on September 20th 2008.

Is there any options to change the Master bath so i can have both a Soaker tub and a separate Standup Shower?

[jrb]

prices will scare you.....................LOL..........

On tuesday night i will go through book and tell you some of the prices........I am off wed. so i am going to design centre.....lol..........

Have a glass of wine or two before you review them....lol

If you are in Cambridge you should go out to the site......if you wait much longer all the townhouses under construction will be locked.............and i dont think next phase of townhouse will be going up until they build your and mine.......

[jrb]

Oh, BrianNsara,

no mention of converting bathtub in master to a shower......just option to convert to a soaker tub...................

[jrb]

Hi BrianNSara,

Okay here ya go!

Frist payment options. 2 options

1) Payable in full in 3 equal installments
2) Amend purchase price of home, roll into mortgage but you must pay 35% of upgrade costs in 3 installments:

Upgrades, a few for you.......

- optional cold room .................................................. .......$2204.00
- rec room ready w/2 larger windows, rough in 3 pc bath....... $ 999.00
- door to garage from house ........................................$1988.00
- fireplace MDF mantle and surround.....................................$4469 .00
- smooth ceiling first floor instead of Cal. knockdown................$ 997.00
- firplace fan............................................... ......................$ 404.00
- therostst control fireplace......................................... .........$ 297.00
- additional operating pane in lieu of fixed pane ........................$ 177.00
[in southgate end in great room and master only one window opens]
- water softner rough in................................................ ........$ 788.00
- soaker tub 60" x 30" x 20".................................................. .$1083.00
- oak staircase upgrade /upgrade rail.......................................$2548.0 0
- victorian Newell Post 5" x 5".................................................$ 554.00
- stain oak stair specified components/paint some parts...............$1362.00
[ all stain $975.00 but i like stained tread and white picket, riser and stringer]
- rail and picket in place of knee wall......must ask
- microwave hood fan black............................................. ...........$599.00
- plasma ready wall above fireplace......................................... ....$ 255.00
- additional cable outlets........................................... ............$80.00 each
- low voltage pot lights first floor ...................................$200.00 each
- low voltage dimmer............................................ ...........$159.00
- Valance lighting below upper cabinet in kitchen...................$549.00
[valance ordered separately]
- rough in future pendant lights above island in kitchen....for 2 $239.00
- back splash in kitchen......all prices......698- 1400
- hardwood [mirage-better than bruce.....red oak stained 2 1/4 x 3/4"
dining room.......$1,804
great room........$2,302
main hall...........$978
upper hall..........$910
master..............$2,710
bedroom 2..........$1,668
bedroom 3..........$1.917


I hope this helps you to do some planning,

jason

[BrianNSara]

Thanks so much for the info Jason.... I'm going to think about the things i really need lol....
so you have to pay %35 and the rest can be put into the mortgage this sucks i was hopeing to put it all into the mortgage but i guess i'm going to use my line of Credit....

[Danny]

Thanks a lot Jason, this gives me a lot more time to decide.

[jrb]

Hi Southgate owners,

My design appointment wont be till feb.......so it gives lots of time for me to decide........................and to see what happens to the economy in the next few months......LOL............

jason

[jrb]

hey BrianNsara.....and Danny,

If you have any questions i can look in my design book, just ask....

jason

[BrianNSara]

yah thanks for the info again....

& Rounded Corners? any price

[jrb]

hey BrianNSara,

round corner bead throughout-in lieu of square bead................$1,136


jason

[jrb]

i asked about the cost of replacing the "knee Wall" on the bedroom level with a railing and pickets. I think it would look great. I think that model has the best bedroom layout.......................LOL........but i wont tell a Hespler end that...lol

Anyway cost i was given for upgraded rail and pickets..was $933.00.......i will have pickets painted white and stained rail.........

I also asked about cornice molding for first floor........price was $627.00 main floor, that sounds cheap, i wonder if it is correct.......

I sent an email to my design consultant about replacing tub in master with a shower. In this case i am not sure what is best for resale....soaker tub in master or a stand up shower.........

jason

[BrianNSara]

i am hopeing i could have both make the Walk-In samller and put both a bathtub in master & standup shower......

[jrb]

i like your idea.......a separate shower and still have a soaker tub im master would be great..........

If you are in area, you should go through the Southgate ends being built, and draft a floor plan of how you would do that..............

I guess anything should be possible for a price........

[BrianNSara]

Yah i know but what is that price going to be lol?
also will i get into any trouble going to the site looking in other peoples lots?

[jrb]

hey BrianNSara,

if you go to site on weekend you should be good.

If you wait much longer the townhouses will be locked......and you wont be able to see inside until they start yours or mine....................

Once the houses are dry walled they lock them i believe............

jason

[BrianNSara]

Hopefully i will be able to make it up there in time..... Its dark by 5:30 now.

I will try to get up there this saturday. And bring my digital cam to take some pics...

[jrb]

Hi Southgate End owners,

I was wondering if any of you have decided what upgrades you are thinking about.

I am tyring to figure out what to budget for upgrades.....It doesnt take long to add up.............hardwood, fireplace, upgraded stairs, that alone can be close to 13,000.....LOL..............

I wonder what is a reasonable amount in dollars to upgrade for a townhouse.........i dont want to have more in it than it is worth ....LOL............

I was thinking 20,000 - 25,000.....which include Mattamy's 2,000........do any of you have anu thoughts.....

[Style]

Thats a good #! We put that much in our current house! You have to be comfortable to spend that amount though! If you plan on staying there for quite a few years it is worth it,however if its a one or two year thing and you wanna flip it,it will ultimately depend on what the market entails for the area!
Hardwood and all is a nice touch to have in a house but it wont neccessarily get you top dollar back but it will make your house more attractive to perspective buyers!
I personally feel that in a few years the market will pick up in the area and townhouses will sell for a nice profit!
But like I said its your choice. I would pay for things that you will use and really want and avoid costly items where you wont make top dollar!
Investing in the kitchen area would be a smart choice as next to ensuites they are the main focal points of a house! But you cant go wrong making a beautiful kitchen!

[jrb]

Good advise Style,

I am thinking i will stay for the next 20 years.....LOL.........i like the area, and i like the layout of the Southgate End. It is 1509 square feet, and has most of the features I am looking for. In addition I dont want a lot of yard to cut. To get more features i would need to look at a house over 2000 sq feet. I am single and although i like space.........I dont really need a house that is 2000 sq feet plus.....LOL

Upgrades I am thinking of:

Oak floors, maybe Bruce [1000 cheaper for one i want...lol]
Hardwood bedroom level hall way
oak stair case
trim package 2 - i like the bigger baseboard...lol
Victorian Newel Post
Fireplace including fan and thermastat
Extra window cranks
Under counter lighting
Upgrade carpet pad in bedroom
Kitchen backsplash
Micro hood fan
Replace knee wall on bedroom level with railing
Soaker tub Master
Extra cable outlets
Plasma ready wall
Upper angled kitchen cabinet
rough in 2 pendant lights about center island

I doubt i will do rough in in basement for bath room........townhouse has 2 1/2 baths anyway.......

Any way that is a rough list..................even this list is 23,000....i will have to give it a lot of thought....lol.....i may have to cut some things out.....LOL.......

Do you need a runner on stairs
Do you need a fan for fireplace and thermastat....
Maybe i dont need a soaker tub.......LOL

ANy comments?

[BrianNSara]

I am going to spend about $12,000 in upgrades -$2000 = 10,000 Mattamy. So %35

$3,500.00 upfront... is ok...

[gagnon777]

We just moved out of a Mattamy townhouse and this is our second home in MillPond. Spend what you're comfortable spending on upgrades, but I will tell ya... putting a fireplace in a townhouse eats up your floor space and limits where you can put furniture.

Unless you plan on putting hardwood throughout the main floor (into the kitchen), I would do afterwards; not through Mattamy. THEY ARE EXPENSIVE and not the greatest as it's only stained on top, not solid colour all the way through. If a scratch happens, you'll see the light wood come through (if you have dark floors). There are always great sales for hardwood; I'd do after, but up to you.

[Style]

I would highly suggest if you go with the fireplace that you get the fankit,especially if you are going with the plasma ready wall! When you mount a lcd or plasma Tv it would be best to avoid all the heat rising to the tv! The fankit will blow the hot air into the room and away from the tv! We did a corner fireplace in our current house and it did take away from our family rooms floor space! That why we mounted our lcd above the fireplace and saved floorspace in the process by not having a tv stand there! LOL!
If you decide to stay 20 years thats great as you will have a highly useful and upgraded corner unit that you can live in comfortably! If you decide to sell down the road you will have a house that will be sought after as it will stand out from others! Either way you cant lose! If you plan on staying for along time and can afford it I say splurge on what your heart desires! I would!

Bottom line is as long as your happy thats all that matters! And a house without any upgrades is pretty basic and doesnt stand out!:)
Good luck and happy shopping!

[jrb]

Hi STyle,

it is interesting that when I bought the Townhouse, the sales rep said, dont put a fireplace in because it would take up too much floor space.

But, people still like a fireplace in a home. I asked if i could put in a corner fireplace like the Southgate Corner...and they said no........

I will put a TV above the fireplace and that will save room.....

I guess in small spaces I will have to plan the furniture accordingly..........

Maybe I should grab my floor plan and sample of everything and book a ticket on Thursday's homeday City Line......LOL.....But I dont like the show as well since Marylin Dennis quit....LOL

There isint a huge difference in the size of the rooms in the townhouse when compared to some of the other single homes............

I am not sure if in the townhouse the foundatiion is extended, so the fireplace only sticks out a little bit in the room, or it sticks out 2 feet in the room.

The nice thing about the Southgate end is that there is a formal room at front of house that can be used as a dining room or living room.

[BrianNSara]

here are some pics of a southgate i think lol ...

[BrianNSara]

[jrb]

Hey Brian,

Your Close......

That is a Southgate corner..........................

Southgate end is at other end in that location......

The southgate corner you enter on the side, southgate end you enter from the front......

jason

[jrb]

Let me correct that,

The outside pic, the person is standing at door.....is a Southgate end...

The inside pic, with bow window looks like a Southgate corner where you enter from the side...

jason

[ShaunnNRachel]

and also the corner has that huge wrap-around porch but I dont see one in the outside shots.

The houses are looking good, the colours are great, no complaints, I hoipe they dont change them when the start phase 4.

[BrianNSara]

yah i din't take the pictures my girlfriends brother did so they are all mixed lol

[BrianNSara]

Hey JRB,

I was Wondering if there are any Options to get the Neo angle shower and soaker tub in the ensuite?

Because the Southgate has about the same size ensuite as the hillcrest and they have the Options for theEnsuite Bath Oasis upgrade cost is $4500.00.

[jrb]

Hi Brian,

I dont think there is..................I am in mexico for work............i am heading home on Dec 19 th..................i can double check the price book when I am home.

Did you get your price book yet

Jason

[BrianNSara]

Hi Brian,

I dont think there is..................I am in mexico for work............i am heading home on Dec 19 th..................i can double check the price book when I am home.

Did you get your price book yet

Jason


No i don't get the price book for a few more months... So if its not in the price book it cant be done?

[jrb]

hi Brian,

Well you can ask and see what they say...............

They seem reluctant to make changes that involve walls etc............ie. i wanted to extend that wall in the front hallway and they said no.

The walls are made off site ..............[most anyway]............

jason

[BrianNSara]

lazy People lol........

[tazplay]

Anyone else concerned about the closet being so far into the hallway? Anyone find a solution if you don't plan on using the garage door every time you go in your house? We are putting hardwood all throughout the 1st floor so I am not too concerned; just wondering what everyone else though about that? BTW I am 19-1 for phase 4.

Found more southgate images but its a corner.. not too different from the end

http://ontario.bytheowner.com/home-for-sale-cambridge-ontario-125321

[jrb]

Hi,

Good to hear there are more Southgate owners on line.

There is no way around the closet issue. I am having the door to the garge installed. To me it is not a big issue.

Only option you really have is to put a low bench seat [that lifts up for storage] underneath the hallway window. If guests come in you could put there coats on that.

[tazplay]

Thats a good idea; I would prefer to use the window space for something else and maybe put a couple hooks on the expanded divider between the foyer and the formal room... but I still dont have any idea what I am going to use that closet space for.. maybe gut it out and throw a fishtank in there lol

[CCHIR]

Does anyone have any pictures of a finished South Gate End inside, just looking to see what I will be working with when it is all said and done. Thanks

[jrb]

Hi,

I have no pics...........but you can tour through the Southgate ends being built in Phase 6.

Mine is elevation D lot 6-6-

The dry wall is up now,