1. Individuals at NBG are hard to get hold of when you want them
Don't leave messages with reception, as it may take up to 48 hours for them to get back to you! Sometimes they don't get their phone messages either.
Solution: Email the individual at NBG early in morning, pre 9am, and you will find you get a reply before lunchtime. At least I did, every time I tried this!
2. Checking documents
Check all documentation thoroughly. If you can, get another builder or surveyor to check them for you.
I found that most of our problems stemmed from mis or non-communication between departments at NBG. It is extremely hard to express in written word the visual elements you want to add or alter to your design.
Make sure that the changes or alterations are expressed with precise detail, using small diagrams if possible. This will avoid potential errors associated with mis-interpretation of your ideas when converted to the written form for the NBG Quotation Acceptance documentation process.
3. Colour Selection
Do your homework! - I can't stress this enough. Doing your homework will save time and make the NBG Colour Selection appointment a breeze! see below
Tiles
We spent 3 afternoons at Beaumont Tiles in Oakleigh. Oakleigh has the biggest range and will explain which tiles are standard etc. Use the tile trolleys to help choose and make sure you take the trolleys outside to see the colours in sunlight. David was very helpful. You can purchase each tile for your own reference. Ours were $4 each.
Cabinetry
This was the hardest thing to choose as we both had definite ideas.
We spent approx. 5 hours at Parbury's showroom in Scoresby over two afternoons.
Sales Colour Consultant Steph was amazing and so patient. She helped us choose all the colours and textures for our cabinetry.
The only thing Parbury do not stock is Quantam Quartz. So go in there prepared, taking your choice of samples you like from the narrow selection of QQ NBG give you.
If you can't make it to Parbury, go online to Metricon's Studio M, where you can visualise, online, your colour choices. URL = http://www.studiom.com.au/
Bricks
Go to a Boral outdoor display centre and shortlist 2 or 3 bricks from NBG range. We went to the display in 191 George St, Wantirna. The great thing is that they are open 24/7, as they are outdoors. Contact Boral on 13 30 35 and get a list of houses that have built in your choices and visit each property and see the bricks as used in existing homes. We changed our mind several times on our brick choice. It's amazing how different bricks can look away from the display. Don't forget that bricks have different 'firings' and batches. Also check your brick availability with Boral. I know that ours is not available until mid-November 2010. Lucky we don't need them before then
Paint choices
Read heaps of magazines, cutting out colour schemes you like and visit display homes. Remembering that you only get the choice of 2 standard colours inside! This includes ceiling white, as we found out, which really leaves only one internal colour choice if you want the ceiling painted white.
Miscellaneous
Items like towel rails and doorstops, I purchased myself, rather that upgrading at Colour Selection. I found that NBG upgrade prices were not competitive on such items, nor did they have the entire ranges & sizes available. Your builder should not have a problem installing these small items for you.
