Getting organised

With only 5 sleeps until handover and 6 sleeps until I actually move the to do list is getting shorter and then I think of more things that need doing...

• Removalists confirmed - tick
• Bank Cheque organised for day before hand over - tick
• Insurance certificate - tick
• Money transfered from ING to pay for everything - tick
• Phone line connected - tick
• ADSL applied for - tick
• Cleaner organised for rental (Hi Kate!) - tick
• Carpet cleaner organised for rental - tick
• Organise security door installation - tick
• Organise fly screen installation - tick
• Organise concreter - tick (hopefully the weather plays nicely)
• Paid my rates for this quarter so I don't forget - tick
  
• Starting to panic - tick
  

Still to do:

• Be given my Certificate of Occupance - hopefully today
• Order rubbish and recycling bins from council - dependent on COO
  
• Finish packing - ARGH! Actually it's not that bad... I think... -scratches head-
• Mail redirection - I have the form, just need to submit it
• Collect bank cheque for builder
  
• Cancel services at rental and organise final readings
• Unpack!
• Change address for -everything- (I will do that once I've moved though)
• Get the keys to my very first house!
  

I'm sure there are a few things I've forgotten about - please let me know if you can think of anything I am missing!!

Pre-Construction is now completed

I called N before to see if my start date had been assigned yet and it isn't, but all the SS's go into the office on a Wednesday morning to collect files and no doubt have meetings, so it will be assigned either later today or tomorrow morning before the file is collected!

I also just logged into PD 24/7 and my file has now officially pre-construction and is into construction! YaY!

I should also have my final working drawings at home in the mail box waiting for me! You could say the urge to go home early is high!

I just want that magical starting date :D

Oh and I will have my penalty interest monies back from Westpac in my bank account on Thursday! YaY! Just in time to pay my car rego lol!

Alfresco floor

I really want to have decking in my pergola/alfresco area and the original plan was to just put weed mat down, but last week I started thinking about putting concrete down when I get the driveway done as it might be quite some time (12+ months) before I can afford the decking and then when I can afford to do it properly and I would just go over it. I then read a post on the good old H1 forum that someone building the 23 version of my house is getting their alfresco area included at no charge due to their slab being a H type! Evidently it's due to structural strength or something and everyone else who has needed a H slab has had it done too! Yippee!! :D

I've also been checking PD's 24/7 a few times today and there is now a note in there under Letters with the description "Final Working Drawings Letter" so I assume that means my final drawings have been completed and I should get them in the mail tomorrow! YaY!

It's so exciting having things happen, I know I keep saying it, but it is!

Not sure if I mentioned this or not, but I think there is a Regent 23 going up one street away from me, the slab has just been laid and going from the location of the plumbing it really looks like a Regent 23 so it will be interesting to compare the two builds once I start

PD 24/7 is handy

I was clicking around the PD 24/7 site today and I noticed that I have a Construction Supervisor! So I PM'ed another person building with PD and asked them if that's my site supervisor and it is!! YaY! I have a SS now, lets call them B :D

I also noticed that proof of land ownership didn't have a date, so I emailed N to find out if what I sent her yesterday was ok and then 10 minutes later she replied saying yes and then I had a date in there. I then also asked about the the field for Availability of Funds and she told me Choice had to send her something, so I forwarded that to my MB and I got an email back before saying that they only got the request this morning and have sent off what they need - I wonder if that was sent off to them after my email enquiry?!?! Either way, it's done and can be ticked off!

I got my plans and permits in the mail today from PD - pretty boring really, but it does at least have the final drawings and the kitchen is correct but one of the doors is still incorrect :( I need to send these off to the bank now to show it's all been approved.

My file will go to the construction department tommorrow!! YaY!

Permits - tick!

I just logged into the PD 24/7 site and saw some progress! My permit(s) were received yesterday! YaY!

Not sure if this means that the DA has been on the on the colours and the design yet - lets hope so.

** Edit: it does include the DA and I will get them tomorrow in the mail. They are still waiting on the final engineering drawings to be done which should be this week

Start by June 5th

Someone else I know building with PD was told during the week that if they didn't meet their site start then it would be pushed back to October - ARGH! So I emailed my CSA on Friday to ask if that would also happen to me and her reply was:

Once construction have your file we will commence with in 2 weeks of this, whether that's may or June. I don't know your friends job so I can't really comment on what she has been advised from her Customer service assistant. But be rest assured when we hand your file to construction on the 22nd May we will commence as soon as we can.

I'm thinking that this could be yet another difference with Access v's Prestige and Lifestyle builds OR it's the number of houses they have booked in ready to go in the area's...

So, this means that I should see something happen on site before June 5th!! :D

I drove past my block on the weekend and saw that a few blocks in my stage have finally started to build! Some of them had temporary fencing, I hope the council hasn't changed their regulations about the temp fencing - I don't want yet another cost especially cos I have car rego and insurance due which is going to make another dent in the savings account.

Hopefully this week the permits come in and I get my final house drawings to sign off on.

Possible start date

I just got onto N my CSC and she has been off sick for almost a week! Poor thing :( She didn't sound too good either.

She explained the process a bit more for me. They don't get the permits and the DA approval until about a week after land settlement and they don't order the final working drawings until they receive this, so me waiting for all this to be done sooner rather than later hasn't been worthwhile.

So I have more of an idea of time lines etc now. As settlement is on Tuesday 5th of May, once she has confirmation of that from my solicitor, she will send the file off to the construction area and from there they normally take two weeks to get onto site and their work weeks are Friday to Friday, so I could have a start date of May 22nd!

I've read my loan documents and have a few questions, so I called the bank to make a signing appointment but they told me I need to raise these questions with my mortgage broker - I hope this doesn't cause a delay. Things that are wrong are different LMI value to my original sheet, not the latest interest rate and stamp duty looks to have been calculated on the entire loan amount and not the land value which is a difference of about $12k!

Building contracts are signed!!

Yes, all done :) -phew-

It's great having all these extra detailed drawings of side elevations of everything and having the house in the correct direction on the paper!

My soil tests came back as P class slab -shock- This means that they need to do piers at the back end of the block due to the fill used and then use a H slab - soooooo glad I have fixed site costs!!

My build time is 157 days which is just under 23 weeks. It doesn't fit to the standard 20 weeks due to the slab requirements and my site start is still some time in May soooooo should be done and dusted by the end of October at the latest but if they start at the beginning of May and thing's don't go wrong then August/September could also be a possibility!! :D :D D

A few changes were needed

• Heater hadn't been credited
  
• Tiles allowance needed to be included
  
• Cupboards over fridge needed to be added
  
• Shower rail to bathroom had gone missing
  
• WIR door to be hinged on other side
  
• Door from garage to house hinged on other side
  
• Side setbacks had been written incorrectly
  
• Kitchen drawings to show pull out range hood and cupboard
  
• Kitchen drawings to show glass splashback
  
• Reduce fencing allowance to fit within budget
  

The extra insulation for the 5 star energy rating I have ended up paying for as it was explained it was primarily probably due to the higher ceilings required as part of the estate covenants. I conveyed my frustration about not having this explained by the sales person and they had also reduced the amount from $911 to $806 which was nice and at the end of the day I'm ok with it.

All in all I think it was pretty good :) I got along very well with N and we talked about a few different things and I think it's all going to go well :) I ended up being there for about 4 hrs all up.

Now I just need to sit back and wait for the bank to do their thing.

5 star energy update

So yesterday was my first real issue with the build and I hope that it's the only big one I have (doubtful) as it wasn't much fun for me, but by the end of the night things were ok'ish again.

I spoke to N and basically she said that they never guarantee fixed price for the 5 star energy rating. I explained to her that as someone new to this whole process, I was told by my sales person that I am building on this block of land at a fixed price - I was never told that I could then be hit up for extra cash to ensure that the build complies with 5 star rating. I have been promised a 5 star rated house.
She claims that they allow a set amount for every single house regardless of orientation etc - they don't look at each package individually to allow more or less, but if it comes in at more then the client has to pay it - I'm sure if it comes in less they don't refund the client though Rolling Eyes

I kept trying to stress to her that I was not made aware of this, I was told it was a fixed price and that I would only have to pay for more if I chose to upgrade items myself. I have not chosen to upgrade the insulation, they have been told that it needs doing.

We did however both agree that the sales people need to be making this clear and that it isn't a total fixed price package, it's just fixed price site costs.

I asked her to get her manager to send me an email explaining this as I am not happy about it. Naturally her manager was scheduled to be in a meeting for most of the day but she will try to make sure he contacts me.... is it just me or are their managers ALWAYS in meetings?

Later in the day I got a phone call from P. P explained things in a totally different way to N and in a way that made sense and was understandable. P explained that each house is looked at for each block and are all made to be 5 star energy rated in their fixed prices. He wasn't too familiar with my file, but he thinks that it is most likely due to the window changes. I explained that I added an East facing window to the meals area and I wanted the window on bed 2 moved to where I always thought it was going to be according to all the sales paraphernalia which was different to the detailed floor plans. He is going to find out for me why the upgrade is required and he has told me he will be available on Friday morning to discuss this with me when I am in the PD office. I mentioned that if it was due to changing the window on Bed 2, I don't want to pay for it as their paperwork is misleading and confusing.

P at least explained why it could have come back as more and didn't just say I had to pay it. P also explained that the office was extremely busy at the moment as sales have gone through the roof and that they are getting more staff. I let him know that I had heard quite a number of people were not happy with the (lack of) communication coming out of the office and I again mentioned the level I expect and that I hate being in the dark - it was a really good conversation and I appreciated the phone call.

P also mentioned that PD will take care of all my DA and council approvals and that they have someone specifically in the office that does this. I am so relieved I don't have to worry about any of that! He also said that he needs to get 8 houses started on the ground each week, so once all my paperwork is done and the land is ready to go we should be able to jump ahead of the queue if others aren't ready to go so the build might be able to start early May instead of late May!

5 Star energy rating = FAIL

I got an email from N yesterday about my 5 star rating, due to the orientation of the house on the block it has failed it's 5 star rating and requires an upgrade of the ceiling insulation to R3.5 batts at a cost of $911.
I asked N to confirm that I wasn't required to pay for this as I am doing a fixed price house and land package on a block of land which PD selected and had a list of applicable houses itemised with respective prices for a FIXED PRICE. N came back with something about allowing a certain amount for 5 star rating and anything above the minimum they allow for needs to be paid for by the client - umm how is that fixed price??

I'm going to call the government body today that deals with all this kind of stuff and ask them what they think as I really don't think that I should be paying for this required uppgrade.

Contact has been made

So I ended up calling N @9:30am, no answer, sent an email explaining how concerned I am about the lack of communication so close to the contracts appointment and how I really need answers from her. By 10:50am I still had no contact and she was still not answering her phone so I called reception to make sure she is actually at work - she is. Left a message with reception to get her to call me and @11:30am I got an email from her, finally!

My upgrades have come in at $906, thankfully within budget and the plumbing provision for the water tank to the 2x WC's can be done, but for $610 - I've asked her for clarification on this as others I know are getting it all (including the external power point) for $450.

I've also asked for:

• 2 x double power point to rumpus room along the wall adjoining the laundry spaced to the middle of the length of the wall at the same height as the other power points in the rumpus (300mm AFL)
  
• A double power point added to the internal north wall of the garage, spaced to the middle of the length of the wall from the hallway to the rear access door at the same height as the other power point in the garage (1350 AFL)
  
• Costings of the above
  
• The outside light on the corner of the rumpus room doesn't have a connecting line to the light switch in the laundry - can you please get this light added to the laundry light switch
  
• The cost to get two external junction boxes installed
  
• The plumbing provision terminated and the included double outdoor power point for this to be on the east side of my house, along the meals wall, south of the meals area window. I plan to put the water tank near the down pipe on this blind side wall but north of the HWS.
  

I don't expect to hear back from N again today in regards to this, but I hope to have something by lunch tomorrow

Not Happy Jan

Yesterday morning I emailed N at 8:16am about the plumbing provisions and the cost of my extras and I ended my email with "I look forward to your call and also receiving the detailed costings of my extra's today" as per what she said she would do on Friday.

By 1:30pm I had still heard nothing from her, no call or email, so after trying to call her over a 20-30 minute time frame I sent another email "I really need to get an answer on the below today. I just tried calling and there was no answer. Can you please let me know about the plumbing provision and the cost of my extras by COB today."

If I haven't heard anything from her when I get back from going for coffee soon, I am going to be calling and if she doesn't answer, then I will be calling reception and asking to speak to someone else who can answer my questions.

I have my contract signing on Friday and I need to get all of this stuff sorted as I need to work out the dollar amounts and adjust things accordingly and add extra power points etc too!

Colour and Electricals - Tick!

Well my day at Hopetoun went really well!! I did all my colours in just over an hour and my electricals only took an hour too when each one has you booked in for 2 hrs each!

I started off with the brick colour of Brushwood and then asked the colour consultant what she thought would be a good roof tile and the first one she chose was the one I had as most preferred (barramundi) and then the second one she suggested (sambuca) was also my second one listed - off to a good start so we locked in Barramundi! :) We then went to windows and I picked out Merino and then she asked if I was going to match the garage door, yes, and I went to pick my choice, paperbark, off the wall as she was suggesting paperbark! Garage door is a Panelmasta Caprice (rectangles and not squares).
I'm also getting my gutters/fascia and downpipes to match the window's/garage (her suggestion as I really wasn't sure). I'm also getting my front posts of my portico and the side window next to the front door the same colour. Sliding doors will also match the window frames.
Render to the front of the house is Flood Mud although she had no record me requiring render but she has written it down for me as I know I need it.

We then did paints and I chose Bone for the walls and white for the ceiling and cornices and all the doors and door frames will be bone but in gloss. I also chose Biennale (purple) for my front door inside and out and translucent glass for the door. The side panel of glass to the front door will be clear but I might put something on that myself as it's a lot cheaper to DIY.

As mentioned previously, I'm upgrading the front door lock to include the deadlock in it as a combo, in satin chrome, and I've added a deadlock to the garage door into the house. All my internal doors are the standard flat streamlined ones and standard satin chrome door handles. All the other handles in the house are standard satin chrome bow's, but the ones on the cupboards are bigger than the kitchen and bathroom/laundry ones.

Bench top is quantum quartz - Ice in 20mm (changed to this today). Cabinet doors for kitchen, bathrooms and laundry is Fini Chocolate. Over head kitchen cupboards are Rock Maple and my splashback is now Mocha Magic. Laundry bench top is Laminex Diamond Gloss in square edge.
WC's I've upgraded to a porcelain one. and I've made the shower rose in the main bathroom the same as the ensuite - a shower rail.

Carpet is still Old leather cut pile plush.

My upgrades, all 8 of them, should come in around $700 - $800 or so she thinks.

For my electrical plan, I came in at $1,041 and had put in an allowance of $1,000 which I'm pretty pleased about almost meeting. I didn't get my garage outside lights and I did cut back on a couple of power points but I did get my 3 lights over the bench and 3 extra outside lights (water proof battens)

Did I enjoy it all? Yes! Both of the consultants that helped me commented on how organised I was with everything and said that the appointments were really quick and easy - when they only go for half the allocated time, I guess they must be right.

I also didn't hear back from my CSC until this afternoon by way of an email and not the phone call I requested or the phone call that a different CSC said she would get her to make to me at 8:30 this morning. She also got the details of what I wanted for the water tank plumbing wrong so I have asked her to re-calculate it on what I actually want them to do. She also mentioned that my 5 star rating isn't back yet and that part of my estate covenants includes the ceiling height required to be 2590 when my contract actually has 2550, so I've asked for this to be reviewed as well and the difference reported back to me.

I can't believe I am still awake after only 3 hrs sleep! Oh and I also saw my GP today and I'm on antibiotics for my sinusitis and have steroids to take if progress doesn't start to show in a few days for my asthma (boo!). I really should try to have a nap soon.

One a week

I just put my annual leave in for my building appointments this month - my boss is going to wonder what's going on! Monday 9th is Labour day here in Vic, so a day off then I've put leave in for Wednesday 11th, then the following Friday 20th and then the following Wednesday 25th! I'm not going to have a full week of work after this week until April!

I think I have also finally decided that I am going to get a phone point and power point put into my pantry for my ADSL modem and wifi router. I'm still not sure if I will be able to get ADSL (exchange issues) but one day I will be able to.

Taking the ball and running

After reading about someone's not so unconditional loan approval, I decided to call Choice this morning as I haven't received a letter to say it's done, just verbally, She re-confirmed that I am pre-approved subject to valuation! She did however have concerns about my contract date being on the 27th and finance clause on land expiring on April 8th.

I then decided to run with the ball and call PD myself to speak to my CSC - I got through to her and explained about the above and we have now moved my contract signing date to March 20th to give us an extra week. She also said that it doesn't matter that my tiles appointment is after this - ??

She is also going to be emailing me a copy of the HIA contract for me to look over (hello softcopy!)

I also requested that she put the driveway and fencing allowance back into my contract and asked that the heater be removed and a credit be applied - she isn't sure that this can be done but said that she would talk to management. I nicely said I wanted it removed and a credit applied as I have heard bad things about the standard heater and I want to get the heater and add on aircon done as the same brand for convenience sake. Any idea what I should do if they don't provide a credit for it?

I have a rock

I think my soil tests have been done! I didn't have time to upload the photo's yesterday, but I will tonight :D

I also took a rock from my land... it was just sitting there and well I couldn't resist -blush- LOL I'm silly sometimes! They have also re-done the surveying of the block and all my little bits of wood with the lot numbers are visible and have even bigger sticks next to them with colourful ribbons on them clearly marking the lot edges - I hope I got a lot sign thingy up soon with a sold sticket on it!

I am now officially starting week 3 today and my CSC is still yet to call me and according to my sheet, this week PD should be ordering the 5 star rating and preparing my HIA fixed price contracts - how can they do this w/out all my changes to the insulation etc? I also still need to tell them that I don't want their heater installed.
By now I am meant to have had the opportunity to review my HIA contract and my CSC should have called - neither have happened. Hrmmm....

I also got a letter yesterday from Choice Home Loans saying that my file is now in head office and giving the name of the person who is now my contact and that I should get a letter confirming pre-approval once that's through, well I've been told it's through so I want my piece of paper!

Kitchen Lights

I'm not sure what to do with my kitchen lights. I kind of like the idea of pendants hanging down over the bench top, but then I also like the idea of directional lights on the one board type thing and then if I do either of these, do I keep the existing light. I could do two pendants even spaced over the bench and then have the existing light which would sit in the middle.

In other news, I just got a phone call from PD Access! My paperwork is now at head office and I have a CSC assigned and she should be calling me next week and I am booked in to sign my final contracts on March 27th!! Which is only 6 weeks from the start of week 1. I explained about the finance situation and needing it all done and sorted by April 8th and she said they will do everything they can to help.

I should also get a phone call today or Monday from Hopetoun to make an appointment for my colours and electrical etc.

YaY!

Site Start

I've just been informed that my site start is set for May! Unfortunately I don't have a date in may as it will only ever be a month site start but at contract I will get an exact finish date according to PD

House Plans

I scanned the standard detailed house plans today - High and Low res version can be found here - House Plans

House plans

This morning I went and met up with my Porter Davis sales person, F. She went though some paperwork with me and gave me copies of the detailed house plans with all the measurements etc. It's so nice seeing the detailed plans, working out the sizes of everything. It's also starting to get more enjoyable now and less stressful which I am glad about.

I will scan all the plan's tomorrow at work so that I can put them up online.

I've also decided that I will be getting quotes for the driveway, fencing and air-conditioner not through Porter Davis, which means I need to have them done before the building contracts are signed as I need to include them with the papers given to the bank for the final approval.

H also came with me today and had a few good suggestions about the house, frosted glass on the bathroom and ensuite windows, extra power points etc. I'm starting to build a list of things I need changed and added. I also decided today to put a window on the meals area wall for a bit more natural light, I will mark that on the maps once I've scanned them. I also took H up to the block to show it to her and she liked the position of it and the tree's too :)