Monday 8 December 2014

All fenced in!

After a few months of what felt like living in a fish bowl, we've had our fence installed!
Whilst it is a shame to lose some of the great views we have of all the land around, it is only a matter of time before we have a lot of work commencing around us, and is nice to have some privacy.

Super happy with the end result and build quality!




Sunday 9 November 2014

Just a bit of grass!

After a long absence from this blog, thought it was about time to update it a bit!
The past few months have just been all about landscaping. Which includes building what feels like the great wall of china which still inst finished, digging trenches and adding drainage and pits, to getting about 7 tonne of back fill for the wall, and the finally this weekend, soil, garden beds and grass for the top section of our retaining wall!

We also have our fence booked in for the first week of December which we cant wait to have as we feel very open!

Anyway, here are a couple of pics

4.5m3 of soil

all the soil leveled and garden beds in with our Yukkas.

Grass! Sapphire Buffalo. Felt like we would never have grass!

Wednesday 30 July 2014

Not bad for a weekend's work!

Last weekend was finally retaining wall day/weekend.
We had the lovely luck of no rain for a month and then got hit with constant rain... which is always good fun when pouring footings!

Never mind a bit of water, we kicked on, and completed half of it (about 30m of the 60 to do)

Before this happened, we ended up getting the block cut to make the retaining walls not so high, which was a bit over our budget, but made such a difference!! At least we now have some natural light in our back two rooms.

Really happy so far with the look, and now have something to keep me busy over the next couple of weekends!
The block getting cut - much flatter after 13 loads of dirt removed.


Proof it was actually me on the tools!

Front wall done, just the back and side to go

Our lovely mud it in the corner after rain!

Saturday 12 July 2014

Getting there!

Well, 1 week in, and its starting to get less crazy here! spent so much time unpacking and sorting everything out, but we are pretty much finished everything inside!

Landscaping starts Monday with a bit more of the block getting cut and leveled, and then retaining walls starting in a couple of weeks!

Tomorrow's task - start hanging some pictures - the walls are very bare!!

Here are a few more happy snaps!


Looking towards the front door and kitchen

Close-up of the kitchen - plus my clock that I bought about 8 months ago!

Main Bathroom

Looking from the kitchen towards our living and alfresco

Master Bedroom - only a couple of boxes left!

Looking from the front door.

Saturday 28 June 2014

just a few more pics!

After a long day yesterday of fixing up skirting boards and waiting for carpet to be laid, we are pretty much all ready to move in!
Here are a few more updated pics.

just a bit of dust still on the bench!

Our carpet - its so nice and soft, especially compared to the crap in our rental property

Driveway has been completely finished now - and we have a letterbox!

Our dining pendant - Hopefully I will stop walking into it once the dining table goes in!

A slightly cleaner bench top and our fridge

Thursday 26 June 2014

Floors, Driveway and Electrical done!

Today we had our bamboo installed - I've only seen a couple of photos from the installer, but Im pretty thrilled with how it looks! Just needs a good clean now!

We've also had our electrical done and our driveway poured!

Now just carpet on Saturday and done! well the inside.. still retaining walls and landscaping to go!

Shot of our driveway from our neighbour yesterday

From the back door looking toward the kitchen - our dusty bamboo

Looking toward the front door - bit cleaner this patch!

Saturday 21 June 2014

Splashback

We have had our splash back installed! We went with silver backed glass, and we have been worrying since day one if it was the correct choice, and I'm pretty happy with the end result!

The formwork for our stairs has started, and hopefully will get poured Monday followed by the driveway.

One of my favourite views from this place is out of the window in the media room. We won't have this view forever as the vacant land will be subdivided in the coming years


Now just to wait til next weekend when our flooring is all done!



Wednesday 18 June 2014

Handover - 17/6/14

So after 17 months since we bought our block of land, being certain that we would build with Clarendon and then Beechwood, and after exactly 16 weeks to the day since the block was cut - we have had handover!

We were extremely pleased with the finish of our home, there was two really minor paint defects and 3 panes of glass that need to be replaced that are scratched, but overall they have met our expectations.

Only a couple of issues to be resolved include;
Still no splashback - apparently will be in on Monday
Gas not connected - Plumber was there later that afternoon to do the final connection

We still need to have appliances and our ducted AC installed, and that will be happening in the next week and a half before we move in.

Now to the fun part of organising our Bamboo, electrical, carpet, blinds and driveway. The day worked out perfect with all of our tradies doing the walk throughs. All of their work will be commencing in the next day or two.

We have also lodged our plans with council to change our retaining wall layout as we want to cut a bit more of the backyard to have less of a steep wall. Hopefully that doesnt take too long to get approved.

Just a couple of shots from the inside, but really didnt bother getting many, even forgot to get one of the front without a fence - no point until it is all finished!

Our Ensuite - yes im sitting on the loo, but only for a good photo angle!

Ensuite shower head and nook. We have one of these nooks in our main bath also

Our kitchen - already messy - and where our splashback should be :(

Our main bathroom - not a great photo.. thanks Apple!

Friday 13 June 2014

Occupancy certificate!

Got our interim occupancy cert today which means we can send to the bank to get a cheque to handover on Tuesday! Going to be a few sleepless nights coming up. Lucky there is some soccer to keep me company!

Saturday 7 June 2014

Just a bit of glass to go!

Went up today to have a final look before handover - 10 days to go!

Plumbers, Painters and Electricians have finished and carpenters have done their final touches. Everything is in now including all power points, taps, door stops and locks!

All we are waiting on now is the shower screens a good clean and that damn glass splashback! We were a bit nervous about our colours, but from looking through the windows, we are very happy!

We decided to also spoil ourselves and buy a new fridge, which means our current tiny one becomes the beer fridge in the garage!

Here is just a couple of new pics
Finally got to see the garage in person!

A very bad photo of the kitchen from outside the glass. A nice blank wall ready for a splashback!

Our front door all painted and with our handle installed.

Monday 2 June 2014

Final Invoice received - Handover confirmed June 17th

Today we received our final invoice - all as expected with the variations received except for extra scaffolding needed which added a further $1200.

We also had our handover date/PCI confirmed for June 17th, which is a bit annoying that it has been pushed back, but apparently it is our glass splashback that is delaying it..

We are still aiming for a move in date of June 27th, but leaves it very tight to get flooring, electrical and driveway sorted!

Let the final 2 week count down begin!

Saturday 31 May 2014

Blinds ordered, garage door in!

We were undecided as to what to do for our window coverings, and walked into Accent blinds to see what they had. An hour later we had left a deposit on roller blinds for all the windows, apart from the 3 windows in the master room which we will be getting plantation shutters.

They need to wait til we have handover so they can measure and then need about 2 months to produce. Very happy to have that sorted, and just one thing less to worry about.

We also had our garage door finally installed this week and have had painters on site. They should be finished in the next couple of days.

Now the fun of packing has begun... It's all starting to feel real now!

Here is a late afternoon photo from our neighbour.

Monday 26 May 2014

PCI Date!!

As expected, we got a call from our SS today who gave us a provisional date for June 12th for Handover.
Allworth's setup is to do a walk through, if all good, hand over a check and walk away with some keys!

If all goes to plan that will be 15 weeks and 2 days of a 17 week contract plus rain delays!

Painters did start today, and should be finished mid next week!!!

Guess we better start packing :)

Sunday 25 May 2014

Locked out and painters on site!

Just a quick update - went up this morning to see if we could get in to measure up for blinds, but we are certainly locked out! Least we we able to measure up for the roller blinds that will be in the back rooms and living, will just have to wait until we are in to measure up for the plantations in the main bed and media room.

We were hoping to see the bench top, but it was all covered with drop sheets. Our glass splash back still needs to be installed also.

From what we could see through windows, it also looks like all the tiling is complete. This includes the hob around the bathtub, laundry and front porch.

Good news is that the painters have at least dropped off all their gear, and Im assuming they will start on Monday (tomorrow). With any luck, we may get a garage door soon too!

Really getting close now, I cant imagine how they would need more than a couple of weeks until they're done. Expecting a call from our SS tomorrow who should hopefully be able to give us an indication of a PCI date.

Now off to order the blinds!

Friday 23 May 2014

Getting close!

Just a small update, received notification from allworth that the kitchen is finished.
Our tiler was on site on Friday, but from photos looks like the front porch is done, and from our visit last week shouldn't have too much left to do.

We also have steps in our garage. Talking to the builder on Friday they have said allow a week for painting and another for cleaning. Will find out on Monday a provisional PCI date, hopefully to happen in 2-3 weeks.

With at least 2 weeks of work after handover for electrical, flooring and driveway, certainly keen to get in now! With 4 weeks until my birthday, that would be the perfect present!

Friday 16 May 2014

We have a kitchen!

Had a quick walk through whilst meeting with our driveway guy today, and again have been impressed by how much has been done in the past 5 days!

The tiler was on site and just about finished the laundry at 10am this morning, and with only that and the 2 bathrooms to do, he shouldn't need too long.

We have also had all of our kitchen and bathroom cabinetry installed, all of our doors and skirting are installed, aswell as a front and back door! Still no garage door, but im sure that will be soon!

Looks like all we need now is final electrical, benchtops and paint! We havn't got a PCI date as yet, but im hoping they dont need more than about 3-4 weeks.

We also worked out pricing for our back retaining wall which works out just under $5k... bit over what we had budgeted, but it is about 32m in total!

Here are a few more pics from today;

Back (Laundry) Door

Our front door - will eventually be painted dark grey

Main bathroom bathtub and vanity - I love our floating vanities!

Our kitchen!! I cant wait ti have so much space for cooking at storage! Will look even better when the ceaserstone gets installed and glass splash back!

Looking into our media room - we have double glass doors for this room!
Perfect for my new toy that I bought today - a Sony 55" 3D, LED LCD!

Our pantry in our WIP

More storage! Our main bathroom vanity

Looking past the kitchen towards our living area. It doesn't show in the photo, but its so light in there!!

Tuesday 13 May 2014

Nearly kitchen time!

Just a small update today, spoke with our SS today and he said our kitchen is starting tomorrow, with the chippies working today on doors.
Also will have our tilers starting next week!

Feels like it is getting so close now :)

Sunday 11 May 2014

Gyprock Done!

After 2 weeks of not seeing the house in the flesh, it was great to see it in person for the first time with the scaffolding down.

We were able to go for a walk through today and were surprised to see all the gyprock and cornices finished! They still need to do the cornice in the garage, but all the walls are sanded and ready for paint.

Not sure what will be next, but would assume wet area tiles, and then cabinetry. With our contract extensions, we are due for handover mid July, but thinking they are on track still for end of June!

Anyway, here is a massive amount of happy snaps!


Main bathroom where the bath tub will sit.

Crappy iphone pic - but looking from the dining area toward the living.

Best feature of the house - the WIP

2nd most important feature - mark ups for our data and AV points in the media room.

One thing we have always lacked - storage - and this is our store room!

Looking from the garage out to the street
Our 'water glimpse' from the master bedroom
Looking in from the front door
We have a decent ceiling height in the garage due to our drop edge beam.
Roof complete with no scaff!

Our ensuite shower