Plan of attack

Well there's a lot to be done before the move starts so here's a list of what's scheduled so far:

• this weekend - more packing and sorting out anything which we can throw away and not take to the new house
• Monday 1st or Tuesday 2nd - collect final cheque for builder
• Wednesday 3rd - meet J our SS for final inspection - take cheque to Wisdom Narrellan for hand over of keys etc
• Wednesday 3rd PM - move G & L to new house
• Thursday 4th - delivery of appliances - oven/stove, dishwasher, HWS
  
• Thursday 4th - fitting of blinds
• Thursday 4th - air conditioning install and commissioning
• Thursday 4th - move more stuff over
• Thursday 4th - G & L install TV antenna
  
• Friday 5th - plumber comes to install HWS, oven/stove and dishwasher
• Friday 5th - move more stuff over
• Saturday 6th - BIG MOVE - removalists booked 8.30am start
• Sunday 7th - continue with moving stuff over/unpacking stuff
• Monday 8th - Telstra connect phone
• Monday 8th/Tuesday 9th - unpacking of boxes etc and cleaning of QH house

I'm sure there's other stuff which has been arranged or needs to be done (ie sleep, eat etc) but I can't remember at the moment ..... just stay tuned.

Council bureaucracy at its finest

Unfortunately whilst all steam ahead to move in next week....BCC has rejected our DA for our retaining walls/fences.

Yesterday (in the pouring rain) we met with R our landscaper on site to try and sort out some ideas for him to present to BCC as alternatives. R will personally go and meet with the BCC officer today to show him photos of the cut and fill and the issues we have to contend with and hope to have some answers later today/tomorrow.

The frustrating this is we are spending time and money in trying to comply with BCC's requirements however many other landowners in our local area appear to have constructed retaining walls and fences which would not comply with Council.

ATTENTION all peoples who are looking at building a new home....while your builder may lodge a DA which allows for particular cut and fill levels on your block, when your neighbours commence building on their blocks which adjoing yours, their cut and fill levels may have a detrimental affect on your plans for landscaping and also on the cost of landscaping.

Stay tuned for updates on landscaping issues.

PCI Inspection Today & Hand Over Date Arranged

Hey peoples....this morning G, D & L spent a leisurely couple of hours with J our SS going through every room and blue flagging any little defect/imperfection our combined 8 eyes could find.

The issues we did find are for the most part cosmetic - paint defects, gyprock probs etc....nothing major which is absolutely fantastic.

So the great news is we get our keys on 3 NOVEMBER 2010. 10am on 3rd we will meet with J at the house - another walk thru to see if everything picked up today has been done, we will then show him the cheque for Wisdom, he will hand us a set of keys - we will then take the cheque off to Wisdom at Narellan, complete any paperwork they require and receive the remainder of the keys.

So apart from fixing up defects found today, the following needs to be done:

• further painting in bathroom

• sealing around all tiles and vanities
• staining of handrail to stairs - must say, we are very happy with the handrail - looks great
• installation of door handles and locks
• thorough clean inside (once all works completed)
• thorough clean to outside of home (no thanks to Westminster who are builder next door - their brickie has thrown mortar all over our walls, gutters, roof etc)
• backyard clean up - removal of builder's materials - broken brickes, tiles, general rubbish
• removal of port-a-loo - no we don't wish to have an outside toilet
• removal of construction fence

As for landscaping and fencing, R our Landscaping Contractor is waiting to get DA approval from Council - once he has this, he will be able to make a start on site - hopefully before Wisdom remove all the dirt which has been dug out for the driveway - this dirt will be extremely useful for fill in the back yard - saves us spending money on dirt.

Our lovely neighbours on the left hand side are moving in from this weekend and as they have young children are keen to get the fence up ASAP - so hopefully DA has issued or will issue any day and R can then get someone out to start on site to atleast get left hand side fence done.

So after today's fantastic news, I've made a few phone calls:

1. garbage bins will be delivered around 3 Nov
2. blinds will be installed on 4 Nov
3. removalist booked for Sat 6 Nov

Between 3 and 6 Nov - Geoff will move over to house and we will also move a mattress, fridge, clothes, boxes and smaller stuff - we will save the furniture and larger appliances for the removalists.

For our family this has been a very long 14 months of renting....we will be very glad to be in our brand new home.

Blog again soon.

Update

Since our last blog:

• tiling to main downstairs floors completed;
• insulation fitted;
• air conditioning completed - despite a minor hiccup with cutting of grills;
• upstairs floor sanded;
• electricals completed - despite a couple of issues with positioning of light fittings;
• plumbing completed;
• gyprock repairs completed;
• shower screens measured;
• downpipes connected;

What's left to be done before handover:

• shower screen installation
• carpets to be laid
• handrails to stairs to be fitted
• wardrobe and pantry fittings
• thorough clean up inside and outside
• driveway and alfresco area

Practical completion inspection booked for Tuesday 26 October and handover should be sometime either on or or before 5 November 2010.

Not long now......

Photos - part 4

Kitchen update - following installation of splashback and rangehood

These are the main floor tiles - delivered today before laying commenced

Entry ceiling - downlights installed

Ensuite - looking in towards shower - feature tile strip - same design in main bathroom shower

Photos - part 3

Photos - part 2

Downstairs powder room

Main upstairs bathroom - vanities

Main upstairs bathroom - frame for bath

Photos - part 1

Under the stairs

Up the stairs

Kitchen - gap under window is where the freestanding oven/stove goes

Wider view of kitchen

Update

Hello again....we are on the homeward stretch but not yet been given a handover date.

Since last blog:

• tiling in bathrooms, laundry completed;
• toilets and bath installed;
• majority of plumbing completed;
• electricians back in - installed alarm, power points, exhaust fans, IXL Tastics, rangehood, light outlets, downlights;
• tiling to main downstairs floors commenced - hope to be finished on Tuesday

Met with J our SS on Friday - unfortunately there has been an issue between gyprockers/electricians - no marks on ceilings as to where wiring for lighting is which will lead to repairs to gyprock. Also, step in pantry not correct - needs to be fixed.

Next week:

• tiling to main downstairs floors to be completed;
• insulation to be fitted;
• air conditioning to be completed;
• upstairs floor sanding;
• electricals to be completed;
• plumbing to be completed;
• gyprock repairs;
• hopefully - measurements will be taken for shower screens so these can be installed asap.

Once the above has been done, cleaners can then come back in and do a thorough clean before painters come in again.

Last word from R our landscaper, is that our DA is in neighbour consultation stage which will finish on 13 October and approval should issue within a week - hopefully R will be available to commence landscaping works asap after approval issued.

Perhaps we should start the packing yet again!!!