So sorry for such a long time between posts, but here's how it went down...
Did our New Home Presentation. A few globes were burnt in the ceiling lights. Told the foreman. All good, he'd replace them. Paid for a double power point in the microwave hole, got a single. No worries, he'd replace that.
Finance happened and we were called in to pick up the keys! The girls at work very quickly organised a celebration before I left. (Thanks Michaela!)
Last Minute Celebration
Picking Up The Keys
The Moment I Opened The Door
"One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory" - Rita Mae Brown
I am alive. The house is still standing. I will update shortly. I wanted you to know that I know I haven't updated in a long while. It's not because I didn't want to. It's because I've been snowed over. Completely and totally. There is heaps more to share, but I've only now been able to get my head above water. Thanks for hanging in.
While visiting the house for the New Home Presentation, I did see some sod that was put out next to the big rubbish bin. I wondered if any of it was worth saving, but really didn't have time to investigate any further that morning. I figured it would be stolen yesterday, so didn't put any more thought into it. Much to our surprise, it was still there this morning.
Our Dogs on the Land Before the Build
This time, instead of visiting the home for progress, I wanted to make sure the sod was kept moist, to give the roots a chance to set, so we headed over with the hose and sprinkler. Unfortunately, we didn't have the right connection for the hose and when we saw that we could rescue some of the sod, we took a short trip to Bunnings. I was quite the fashion statement - with my Timberlands muddied up to my ankles, leggings, a skirt and big jumper full of dirt from carrying the sod to the back, and windblown hair even Medusa would call wild.
Sprinkler on the Front Lawn
We came back with a timer for the hose and some soil and top soil to put under the new sod. I'm not convinced it will take, but I'll do my best. The reason it's so important to me is my dogs! I'm quite anxious about the fact that they won't have a fenced yard to enjoy when we move (at least not at the rate my neighbours are moving). And even if they did, there's not a blade of grass for them to walk on. At least now, for the moment, we can put their leashes on and bring them onto the grassy patch to go to the bathroom instead of on muck. It's not much, but it's something, until we get settled.
"Money can buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wag its tail."
We met our Site Supervisor very early this morning, at 7:30 am, for our New Home Presentation. The driveway had been poured; the lawn and front landscaping was also completed. I am just hoping the grass and plants have a fighting chance - there was FROST on the lawn this morning!
This was the first time I had been in the home since I met the guy to measure up for the blinds, yet I felt like I had seen it all before because I had stalked the build so much that I don't think I missed a beat.
We turned on the taps in the sinks, showers and tub. We flushed the toilets and checked for leaks everywhere and found none. We plugged the phone charger into every power point to make sure they were connected and working properly - they were.
We checked for all of the extra power points we requested, on top of what was included. I had also requested an exhaust fan in the laundry room, the kind you have in the bathroom, to draw the moisture out of the air when the dryer is on.
After all of my efforts to find fault and possibly not sign off on the home until everything was to par, the only thing that wasn't right was an extra power point missing in the kitchen island. The site supervisor made note of it and we signed off on the home. All that is left now is the bank's valuation and as soon as the final payment clears, we'll get called in to pick up the keys at Homebuyers Centre's Melbourne head office, in the Docklands. Not far now!
Driveway and Front Landscaping
Front Landscaping With FROST on Mulch!
Home Theatre Room
Front of House
Laundry Room and Garage Door
Laundry Room
Guest Room to Study Hallway
Guest Room
Study
Main Bathroom
Bath
Master Doors and Wardrobe
Master Ensuite
Dining Room
Dining Room Sliding Doors
Living Room
Kitchen
Exhaust, Stove and Oven
"Logic rules for presentation, not thinking."
- Mason Cooley
Brett called today and advised that they were finishing up the construction today and the Regional Manager would have to visit the house next week to inspect on HBC's behalf and give his final blessing. The reason for Brett's call was to set up a time for the New Home Presentation. It will be on Friday, August 15th.
I have to remember to bring something electric (a phone charger is probably the easiest) to test all of the outlets. I think they have globes in all of their fixtures, I'll have to double check. Otherwise I'll need that too, to check that the lights work. I will remember to bring the HIA Contract and the Addendum to the Contract. Maybe a checklist too, in easy to read plain language, organised room by room. We paid for quite a few extra light fittings and electrical outlets, so I want to make sure they're all there!
I wouldn't think the landscaping would be done by now, but he's got enough time to get it done by the time we visit. We'll visit the house this weekend, as we always do. Can't wait!
"There will be a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning."
- Louis L'Amour
My weekly update, from my Client Liaison Coordinator, was the following:
"Brett has advised that this week we have the top coat of the render to be completed. The House Clean is due to happen over the weekend. The flyscreens and the internal caulking are scheduled for next week."
This is all wrapping up very quickly. As we arrived today, I noticed a dump of soil on where our driveway will be. I'm assuming that's next.
Soil for Driveway
One thing I noticed (and I'm so happy about) is that there is sunshine everywhere!
Sunshine From Two Directions!
Sun Coming From Everywhere!
Foxtel and Powerpoint at 150cm For TV
There are a few things we noticed that still need to be done. There may be more, considering this is only what I see from the outside. I will let them know right away, so our signing off of the home, at our New Home Presentation, isn't delayed.
Left Door Edge Needs Paint
Porch Ceiling and Cornice Need Paint
Recycled Water in the Back Needs Tap
From what I can piece together, once they are done with the house, the Regional Construction Manager completes a quality inspection. The builders (HBC) then book a New Home Presentation, which is when we do a walk through with the Site Supervisor. If we have any items which we would like followed up, Brett (our Site Supervisor) will have 7 days to complete them, and then we need to reinspect.
Once we sign off that we're happy with the house, Jasmine (our Client Liaison Coordinator) chases up our compliance certificates and applies for our Occupancy permit. Their accounts department can then raise our final invoice. As soon as that is raised, Jasmine will email us both the Compliance Certificate and Occupancy Permit to pass onto our lender. The bank will then contact Brett (the site supervisor) to complete the valuation of the property before release the funds. We will also need to prove that we have insured the home, as of the date the final payment is being made. That payment can take up to 10 days to clear. Once that has happened, Homebuyers Centre (the builders) arrange a time for us to go to their office in the Docklands to collect our keys!
Since we're so close to the end, we took care of one of the most important things - we've arranged our NBN this weekend! This is a new kind of internet broadband that is mandatory to each home in our new estate. The download speeds are incredible, so I'm happy with that. We've bundled that with our landline and both of our mobile phones as well as our Foxtel cable in both the lounge room and master bedroom.
Way back before our land titled, Telstra organised an NBN information session for all of the people building in our estate. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse, so I've ported my mobile over from Vodafone to them as well. That was always bound to happen. Phizer's still waiting for a few messages I texted him last month.
For those of you reading from overseas, this is Wikipedia's definition of Telstra:
Telstra Corporation Limited is Australia's largest telecommunications and media company which builds and operates telecommunications networks and markets voice, mobile, internet access, pay television and other entertainment products and services.
NBN Video
As we won't be taking our old sofa, we booked a hard rubbish pick up for tomorrow. Unfortunately, they only take 2m cubed. I realised there is so much more I can get rid of, so I'm planning on having them pick up another load in about 2 weeks, but I've made a big enough dent that I've basically got a whole room to put my boxes in.
I am now shopping very seriously for a surveillance system for the home. New estates are infamous for being burgled. Usually, they're after the oven, stove, and the hot-water system. Unfortunately, I am told that most of the time it's tradesmen who installed them who steal them. For this reason, these items are now not installed until we take possession of the house, which means it's my problem if they're stolen. So now I'm looking for a few exterior cameras as well as a nice system for inside. Wireless would be best. They are now quite advanced and I can watch my house on my iPhone. Hopefully, the worse I'll see is the dog chewing my beautiful new cushion.
This time next week, I'm hoping I have really great news to report about the status about our build. It will be great to see the driveway and landscaping done!
This week was all about flooring. Most of it has been installed and the carpet underlay is down in the two minor bedrooms and little hallway between those and the main bathroom. The OCD in me really wants to get in and wipe the dust off those new floors - it's killing me!
Kitchen
Hallway
Master
Home Theatre
Guest Bedroom
Study
When the foreman contacted me on Tuesday, he said the mirrors and shower screens would be installed next week, but I was pleasantly surprised to see they were already up today.
Master Mirror Wardrobe Doors
Bathroom Mirror and Shower Screen
Ensuite Shower
I noticed the shelves were installed in the pantry and the door handle had been installed. I told hubby this morning, "We could live in there as is." The fact that there are shelves in the pantry really means we're at the tail end of the build.
Pantry
And speaking of doors, now that the deadlock and door handle have been installed on the front door, I'm less upset about the height of the original hole. It looks nice.
Front Door with Proper Handle and Deadbolt
The foreman had also mentioned that another coat of render would be applied to the garage surround. It needs at least one more coat, but I'm happy so far.
Front of House
The search for a fencer continues. I think they're mostly very lazy. Even worse, I have a request that's complicating it slightly. I would like a plinth under the fence, so there is no space between the bottom of the Colorbond and the ground. I noticed my back neighbour has done one, post original installation. That makes me very happy. Notice the huge gap under my side neighbour's back fence:
Gap Under Neighbour's Fence
I'm not really sure what else is left to do in the house, with exception to the carpet. The junction boxes need to be set up where our exterior lights will be. Three on the front, one on the back, one outside the laundry room, one in the alfresco area. Aside from that, we chose to put front landscaping in the package so that will need to be done along with the driveway and mailbox.
Landscape Plan
Colori Coloured Driveway Concrete in "Stone" Colour
Dulux White Duck is the colour of the render on the garage surround and this is our mail box that will also be in that colour.
Dulux White Duck
Very much looking forward to next week. It's getting very very real.
"What sort of sap doesn't know by now that picture perfect beauty is all done with smoke and mirrors anyway?" - Julie Burchill
