The Big Move

Sorry for the delay once again - things just keep getting busier. We have our keys! Floorboard and carpet installation is organised for next Tues and Wed 7th and 8th of Sept, and the big move date is set for Saturday, 11th of Sept.

We have settlement of our current house on the 20th of Sept, which will allow us to get Stormwater, Tiling, AirConditioning Unit installation,  Driveway, Fencing and Blinds organised soon after. We are in a bit of a catch 22 at the moment with waiting for settlement to access money, but needing things ready for when we move in, but needing to move before settlement. We'll get there. We always do.

Only 9 more weeks until little bub is here. Hard to believe how time has flown.

Will update with photos soon.

Rest in Peace

Grandpa - although you will never get to visit inside our house, we will be sure to take many happy memories of you there with us. We love you very  much.

So much has happened over the past month since my last post.

• Both my Grandpa's were admitted to hospital for aggressive cancers which were only discovered recently. Unfortunately, my dad's dad lost his battle, but he is now at rest without further pain.
• Little bubs is fighting fit, with the 19 week ultrasound going well. It is kicking all the time and the obstetrician has supported that it will be a very active baby. D will be happy with that.
• Back at school I completed my AST1 (Advanced Skill Teacher) which is a process that allows for recognition of the strengths and skills I bring to the job.
• Our current house is still on the market. Seems like the interest is there, people are just being cautious with interest rates hovering, an election coming up and a lower demand in general. We are hoping a couple interested parties who will return again this weekend for an open inspection may actually put pen to paper.

Our beautiful Majestic is now nearing completion. The final fixings, painting, tiling, plumbing are all complete. Our 2nd Electrician is doing the final fix this week, leaving only the clean up to take to place. We have been given a walk through date of the 26th of July and Handover 1st of August. We just need to confirm with our work places for time off in the afternoon for this to happen.

Anyhow, here are some pics...

Beautiful stained front doors

Vandalised front doors (paint tins left in mini-skip)

Front of house (render finished painting, balcony complete)

Electrical Hub (in garage)

Grand Entry

We are now looking forward to the big move and not looking forward to all the extra jobs that need to be organised - carpets, floorboards, driveway, front fence, water tank...Busy Busy Busy... :-)

Lots of Action

Since my last post, there has been lots of action on site

• all tiling
• painting
• installation of powerpoints
• installation of downlights/heat lamps/outdoor lighting
• bathroom vanities installed
• balcony rail put on

Today all hands were on deck, with the Electricians, Plumbers, Tilers, Painters and Site Superviser all there. We have been given an approximate completion date for the end of July, which is exciting news. We will still have carpets, tiling, floor boards to install before moving in, but just knowing and being able to have a rough plan of time frame is wonderful.

We are glad we put our house on the market when we did, it just means having to live immaculately for all the open inspections, so lots of tidying and cleaning all the time. (Part of the reason for such a delay in updates)

So here's the photos...

(Family Room)

(Ensuite 2)

(Main Bedroom Ensuite)

(Ktichen) 

P.S. I go for my 19 week Ultrasound this Friday.

Other news (as promised)

Sorry for the long delay (as mentioned in the last post, we have been busy with preparing to sell the current house we live in). But...with no further ado...

I'm pregnant. Yay! Due 4th November 2010

Front Doors - We love them!

After a busy week, I finally have time to provide an update. Last week our gorgeous front doors were installed. They are yet to be stained, but we love them already!

From the inside

Ceiling speaker holes cut

Another view of the grand stairs

These pictures are actually from over a week ago. Haven't had a chance to go past the house this past week as we are in the process of putting our current house on the market. Our real estate agent came around last night and we signed all the contracts ready for sale. Selling our current house has become a matter of priority with another building invoice received bringing the build to 90% completion. Still looking forward to hearing an approximate building completion date.

Stairs, Kitchen, Roller Doors -Lots of Action :-)

With no work expected other than waterproofing of wet areas, we were greatly suprised during the week to see a great list of additions having taken place.

Kitchen cupboards installed

Gas meter installed

All doors (internal and front entry) delivered

Roller Doors Installed

and...

Grand Entry Staircase Installed

(note in the background you can see the vanities for the upstairs ensuites)

It was such an exciting day to see all this done in one day. Apparently once the waterproofing is complete the tiler will be in. We have emailed the builder asking an approximate completion date because from our point of view, there musn't be a lot left to do.

Oh and one more thing happened during the last week too, which I will share over the weekend when I get time, so don't forget to check back soon :-)

P.S. All internal photos were taken through dirty windows so sorry if there is glare or it looks like poor quality.

Gyprocking

Gyprocking now looks complete. We're guessing the next stage is to pull the electrical wires through. Although it makes it feel so much more like a house and really defines each room, we've just posted one photo as all the photos look so much the same.

(Taken from the kitchen area overlooking dining and family rooms)

Insulation

Last Wednesday 31-3-10, we had a walk through to check all the electrical work had been completed. Although there were a couple minor things that need addressing, all in all everything is looking good. On Thursday, we had a second walk through with the 2nd Electrician - J from Vision Living. I really can't recommend these guys enough as they have been so thorough with everything and ever so helpful. All the coloured cables are a sample of Vision's work.

While we had our walk through, the insulation was going in around us. Wow, what a difference 1 hour makes to the look of a place.

Gyprocking is scheduled to begin tomorrow (yes, even on a public holiday). We have our fingers crossed they have the last of the electrical fix ups sorted before the walls begin otherwise they might be making it more difficult on themselves.

We are so happy to see things progressing at a steady rate again!

Something to share once more.

Render complete (although still needing painting) and garage roof complete.

1st Fix Electrical for all 240v work is now completed (although these pics are progress shots)

The 1st Fix for all the Home Automation work should be completed this coming week too, with a scheduled walk through this Wednesday. Gyprocking was due to start on Tuesday, but that will be delayed a couple of days.

Electrical Resolution

If all goes to plan... (after a meeting today with the State Manager and Construction Manager) we should have

• the electrical variation signed off tomorrow
• the electrical returned as part of the contract
• the electrical covered by insurance
• a retraction of the 19 days extension in time
• electrical work commencing on site on Monday.

We are feeling happy once more. Just need to sign on the dotted line.

Electrical Report Sent...

...to Head Office today. Fingers crossed for the outcome we're after.

Electrical Options

This week we continued to follow up our Electrical options. We have tried to source Insurance so we can work with the Electricians independently, but have kept coming up against a brick wall. Currently we are awaiting responses from 3 different sources to see if we can get covered, but also (with thanks to Dad) have another idea to try out when the working week starts. We hope to have this all sorted out this week. (1 year since our first electrical meeting)

On site, the bottom level is now almost completely rendered and the frame for the garage roof has now been completed. It doesn't seem like there is now much left for the exterior to be completed.

We have contacted a new Independent Inspector after the last one became uncontactable. We had previously given him all our plans but then did not hear boo from him (over 3 weeks now, after 3 emails and 6 phone messages left on his phone). The new one turns out a bit cheaper, so that is a bonus.

The week of NOTHINGNESS!

Nothing at all was done this week...
...except us chasing up the electrical work once again and...
another extension in time to the build - we now are up to a 19 day extension. (Never mind that the electrician is in hospital - the delays are clearly caused by us as written in the extension request)

More time to save money to pay for it all hey :-)

New Look

The scaffolding came down during the week. Our house has a new look now that you can actually see it.

The renderers should be back this coming week to start on the lower level. Meanwhile, we will also continue trying to sort out the Electrical. We may now go through the Electricians independently (i.e. without the builder margins) but this means sorting out independent insurance. After yet another request for extension in time (now 13 days, for us delaying works), we will be putting in an official complaint to Head Office, outlining the delays and providing documentation showing how the delays have not been caused by US.  Fingers crossed that maybe this week the Electrical will be sorted out once and for all (12 months since first meeting with the Electrician).

Top Level Render Painted

Sorry for the delay in updates. The pics should help tell the story.

Temporary front doors at Lock-Up

Garage to Kitchen door

1st Fix Air Conditioning

Top Level Render Painted (Paperbark)

(The painter worked on a Saturday, so we were really pleased to see things happening. We are also extremely happy with our colour selection even though it looks more cream in these photos that what it really is.)

We met with the 2nd Electrician from Vision Living on Friday evening and feel like we are really close to being able to finally sign off on everything in that area. Henley have still increased prices in a couple areas so we will just get that sorted and fingers crossed this time it can move ahead to the next stage.

We have made contact with an Independent Inspector (Kris Jones from Blue Square Developments) and hopefully will have an inspection date in the next week or so. We have noted 8 issues, 3 of which we have already mentioned to Henley. Thankfully all seem minor so should be easy to fix.

• 
  
  tap relocation out the back (signed off on a variation)
• 
  
  brick work missing where a pipe was positioned wrong in the slab
• 
  
  Air conditioning thermostat cabling in wrong position
• 
  
  Normal black piping used in laundry instead of green for connection to water tank (signed in original tender)
• 
  
  Air conditioning insulation showing where no joiner was used leading up to 2nd story
• 
  
  split in insulation around cabling for air conditioning
• 
  
  small chips in pillars on balcony
• 
  
  paint from over render on gutter

The scaffolding is due to come down this week. It will be great to see our house with it's clothes on hehe...

LOCK-UP

As of Tuesday 19-1-10, we have been locked up and locked out. I have photos of the temporary doors and a new tap at the front of the house, but apart from that I have not been able to take pics of anything else new. From my understanding, the 1st Fix internal plumbing is now complete and the air conditioning is soon to follow. We received our variation today for all the Electrical work, so will spend some time Australia Day going through it with a fine tooth comb. Hopefully is it finally all sorted so we can sign and get that ball rolling. Will post a photo of our 'lovely' doors soon. In the meantime HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

Day 100

We have officially reached Day 100 (as of 13-1-10) of our build (only 265 days to go hehe...).

The upstairs render is now complete and ready to be painted (Paperbark).

The 1st Fix plumbing started on 14-1-10.

We noticed they have put the back external tap in the wrong position, so hopefully they will respond to our email and relocate it. Should be an easy enough fix.

The next stage is LOCK-UP.