Woohoo!!

I'm pretty sure we had our slab down before we got a porta loo..(yep, I went and checked!)

Won't be long!!

Wooohooooooooo!! and what a fine looking loo it is too

It's all happening, won't be long now!!

I'll bet none of us ever imagined a future for ourselves where we heralded the arrival of a portapotty teheehee. I can't wait!

and i too had slab but no porta-loo yet.

so I am guessing my builders have bladder problems and they need a loo before they start!
YES the excitement over a portaloo...now i can't wait to get a tap! Life certainly has changed!!!!

I never thought I would say this but.... congrats on the porta-loo I reckon its a sure sign that things are going to start moving very quickly from now on!

We have dates!!!
*8th November for land works.
*14th November for footings.
*A day or so later for slab
*4 weeks after slab = bricks!

So on track for a slab for my birthday!

Construction seminar also on the 8th, if I can get a babysitter!
I like this!

Phone call today to say that already we have a new supervisor and construction consultant.
Not too impressed with that...is this the start of many to come???

Hmmm the change in consultants is a bit of a pain in the bum. We have already had a change and aren't even at construction stage yet.. What it meant for us was a couple of hours spent on the phone with the new one to clear up a lot of things and emailing her through a heap of info we had already given as it wasn't noted on our file.. Hopefully yours is a little smoother

Earthworks were due to start today. And with this wind and rain, what are the chances?

Dropped darling daughter off at school, which is an hour drive away, on way home, crossed fingers that the works have started, but knew I was setting myself up for disappointment.
Well, well, well, there were some heavy machinery at the block! OMG! There were some more pegs around a homesite. There were even some trenches dug! And some other bits laying around that weren't there previously, like yesterday!

So a HUGE congratulations to DAH for giving me a start date, and starting earthworks on that date!
I am in absolute shock that we have earthworks started!
Sadly though, the trucks were at a standstill with nobody around due to that wind and rain. It is just so heavy!

But I am already surprised at how big the size of the house is going to be! I don't think our house is an overly big house. It is one of the smaller house plans we looked at! And we have a decent size block...and it just looks HUGE! I like it!

So tonight we are off to the construction seminar that DAH puts on to explain all stages of construction, and I assume Q&A.
Anyone around here that has been to this seminar and can shed some more light on what is said?
Anyone have some questions that I should have?? I can't think right now!

So far also, looks like the change in consultant and supervisor has not affected us. Although, the new consultant hasn't got in touch with me at all, where as the old one had rung to introduce herself, sent me a letter of introduction, and rang to explain the change, and then she sent another letter to tell me of the changes...i still haven't heard from the new girl.

OH dear. I have just had a phonecall from my aunty who is babysitting for us tonight. My nanna (her mum) is quite poor in hospital and we have been visiting regularly. But she has just had a turn for the worse, and I will be heading over to the hospital very soon to meet her there. It doesn't look good at all. And this is incredibly selfish, but looks like meeting will be off tonight. I was really wanting to get there and excited to have a dinner with my husband afterwards with no child. But I can't expect her to have my child with nanna being in such bad conditiion. I know, I am very selfish, these things just don't happen very often!

Better get myself organised for a long day at the hospital. School reports look like they are on the back burner again...I hope they aren't due soon, or I am in lots of trouble!

On a sad note, my nanna passed away yesterday, just before I arrived at the hospital.
Will be off to her place today to help my Aunty and Mum go through paperwork. I don't really know what happened yesterday, it was quite a blur, but it is certainly not a place I want to be again. Thankfully my husband told my 4yo daughter, and went through what it all means, but she doesn't get it and wants to go back to the hospital to see nanna.

On building side.
The trenches that were dug yesterday morning, are now filled in and a nice flat surface has been prepared for a house! I don't know what it is supposed to look like, buy I am assuming more is still to be done. Will take a photo of my plot today!

We went to our meeting last night (and a lovely dinner afterwards because I just didn't want to be at home thinking...). It was very good!

One thing we are worried about and a bit annoyed about is planter boxes.
We changed our front window heights so we could add planter boxes. We were hoping to do a cash job with the brickies, or we would use any spare bricks later. We discussed this with a sales manager not just the consultant, as at that stage we were a little unimpressed with the consultant.
The manager discussed what size windows for this etc and we raised them I think about 4 course, from being at ground level.

Now, we have been told that because we have termi mesh, having a planter box against the wall causes issues with the way termi mesh works. basically, it won't!
We wrote down on our form for the liason consultant to talk to us about it, but we are quite pee'd now! We were told we could change the termite treatment, but we actually want to use termi mesh as we don't like the thought of the chemicals leaching through the soil and entering our water table.
Apparently we might be able to get termi mesh in the planter box, but we need to talk to our supervisor.
Anyone had issues with something like this before?

we have thoughts on alternatives, but really annoyed because that is the only reason we changed our window size, and if we change the windows back, plans would need to go back to council and of course, would cost money for that, and increase price for the window as well. GRRRR!

Apart from that, meeting was a general this is what will happen, showed pictures of certain problems that pop up (eg the green stuff that happens on cream bricks) and explained what is normal and what isn't. So that was good! They had yummy biscuits and the speaker was a very typical DAH representative.

So now, waiting for the next part of the build!!!

I'm sorry for your loss vans.

Bugger about the planter boxes, hope you can work out an alternative

Thanks Tinkster.
Spent a day out at the farm today (where my nanna and pop live) and OMG...I don't know how he is going to live there alone. It is a massive place to look after, and quite frankly, it hasn't been looked after well as is! But he won't leave, and he and nanna..no nanna had been talking about it for awhile...but he has never wanted to talk about it.

Yes the planter boxes are a pain. I would never have changed the window size if i knew this would happen! I would still rather be able to get the boxes in and pay for the extra termi mesh, IF we can do it! If not, well we will might do 3 smaller ones that are offset from the house, have seen someone else do this and it looked really nice, each planter box having a feature tree (I would do frangipanis) and then rocks between the planters. I am sure I will be able to figure something out!!!

Sorry to hear about your loss, I recently had a grandparent pass and it's definately not a good feeling...

Congrats on the build progress though! It looks like you've got about a month up on us as we've only got unconditional approval for next week, and settlement a few weeks later - hopefully it won't be too long as I really want to get started!

Just out of interest - early last year I looked at building and feel through on it because our finances weren't quite right and the estate guy was dicking us around a bit... but kind of recognise the area in Baldivis, is that the Avalon estate? If I remember right it was made up of many smaller land owners which made the purchase a little odd??

We've got land in Aveley this time, and since titles are already there I'm hoping that the shire will be quick with the approval! (Lucky it's not City of Wanneroo - I've heard they are very slow due to having so many builds in that area!).

I've got a planter going in as part of our facade (its an estate requirement in Vale - one of many crazy covenants they have) - hope I don't have the same issue you've said... Though I don't even know if I'm getting termimesh... First timer at this so don't have any idea :S

Love your choices and really like the Samui - it's a great design; and Celebration Homes had a selection room too (nothing like Dales, theirs is a spectacle unto itself!) but it was great to choose everything in the same place

Good luck with it all - Keen to see how close our builds progress

Thank you for your well wishes. It is a tough time, and has taken a bit of shine off getting the earthworks done.
But on our way to spend the night at my Pop's farm (my nanna's husband), we stopped by the block, which I am now going to call "the house".

We had all our piping in, the string line done, and the DAH sign on the porta loo!

So now we can actually see where our ensuite will be. How big (or small) the study will be! We could even show our little girl where her bedroom will be...and at 4 all she could say was "but where is the house? It isn't here!".

Yes we are in Avalon wrethm01. Yes the developer is handling a few pockets of land owned by different owners. basically the area was originally farm land (particularly horse properties) and the developer acts on their behalf to sell. We only dealt with the developer, just like any other estate. So whilst the developer didn't own the land, the farmers did, it was still a simple process to buy. Just those damn titles took forever! But it doesn't sound like that is limited to our estate or developer. It seems to happen in LOTS of places all around Oz!

I don't think too many builders use termimesh...but is Celebrations part of the same group? So they might use it. But I am sure they would know to discuss this with you first! Check your addenda...it will be in there.

Funny how different councils take different times to process builds. We were lucky, our council is one of the bigger ones...but i have heard of one council (can't remember which one) which can do it in 48 hours! But then others that take 3 months! So ours being 2 weeks over the expected time wasn't too bad, I was just over it at the time!
But cudos to DAH ...they have been on time with EVERYTHING! from Titles being issued, to council approval to bank loan approval, everything since has happened fast! I love it!

Hopefully this week I will have a slab! Can't see why it won't happen. Weather is looking decent for all to go ahead! I am really hoping it does all go to time plan...I want a glass (just one?? ) of sparkling on the slab! And I think I need one this week! birthday celebrations for me, a life to remember on one day as well, and then a nice weekend at a lovely hotel in the city without child to finish the week off. hmmm...sounds like quite a few glasses of sparkles happening this week!

Vans, I'm so sorry for your loss.

Do you have far to travel to check in your Pop? It must be such a worry thinking about him on his own, I can understand him not wanting to move at this stage of life though. You know my Grandad turned out to be phenomenal on his own, he'd never cooked in his life (and probably never cleaned neither - didn't asked) but after my Grandma passed away, he learnt and ended up baking cakes for the local village WI and his house was always spotless.

It sounds like you're in for an emotional rollercoaster of a week. Will be thinking of you. Looks to be ending on a high though - how swish! Hope you'll be treated to plenty of wining and dining

Well done DAH too, sounds like they've left the starting blocks with fine form. Here's to it continuing - I look forward to seeing slab pics

Thank you Anise
He lives about 30 mins away, the other side of Pinjarra. Not really far. I think the worst of it for him is he has not been on his own for a long time, he can cook, but as far as the rest of looking after himself, I don't think he has any idea! My aunty took him to the post office the other day to show him how to pay a bill! He has never paid a bill in his life! And he isn't even that old! He is only 72!
But he has a lot of good friends who will support him!

On the good side...here are some pics of our house!

Main bedroom and ensuite
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The Alfresco
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Front entry and garage
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It is starting to look very small!
The trenches were all dug today, pipes were done yesterday.
What will be done tomorrow????

Well done again DAH!!!
I am impressed!
I went for a run out to the house and it looks like all is done, ready for a perfect slab to be put down tomorrow...my birthday!
Didn't have my phone so no photos today. Will certainly be there after work tomorrow to see my slab!

No tap though. HOw will a slab be done with no water???

One thing I am disappointed in with DAH.
Communication.
Lots of people on these forums have said it is DAH downfall...and I would agree. It is either VERY VERY GOOD OR VERY VERY BAD

So we had a construction consultant...K...she rang me to introduce herself and was FANTASTIC. She sent a letter out that day for a formal introduction. The next day she called to say that unfortunately due to changes, she would no longer be my consultant and it was now someone else (I can't even give you a letter as I have forgotten!). I got home, got the letter sent out from K the previous day. The very next day I received another letter from M apologising for the sudden change and stating who the new consultant was.

That was my last piece of communication. The new consultant hasn't been bothered to call or write a (or is that sign a computer generated) letter of introduction. Nothing. Nothing to say "Your footings are on schedule"...it is like we have been totally forgotten about. If I didn't live close by, or if I was on holidays, I wouldn't pop over to the site every few days, or even weekly, and wouldn't know what was happening. If I was told this was done today or is happening tomorrow, I would make the drive to go see it.

Have we not complained of late? Is that how you get good communication? By complaining and letting your voice be heard so they bend over backwards to please you? Surely as a client who is happy, and I have even let everyone know that i have dealt with (pre start lady, manager, pre construction consultant) that we are so incredibly pleased with the help we have received...and all in writing. But nada. Nothing in return to say, hey, you guys appreciate good service so we will give it to you.

I guess if the build continues to go as planned with times, and looking as good as it does now, we shouldn't complain. but DAH state the importance of communication. So communicate with us DAH! Not that hard!

K was a great communicator. I want her back as my construction consultant.

So off to before I my special day and slab day (why is there not a cross fingers smilies?)...it is my one and only work day this week , but only because I have the funeral on Friday . Weekend in the city at a very nice hotel and child is at her cousin's for a weekend of playing, dress ups and dolls!

Happy you have a very happy birth/slab day!

Happy birthday