squashedrex - congrats! Your place looks awesome - really open and looks so comfy and relaxing! Makes us all envious as we await our homes to be built!

For those who are waiting for their construction to begin within the 20 day timeframe, I remember my CC telling me that even if they don't physically start within the 20 days, they will make up the time later. The main thing to remember is that your "Construction period" actually starts once the 20 days expires - so it's countdown from there onwards. So technically speaking, they don't HAVE to start in 20 days - that's what I got confirmed for me a few weeks back. So hang in there and try not to get too anxious! Easier said than done, i know, but yeh, try your best

Once things start, they are non-stop! We've had something happen on our site every day since the portaloo arrived. Even if no workmen have been on-site, we've either had a delivery of gravel, or some lines marked on the slab, or something one way or another. So it's pretty exciting. I've been updating my blog almost daily (except weekends due to no activity) so you can check it out to see what to expect. Tomorrow the frame is being delivered so that will be the next big thing! Oh not to mention that you get hit with two big progress payments within just a few weeks of each other!

Ok so that must be the next step for us because I got sent the electrical variation to sign yesterday that was the only thing outstanding. Did you sign after your 20 days had started?

I think the 20 days start when all paperwork is signed. All variations have to be finlised before the 20 days start.

We are at day 9 of the 20....fun, fun, fun.

dsa39 - I also had to get everything signed off before the 20 day countdown could start. Sounds like they let you through a little early which is well deserved for you after all the crap you've faced.

Generally your 20 days starts after all variations are done, as your bank has to approve it with all provisions included, along with your signed plans and what not..

Either way, if you are definitely in your 20 day period, you should see a toilet after about 15 days, along with a fence and trade waste and garbage bin for tradies..

Be prepared for payments to come in thick and fast, given that our build has been ridiculously quick, we've had payments at least every second week, our last 2 payments were in the same week, bricktop finish and lock up... Hoping we dont get another increase for another few weeks at least.. hehe....

But we now have a kitchen installed and the tiler was out yesterday doing our bathrooms and laundry... So it means there isnt too much left for them to do after that... Paint, Clean up, we inspect and then appliances installed and keys handed over...

Rinnai79 - Good stuff. wheres all the pics though? You need to feed us hungry mastertonians

We finally had a start today. We had our sediment control fence and trade waste area installed.
Now I just need to sort the relocating of the services issue out so as to not delay the scrape next week. I suppose we should see our loo and temp fence shortly too.

Im so stoked to see something finally happen, even as small as it is. Its a great feeling especially after the long drawn out construction countdown. Thats been the hardest part, for me anyway.

Mmmm thanks guys I'm a little weary still nonetheless the ball is in their court. None of our process has been standard so won't hold my breath

Good to see, some movement finally.

But, once construction starts, how will you access your back cabin? What about the container you have sitting there, how would you get it out once the house is built?

We will have a walkway down the side of the fence on the RHS and in between the container and theres a gate at the rear of the container.

Once the house is built Ive got around 7.5 meteres between the house itself and the fence on the right so there should be enough room for the truck to access the container.
I couldnt do it any other way as weve got a lot of furniture and stored stuff in the container. It is literally filled to the top.
Some of the stuff has been stored for around 5 years now. Its going to be fun going through it all when we move across the back yard. I dont think I'll need to hire a removalist this time too

Hi everyone!

My wife and I are building a Villina 36, in West Lindfield.

Construction phase entered early July or early June depending upon who you speak to within Masterton.

I've got a blog up also for a looksee and would love to hear any comments. Floor plans are up there also.

We're at the frame stage as of this week.

http://new-lindfield-house.blogspot.com.au/

Talk soon!

(amended to Villina 36 from 34) twice the charm!

I know, I am so bad with pics... We are going to sneak a peek tomorrow if we can at the tiling and kitchen, so once I do that I will upload my pics.

jo&waz - Woohoo, another blog to follow. Welcome to H1. Look forward to watching your build.

Rinnai79 - Good stuff. Cant wait to see your house in action.

Hi guys, im just going over my construction plans and noticed that in the kitchen they didnt remove the pantry. The kitchen plan we signed off on at colours did not have a pantry. Which one will M use? Do they need to re do plans or will they use the layout I signed off at colours??

They should use the layout you signed off at colours. As we went with the platinum package the kitchen layout is slightly different to that of the standard. We signed a seperate kitchen plan and it still didnt show the platinum kitchen layout on the final construction plans.
To be sure though, Id talk to your CC and SS to make sure of this before they make any mistakes that may delay things for you.

Welcome to H1 jo&waz. I'm sure you will gain lots of info from the forum, like everyone else has or did.

We'll follow your blog too. We love blogs and photos of progresses

Same here.

jo&waz - I just finished going through your blog and you have heaps of great pics on there and your house is going to be huge. Thanks for sharing them with us.

Thanks! This site has been great for us, and has eaten many days of web-time, researching the tricks and traps of contracts and building, options and so on - so thanks to all for that.

I'm going to the site daily and taking photos, but am dreading lock-up, as I won't be able to see what's going on without each time asking the SS. And he is fairly hard to reach...

Anyway, keep an eye on the blog, more to come! I think the roof frame may well have gone up today...

Dear jo&waz,

I'm having trouble viewing your blog, as it is one long page with lots of photos (we love), but it just keeps jittering and can't follow it up. Hope you can change the template setting to a nicer manageable pages soon. Sorry to be the one to mention.

A bin for tradies waste??? I thought that was simply the ground anywhere they could throw it - as that was what they did at my site - even had to ask M to make sure they didn't throw their sandwich leftovers etc over the fence into the street or into the neighbours yards.

cem - Its not really a bin. Its more like a barrier made of the same stuff the sediment control fence is made from and is open on one side. Its not very tall though so I dont klnow how efficient it will be.

We also had to fork out $220 in out tender to have a garbage receptacle for food scraps etc for the tradies.