Doing it again

rosemi · Jan 19, 2017 12:48 pm

PCI done & dusted! Mostly all paint nitpicky paint touchups outside.

The garage door needs the bottom limit set as it won't stay closed.

The pull-out rangehood won't return all the way back plus there is a small dent on it.

Other than that some cosmetic grout touch-ups.

So, 2 weeks (at most) til the 2nd inspection at which time if everything is A-OK, handover will occur (assuming all payments have been made).

Time to get my ducks all in a row regarding the finance.

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viewtopic.php?f=31&t=83776&start=80

SilentBoB · Jan 19, 2017 2:07 pm

Just been having a quick browse through your thread. Seems like the build time was super quick even with the Christmas break! The house is looking great.

Slightly envious of the big backyard! Although I'm not much of a green thumb

rosemi · Jan 19, 2017 3:06 pm

Hi silentbob, yep the build went very quick until early December and almost everything stopped dead before chrissie break up. If the painter was available in the weeks before break, i would have had an earlier pci. But it's all good. Which estate are you building in?

After living in a rental with bugger all garden where i could sit & relax under a shady tree/shrub without hearing all the neighbours yacking (some days it seems like they are literally sitting right next to me) i decided that i needed a block that had a bit more land.

Being on a hill, i'll get a lot more privacy too. I do have a bit of a greenthumb & i do like to have a decent sized garden (you can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl).

I had a squiz at your thread. Big week for you next week with settlement & pre-start. Good luck with that.

In my experience, i found that the most stressful part of the process was trying to decide on the builder/plans. Then pre-start - external colours, especially pavers. Everything else just seemed to fall into place. Mind you it is my 2nd time around albeit on my own this time so i had an idea of what to expect & i didn't have to compromise with someone else

Hope all goes well with your build & that it goes as quickly as mine

El17 · Jan 20, 2017 9:51 am

I'm glad PCI wasn't too bad - that list doesn't seem devastating? Sounds like the painters haven't been all that great :/

How scary/exciting/amazing that you could have keys in two weeks!!!!

Modified Dream Verona - Dreamstart
10m Frontage Block - Dreamstart Build - Calleya Estate
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=85632

SilentBoB · Jan 20, 2017 12:24 pm

rosemi

Hi silentbob, yep the build went very quick until early December and almost everything stopped dead before chrissie break up. If the painter was available in the weeks before break, i would have had an earlier pci. But it's all good. Which estate are you building in?

After living in a rental with bugger all garden where i could sit & relax under a shady tree/shrub without hearing all the neighbours yacking (some days it seems like they are literally sitting right next to me) i decided that i needed a block that had a bit more land.

Being on a hill, i'll get a lot more privacy too. I do have a bit of a greenthumb & i do like to have a decent sized garden (you can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl).

I had a squiz at your thread. Big week for you next week with settlement & pre-start. Good luck with that.

In my experience, i found that the most stressful part of the process was trying to decide on the builder/plans. Then pre-start - external colours, especially pavers. Everything else just seemed to fall into place. Mind you it is my 2nd time around albeit on my own this time so i had an idea of what to expect & i didn't have to compromise with someone else

Hope all goes well with your build & that it goes as quickly as mine

We are building in the Village. We had a drive around the various estates and there was something about the village that we just preferred.

We have about 4.9m from the back of the house to the fence which will be enough garden for us I think, plus there are plenty of parks around Wellard. Still... an extra couple of metres would have been nice as I totally get what you mean about being so close to the neighbors! When I was younger we had a 5 acre block so the only time you would hear the neighbours was when they came round to visit

Looking forward to next week. My partner settled on her colours months ago, and I've said I don't mind what choices are made at pre-start but have my eye on upgrading to a fancier aircon controller

We have a small pre-start allowance built into our loan but we also managed to get the builder to throw in a lot of upgrades prior to signing off on the contracts so hoping we don't go too crazy at the meeting next week.

I think you are right, selecting the builder and plans was probably the most stressful part but overall even that wasn't too bad. We will have an independent inspector during the build as well so that will help ease a lot of the stress during construction I think.

If we can get a build anywhere near as quick as yours we will be very happy! Our lease is up for renewal soon so hoping we can get a timeline from the builder after the land settles next week.

Good luck with the 2nd inspection, I'm sure you'll have the keys soon!

rosemi · Jan 22, 2017 7:12 pm

Hi silentbob, well howdy neighbour! I had previously built in the village and really wanted to build here again. Like you, i did look around the alternative estates but none had the character of the village (or the shops & public transport).
I asked my builder as to whether i can control my aircon via my phone but apparently i have to upgrade the controller. That will have to wait until i can afford it.
If your builder doesn't already include them get the corner beading for all exposed wall corners - pain in the butt having to replaster corners that have been chipped.
Also, again if not included as standard by your builder, upgrade to mixer taps throughout.

At the moment the builders in WA are not particularly busy so the tradies are mostly readily available. Hence the speed with which things are going at the moment. This might change since the increase in the first homebuyers grant earlier this month. But you're already ahead of the game there so it shouldn't affect your build.

4.5 x 12.5 m backyard is not too small - but nothing compared to acreage!

Hope all goes well with your pre-start & you don't go over budget.

View thread:
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=83776&start=80

rosemi · Jan 22, 2017 7:25 pm

I've spent the better part of the day researching building & contents insurance today.

I learned something today that i should have already known. Carpets & window treatmemts are Not covered by building insurance alone. You need to have both building & contents insurance in order to cover these items.

I also leaned that Coles insurance won't do online quotes unless you have the certificate of occupancy. Guess who won't be bothering with them again.

For me, the Budget Direct quote came out 2nd most expensive and provided the least coverage. There was i thinking they'd be the most budget conscious of the lot.

I hate researching insurance policies! It does my head in. Where would i be without excel spreadsheets?

Another thing i've learned? Don't leave it to the last minute like i have. Start your research no later than 1 mth before your pci.

View thread:
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=83776&start=80

SilentBoB · Jan 23, 2017 11:29 am

rosemi

Hi silentbob, well howdy neighbour! I had previously built in the village and really wanted to build here again. Like you, i did look around the alternative estates but none had the character of the village (or the shops & public transport).
I asked my builder as to whether i can control my aircon via my phone but apparently i have to upgrade the controller. That will have to wait until i can afford it.
If your builder doesn't already include them get the corner beading for all exposed wall corners - pain in the butt having to replaster corners that have been chipped.
Also, again if not included as standard by your builder, upgrade to mixer taps throughout.

At the moment the builders in WA are not particularly busy so the tradies are mostly readily available. Hence the speed with which things are going at the moment. This might change since the increase in the first homebuyers grant earlier this month. But you're already ahead of the game there so it shouldn't affect your build.

4.5 x 12.5 m backyard is not too small - but nothing compared to acreage!

Hope all goes well with your pre-start & you don't go over budget.

View thread:
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=83776&start=80

Yeah, the shops and transport were a big selling point for us in the Village. The blocks on the other side of the freeway were a little cheaper but once you add the bushfire and noise levies the savings quickly evaporated. There also seems to be a pretty good community vibe around the village.

Yeah, the aircon upgrade is largely so I can control it from my phone when on my way home so not really a necessary upgrade but if there's room in the pre-start allowance I'll definitely be doing it. We need to upgrade from carpet to tiles in one of the hallways, add some power points, some extra LEDs and upgrade the shower in the ensuite to a rainfall shower.

Smart Homes include corner beading to "all trafficable areas" so hoping we have that one covered. They also include mixer taps as standard throughout. I was also able to negotiate a lot of things prior to signing contracts as well such as upgraded floor tiles, stone benchtops, some LEDs thrown in, sarking in the roof, plus some other things so hoping we have a bit leftover in our pre-start allowance to get the aircon upgrade.

The only thing I can see pushing us over is my girlfriend is set on having a brown garage door. There's a heap of standard colours to pick from at no extra charge but she wants the one that costs $500 extra :lol:

I think the first home owners grant increase is certainly having an affect in the village. Last time I went to the block was early last month and the blocks either side of us were still for sale and there was no sign of construction anywhere near us. Dropped by yesterday as I was in the area, blocks next to us are now sold and there were brickies working on a nearby block where no construction had started last time we were there and it looked like they were almost at plate height!

Good call on the building and contents insurance, that's something I'll have to start looking at!

aloenyx · Jan 23, 2017 4:37 pm

rosemi

I've spent the better part of the day researching building & contents insurance today.

I learned something today that i should have already known. Carpets & window treatmemts are Not covered by building insurance alone. You need to have both building & contents insurance in order to cover these items.

I also leaned that Coles insurance won't do online quotes unless you have the certificate of occupancy. Guess who won't be bothering with them again.

For me, the Budget Direct quote came out 2nd most expensive and provided the least coverage. There was i thinking they'd be the most budget conscious of the lot.

I hate researching insurance policies! It does my head in. Where would i be without excel spreadsheets?

Another thing i've learned? Don't leave it to the last minute like i have. Start your research no later than 1 mth before your pci.

View thread:
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=83776&start=80

Oooh, this is a good idea. I should start looking at this. I usually start these things by checking out Canstar. XD

rosemi · Jan 23, 2017 5:01 pm

That's precisely what i did too ?

View thread:
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=83776&start=80

rosemi · Jan 24, 2017 8:19 pm

Ok, so quote for side gate organised.
Quote for cross-over & over paving organised.
Now to organise quote for digital antenna

View thread:
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=83776&start=80

aloenyx · Jan 25, 2017 3:19 pm

Never ends does it?

I need to make a list.

Horse · Jan 25, 2017 3:24 pm

SilentBoB

rosemi

Hi silentbob, well howdy neighbour! I had previously built in the village and really wanted to build here again. Like you, i did look around the alternative estates but none had the character of the village (or the shops & public transport).
I asked my builder as to whether i can control my aircon via my phone but apparently i have to upgrade the controller. That will have to wait until i can afford it.
If your builder doesn't already include them get the corner beading for all exposed wall corners - pain in the butt having to replaster corners that have been chipped.
Also, again if not included as standard by your builder, upgrade to mixer taps throughout.

At the moment the builders in WA are not particularly busy so the tradies are mostly readily available. Hence the speed with which things are going at the moment. This might change since the increase in the first homebuyers grant earlier this month. But you're already ahead of the game there so it shouldn't affect your build.

4.5 x 12.5 m backyard is not too small - but nothing compared to acreage!

Hope all goes well with your pre-start & you don't go over budget.

View thread:
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=83776&start=80

Yeah, the shops and transport were a big selling point for us in the Village. The blocks on the other side of the freeway were a little cheaper but once you add the bushfire and noise levies the savings quickly evaporated. There also seems to be a pretty good community vibe around the village.

Yeah, the aircon upgrade is largely so I can control it from my phone when on my way home so not really a necessary upgrade but if there's room in the pre-start allowance I'll definitely be doing it. We need to upgrade from carpet to tiles in one of the hallways, add some power points, some extra LEDs and upgrade the shower in the ensuite to a rainfall shower.

Smart Homes include corner beading to "all trafficable areas" so hoping we have that one covered. They also include mixer taps as standard throughout. I was also able to negotiate a lot of things prior to signing contracts as well such as upgraded floor tiles, stone benchtops, some LEDs thrown in, sarking in the roof, plus some other things so hoping we have a bit leftover in our pre-start allowance to get the aircon upgrade.

The only thing I can see pushing us over is my girlfriend is set on having a brown garage door. There's a heap of standard colours to pick from at no extra charge but she wants the one that costs $500 extra :lol:

I think the first home owners grant increase is certainly having an affect in the village. Last time I went to the block was early last month and the blocks either side of us were still for sale and there was no sign of construction anywhere near us. Dropped by yesterday as I was in the area, blocks next to us are now sold and there were brickies working on a nearby block where no construction had started last time we were there and it looked like they were almost at plate height!

Good call on the building and contents insurance, that's something I'll have to start looking at!

I had one done with youi. They don't do online as well. So we had it on the phone. Went with the whole process as I really want to know how much it would cost me

and we will be doing the whole process again prior to handover.

Building Simonds Prague in QLD

rosemi · Jan 25, 2017 10:39 pm

So next Wednesday the 2nd practical completion inspection is booked

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aloenyx · Jan 26, 2017 7:59 am

Omg!!! Your nearly there.

rosemi · Jan 26, 2017 8:15 am

Yep 😆

My painter (aka Dad) is booked to start when i'm ready. I'll be doing all the cutting in while he does the rolling.

I've accepted a quote for my side gate & so they're ready to go as soon as handover occurs.

Waiting for my paving quote to come back still. I may have to employ my stop-gap paver (aka Dad) to do that job too. If i do, then i"ll be helping to lay the pavers too.

Trying to decide what antenna to go with. Tossing up between Hills silver dart or Hills black arrow.

View thread:
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=83776&start=80

rosemi · Jan 27, 2017 5:39 pm

Received notifcation from the bank this morning that they've made the final invoice payment. Green light for handover from bank

2nd & final inspection confirmed for next Wednesday morning. Hopefully, i'll get the keys there& then. Can't wait!!!

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charlibear · Jan 27, 2017 5:43 pm

Congrats!!! So happy and excited for you!!!

GJ Gardner Modified Coolum 277
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rosemi · Jan 27, 2017 6:06 pm

Thanks CB!

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SilentBoB · Jan 27, 2017 6:22 pm

Congrats rosemi! You'll be moving in before you know it!