Browse Forums Building A New House 1 May 05, 2013 2:51 am Hi everyone, So we are completely new to this and were very kindly introduced to it by a fellow member, who also happens to be our future next door neighbour. Shout outs to you 'Davelle' . Here's our little love story so far... My partner and I were only together 2 months before moving in together and after 5 months, everything felt right and my fiance proposed in Port Lincoln while diving with the sharks. Amazing! Some might call us crazy, but when you know, you really do just know. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ At 9 months, we started to think a lot about how stupid we were to rent. I had been renting for over 7 years and knew that I couldn't afford to buy a house on my own. On a particular Sunday afternoon drive, we ended up in the Adelaide Hills. As I was from the Barossa Valley, I hadn't spent too much time in the Hills, but straight away it felt a lot like 'home'. After spending some time driving around and falling in love with the scenery and strolling through the towns, we found ourselves at the Mount Barker Bluestone land office, 'just for a look'. We looked at the land that was available and talked about our hopes and dreams, but neither of us had any money saved. I remember how quiet the drive home from Bluestone Estate was. Both of us simply thinking. "What if?" After a few days, we sat down to nut out our finances, 'just to tidy things up'. We weren't in the best financial state after holidaying and racked up the credit cards and GE interest free purchases (for new house items), not to mention the two loans for our new cars, one just topped up to buy a certain shiny diamond ring. In actual fact, it was depressing!!! We both had separate freak outs which caused a delay in the process. My partner first, when he decided that it was all too hard and that he never saw us getting anywhere. Then it was me when I realised that life was about to change so drastically from the way we were. Both of us pulled each other up, wiped away the tears and we continued on our journey. Action needed to be taken and fast. Clayton looked for work in Port Pirie (easier for him because he was playing football up there) and I moved back home with my parents after 9 years. Not easy for both of us and it's safe to say there were more than a couple of days of tears on my behalf. On another particular Sunday afternoon, we ended up back at Bluestone Estate, Mount Barker and headed straight for the welcoming blocks of Siding Court in The Orchard. The creek, bridge and enchanting willow tree upon entering the estate sold it for us straight away. After much deliberation and I mean walking from one end to the other over 2 hours, contemplating the biggest decision of our lives and envisaging our dream first house, we decided on lot 365. On the 8th of April. We paid the initial hold deposit for the land. Settlement is the 31st of December, 2013 which means that we have plenty of time to tidy up more of our debts and save the 10% or more for the finance from the bank. Luckily, my partner plays country football and the match payments amount to half of the 10% that we need. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ From then on we also need to focus on saving the deposit for the house. After traipsing through display homes, 'just for a look', we are so impressed with Rivergum M.H and Scott Salisbury Homes (I could name more expensive ones, like the Cube by Precision Homes - Anyone seen that? AMAZING!!) that we are putting a hold on building to save up as much as we can to one day own one of the homes built by these outstanding builders. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ We are so excited. Even though it has been a hard road with being behind with money to start with, I am so proud of our new found determination to make this happen. We are so very new to this whole process and have sought advice from David Nelson, of Aussie Home Loans, who has been nothing short of brilliant. I would recommend him in a heartbeat. He has kept us motivated and keeping our eye on the end result. We are so new to all of this and after reading some of the stories of many other first home buyers on this forum (including not knowing how to post a photo or reply to a particular post - HELP), I am both overwhelmed and certain that we are set for a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, tears and tantrums and am so happy to have found some fellow Siding Court neighbours. We just have that many questions and ideas running through our heads that we don't know where to start. Life is good. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ C & M Keep calm and build a house Building a custom plan 'Wild Orchid' with Dechellis Homes at Mallala THIS IS OUR JOURNEY... viewtopic.php?f=31&t=64597 Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 2May 05, 2013 5:00 am what a great story congrats on your block of land looking forward to following your journey Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 3May 05, 2013 7:50 am hi melanie, another person for the mt barker street party good luck choosing a builder. i'm building where you are from, the barossa. congrats on your engagement Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 4May 05, 2013 9:42 am Welcome Melanie, We are also Neighbours, just over at 359. All the best with your building choice, looking forward to seeing it all come together Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=66299 Slab: 16/6/14 Frame: 4/7/14 Roof: 22/7/14 Lock Up: 20/8/14 Fixing: 26/8/14 PCI: 9/10/14 Handover: 20/10/14 Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 5May 05, 2013 11:22 am hachy hi melanie, another person for the mt barker street party good luck choosing a builder. i'm building where you are from, the barossa. congrats on your engagement Thanks Hachy! The Barossa is beautiful. It will always be 'home'. I go back all the time to catch up with old school friends. What town are you building in? Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 6May 05, 2013 11:25 am we are building at nuriootpa. Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 7May 05, 2013 11:27 am 1rocky what a great story congrats on your block of land looking forward to following your journey Thanks 1rocky!! I've been reading all these other blogs and stories that I thought why haven't I done this! Haha. Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 8May 05, 2013 11:30 am hachy we are building at nuriootpa. Oh lovely. It's a great town. My dad works at the high school and my mum works at one of the banks. My friends have built in Nuri and there are a lot of 'wine nights'. Who knows. I might bump into you someday Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 9May 05, 2013 11:33 am deluxes Welcome Melanie, We are also Neighbours, just over at 359. All the best with your building choice, looking forward to seeing it all come together Helloooo neighbour!! I saw your reply post the other day and until last night had no idea how to reply! Well its nice to finally 'meet'. Hehe. Im a teacher and my fiance is a plumber and starting his own business. How about you? Oooh. So looking forward to wine nights with everyone on the street Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 10May 05, 2013 5:55 pm Cute story all the best for finding a builder Site Works 9/5/13 Slab 4/6/13 Frame 4/7/13 Fascia/Gutters 10/7/13 Windows 11/7/13 Roof 24/7/13 Gyprock 13/8/13 Lock up 26/8/13 Bricks 2/9/13 Kitchen 11/9/13 Tiling 28/9/13 Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 12May 05, 2013 6:50 pm melanie85 deluxes Welcome Melanie, We are also Neighbours, just over at 359. All the best with your building choice, looking forward to seeing it all come together Helloooo neighbour!! I saw your reply post the other day and until last night had no idea how to reply! Well its nice to finally 'meet'. Hehe. Im a teacher and my fiance is a plumber and starting his own business. How about you? Oooh. So looking forward to wine nights with everyone on the street Hahaha that's ok! I'm a Business Analyst for an Insurance Company and my husband is an Underwriter for another Insurance company! Insurance nerds.. Hahaha Lots to look forward too! Exciting times indeed... Nice to "meet" you too Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 13May 05, 2013 6:56 pm Hi Melanie, Welcome to the forum! I am from the barossa and am building near hachy. I went to Nuri high (although a tad older than you)...your dad might have taught me!!! Feel free to follow my thread for tips, ideas and hints... Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 14May 05, 2013 8:25 pm Didn't notice your thread until now neighbour haha Do you know when your planning on starting the build? Siteworks 8/11 Slabbed 19/11 Our Thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65703 Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 15May 05, 2013 10:58 pm Welcome to the neighbourhood! Looking forward to meeting you both soon. My partner is a Barossa boy so you're in good, familiar company! Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=63784 Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 16May 06, 2013 9:25 am ha! I lived in the Barossa and then the neighbouring region for 4 or 5 years. My cousins and some extended family still live in Nuri. Our street is becoming the Little Barossa Valley! Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=66299 Slab: 16/6/14 Frame: 4/7/14 Roof: 22/7/14 Lock Up: 20/8/14 Fixing: 26/8/14 PCI: 9/10/14 Handover: 20/10/14 Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 17May 06, 2013 9:22 pm deluxes melanie85 deluxes Welcome Melanie, We are also Neighbours, just over at 359. All the best with your building choice, looking forward to seeing it all come together Helloooo neighbour!! I saw your reply post the other day and until last night had no idea how to reply! Well its nice to finally 'meet'. Hehe. Im a teacher and my fiance is a plumber and starting his own business. How about you? Oooh. So looking forward to wine nights with everyone on the street Hahaha that's ok! I'm a Business Analyst for an Insurance Company and my husband is an Underwriter for another Insurance company! Insurance nerds.. Hahaha Lots to look forward too! Exciting times indeed... Nice to "meet" you too Wow! Sounds like you both definitely need the wine. Will be nice to keep up with the neighbours, while we are still saving and house hunting. I am looking forward to hearing about your building process. It will probably help us with ours with little tricks of the trade and hints! Keep calm and build a house Building a custom plan 'Wild Orchid' with Dechellis Homes at Mallala THIS IS OUR JOURNEY... viewtopic.php?f=31&t=64597 Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 18May 06, 2013 9:25 pm zub13 Hi Melanie, Welcome to the forum! I am from the barossa and am building near hachy. I went to Nuri high (although a tad older than you)...your dad might have taught me!!! Feel free to follow my thread for tips, ideas and hints... Hey there. Thank you. I originally did want to build in the Barossa, but it didn't feel like a fresh start for my partner and I and wanted somewhere neutral. I would go back to the Barossa in a heartbeat. My dad, Mr Barnes (maths teacher) didn't start at Nuri High until 1999. Definitely need tips and tricks of the trade! Not sure how to follow threads but i'll suss it out. Keep calm and build a house Building a custom plan 'Wild Orchid' with Dechellis Homes at Mallala THIS IS OUR JOURNEY... viewtopic.php?f=31&t=64597 Re: One small step for most, one giant leap for us in Mt Bar 19May 06, 2013 9:27 pm Ha! I'm a live wire without the wine... So is hubby! We just do what we do. Lol. Yeah! Stay in touch, follow the threads, we're always blabbing on and chatting - sharing ideas. This place is a wealth of knowledge. It really helps to just share your thoughts with people in a similar spot, makes it a lot less stressful. Thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=66299 Slab: 16/6/14 Frame: 4/7/14 Roof: 22/7/14 Lock Up: 20/8/14 Fixing: 26/8/14 PCI: 9/10/14 Handover: 20/10/14 Do I need to concern about this pattern of crack? Is this crack showing some signs of bigger problems? Thanks for any suggestions! 1 1914 Thank you. That is really helpful. Once we get the place done and passed for OC we can upgrade in the future once we get back on our feet and not paying mortgage and rent. 4 5725 The worst thing you can do is sign a building contract without a pre contract review. Over the years many people have come to me with disputes where they just signed… 0 8339 |