I''m a first home buyer, never have any building experiences in Australia. I would like to share my experiences & need advises please. My building experiences are not smooth but very good learning lessons.
End of September 2012, got an pre-approval finance letter from Bankwest, chose a 10m cottage block through WA Housing centre's house & land package, put $2000 deposit down for the builder.
Beginning of October 2012, block released, I think I'm the first one get to the land sale office & put down $2000 deposit to secure the block. Expected settlement date for the block is January. Asked WA Housing Centre for an early contract to combine my house and land mortgage together.
Mid of February, found a settlement agent, signed early contract & unconditional finance approval received
End of January 2013, got a call from the developer & advised that my Lot is not expected to issue until April 2013.
End of April, called the developer to find out when can I get my block, been told that will get it end of May.
End of May, called the developer again on 27/05, advised that the Lot title will release on 28/05. Send an email to my settlement agent & Bankwest for the update. 28/05, my loan consultant from Bankwest advised that she sent through my FHOG documents for processing. 07/06, my settlement agent called Bankwest & been advised to call them back on 09/06(Monday) for an update & Bankwest should be in a position to book on Monday for Tuesday. 10/06 (Tuesday), got an email from Bankwest & stated that the FHOG sent off two weeks ago is no longer accepted by the state revenue department, I have to fill out another one. 11/06, came down to Bankwest's city branch, as the FHOG department is just upstairs, filled out the form with Bankwest staff together, and a new statutory declaration form as well, asked for an urgent processing. 18/06, found out that the statutory declaration form that I filled out with the Bankwest staff is not witness correctly, Bankwest staff forgot to ask the branch manager to sign the form. No one contact me from Bankwest at all, this's found out after I called them. Went to Bankwest's city branch again, spoke to the branch manager & filled out another statutory declaration form, confirmed that she will bring all my forms to the FHOG department, which is just upstairs, asked for an urgent processing. 25/06, got a call for the loan consultant that my FHOG is approved, settlement booked for 26/06.
Beginning of June, advised the builder that my title's released, got an email back and stated that she will arrange the site & survey report & get my job moving through the system.
July, 19/07, advised that the Survey report is back & it's waiting on the site report; 25/07, site report has been received & have progressed the job through to the drafting department.
August, 14/08, received an email advised that it's in the last stage of drafting, my contract administrator will be on two weeks annual leave.
September, called WA housing to find out when can they finalize the drafting and when can I have my pre-start. 20/09, advised that they drafting have completed, and will the remaining contracts for me to sign in approx. two weeks.
October, called WA housing again to find out where are the remaining contracts. 11/10 (Friday), got a call from the contract administrator, all the remaining contracts are ready for me to sign, book a time with a new appointed sales consultant (the one I signed the contract with has left the company). 15/10, got the remaining contract & pre-start checklist, I found out there's a power dome on the drive way, asked to relocate the garage to the left hand side, but found out there's a water metre on the left hand side, have to pay extra money to relocate the water metre to the boundary. 29/10, returned pre-start checklist, done the tile selection, upgraded carpets for the bedrooms & bamboo floor to the remaining of the house. Booked in for a pre-start on the 10/12.
Still long long way to go. I don't think anyone will take that long to get their house.