Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 61Mar 08, 2016 8:35 pm So how much do you want to bet nothing happened today. You would win. I have been told it will be done this Friday as all trades are now booked for my job so the scrap has to be done Friday. The timeline given - see if it actually happens This friday - scrap Weekend - Monday - Survery pegs in Tuesday - plumber in digging and installing pipes etc wednesday to Friday - All stuff needed to be done for slab pour to happen Monday 21st - Slab poured Lets see if I can hold them to it - I have finally reached the end of my rope actually. ~Shellby~ GJ Bridgewater 203 11/3/2016 - Site Work Started 29/9/2016 - Handover 142 Work Days 6 Work Days Over https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=80174 Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 62Mar 08, 2016 8:38 pm Dear me!! I have everything crossed for you!!! What reason has the builder cited for not having started yet?? What ended up happening with the duplexes down the back?? - otherwise known as Kym - Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 63Mar 09, 2016 5:43 pm The block behind us did some fast track DA in which they have to have everything in order, including signatures from the surrounding neighbours agreeing to the plan - however they don't need signatures from vacant land owners. Then it has to be approved within 10 days - so it goes through a different system and is why I and the desk lady couldn't find the DA for it. So yes it does have approval and received it the week after we did. All I get for excuse is behind on other jobs 'blah blah blah' however I was assured by the CO of the business in the office that the plumber etc onwards is booked and the SS will need to have the site scrapped end of this week no excuses as they can't cancel the booked trades without the business losing money - so lets see if that happens. ~Shellby~ GJ Bridgewater 203 11/3/2016 - Site Work Started 29/9/2016 - Handover 142 Work Days 6 Work Days Over https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=80174 Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 64Mar 09, 2016 7:52 pm Hi Shellby, I am building with GJ Gardiner Grafton Office also, we have just bought a 4 acre block in Naughtons Gap (just north of Casino). So far we have been dealing with Kylie, she has been beyond helpful! So patient and responds so quick, even though we probably won't start our building process until October/November provided where we are up to with our funds. Looking forward to following your build Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 65Mar 10, 2016 5:49 pm OMG there is a piece of machinery on my block all ready to start cutting my block tomorrow *yay* Its going to happen. I also noticed someone has been around my block and poised the edges which were rough as we didn't have the whipper snipper with us when we mowed it last and the long weeds did make it hard to see how big and large our pile of excess soil is. No idea who did it, but I'm happy otherwise DH was going to do it this weekend just before they basically fence the site off so the builders wouldn't have to stress about the excess mess. Chalibear - Kylie is wonderful and so is Mel once you go onto her, she helps with your design, picking everything and contracts. I can't fault their communication etc. I have a few friends who built with them last year, once they start they are quick and the jobs are great. I think I just started my build at the wrong time of the year with the Christmas break basically bunching everything up. Let them know you know Matt and Michelle Trust me they know us and who your talking about. Now I can see something happen I'm finally excited again, its just been a drag since they gave me that date in February. ~Shellby~ GJ Bridgewater 203 11/3/2016 - Site Work Started 29/9/2016 - Handover 142 Work Days 6 Work Days Over https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=80174 Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 66Mar 11, 2016 5:53 am Yay for a machine!!! I can't wait until I am at that point! And hooray for someone tidying up the weeds for you! I might have to name drop haha! I am hoping to start our process in October, hopefully it doesn't drag and I don't get a start before the Xmas break, I want a bit of concrete for Christmas! Kylie's customer service is beyond excellent, she met with us on our block (1.5 hours from Grafton) to give us brochures on all there designs, even though they had done a house plan for the block for a house and land package and took us to house in construction in the area for us to have a look at. Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 67Mar 11, 2016 2:36 pm I have a scrapped block and a portaloo I even happen to drop past when my new SS arrived so we had a chat. He only started Monday but has been with the office as one of their builders for a couple of years - so this is his promotion. Seemed like a nice guy and hopefully everything goes well. However we have hit a snag already........ Its seems we are going to new a small retaining wall on one corner of our block because of the cut we need with our house close to that side. If the house hadn't been as close as we have planned it would have been fine. The owner is checking it out this afternoon to see if we really do need the wall and fingers crossed we can do under 1m height - otherwise we need engineering reports and council approval for. Charlibear - Kylie is wonderful, after we signed we found out she lives down the road from us - so we make jokes about 'We know where you live' hehe. If your not planning to submit plans to the council until October you won't have a slab for Christmas sorry. Council will take a month at least and the builders don't like to leave a slab out in the summer heat for the Christmas break due to they will crack unless watered each day. They can have it ready for slab though which helps and still gives you something to look at Kylie showed us through a house also, we have told them to happily show anyone through our house while building if anyone wants to see anything we have We are happy to share our house with people and photos. They really are lovely people though and even the SS said today when he saw our plans with dates it was a rare thing that happened to us with the Christmas rush for approvals, then some rain in January, normally they are fairly quick to start. I have to say if I was able to pick a build time it would be like April - no Christmas break and just build through quick and easy - my 2 lots of friends last year were in in 3 months from scrap. ~Shellby~ GJ Bridgewater 203 11/3/2016 - Site Work Started 29/9/2016 - Handover 142 Work Days 6 Work Days Over https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=80174 Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 68Mar 11, 2016 4:52 pm Woohoo for the scrapped blocked and the beloved portaloo! Hopefully the retaining wall doesn't cost you too much if you have to do it. I was in the throws of emailing Kylie today and we are going to finalise plan by the end of the month and we get a free holiday to Vanuatu if we pay our initial deposit by the end of the month so sign me up right now haha! Even a scrapped block with a tank (we don't have town water, so the tank will one of the first things they do) will be good enough for me Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 69Mar 11, 2016 9:13 pm That is super exciting!!!!! When will you know if you need to do the retaining wall? - otherwise known as Kym - Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 70Mar 12, 2016 4:41 pm Needausername - we will know Monday. Hubby has already approved any wall and we have been told it will be installed (or at least the major base that needs to go in before slab and machinery can't get in) on Thursday after the plumbers are done and builders onsite doing slab framing. So glad to know it won't delay our build. ~Shellby~ GJ Bridgewater 203 11/3/2016 - Site Work Started 29/9/2016 - Handover 142 Work Days 6 Work Days Over https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=80174 Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 71Mar 13, 2016 3:18 pm Oh that's a relief!!! Good luck!! Kym - otherwise known as Kym - Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 72Mar 14, 2016 5:57 pm Did you find out if you need a retaining wall? Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 73Mar 14, 2016 8:05 pm So today's update. We have survey pegs and its all ready for plumbers tomorrow It was cool finally seeing the base map of our house on the flat ground. The kids were happy to run around to where their rooms will be. Now retaining wall news..... We don't need it structural for us or the house above however it will most likely want to be done eventually. So we have the choice of either doing it now and having the builder do it, or we can wait until after handover and do it after we move in - council can't stop occupation as they approved it on the plan with the contour reports. Now the retaining wall will need to be 1.6m high and about 9m long - so nice and costly. Because it is not needed for the house build its not the builders fault. We have asked for a quote which we should have tomorrow, but we are guessing around $6,000. The plus would be it would be done for us otherwise we only have 1m to work in after the build which will be a pain, they can easily attach the drainage behind the wall into our stormwater system which would be hard for us. Also because its over 1m there needs to be engineering reports. I was told though it won't stop or delay our build - they will put in the drainage and holes for the posts - and then apply to council while still going as the hard part would be done but the wall not actually there. We have gone to the bank and we are in talks about if we can borrow an extra $6,000 or so and pay for the retaining wall. The plus being we don't need to draw down on it until the end so we can still keep saving until then and we might not need it and it can sit there. We are luckily enough that we have equity in our build after the house is built as we got a good deal on the land and now Grafton is going through a property sale boom. So tomorrow looking forward to seeing the plumbers starting their work. ~Shellby~ GJ Bridgewater 203 11/3/2016 - Site Work Started 29/9/2016 - Handover 142 Work Days 6 Work Days Over https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=80174 Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 74Mar 14, 2016 8:52 pm Excitement plus having the plumbers there tomorrow!! Is it looking likely for a slab this week or early next?? That's a pain re the cost of the retaining wall however if you can get the builder to do it, I'd be choosing that option too! But then if it's not straightforward easy then I tend to get a trade in lol - otherwise known as Kym - Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 75Mar 14, 2016 8:58 pm Time for some photos This is our block kinda from the back corner (its still about 4m behind us but hard to get it at the moment due to excess soil from last site scrap by last owners) before starting work. After site scrap, all the soil is now down the side which will become our backyard in the end. This is the view from where our alfresco will be. You can see the high corner in the top left side where we need the retaining wall, this is the side our house goes against is 1m away with the garage. Our front door area survey pegs. So some photos ~Shellby~ GJ Bridgewater 203 11/3/2016 - Site Work Started 29/9/2016 - Handover 142 Work Days 6 Work Days Over https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=80174 Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 76Mar 14, 2016 9:00 pm So so excited for you!! I'm looking forward to following your build! Quick question. Your contours. What is the approx fall of your block?? Did you end up going with the first lot of plans you posted on your thread? - otherwise known as Kym - Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 77Mar 14, 2016 9:11 pm Needausername - Slab is booked to be poured next Monday. So current plan is plumbers tomorrow and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday is holes and things for retaining wall and the framing for the slab plus rebarb etc. Then pour Monday. We should be then getting the next invoice once its poured due to our contract. I have been told the frames are already done (built local and basically around the corner from where we are now), so once they get their next payment, frames are delivered and they start the next bit Chalibear - I thought once you paid the deposit and signed contracts it goes to council. Are you changing the contract to have a longer start date? I know when we finally signed - it was 3 week wait from our appointment with Mel to signing, we had to pay the deposit, bank then approved within 10 days and then submitted to council. Are they able to just hold the council as long as bank approved? Have you done your appointment with Mel? She is just as wonderful as Kylie. Your colour etc day is fantastic and she does a great job. I will warn you, it is a long day - by the end of the day I was so tired. If your wanting to push the contract it could be helpful to check out the carpet, tiles, bricks and roof tile place beforehand and that will save time on the day and push the appointment through quickly. Anderson in Prince street does the carpet, Tiles are from North Coast tiles in Ryan street, bricks and roof tiles at blachards in Fry st near the railway tracks - they have walls set up and you can grab roof tiles to move to the walls and see what you like. By the time we got to Mel we already had bricks, roof, tiles and carpet chosen. Also make a copy of your plan and do a rough plan of where you want your lights etc, it makes the appointment quicker with the electrician - and again he was great. We will be using him for future work on our house. Even with our plan it still took over an hour to do just that bit. If you like I can put a copy up of our lights/fans etc plan to give you an idea. I have to say I can't fault any of the staff at the office, they are all nice and caring. ~Shellby~ GJ Bridgewater 203 11/3/2016 - Site Work Started 29/9/2016 - Handover 142 Work Days 6 Work Days Over https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=80174 Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 78Mar 14, 2016 9:28 pm needausername - Yep that is the final plan of the house. This is my contour report. The rainwater tank has been moved though, council wouldn't approve it on the easement sadly. It will be on the otherwise opposite our ensuite and away from views and against the fence etc. Most of my block is flat, however I had a stock pile at the back of my block as you see on the report but in saying that my back right side still has a drop of 1.2m over about 3-4m into that corner from the flat block. The other back corner is flat with the block. We plan to put a small retaining wall along the back fence line to keep it flat. We are looking at about 600mm high. That low corner is a pain as it has a stormwater pit. I also need a small retaining wall for my lower neighbour as between her retaining wall and then our boundary (as her wall isn't on the boundary) is about 300mm to 600mm in different spots due to how she dug her block and the garden she put in on top of the boundary. The front from the road is the steep drop. From the front of our block it drops about 1.6m over just 4.7m not including the council verge. Council verge is basically flat. Yes the other side is much closer to flat being just a drop of 600mm over the same distance, but this is the side of our views and we wanted to keep that - plus it will be our backyard and we can watch our youngest playing outside from the main areas of the house. Also hubby always likes and wants car access to the backyard, so this allows us to be able to drive down the low side down the side of the house. ~Shellby~ GJ Bridgewater 203 11/3/2016 - Site Work Started 29/9/2016 - Handover 142 Work Days 6 Work Days Over https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=80174 Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 79Mar 15, 2016 5:35 am Woohoo for photos!!! Your block is looking mighty fine shellby! On Friday Kylie sent an email advising their job board is booking up fairly quickly, if we are wanting to start in October, she said it would be a good idea to finalise contract fairly soon (not sure if she is using sales tactics to get us to sign up now instead later). Also if we pay our initial investment deposit before the end of March we get a holiday to Vanuatu So we are finalising the plan just to fix the price of our quote until October. That sounds like a crazy day! We are driving from Lismore so colour day will be extra long with the 1.5 drive each way... Can you please upload your electrical plan? I have printed out plans and tried to draw little circles of where I think the lights should be but the always ends scrupled in the bin We are building the Coolum 277 design with a few mods, it's a display house design in Shoalhaven. Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Sorry for hijacking your thread, but here's our plan design Re: Our First Build - GJ Gardener Bridgewater 80Mar 15, 2016 5:40 am Charlibear that's our local display home we looked at that plan also Your changes are a good idea! Do you have a thread? I can post our electrical plan too if you like. We are building with gjs shoalhaven - otherwise known as Kym - hi guys. Please be nice. First time home builder in Qld. I would like some feedback please on whether I should build my granny flat first before my main house at the… 0 4584 A quick update, we didn't have site start before Easter. Summit can't seem to give me a day when they are scheduled to begin, so I'm left with a vague "within 10-20… 4 26911 Thank you so much everyone. This all makes a lot of sense. I guess when you talk to a builder who butters up everything to look very polished, you get to start believing… 7 17507 |