Well I've been reading this forum for a couple of weeks and thought it was about time I bit the bullet and started posting, and what better way to start than by starting my very own build thread So be prepared for a ramble LOL!
My husband discharged from the Navy late 2012 and we started our plan to buy a house now that we will no longer be moving every 14 months! We were going to buy established but really couldn't justify some of the prices So we started looking at building (well, I did)
After getting so overwhelmed over plans, different inclusions, prices etc, I kind of gave up! That's when hubby decided to make an appointment with Homestart "just to get an idea of things"
Well, 3hrs later, we walked out of the meeting with a signed PPA and a scheduled meeting for the land offer the next day. I couldn't believe that after months of research and not having any clear idea, we basically made a spur of the moment decision! While in complete shock at what we had just done, I pretty much had a panic attack over the next day wondering if we did the right thing, if we went with the right builder etc
While we have gone for a smallish block of land and a smallish house, Hubby keeps reminding me that this is NOT our forever home and is simply our FIRST home to get us started. I've slowly come to terms with it, and have realised that while we added approx $30,000 extras that some builders include, the end price is not much different and the plans we have, while smaller rooms, will not have any wasted space/rooms. And... We absolutely love the estate we've chosen. It means our kids don't have to change schools again (my Son had been to 4 different daycares and 3 schools before the end of Pre-Primary ) the plan looks amazing with all the paths and playgrounds and very much looking forward to the Adventure Park to be!
Unfortunately, my head has not stopped spinning with each new piece of information.
The finance ended up being a bit tricky and we now need to provide a 10% deposit instead. Alas, this means the Builders rebate/Prestart allowance built into the loan will now be used to form some of that deposit and any credit we had available has also been used so now the Prestart changes we were thinking of are a bit of a distant dream
We are waiting for contracts and plans for the Formal Finance approval and land titles are due in the next 2-3weeks so we need them ASAP! This is really stressing me out even though I KNOW we're pushing it to have them so quick but we NEED them for the finance or we could lose the land
Pic of our plans -
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Front elevation -
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Timeline
March 8 - Signed PPA
March 9 - Signed O&A on Land
March 10 - PPA and Land Deposit Paid
March 18 - Loan App signed
March 31 - Bank Pre-Approval
April 5 - Tile, Colour and Carpet Selection made
April 24 - Contracts & Prelim plans signed
April 26 - Tile re-selection
April 30 - Finance clause waiver for Land signed
May 2 - Titles Issued
May 5 - Formal Finance Approval
May 15 - Prestart completed
May 20 - Land Settlement
May 21 - Final Plans received (minor issues)
May 28 - 6 star Energy report complete
June 1 - There's a tree on our verge
June 3 - Building permit lodged
June 4 - Variations & plans signed and returned
June 5 - Siteworks costs signed
June 13 - Building Permit approved
July 7 - File moved to Construction
July 9 - We've been Tapped!
July 28 - Earthworks have begun (2days ahead of scheduled)
July 31 - Mesh Delivered
Aug 1 - Plumbing & Electrical run-ins
Aug 4 - Footings
Aug 5 - Plastic & Mesh down/ Soakwells delivered
Aug 6 - SLAB!!! (2days ahead of scheduled
Aug 12 - Soakwells are In/ Electrical run in complete!
Aug 13 - Window frames delivered
Aug 21 - Toilet and shed on site
Aug 21 - Brick reselection
Aug 25 - Front door frame delivered
Aug 26 - Site clean and Electricity box
Sep 1 - Floor tile reselection
Sep 1 - BRICKS BRICKS BRICKS
Sep 3 - Internal door frames, more bricks, brickie cement & sand etc
Nov 3 - After 12.5weeks Brickwork has FINALLY started
Nov 27 - Roof Timbers delivered
Nov 28 - Brickwork FINISHED
Nov 29 - Roof Frame started
Dec 9 - Roof Frame FINISHED
Dec 11 - Gutters/ Electrical cut ins
Dec 12 - Plumbing cut ins
Dec?? - Electrical run ins (not all of them though )
Jan 6 - Roof Sheeting delivered
Jan 7 - Roof started AND...... ROOF FINISHED OMG Colorbond Moment
Jan 12 - Electrical finally COMPLETE/ Sand delivered for Grey float
Jan 15 - Grey Float started AND Finished
Jan 19 - Electrical moved out of to temp box and connected to house meter box
Jan 20 - WINDOWS / Ceilings and Cornices delivered
Jan 22 - Ceilings
Jan 23 - Cornices
Jan 24 - Front Render
Jan 28 - White Set begins / Bath, Laundry tub & Doors delivered
Jan 29 - Shelving stuff delivered
Feb 3 - White Set Complete AND LOCKUP!!!!
Feb 4 - Plumbing (drains for downpipes, showers etc), bath, laundry tub, towel rails & Toilet paper holder installed (well! The bath is in the bathroom haha)/ Shelving done in linen and robes
Feb 5 - Tiles Delivered (So sad I can't get in to see them up close)
Feb 6 - First paint coat on Gutters, Fascias, eaves and Alfresco & Garage Ceiling
Feb 7 - First coat on ceilings, cornices and doors! Possibly 2nd coat on gutters & Fascias
Feb 9 - Grano Poured
Feb 11 - Gas run in, Brick clean started AND........ CABINETS
Feb 12 - Kitchen Cabinets Installed
Feb 13 - Pavers delivered
Feb 14 - Plasterwork fixups??
Feb 16 - Brick Clean Complete
Feb 17 - Front site clean and sand spread for driveway/ Centurion site measure (for garage)
Feb 18 - Wet area Screeding and Hobs
Feb 19 - Waterproofing
Feb 20 - Bathroom & Laundry Tiling begins
Feb 24 - Wet Area Tiling complete
Feb 25 - Paving completed/ Internal painting begin (sealer and cut-ins)/ STONE
Feb 26 - Gutters, Downpipes, Meterbox & Render painted/ First Internal coat/ Kitchen appliances delivered & Oven installed
Feb 27 - Electrical fitout (well some plugs & switches anyway)/ Plaster fixups
Mar 3 - Tapware & hot water system installed
Mar 4 - Rangehood installed and Floor tiles delivered
Mar 5 - NBN Box, Phone & Data points, TV points & Antenna installed/ Insulation complete
Mar 6 - Floor Tiles laid
Mar 7 - Floor tiles grouted (and they look AhMaaaazing )
Mar 10 - Zero Lot Gutter fixed
Mar 11 - Roof sheeting put back on after gutter fix
Mar 12 - Garage Door installed
Mar 13 - Front door painted/ Walls sanded for painting
Mar 16 - Final Wall & Door Paint/ Splashback
Mar 17 - Door Handles & Trims/ Mirrors & Shower Screens/ New Stone & Sink installed
Mar 18 - Missing cornices replaced.
Mar 25 - Carpets laid / Site Clean
Mar 27 - Deep Clean
Mar 30 - Aircon Install / Flyscreens / Kitchen Plumbing
Apr 4 - Blinds installed
Apr 7 - Outdoor Aircon unit / Final Electricals
Apr 10 - PCI
May 1 - Final Inspection and......... KEYS