Hello all!
Time for me to start my very own house build thread!
Bought our block in Grandis section of Calleya Estate in May, 2016. Titles finally through mid-January 2017. Settlement early February, 2017. Practical completion of land (who knew having titles did NOT mean you could access the land??) end of February, 2017.
So 9 months after purchasing our block of 475 square metres, our builder HGWA (who we signed up with in May 2016) were finally able to do surveys and soil samples etc. Since then we have been waiting patiently (sort of!) for HGWA to trudge through their administration processes. They really are as slow as turtles with all the paperwork but I hear they are great once the actual build commences.
Anyway, we are building a version of the Naples, but flipped and massacred! Although waiting 9 months for anything to happen has been painful, it has given us plenty of time to tweak our plan and make sure it will suit us as much as budget allows. Should be receiving first working plans early next week.
Prestart is in 10 days time. We are pretty sure about most of the things we want. We included most of our big upgrades in the initial contract so hopefully our prestart bill won't be too horrendous.
External colour scheme is white (Dulux Lexicon Quarter) and dark grey (Dulux Monument) with a bright orange (Dulux Bright Delight) front door! Internally, dark grey floors, white walls (Dulux Lexicon Quarter) , white kitchen and bathrooms and then LOTS of colour in artwork, furnishings, rugs etc.
Cannot work out how to add photos! Can someone provide instructions please??
Now for some questions for those who are building with HGWA. Anyone got any prices for the following...
1. Upgrading to Essastone for kitchen benches? Is this even allowed?
2. Floor tiling in living areas that is NOT the Della Vita range. I have chosen a 600x300mm non-rectified tile from Crosby Tiles that is about $49 a square metre. Wondering how much extra HGWA will charge me for that?
3. Cost of rendering the back of the house, which is mostly windows, but would like the rest rendered.
4. Cost of paving around the sides of the house?
5. Any suggestions of things to remember to check and/or ask for at prestart??
Thanks in advance!
-Mrsxtro
10/05/16- Purchased land
13/01/17- Land titled
03/02/17- Land settlement
28/02/17- Practical completion of land
06/05/17- First docs
09/05/17- Prestart
23/05/17- Final docs
24/05/17- Scheduling commenced
09/06/17- Developer approvals received
26/06/17- Council building permit received
18/07/17- Earthworks commenced
20/07/17- Footings and initial plumbing completed
24/07/17- Slab poured
03/08/17- Bricks delivered
07/08/17- Window and sliding door frames delivered
16/08/17- Bricklayers commenced
26/08/17- Brickwork complete
30/08/17- Roof timbers delivered
01/09/17- Roof frame commenced
06/09/17- Roof frame, eaves and fascias complete
11/09/17- Gutters on, first fix for electrician and plumber commenced
16/09/17- First fix for electrician and plumber complete
18/09/17- Roof tin done
19/09/17- Windows and sliding doors installed
20/09/17- Gyprock for ceilings and walls delivered
22/09/17- Walls commenced (then interrupted by long weekend)
27/09/17- Walls and ceilings completed
29/09/17- Cornices done
30/09/17- Rendering commenced
02/10/17- Rendering completed. Doors and shelving materials delivered.
03/10/17- Internal doors installed. Shelving installed. Front door installed and LOCK UP!
09/10/17- Kitchen, scullery, laundry, bathroom installation commenced.
10/10/17- Tiles delivered. Render undercoated.
12/10/17- Bathrooms, toilets and laundry screeded.
16/10/17- Bathrooms waterproofed.
19/10/17- Garage concreted.
20/10/17- Tiling commenced.
10/11/17- Garage door installed.
14/11/17- Tiling complete. Finally! Stove, toilets and hot water system delivered.
16/11/17- Electrical final fix completed.
17/11/17- Sand for paving delivered. Insulation delivered.
20/11/17- Insulation installed.
21/11/17- Plumbing final fix completed. Aircon installed.
22/11/17- Render colour application commenced.
23/11/17- Render completed.
24/11/17- Final painting completed.
27/11/17- Hot Water System installed.
28/11/17- Shower screens and robe sliding doors.
29/11/17- House and window clean.
30/11/17- Paving commenced.
01/12/17- Flyscreens installed. Silicon work in wet areas done.
02/12/17- Paving complete. Carpets installed.
04/12/17- Sliding doors and door handles installed.
05/12/17- Front door handle installed.
06/12/17- Final clean and rubbish removed.
12/12/17- PCI
16/12/17- Moved in!! Yippee!!