August 20th

Well a week of rain and we have a muddy swimming pool due to a storm water pipe bring broken by the pool builder. Ah well, we can’t wait for it to be completed. The pumps are going to try and dry the hole so they can start the formwork this week. Our shutters are due to be installed this weekend so we will have proper window coverings. The telco keeps coming out and each and everytime they say ‘oh, we have to dig the road up to put some conduit so we can feed the Internet and Foxtel cables through!’ We still haven’t got a phone line. The left hand doesn’t know what the right is doing and it is very frustrating when you have a child trying to do Yr 10 exams and assignments. We are also busy getting quotes for the fencing, the driveway and completion of the retaining walls as part of council conditions. We have had a couple arrive, some don’t want the work and others are very expensive. I think we focus on the priorities first. 

August 10th

Well, three trucks & one week later, we are nearly settled. We took the time off to settle in and loved all the drop in’s who came for coffee. No Foxtel, Telstra or Internet at present as we didn’t realise that with knockdowns/rebuilds they sever the wires. Unlucky for us, the street access is through an asbestos pit which means after escalating our job via a complaint, they are not going to charge us for digging the road up and they have taken responsibility for connecting up from across the street to our boundary. Builders or electrical appointments don’t tell you things like this, so watch out. Such as life. It would have been good to know that issues such as this are common with knockdown/rebuilds.

See some pictures at night but will take more over the weekend. By then we hope to have a ‘big’ hole in the garden ready for the pool formwork!

31st July

We have handed over! It is our new home. So surreal! A three year journey now completed and a new chapter can commence. We handed over at 9.30am this morning and couldn’t wait for the site supervisor to go so we could jump up and down with joy! We spent the remainder of the day titivating and cleaning the skirting boards, wiping cupboards and doors down, cleaning bathrooms and air con ducts. No complaints, just loving our new space. We had to call council to order bins, which we forgot to do, arrange insurance which we forgot to do, and go to Bunnings to buy a temporary letterbox and a step ladder so we can out light bulbs in the sockets. Tomorrow we have a number of deliveries including Harvey Norman, Betta Electrical and landscapers to quote on fencing,  walls and the driveway.

July 24th – PCI Summary

Below are the main pages of our report. Nothing major which is excellent news. A number of things that do need adjusting or repairing, primarily paintwork touch ups and things to be completed prior  to moving in. The most time consuming issues are the doors showing a honeycombing in brighter lights which we don’t like and a bad chip in the laundry bench top. Other than that, no structural issues and all superficial – a good result.

 

July 24th

We had our Practical Completion Inspection (PCI) at 9 this morning. On the whole all good with no major issues. The SS who has done a great job, walked us through and pointed out a number of areas he had picked up that needed to rectified such as gashes and dents in the walls or skirting. We also picked up a few dents in the window frames and some honeycombing patterns on the internal doors which our inspection from Houspect picked up. There was a chip in the laundry bench and some flashing and fascia repairs.

I will attach the Houspect NSW report shortly. It has been invaluable to have an independent inspector do 4 reports for us at a cost of only $1495. Worth every penny.

July 18th

Fly screens in, some touch ups done and the Certifer through. Carpets are still not in. Disappointing. Apparently they will be in 21st & 22nd. Unfortunately they will clash with the painter who has a lot of gashes and marks to repair. Not sure how that is going to work! Tiling in kitchen still not complete and skirting for floorboards not complete in kitchen. Nosings on stairs not complete and shutters not available until mid August. Thursday is our walk through, can’t wait. Hopefully we will be nearer to being ready for handover on 31st.

July 10th

We are so close! Can’t believe it. A long road to get to this point. Three years and in 3wks we will be moving into our new house. The fencing is down and the house almost looks ‘human’. The mirrors and shower screens are in. I hope the painters come and finish off the outside soon! Floorboards start tomorrow and then carpets start Monday. 

The walk in pantry

The walk in pantry

Main bedroom ensuite

Main bedroom ensuite

Looking toward the front door

Looking toward the front door

Main bedroom ensuite

Main bedroom ensuite

Family, meals kitchen with 3.3mtr ceilings

Family, meals kitchen with 3.3mtr ceilings

The main bathroom

The main bathroom

Guest ensuite

Guest ensuite

July 4th

Well a lot has happened this week with painters, plumbers who installed the bath, the toilets and all the taps, alarm went in, air conditioner in, floors sanded, lights finished, trims for windows done. Not sure if the roof insulation was completed….hard to see! All very exciting. Met with Crystal Pools on site who will be starting the pool mid August so it will be ready for Christmas. I also met some concreters on site to get quotes for the driveway.