Happy New Year! As we start 2023, I’m wondering if this is the year that we will open the front door of our new house. More on that later, but first, let’s review our timeline so far… We wasted 3 months and 3.5 grand with Plunkett. And like a classical music radio station, it’s slow…
Building Inspectors, Soakwells and a Slab
We decided to appoint an independent building inspector. We had read on other blogs as well as the community FB site, that this was a much better option than relying on the builder’s inspections. And I got to thinking that the concept of a builder inspecting their own work must be a conflict of interests….
Preparing for Construction
Despite the fact that no sand has been moved on the block, and no concrete has been poured, we continue to receive multiple updates from the ‘Smart’ portal saying we have completed lots of milestones and we are officially in the Construction Stage. I thought we were there a few months ago, after admin finished,…
Waiting for a Slab
We got a building permit from the Shire the other day. I thought all approvals had been approved, but it seems that this is the last one. For now. Still, at least we have been told we are in the ‘scheduling’ stage, which means that the trades people are being allocated to actually do the…
Construction Stage Begins
Well, more accurately, the Stage is beginning. There’s not any physical construction starting, but at least we are moving to a stage where it might begin. We at least feel that we are moving forward. I am torn between the following lyrics: Forward he cried, from the rear (and the front rank died.) The General…
Pre-Start Haggling
My neighbour and I were comparing progress notes the other day. He described the pre-start process as one of “contrived extortion”. What a great term. I am beginning to understand what he means. When we attended the pre-start process, we were all optimistic, enthusiastic and excited to be finally customising our own house. So we…
Electrical Plan
We’ve done our electrical plan. I wanted electric and data points every metre everywhere, but of course there was compromise. I also wanted the spotlights from the Sydney Opera House above my kitchen workbench, but again we found some middle ground. Smart Homes allocated us a consultant just for this part of the house infrastructure…
Tile and Stone Milestone
We’ve nailed the tiles. And the stone benchtops. It didn’t take too long. Four full days of comparing the subtleties of grey marble veins with grey but slightly more silvery marble veins, in various stores in Malaga, Wangara and Osbourne Park knocked it off. The virtues of Matt, Satin or Gloss finishes were discussed in…
No Going Back now!
We’ve signed our contracts and are moving into the next stage. We have a written guarantee from Smart Homes, that so long as we don’t delay our side then there will be no price increases. We’re basically happy with the plans. There are two changes needed but they will not alter the basic structure and…