It's a year since we started this blog about 'The Big Build' and we now feel it's time to move on. Fear not, my desire to 'blog' hasn't disappeared but we feel the blog has reached a natural closing point as we move into the next chapter of our adventure.
We hoped you've enjoyed reading about our building adventures and that you will move with us to our new blog, aptly titled 'Living the Dream'...
We arrived, we built and now it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy the view!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Where do I start?.... We're in!
The blog has been a bit neglected over the last few weeks as we have been busy moving in! We had no internet connection until yesterday either which has been a bit frustrating but kind of nice too!
We got the keys for the house on my birthday which was a lovely present. It was quite a drama on the day as we had our handover at 1pm where we needed to present our final 10% payment in a cheque but there had been delays with the bank (a whole other story about a naughty valuer). We had to attend the handover with no cheque in hand so weren't able to get the keys which was both disappointing and worrying as we had to move out of our rental that weekend. We finally got the cheque from the local bank at 4.30pm and it was relief all round!
Anyway, enough chat... here are the photos from the night we got the keys...
And a few days later...
We got the keys for the house on my birthday which was a lovely present. It was quite a drama on the day as we had our handover at 1pm where we needed to present our final 10% payment in a cheque but there had been delays with the bank (a whole other story about a naughty valuer). We had to attend the handover with no cheque in hand so weren't able to get the keys which was both disappointing and worrying as we had to move out of our rental that weekend. We finally got the cheque from the local bank at 4.30pm and it was relief all round!
Anyway, enough chat... here are the photos from the night we got the keys...
And a few days later...
Thursday, June 11, 2009
So near, yet so far...
I'm not sure if I can express how completely and utterly shattered we both are! We've spent the week packing, cleaning ready for the rental inspection, arranging the move, arranging things at the new house not to mention keeping up our busy work schedules and committments!
We were supposed to get the keys today but in order to get the keys we need our final payment in the form of a cheque which we weren't able to get in time. No cheque, no keys.
The general story is that to get the final payment released by the bank they send a valuer to the house to check it over and make sure its actually worth what they are lending us I suppose! There is no doubt its worth what we've borrowed (and the rest!) but because the floor coverings weren't quite finished and the tiler hadn't yet sealed te edging (it was all booked in to happen), the valuer didn't give the go ahead for the cheque to be released.
So... all week we've been chasing up the valuer, via our mortgage broker, via the bank. The house was fully finished on Tuesday and now on Thursday evening the valuer still hasn't given the go ahead. I've got it in my head that the valuer has been side tracked by all the lovely vineyards and is drunk somewhere...
Crunch time is tomorrow. The site manager can't meet us any later than 1pm so we've got until then to locate the valuer (via the mortgage broker, via the bank) and get the go ahead and then go to the bank to pick up the cheque. I'm not 100% it is going to happen but the mortgage broker is prett confident that it will happen - as long as the valuer calls in to say he's checked it out and it's all fine to go ahead! Throw in a meeting that I have to attend in the morning for work, someone coming to clean the rental carpets at 10am and a certain someones birthday (that'd be me!) and we've got a crazy day! Arghhhh.
The worst thing is that we have to move out of our rental this weekend as the landlord has sold up and we've prearranged the date. Not quite sure what we'll do if we don't get the keys tomorrow but we've got a couple of plans up our sleeves... watch this space.
Getting disconnected from the world tomorrow morning (phone line and internet) and connected up at the new house but obviously if we don't have the keys it isn't much use! Will hopefully be back online before you know it.
Who knows what the next 24 hours holds...
We were supposed to get the keys today but in order to get the keys we need our final payment in the form of a cheque which we weren't able to get in time. No cheque, no keys.
The general story is that to get the final payment released by the bank they send a valuer to the house to check it over and make sure its actually worth what they are lending us I suppose! There is no doubt its worth what we've borrowed (and the rest!) but because the floor coverings weren't quite finished and the tiler hadn't yet sealed te edging (it was all booked in to happen), the valuer didn't give the go ahead for the cheque to be released.
So... all week we've been chasing up the valuer, via our mortgage broker, via the bank. The house was fully finished on Tuesday and now on Thursday evening the valuer still hasn't given the go ahead. I've got it in my head that the valuer has been side tracked by all the lovely vineyards and is drunk somewhere...
Crunch time is tomorrow. The site manager can't meet us any later than 1pm so we've got until then to locate the valuer (via the mortgage broker, via the bank) and get the go ahead and then go to the bank to pick up the cheque. I'm not 100% it is going to happen but the mortgage broker is prett confident that it will happen - as long as the valuer calls in to say he's checked it out and it's all fine to go ahead! Throw in a meeting that I have to attend in the morning for work, someone coming to clean the rental carpets at 10am and a certain someones birthday (that'd be me!) and we've got a crazy day! Arghhhh.
The worst thing is that we have to move out of our rental this weekend as the landlord has sold up and we've prearranged the date. Not quite sure what we'll do if we don't get the keys tomorrow but we've got a couple of plans up our sleeves... watch this space.
Getting disconnected from the world tomorrow morning (phone line and internet) and connected up at the new house but obviously if we don't have the keys it isn't much use! Will hopefully be back online before you know it.
Who knows what the next 24 hours holds...
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Stuff
We had our first 'official' walkaround the house on Friday. Wow. The floor was in the process of being laid and the lights were in - it suddenly felt more like home than ever. I must say, the floor is looking particularly stunning. So stunning in fact that I purposely didn't take any photos and I don't want to share it until it is officialy OURS! 3 sleeps to go!
Instead, I shall bore you with photos of the packing 'at the other end'. How can two people have so much stuff? I'll be glad when this weekend is over if I'm honest...!
Instead, I shall bore you with photos of the packing 'at the other end'. How can two people have so much stuff? I'll be glad when this weekend is over if I'm honest...!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
An update!
I presumed that because we now have our final completion date (a week tomorrow!) and have arranged a 'walk around' with the site supervisor this Friday, that we wouldn't get anymore email updates.
So I was nicely surprised today to get the usual weekly email with our update! Henley Homes just doens't stop communicating! Our update was as follows -
* The carpets are being installed from today
* The build cleaners are booked to go through the house next week
* John will meet you on site as arranged for the pre-handover walkthrough
* All appliances installations are booked for the date requested by you
Oooo, carpets! Yeay! Getting VERY excited now!
So I was nicely surprised today to get the usual weekly email with our update! Henley Homes just doens't stop communicating! Our update was as follows -
* The carpets are being installed from today
* The build cleaners are booked to go through the house next week
* John will meet you on site as arranged for the pre-handover walkthrough
* All appliances installations are booked for the date requested by you
Oooo, carpets! Yeay! Getting VERY excited now!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Big decisions
This weekend we've focussed on choosing our driveway! We met a local landscaper on site yesterday who is giving us a quote. Today we've been busy visiting various paver display centres (I didn't know such things existed until we built this house) and have chosen to go for Austral Clay Pavers in Toasted Charwood...
We've been obsessively holding the pavers next to our colour plan (in my little scrap book) to make sure it all looks ok but I think the most accurate test is to see if the above image looks good on the blog... yeahhhhhh!
We've been obsessively holding the pavers next to our colour plan (in my little scrap book) to make sure it all looks ok but I think the most accurate test is to see if the above image looks good on the blog... yeahhhhhh!
Friday, May 29, 2009
All systems GO!
Yesterday we received the call that we have been waiting for... "You will receive the keys on Thursday 11th June!" Yeayyyyyyyyyyyy!
Now it's all systems go arranging everything - finalising stuff with our rental, planning the move, and arranging all the final bits and bobs for the new house.
All EXCEEDINGLY exciting!
Now it's all systems go arranging everything - finalising stuff with our rental, planning the move, and arranging all the final bits and bobs for the new house.
All EXCEEDINGLY exciting!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Doors, Handles & Essa Stone Benchtops!
Another good week of progress... The only things remaining to do now are the electrics, the plumbing and the flooring... eeeeeeek!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Oh my oh my... it's the garage door!
Today we took our beautiful guests (from the UK), Aneesa and Nadine to our house. It was a fantastic visit as the garage door had been installed along with mirrors, air conditioning, and shower screens. The painters have also started glossing.
AWESOMENESS!
It's a funny feeling now as our house is really starting to look like the 'artists impression' that Dan put together for the header (at the top) of this blog... clever!
As usual, the photos do all the talking:
AWESOMENESS!
It's a funny feeling now as our house is really starting to look like the 'artists impression' that Dan put together for the header (at the top) of this blog... clever!
As usual, the photos do all the talking:
Monday, May 11, 2009
Cupboards and shelves... how exciting!
We popped to the house yesterday (when I say 'popped' I actually mean 'spent two hours there') to check out the latest progress.
It was great to see the tiles were almost finished, the wardrobe fittings and cupboard/pantry shelves had been fitted and that the first coat of paint was on. Great also to see the external paint work completed (other than the front door).
It was great to see the tiles were almost finished, the wardrobe fittings and cupboard/pantry shelves had been fitted and that the first coat of paint was on. Great also to see the external paint work completed (other than the front door).
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