Sunday, May 31, 2009

The new furniture...

By the time the house is finished... we should have paid off the new furniture! Our furniture guy has been amazing! Knocked off around $700 off the total price and given us pretty much open ended lay by terms. So far it's been 3 months, and he's happy for us to drag it out another 5.

The developers approval...

Spoke with our admin at Henley last week, she advised she'd sent our plans off to the developer for approval. They met on Friday, so hopefully we'll hear back early this week if they want us to make any changes.

Also, received our mortgage documents from our broker for the land portion of our loan. The paperwork was dated April 15, with a note saying that if we wanted to accept the loan offer, we needed to sign and return the paperwork within 21 days... now that is kind of hard when it took our broker over 4 weeks to send it to us! We've posted them to the bank now, with a covering note, and have kept the express post envelope which has a date on it to prove we didn't have the paperwork. Spoke to our broker about the issue also, and he assured that his clients often send back paperwork after the offer date, and it's all fine! Hmmm... ???

Monday, May 25, 2009

The front entry door

Here's our front entry door. We originally wanted the Madison 1200mm pivot door, but the only door Henley offered us this size was the Infinity. Still we are very happy with it!


The road update (3)...

Took a trip out to the block on Saturday, we almost have a road! Getting closer!

We also had a look at the new Stage 11 which has just been released down the road from us. Blocks our size are going for $70,000 more than what we paid only 3 months ago! EEEEK!

Here's a pic of our road.



Here's a pic of the estate showing the new Stage 11 just released.

Friday, May 22, 2009

The dream sofa...

This sofa is on the list! ...our wish list that is...

Stumbled accross this sofa while looking for places to stay around Daylesford...

Just picture the model not being there!
We'll be organising a week away soon to http://www.kudosvillas.com.au/

The Futsal plug...

Another post completely un-house related...

We were contacted during the week for a quick interview. We've been playing indoor soccer (Futsal) for quite a few years now. We thought it was a bit of a laugh, check out our player profiles.

http://www.super5s.org/player_profiles.php

We're hoping to start playing some team sports in Doreen when we move into the new house. If anyone knows of anything, feel free to contact us!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

The tender queries answered...

Here are the answers to the queries we asked regarding our tender:

1. What are the costs involved in connecting the rain water tank to the laundry in addition to the WC? Please add this to our tender/contract. Henley only offer connections to the WC's, but we can speak to our site supervisor later down the track about this.

2. External Works: Point 14-2. Roof tiles $840 on tender. Original price on quote $820, please confirm why difference in price? The additional cost was apparently due to the eaves and roof pitch increase.

3. Windows/Doors: Point 15-4. Provide timber windows to façade $1086 on tender. Original provisional price on quote $605, I know this one was a provisional price, but can you look into the difference for us? Provisional Quote was apparently for the Miller Façade, we since changed to the Ashmore Facade.

4. Windows/Doors: Point 15-7. White cathedral glass to bathroom & ensuite $230 on tender. Original price on quote $78 each = $156, please confirm why difference in price? There has been a price increase.

5. Windows/Doors: Point 15-9. Madison internal door $253 on tender. All other Madison internal doors are $214 each, please confirm why difference in price on this door, being the lock is charged separately? This is the door for garage entry and included in this price is a packing door which is fitted first to ensure that damage does not occur through construction.

6. Deluxe Electrical Upgrade Pack. Should be dimmer switches to Family, Dining & Entry, these were not included on the tender. Please add. Total $216. Added now.

7. Kitchen/Joinery. Point 17-2. No. 10 Stainless steel canopy rangehood. Please confirm what brand/model. This is to be the glass overhead canopy. Baumatic - as per colour selection paperwork. At the time 'A' just put this down as a guess, she wasn't 100% sure.

8. Site Plan. Position of legal point of stormwater, it’s assumed on the plan to be in the back corner. We are 99% sure it is on the front of the property. Will be finalised when the survey is complete when the land is released.

9. Ground Floor Plan. Master suite entry doors. Plan says 1 x 820mm & 1 x 420mm door. Tender says 1 x 720mm & 1 x 520mm door. Which one is correct? The tender is correct, plans will be amended.

10. Please omit the hanging rails and shelf in master suite WIR (as previously discussed this was going to be changed as a PCV, but can we do it now with other changes?) These have been deleted from the tender and a credit of (-$239) provided.

11. Deluxe Electrical Upgrade Pack. In the study - can we please move the double power point from the wall adjoining the WIR to the wall adjoining the porch? Can we also add a tv point to the wall adjoining the porch? Can add this item by Post Contract Variation as it has not been priced into tender.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

The road update (2)

Did a drive by of our block earlier today, we almost have a road!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The Federal Budget - FHOG extended

Well we're a little happy we didn't sign our building contract on April 24... and even tomorrow's reschedule has been delayed while we wait for a few changes as per our tender review last week.

Spoke to our broker, and spoke to S at Henley. We're now just sitting and waiting... possibily until after July 1st. We're in no major hurry to sign, as our land doesn't settle until August.

Signing now we're eligible for $26k worth of grants.

Signing between July 1st - Sep we're eligible for $32k worth of grants.

Just waiting to hear back from S again to see whether there's any penalties for delaying the signing as our tender will expire early June.

Friday, May 8, 2009

The tender queries...

After receiving the tender and drawings via email this arvo, we've sat down and thoroughly gone through EVERYTHING (well we hope it was everything). We need to email S a few notes and questions as below;

1. What are the costs involved in connecting the rain water tank to the laundry in addition to the WC? Please add this to our tender/contract.

2. External Works: Point 14-2. Roof tiles $840 on tender. Original price on quote $820, please confirm why difference in price?

3. Windows/Doors: Point 15-4. Provide timber windows to façade $1086 on tender. Original provisional price on quote $605, I know this one was a provisional price, but can you look into the difference for us?

4. Windows/Doors: Point 15-7. White cathedral glass to bathroom & ensuite $230 on tender. Original price on quote $78 each = $156, please confirm why difference in price?

5. Windows/Doors: Point 15-9. Madison internal door $253 on tender. All other Madison internal doors are $214 each, please confirm why difference in price on this door, being the lock is charged separately?

6. Deluxe Electrical Upgrade Pack. Should be dimmer switches to Family, Dining & Entry, these were not included on the tender. Please add. Total $216.

7. Kitchen/Joinery. Point 17-2. No. 10 Stainless steel canopy rangehood. Please confirm what brand/model. This is to be the glass overhead canopy.

8. Site Plan. Position of legal point of stormwater, it’s assumed on the plan to be in the back corner. We are 99% sure it is on the front of the property.

9. Ground Floor Plan. Master suite entry doors. Plan says 1 x 820mm & 1 x 420mm door. Tender says 1 x 720mm & 1 x 520mm door. Which one is correct?

10. Please omit the hanging rails and shelf in master suite WIR (as previously discussed this was going to be changed as a PCV, but can we do it now with other changes?)

11. Deluxe Electrical Upgrade Pack. In the study - can we please move the double power point from the wall adjoining the WIR to the wall adjoining the porch? Can we also add a tv point to the wall adjoining the porch?

All in all we're happy with all the info we received, we're just stoked to see some progress and be another step closer to starting to build our home!!

We'll spend the weekend looking through the info again before we send the email off to S.

The contract drawings...

Aaron spoke to S at Henley this morning, she's going to email through the tender and drawings today!

Post edited 5:25pm

Received our tender via email this afternoon! Tonight we'll spend hours going over it to make sure every detail is 100% correct.

Almost fell off the couch reading the total $$$ amount at the bottom of the page! But after reading through the list of everything itemised, including the site costs, the total is roughly what we expected. Lets hope the bank is happy with this!

One upgrade we most definitely had to have was the 1200mm wide front entry pivot door in lieu of the standard 920mm door. We knew we'd be paying extra... well that extra is $4,249!! And it's staying! It will be worth every cent. Due to the large front entry, we just couldn't visualise a smaller door.

We will have at least one PCV, which S told us wouldn't attract a fee (because it's not a major structural change) which is removing the hanging rails and shelf in the WIR in the master suite. We plan to fit the WIR out ourselves, and have already measured and priced up a complete layout from IKEA that suits us.

Below are some pics of the drawings.

This is the site plan, so you can see where the house will be positioned on our block. The road is to the right. North direction actually faces down towards the bottom of the image, so our alfresco faces north.


Below is the front elevation, showing our 1200mm wide front entry door! ... and the render and windows etc.
Below is the floor plan, most the measurements are cut off, as they're too small to read anyway.

Below is the electrical plan, we've added extra batten lights to the family, dining and living, extra double power points to the laundry and garage, and dimmer switches to the family, dining and entry.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The First Home Bonus for Victorians increased...

Not sure whether to delay our contract signing until after July 1st? Guess it will depend on what the Federal Gov decide on after May 12.

If we sign contracts prior to June 30, we are eligible for the $26,000 combined State and Federal Government grants and bonuses.

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/premier/victorian-first-home-bonus-increased-for-new-homes.html

Saturday, May 2, 2009

The carpet...

Today we set out to get some carpet quotes to submit to the bank with our building contract. The carpet is one of few items Henley dont include in their package, but we're happy to hunt around ourselves, as we like projects! We need to carpet all the bedrooms, plus the study and living room (pool room).

We visited two Harvey Norman stores, and were quoted two very different prices for the same product! The first quote at Preston came in at just a little over $5,000, and the second at Thomastown came in at under $2,500. Staff at both stores were incredibly helpful and nice to deal with, and were happy to hold pricing until we're ready, which we told them would be approx 10 months!

From Harvey Norman we liked the Adelphi Game Keeper range, colour yet to be decided, but we've narrowed it down to a few that match well with our paint sample we took in. It's 100% solution dyed nylon, with a 15 year warranty.

We also visited Carpet Call in Preston, their quote came in the highest, and we picked another solution dyed nylon in the Azura range in colour Echelon.

Friday, May 1, 2009

The underground water tanks quote...

Today I met with "D" from Underground Water Storage. He found it a bit tricky getting to our block considering our road isn't on the map as yet. Anyway, he was great to deal with, and we have the quote, it was roughly what we thought it would be.

25,000ltr - $19,800
30,000ltr - $22,500

This is for a complete supply and installation. We can save a fair whack of dollars though if we do a bit of work ourselves. We have access to an excavator, so if we dig our own hole, it will save us a whopping $150 per 1000ltrs... so $3750 saved on the 25,000ltr unit, or $4500 on the 30,000ltr unit. Aaron being a plumber, if he hooks up pump etc etc it will save us a little more.

We just need to look into what rebates the council offers also, so hopefully there's some more savings there.

http://www.melbournewater.com.au/content/library/water/water_storages/rainwater_tank_rebates_-_fact_sheet.pdf

The system will be installed after the downpipes etc have been connected to the house once we start the build.

Below is a pic from today. They're still madly working on the road. Cant wait to see it actually sealed!

Carpet quotes tomorrow... oh and off the topic of housebuilding, we need to look into travel insurance for our Europe trip - 11 weeks today til we fly out!