Internal colors

Well now I'm on a role with posting again, thought I might as well upload the internal colors.

Again they are similar to last time - just better!!! Ha ha ha

Internal Walls :Taubmans/Bristol Moonriver
Trims/Doors/Ceiling: Illusive White
Kitchen Cupboards: White Gloss poly
Kitchen Bench: QQ Luna White
Kitchen Kickers: White Gloss Poly
Laundry Cupboards: Polytec Gesso Lini (sorry Mich got a bit carried away from white ;) )
Laundry Benchtop: Polytec Snow Fabrini
Ensuite/Powder Room Benchtop: QQ Riverstone
Main Bath Benchtop: QQ Ice
All Bathroom vanities: Designer White
Tiling: to be selected at a later date - but see photos for my ideas :)
Front Doors: Hume XVP11 for Stain
Staircase: Stained handrail and posts - waiting for quote if I have standard black stingers (is that the word ??) or stainless steel. All will be vertical with not fancy ones!!! Plain aren't I?

That's all I can think of atm - Oh had to do all the taps and things, but for me that wasn't very exciting!!! Dad will change over tapware, showerheads, kitchen to a vege sprayer at a later date for me. Thanks Dad :)


Here is all the internals together. Was hard to photograph with the overhead light, and the camera flash. On my laptop it's looking a little pinky, not in real life thank goodnees!!!

Enjoy!!!

External Colors

I had the color selection Thursday where I had to select all external and internal colors and selections expect tiling and flooring.

Thanks to the ever talented Michelle at De Novo Concepts who is fabulous with color, it made the formal selection process a breeze.

It took an hour to run through external and internal selections, with me only having to make a couple of selections on the spot.

Michelle also took the headache of agonising over selections away - I told her it was now her headache!!! (Lucky she has a sense of humour and laughed!!!)

Here are the external selections - similar to first time 'round, but better :)

The picture has come up pretty small - if you click on it, it should be clearer.

Bricks: Boral Blackheath
Roof: Boral Charcoal Grey Striata (sp?)
Mortar: Off white Raked
Gutters, Fascia, Downpipes: Woodland Grey
Windows/Sliding doors: Surfmist
Garage Door: Windspray
Front Doors: Timber stained

I think that's it :)

Enjoy

Bel x x x

New Plans

I am am addict of the great homeone forum http://forum.homeone.com.au/index.php - over the past few years, I've really enjoyed reading people's stories of their builds, and also gained a lot of knowledge, and great ideas to steal!!!

So in my thread, I had a lovely comment from "Jim", who had been following our progress - or lack of there of....and wanted updates on the blog and plans. I feel really excited and touched that someone cares about the drama we have been through - most people see us and say "how's the house going?" OR "got a house yet", but truly don't understand all the shit we have been faced with.

So Jim, this is for you :)

She's not the prettiest house on the street, but she's ours! :)

Ground floor
First Floor

Enjoy!

Bel x x x

New beginnings - again :)

Wow Here I am back! :)

At lot has happened in the past 6+ months. DH and I went around in circles trying to find the best solution for us and our family.

I'll try and reduce the past few months in a paragraph or two........

In a nutshell, we had 2 choices - sell and buy established, or persevere with a build. We shopped around for an established place, but in the end, we couldn't afford what we could build.

So then it was ok - what house/builder do we build??? We decided we just need *a* house on the land, to get out of rental hell, and get some balance in the kids lives - not the *one day new house*

Unfortunately HH didn't work out - very long story there, and we went back to W to say - build a house.

As in all great sagas, it couldn't have been that simple - yep prices went up to build, and we had less money than when we started as rental houses in Sydney are a shocker. So, once we received a revised tender, it was again 2 choices - borrow more money, or slash and burn the house. We chose *reluctantly* the slash and burn option. Had to cut off the rumpus (I cried for days), but ended up reconfiguring kitchen/laundry area which I'm happy with. I'm now over the *we aren't going to have a rumpus for the kids* and figure, they will have their own bedrooms for the first time, as well as several living areas - gee what more could we possibly give them........

So where are we now - well the Section 96 was approved, we had color selection Thursday, engineers reports are being ordered and Construction certificate is on it's way.

Let's get Bel a house in 2010!!!! :)

Going around in circles

Long time no post. Again no good news.

Start rant:
Arrggh is all I can say!!! Sales rep is on holidays at the moment, but didn't bother to tell us that.

We redesigned again during the last week of the school holidays (4 or so weeks ago) and Sales Rep didn't bother to get back to us with revised pricing. I called the office last week to find out he was on leave until the end of the month. Today I've finally spoken with someone who just told me the latest tender price which I'm not so happy about! I haven't seen a break down in costs but he said site costs were $61k and DEB's another $30k. Hmmmm what to do. We are way over budget now. It annoys me that out our first meeting we discussed budget and house size, but they are now saying that they can not do it in our original price range. (We are at least 50k over it)
I haven't been overly happy with them up until now, but keep telling myself that once I get through the sales rep process, they will be better (I figure the sales rep just doesn't know what he is talking about!). I think, like a friend on H1 said, I was kidding myself that when HH said they were the sloping block specialists, that I actually believed it!!! Again I think my jaded view is clouded by the sales rep's lack of knowledge.
End Rant!

I have been talking with smaller builders in our area for a custom build, but keep hitting roadblocks. One recommended builder does Tafe teaching now, another quoted $2k a sq m (which would be around $750k! -we don't have that budget!!! :lol: )

I'm now talking with W again, just to get a house built. My preference is HH's split level, but long ago I've given up on the dream home idea. I just want some stability for my family, as we have been on this journey nearly 2 years. You live and learn. What I thought initially was a flat block, well I know what to look out for next time!

Time to get a house built Belinda!!!

Onwards and upwards!!

Roadblocks

It has been so long since posting on here, mainly because I still don't have any good news. I've been a bit down about the so called "build", and can't believe we are still having problems. The new builder, actually sales rep, just doesn't seem to understand how to build on our block. Yes, it is not a standard block, in a new estate, like he is probably used to. But, the KDRB market is a valuable one here in Sydney, and the majority of KDRB's would be on difficult blocks in some way. Anyway I digress, point of the matter is he doesn't know enough technical stuff to assist us, it's only when I kick and scream that he seems to get it.

So what's been happening.....
After the last post, we received a tender document with the revised changes, half splits etc, and the cost did increase a little but we were ok with it. It's at the top end of our spending so no fancy upgrades (we maybe a few!) but not upgraded to the max like the last place was. I'm happy with this, surprisingly. Long ago I've given up that idea of this will be our "dream" house. Nope, we will build that another time!

The sales rep wanted us to sign on the dotted line, but basically he couldn't answer my pressing questions. The conversation went something like this:
Me: I've spoken with Sydney water about the sewer line in the garage, and potentially accordingly to the drawing we could have a sewer suspended mid air in the garage. What are the floor levels etc to make sure this isn't happening.
Sales Rep: Oh don't worry about that, once we get to contract we will order a sewer pegout, and it will show it then.
Me: Ummm, bit of a show stopper isn't it.
Sales Rep: Na na just sign
Me: Don't think for one moment I will sign a damn thing when this might not even be the house we build. Why would I sign anything when I don't know what house I'll be building. Are you kidding.
Sales Rep: Umm are there any questions you have from the tender.
Me: Until we sort this out I am not signing a thing and not prepared to move forward. As for the tender I haven't even started on that. (!)
Sales Rep: Oh ok let me speak with the architect/designer.

Gets back to me a few days (!) later, and the conversation is:
Sales Rep: Ok we think the best thing to do is do a sewer pegout as we can not rely on a verbal from Sydney Water. I've spoken with "Management" who is willing to share this cost.
Me: (thinking ffs) Yep do it, that's what I've been trying to say

About a week later, still no pegout, so I chase and say when is it happening? To the reply of it's been ordered.

Finally I get a copy and we have answers.

But AGAIN I've have to question the design principles....the conversation.....

Sales Rep: We have the pegout back and we need to raise the level of the house about 1 meter.
Me: Riiigghhhttt, so aren't we going back to the initial problem. (See previous post about laundry issue, and full split vs half split). Why are you continuing to try and make this house fit, when we have asked you from day one to design it to our block and our requirements!!!! Argghh
Sales Rep: Oh, ok well I wanted to drop in the new revised tender with the amendments to the floor level, raising it up.
Me: (thinking are you for real) Fine drop it in, but we still have a fundamental problem
Sales Rep: Ok I'll drop it in.

About 15 mins later he calls again
Sales Rep: I've spoken with "Management" you know the Head honcho (Bel rolls eyes), and he said not to give you that tender as it will just get you offside with the increased amounts for Drop edge beams etc, maybe it is best you come in and speak with the architect again and design again.
Me: Yep (told you so)

So we are now waiting to visit them again for the 4th time (I think) at bloody Baulkham Hills. The worst part is that it's school holidays so I will have to take 3 kids with me. Arrghhh. Hopefully Mum (love you Mum!) will be free to take them for a milkshake!

Here are a couple of my goes at redesigning for the problems on the block. Anyone else got any ideas? BTW I'm not going to show them, I want to see what they come up with!!!






I didn't quite work out the upstairs bedroom areas in the 3 plans yet, but it's a start. I think the first one is my favorite at the moment - would probably work out to be most expensive! Argghh.

Oh - if you are still reading - Well done - I crapped on didn't I!!! ha ha ha :)

Just give me a #@$% house!

Hi All,

It has been about a month since I've updated the blog - I've been busy with "stuff". You know the type of thing - kids, DS sleep problems (which we now have a diagnosis Yippee), me trying to find a new job, the list goes on!

Anyway, as you can see from the posts title, I'm getting so frustrated with this whole process.

Let me summarise what's happened in the last few weeks.

After we received the sketches, a few days later we got these - the revised sketches drawn up properly with our changes. I still am happy with these plans, and think we'll have a house that is a bit different.Might not be to everyone's cup of tea, but works for us and the block!!

Front Elevation


Ground Floor


Upstairs Floor



So like I said we were happy with the design, and the Sales guy wanted to meet with us the following week to discuss plans, revised costs and going forward.

In that meeting he came to our home after hours - I thought it was just because he didn't want the twins wrecking the display again :) lol! DH told me to give the guy a break and he is just trying to offer some service. Hmmmm I'm too cynical! Anyway what was presented was all good, in budget (just) and we agreed to sign the paperwork to go to tender.

Anyway that was a couple of weeks ago, and Mother's Day weekend, Dh was on the block trying to clear the 2m high weeds, and a surveyor from Huxley turns up to do levels. Great - somethings happening we think. Even though I had supplied 2 other builders levels, as well as the DA that had been previously approved, and everything else except costings.

Well on Monday I called to find out where the tender was, (why do you have to chase them Grrr) and to find out where we are at, and to organise to go through the display home up at Fern Bay (just past Newcastle on the way to Nelson Bay). I wanted to go to Newcastle on Wednesday, as DS was at school and goes to a friends in the afternoon (no pick up), and Mum could have the twins.
No, couldn't do it - they have a sales meeting in Sydney, so the local rep is here. Hello, can't ANYONE else show me the darn house. So annoying and I let him know it. It is so hard to organise no kid time to do stuff like this, I was soooo pissed off.

Then the sales rep announces that he needs to see us as there has been issues with the laundry and the levels. Ummm what's the problem I say - the laundry is about 2m off the ground!

So what ended up happening was that he came over again to show us the problems, and explained that the designer/architect when drawing the house used the levels that W had on their drawings, but when H did the levels they differed and there way of fixing the laundry off the ground issue was a set of steps to the backyard. Not ideal.

Then we started asking the sales rep about the whole design philosophy. Wow I know more about building than he does, either that or he's told not to say anything! I understand we have a difficult block - but our reason for going to H in the first place is because they building split level homes. They should have experience in this!!! Grrr. Basically it looks like they have taken natural ground level from the back of where the house would be, and built forward. It means we have a full split, and massive cut and soil removal. We tried to ask why this is the case, he couldn't answer. So off we went the next day to head office again, to sit with the designer/architect to do the design properly and to discuss levels/design better.

It seemed to me that they had a design that didn't really work, and instead of redesigning, they tried to come up with quick fix solutions.

They meeting was heated, but hopefully they understand we are not idiots and understand more than they think.

Also, looks like we will have half spilts, should suit the land better. You know, the fall over the building platform is about 3m. It is quite a bit, but isn't that why you have split level homes?

Will keep you posted. Hoping to have new sketches and a tender this week.

Had to share this picture with you - it reminds me why I'm on this journey (It is a couple of months old but who cares!) . We are coming up to 2 years since we sold the last place :(




Bel :)