Waiting..

Nothing much to do now.. the contract with all variations has been sent off to ANZ for a final valuation and (hopefully) approval. And yet another copy of the FHOG application signature pages.

Then we wait .. we've been told that the land won't be ready until December now, so looks like it'll be a while before we see any action.

Building inspection

I just had a chat with someone I know who is a building inspector, who I am planning to have inspect my house when it's built next year.

What he recommended was:

• If we have a raft slab, have an inspection after it's been setup but before it's poured. He said we might need to write this into the contract that we need to inspect before pouring. But this is not so important if it's a waffle pod, because those are easier to get right, whereas the majority (he may even have said all) of raft slabs have problems. He needs the builder to provide engineering plans for this.


• The next important stage is frame - this needs to be inspected before it's covered up.


• Lockup and Fixing stages are not so important, as most issues here can also be picked up during a final inspection. However he gives a discount for these inspections if Final is also done, for the same reason that most issues found will be the same ones.


• For the final inspection he suggests I walk around with him and we inspect at the same time.

The other thing he mentioned is "workmanship", which he says is typically not included in a contract. He said it's much better if you can get the builder to include a workmanship clause in the contract, which I have not unfortunately. The problem with not having such a clause is that if the builder does a shoddy job that still passes the standards, they can say they have fulfilled the contract..

So what I have done is asked my builder what kind of slab we actually getting, as the contract specifies "raft/waffle pod slab".

If you're wondering what on earth a waffle pod is, check http://www.wafflepodpeople.com.au/

Questions answered

We have finally gotten responses to the questions asked almost a month ago. Apparently the first email we asked them in went missing, so it was only 2 weeks later that things actually got started. Anyway, here they are:

1. Splashback cannot be provided above the window due to the configuration of the Kitchen. You would have joins in the glass which will look untidy and attachment to the plaster wall above the window is not guaranteed as there is no architrave around the window for the glass to sit on.
2. If we heightened the Kitchen window then the bottom of the rangehood would need to be raised also. We can heighten the window providing the overhead cupboards are continued across the front of the rangehood and we provide a Baumatic 700mm GE87000U undermount rangehood. Cost would be $310

Both questions are in relation to the kitchen window, which is same as in the picture in the previous post (taken from a display home). I'm not entirely convinced that these things are impossible, but I guess they are trying to protect themselves from having to maintain something which may be problematic.

In the end we have left the kitchen window at the original size of 514x2398, leaving a gap of around 140mm between the top of the window and the rangehood and cupboards. Since they can't install splashback there, we will need to find some other way to protect it.

The other thing we finalized was having a note added to the contract to specify that the kitchen bench will run behind the range and into the window reveal. Although they have told me that this is standard, I am suspicious that when it comes time to build, they will not do this and tell me it has never been standard! This is what the benchtop is supposed to look like:

And so it begins..

The story so far .. we have signed a contract and paid a 5% deposit for a block of land in Renaissance Rise in Mernda. The block is 470 sqm with a front 14.31 wide. Settlement is expected "late October", and that area of the development has not yet been built.

The house we have chosen to build is the Metricon Riva 33. The siting gives us a good 10m of backyard which is nice!

We made our colour, electrical and tile selections

in August 2009 and are still finalizing these. Among other things we have gone for a kitchen window, similar to what is in both of the Riva display homes. We also changed the rear door from a 2 panel sliding door to an aluminium bi-part door, which gives more space while open, but doesn't cost as much as bi-fold doors.

In the kitchen we have widened the pantry to use the void space next to the external wall, and widened the fridge space.

And we added an internal door to the garage, an odd ommission from the house plans, especially as both display homes include this door! I guess they want to keep the headline price down.

The promotion we took was called His Hers Ours, and includes the following for a total of $4,000:

• Caesarstone benchtop in kitchen, 20mm cat 2 (we chose Glacier)
• Glass splashback in ktichen, cat 1 (actually this is only 200mm high. What a joke)
• Over fridge cupboard
• Cat 3 cabinet handles to kitchen
• Remote control to garage
• 4 zone security system
• Colour video intercom to entry
• Locks to all openable windows
• Flyscreens to all openable windows
• Ovelle Spa bath (this had to go in the main bathroom, our ensuite is too small)
• Caesarstone benchtop to ensuite, 20mm cat 2 (Night Sky)
• WIR fitout to master bedroom - hanging rails, shelving, drawers, shoe shelves.
• WIR fitout to other bedrooms - hanging rails, shelving, drawers.
• 2100mm tiling to ensuite
• Caroma Liano semi-recessed sinks (promotion gives choice of countertop, semi-recessed or fully recessed)
• Cabinet to ensuite (with 2 mirrors one on either side)

Our situation now is waiting on our Metricon contact to answer a few questions.. then we will be sending all the variations off to the bank (ANZ) for approval, then paying the deposit to Metricon. Even though land is expected (hah!) to be ready at the end of October, our CSC told us that in all likelihood, construction will start next year, as they are focusing on finishing off existing homes before christmas.