verystormy Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Progress at last, our slab was slightly out, we have a 2" gap under our family area windows, and the SS is asking me what to do about it?, they wont pour concrete in it as will be push the bicks out, I said I dont care as long as its not there when i do handover It might be worth getting a building inspector to have a look. The most important part of the entire build is the slab and if it is wrong from the start, then it isn't going to improve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druid Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 It might be worth getting a building inspector to have a look. The most important part of the entire build is the slab and if it is wrong from the start, then it isn't going to improve. Its where our windows meet the floor, the window frame is a lot narrower than another row of bricks, if we had a row of bricks then the window frame on top then we wouldnt have this problem, the slab was supposed to allow for this, but it didnt, they just poured it in a straight line, the site supervisor is going to get the brickies to insert a 2" slither of brick and some sloppy cement, its not a structural issue, the outside row of face brick is in the correct place and the lintel over the window is in place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druid Posted January 26, 2015 Report Share Posted January 26, 2015 Been reading this thread with great interest, after our Reece in November we hope to move over the following year, we are keen to buy at least 6 months after our arrival depending on jobs, we will not commit to something until we are certain we are financially stable. Due to never being a home owner in the UK (always knew we would emigrate so put our money into that) we will have approximately $40k to put towards a house, from experience do you who are building/have built think we are likely to get much for this? I have read up on LMI etc, we would love to build and would be hoping to build around $500k, would our $40k be enough or are we likely to need a lot more? Would be looking at baldivis SOR and alkimoos NOR, depending on our job location. Thank you. $40k deposit will be extremely tight, but if you are on a PR visa and its only you working and your salary is under $100k I think, you will qualify for a keystart mortgage, this allows you buy a house and land package to a maximum value of $475k with a deposit of only $3k, while you are building you only have to pay in $50 week to your mortgage, this is aimed at getting people out of the rent trap, its difficult to pay $500 week rent and then pay an interest only mortgage during the build, so this makes it easy, the problem with this is you cant pay any more into the morgage or the build, so you cant use your $40k to pay in and make a bigger house etc, the house also needs to be a turnkey package, floor painting and window coverings done, the only place you can gain is opt for no aircon, and then put it in once the house is build, this gives you about another $6k to play with, anither problem with this is you dont get to choose which block of land you want in an estate, you get entered into a block lottery, this is because there are more keystart applicants than there are cheaper blocks in a land release, so the best way to do it for a developer is to run a lottery, the mortgage interest rate is also slightly higher, but you can switch after a year anyway so it doesnt really matter, its been a while since I looked into this mortgage so things may have changed, figures may have changed, so its worth a look into Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shona7 Posted January 28, 2015 Report Share Posted January 28, 2015 We've just got a plot of land in Baldivis and are just starting the building process. Our build will be around $680,000 all in all and we have only had to provide a 5% deposit ($34,000). Go to a broker, they're full of information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkis2000 Posted February 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 So I finally have something positive to report! All our approvals are finally done and we can get started on our earthworks That's not to say it wasn't without dramas. The shire weren't particularly helpful and were blatantly lying to us at one point . It took a personal visit from my Husband and some very pointed emails from me to get anything moving on the water tank permit after nearly three weeks. We did end up getting a big win out of it though as they ended up approving the house permit at the same time, even though it wasn't due until the end of next week! So now we can clear the building envelope and get the sandpad laid for the house and tank, put in the septics and run the trench for the electrics. Redink have confirmed that our file is in scheduling and they are ordering our materials, and as soon as we provide the Compaction Cert they will book us a slab date :ssign19: Definitely celebrating this as a small victory! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annjean Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 That's great news for you Nikkis200, congratulations, hope everything else falls into place and no major issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 Well done Nikki. Once the slab is down everything will move pretty quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenPen Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 Exciting! Well done on your perseverance. Now let the building commence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 We have practical completion on Monday. The builders then allow one week to rectify faults then key hand over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossmoyne Posted February 15, 2015 Report Share Posted February 15, 2015 Daughter and SIL have walls with window frames in!!! Can't believe how quickly it is happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Daughter and SIL have walls with window frames in!!! Can't believe how quickly it is happening. Remind them once complete to get a form from their council for verge payment. Basically, the front 3-5m of the house isn't theres, so the council will pay for a percentage of the drive costs. Though, they have the responsibility to maintain it and the council will stipulate what they can do. For example, ours don't allow lawn. But, it could be a $1000 back in their bank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkis2000 Posted February 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Earthworks started today! Rainwater tank install on the 9th Slab down sometime between 9th & 13th Excited much!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druid Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Congrats Nikki, i hate to burst your bubble but let the frustration begin, we have renamed our street from Sunshine Way to Frustration Way, there are 5 houses being built at the same time and my god the pace is slow, all the owners, me included are extremely frustrated, there just seems to be no planning or cordination, weeks just flyby with no progress, and when you do get progress it only lasts a few days then its all over then you sit and wait for the next stage, i got four days work in four weeks, fingers crossed for you, hope your builder is better. My next build, if ever, im going to nail the builder down to a bullet proof contract, if they are not interested, i will walk away, B1 and Celebration are both claiming 20 week build times, Dale Alcock is claiming 30 weeks, my current contract says 350 working days, thats like 18 months and utterley ridiculous, my salesman claimed 40 weeks, easter time is 40 weeks, by then I should have an empty shell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkis2000 Posted February 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Ah I hear ya mate. We've already had panic no1 on day 1! The measurements on the drawings aren't quite what they are in reality (or the positioning of certain items on the drawings aren't right) either way the house is about 3m further over to one side than we thought. Only saving grace is the orientation which isn't quite what we expected either (but in a good way) so we still get our view, otherwise we'd have been staring at a tree from our beautiful master suite! On the build time thing the maximum build time is a standard HIA contract clause. Ours has the same. It's a worst case scenario thing and covers them for inclement weather etc. The number of weeks thing is purely a sales tactic by the building co's. Redink for instance told us 26 weeks when we signed up. Realistically I'm expecting at least an 8-9 month build. You only have to browse the Homeone forum to see the slow progress of everyone's builds right now. Having said that 4 days in 4 weeks is appalling and I would be kicking off to the CLO and/or SS by now! Hope things get moving for you soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted February 26, 2015 Report Share Posted February 26, 2015 Ours went well until now! We had completion inspection two weeks ago and found a few faults. Nothing huge, though one needs the cabinet end piece fixing in the pantry. Which means removing tiles. We were told all would be complete in a week. Still waiting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossmoyne Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Daughter and SIL have roof struts going on today!! Theirs seems to be going ahead in leaps and bounds at the moment, but then they did have 9 months of angst last year with the Developer, Builder and Landgate messing about with land title before they could even lodge their plans with the council! Hang on in there Stormy.... all will be well in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druid Posted February 27, 2015 Report Share Posted February 27, 2015 Daughter and SIL have roof struts going on today!! Theirs seems to be going ahead in leaps and bounds at the moment, but then they did have 9 months of angst last year with the Developer, Builder and Landgate messing about with land title before they could even lodge their plans with the council! Hang on in there Stormy.... all will be well in the end. Geeeeeeeze roof trusses already, its taken me 29 weeks to get lower floor roof trusses, your steaming along, hope they keep it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossmoyne Posted February 28, 2015 Report Share Posted February 28, 2015 Geeeeeeeze roof trusses already, its taken me 29 weeks to get lower floor roof trusses, your steaming along, hope they keep it up They were delayed 8 months by a stuff up between developer and Landgate, so the builder obviously wants his money asap! Trying not to get too excited in case Murphy drops in for a visit!! Hang on Druid.... all will be well in the end! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verystormy Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 It is finally our big day. We get the keys today!!! Yipppppppeeeee Have started the packing - got my wife's studio done which was the room I was dreading and got the removal booked for Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annjean Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Congratulations verystormy. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikkis2000 Posted March 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Great news! Congratulations Stormy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JenPen Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Yay congrats VS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellen Hughes Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Congratulations Stormy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druid Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 Well done VS! So whats the plan now..............are you selling up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Druid Posted March 5, 2015 Report Share Posted March 5, 2015 This is where we are up too, roof is finally on, the sparky and plumber has been busy too, the inside is all ready for float. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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