The Journey So Far

Now that I have detailed the why, what and how! I thought it was time the document journey todate! In reading this you need to understand that this is my experience / opinion but this is only one party's view and this is being utilised to document our progress.

• We bought the land February 2014 and settled April 2014.
• Design and builder search commences February 2014.
• Get butt into gear to finish renovations to our current house (funny that we have listed every house we have lived within weeks of finishing them). Note to self let's enjoy this house once we finish!!!!
• Decide on the design Olivia by Alkira in early May 2014.
• House listed mid May and sold under a week (expected to sell quickly but not this quick). 
• Finalise design changes and request tender 25 May 2014.
• First draft of tender received 24 June 2014.
• Quite a bit of back and forward getting the tender right (5 revisions as at signing contracts) and ensuring we have everything included and priced within expectation. A couple of notes with this stage. Ensure you get everything on your wish list priced early and know make / model of what you are after. Be prepared to have alternates just in case.
• Pay Part A payment 1 July 2014 to have plans drawn up as per tender and arrange to do external selections.
• Plans received and after a number of revisions we are ready to move to the Planning stage 7 October 2014.
• During this stage we do the internal selections. If any stage that will drive you crazy it is now. So many decisions / changes etc.
• Selections are finalised in November 2014 for floor coverings, colour selections (internal) , kitchen, bathrooms and electrics.
• Bushfire BAL report issue experienced in mid December that holds up submission to council. Report received through builder is very different to the one utilised for the land subdivision. New report obtained and submitted with DA. 
• DA submitted 15 January 2015.
• DA Approved 30 March 2015.
• Contracts signed 14 April 2015.
• Site cleaned up with significant rubble and rubbish removal undertaken mid April 2015.
• Delays experienced in removing the trees. Long lead-in time as we couldn't do anything without DA. Sydney storms real havoc and therefore tree removal delayed. Then 1 1/2 week wait for stump grinding.
• Construction certificate received 15 May 2015.
• Stump grinding finally done 16 May 2015.
• Block handed over 18 May 2015.
• Now the wait begins for construction to commence.
• Main bedroom windows and downstairs tiling concerns raised this week but I will cover these in a separate post.