Interim Update

Being away in Europe for over three weeks I expected to come home to an almost complete house… But alas it was not the case. I did come home to some taps and signs and stuff, which I took photos of on my phone since our camera broke while overseas.


However, since it is a very new phone I am yet to discover how to get those photos from the phone onto the computer. These photos I am sure will eventually make it on here, along with the stories that go with them, but for now, THE SLAB IS BEING POURED AS I WRITE. And J took some photos. And he knows how to get them onto the computer in a timely fashion (of course).
So here they are…

The demolishers are gone, thank goodness

So, "I'll be back with the bobcat to finish off and get rid of the tree" actually means I'll be back on tuesday, not later this afternoon.  

It also seems that last week means tomorrow according to the demolishers!

I spoke to the builders on Monday, to let them know that the demolition papers would not be put in as there was still a tree to remove and they had to level the block with the bobcat.  The builders then asked the demolishers for the status and completion date, the demolishers replied the next day, informing them that the work was completed last week, papers submitted and demanded payment by friday (five days when they were three months late doing the demolition, not the point though). The builders replied saying that according to us there was still a tree.  This is I think when the demolishers lost the plot, they called us, threatened legal action if we didn't call back and pay (we are not supposed to pay, they were hired by the builders), didn't leave a phone number to call back, and when we called their phone number listed on the web, didn't answer that night or the next day, or later the next day!

They also demanded payment from the builders, said that we were not returning their calls and threatened legal action against the builders, they also said that they would not submit the papers until they were paid (yes, they had already told the builders the papers were submitted).  To the builders credit, they handled them excellently, professionally and not pandering to them at all.

So all is Ok now, but the intelligence of the demolishers is certainly called into question..

Anyway, here is the block halfway, and completely finished and flat:

Demolition Part two

The demolition has for the past few months been difficult to pin down. Originally slated to start first week of March after the demolition license was issued mid Feb, by end of April, and several phone calls later, we called int he Builders with their more hefty might to get things moving. Initially, they got the same response as we did for 2 months, within the next 2 weeks; however, this time it turned out to be almost true.  They began removing the asbestos within 2 weeks, and over the next 2 weeks managed to turn up a maximum of 4 days.

side of the kitchen

bathroom

Asbestos

After a bit of a stall, and another call from the builder a big machine and a big truck turned up, to sit still for a week. J joked that our demolisher had hired out our lot to his mates as a parking space.

Angus checking the perimeter and one squashed Camellia

Finally, on a Thursday, the day after Colleen came to visit, I got a text from her saying they had started. I got a bit excited and wanted to come home to see some of it to take photos before heading back to work.

1

2

3, and too cold to watch any more

I got home that night to an almost clear block... amazing!

shaky photo due to fading light

Clearing on Friday and Saturday Morning and the Big Machine was on its way. 

bye bye big machine

They did miss a small bottle brush up the back which they said they will get with the bobcat when they come to clear up, hopefully monday?

We decided to leave the palm after discovering it could be worth a bit to sell, and even if we can't sell it it should look good in the garden we have planned for that house

I plan to instruct the builders not to pay them until it is all gone.

A further update when it is all done...

Demolition part one

The first part of the demolition was J and I going over to the block to search for hidden money under the floor coverings, under steps and anywhere else J could get into. Then our landlord asked to take the bricks from the outhouse which we said was fine, and then the removal of the floorboards by the demolishers (we hoped and later confirmed).

 Also there was a gradual removal of many bits and pieces over several weeks.  Some things we were not quick enough for and a desk and some other small items were junked during the removal of the floorboards.  I did get a comment from one of the neighbours after we had been moved out for  4 months"Are you still moving??"  Also, andrea and I knocked out some bricks for her to use in her garden, after mixed success (i.e. not much) we found the chimney at the back of the kitchen and were quite successful. We also took out the Aga for some sot of future use.  Throughout that day we also had extensive help and guidance form Ian too :)

Contract signing

So we finally got all the drawings made up, Impressions ordered a survey and we got our "client file" a book containing information on some of the items we would need to select at the prestart. The contracts and plans were drawn up (a long process) finally came back for signing, but we had to cancel the appointment we had to pick them up due to an emergency trip to Adelaide. We though this was just fine (as we were told nothing different) however, little did we realise that the clock had started ticking for the due date to have them back. When we did eventually pick them up (about 10 days later) we found a note on the front telling us that we had to have them returned a few days previously, but as our sales rep mentioned nothing we assumed this was not what was actually required. I had to head offshore for work, and while I was away we found out that if we didn’t sign within the next few days we may be looking at a price rise. So, J got on the scanner and endeavored to send them all out so that we could both read them. But, since I was working nights it was difficult for him to send them while was available to get them. Each thing that was wrong we had to try again the next day… pretty frustrating. Anyway, eventually I got them and we both read them and made lists of questions. Then we went in and signed. We also made the appointment for the prestart where we had to choose all the everythings.

House design

And so the design began. We visited many display homes, focusing on narrow lot designs, and saw some that were quite good, although none met all our erquirements (namely bedroom not at the front of the home, and  back of the home for the living area). So we decided to design our own. We (I) spent a ton of time on the internet researching narrow lot designs and council requirements (garage can't dominate facade and boundary requirements) and ended up coming up with something that would work for us.  We took it to a few builders to gauge costs, both volume and boutique and also to a company that puts the plan out to tender.  During the process we refined the plan a bit and in the end we decided to go with Impresions. They had a seperate division which dealt wtih subdivisions and their sales rep seemed very experienced, knowledgale and didn't try and push us to upgrade anything.
Anyway, this is the final design we gave to them

There was a fair amount of to-ing and fro-ing involved with getting the plan as we wanted, and it was actually quite hard to get things included in the plan, the sales rep was always trying to talk us out of it. Things like higher ceilings, aircon, floor coverings etc we had to fight pretty hard and send several requests to get included. Most things he ended up saying that we should just deal with at the prestart stage, and we thought that this would be ok (a decision we would later come to regret). Anyway, the plan finally went to costing, and came back about what we were expecting, knowing that we were going to be including a fair amount of 'extras' at prestart. Anyway, this is what they ended up putting into costing after their designers had changed bits and pieces

The old house

We planned to live in the place we bought for the 6 months required to get the first home owners grant while we planned the build, although this in the end turned out to be closer to 18.
Here are a few photos of the little gem

What we were interested in

Ktichen with sloping floor and NO BENCHTOPS

this was tiny, and west facing, so boiling in the summer!

They really showed the place well for the sale didn't they!

Outdoor laundry - J's domain

We actually made this room our bedroom, as the other one faced onto the street

It looked much better with new curtains and our funtiture

Really - who lived here?

We made this into a Wardrobe with help from ikea and about $300

The most pleasant room in the house

looking toward the wardrobe

Angus's much appreciated yard (you can't see his shed)

The concept

We orinally started looking to buy a house after many months of REALLY bad experiences with landlords. We we looking close to the city so we could cycle to work, and within budget and room for Angus meant not west of the city. We settled on a band from Bassendean to Bentley and started searching.
We did see some possibles, however one that did stick in our mind was a recently subdivided and built house in a side by side development. The back yard was too small (non existent) for Angus but it did set us thinking.
After some research we found that big blocks that could fit this sort of development with an old house were also within our budget, and so was actually carrying out the build. Also, it would provide us with an investment property in the deal. So, why not, we thought!
We visited some shocking places in the search for the right block, and eventually put in an offer on one which was accepted (apparently I am a good negiatiator as we offered 60K below the asking price, although all I said was we can't afford any more).

The blog begins

Well, we are now hopefully at the stage where we will start having interesting things to post for family and friends to follow along at home.
We have signed building contracts, a variation list as long as your arm and a demolition license, athough more demolition has been done by us than our actual demolishers.
So here begins the blog of out build.