The block from the front.
Some pipes....
More Pipes....
This week I'm told that the slab will be ready to be laid, however the weather isn't looking that good. Still haven't heard from my SS.
Posts
5 years ago
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Day 10 - Plumbed In
Today we visited the block to find the plumbing finished.
The block from the front.
Some pipes....
More Pipes....
This week I'm told that the slab will be ready to be laid, however the weather isn't looking that good. Still haven't heard from my SS.
The block from the front.Some pipes....More Pipes....This week I'm told that the slab will be ready to be laid, however the weather isn't looking that good. Still haven't heard from my SS.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Day 7 - Introductions, Variations and Upgrades
Today our building customer service co-ordinator made contact which was reassuring given we're 7 days in. To be honest not too much has happened so far but I was getting a bit worried it had been a week and I hadn't heard anything and I was hoping this wasn't going to be a sign of things to come.
He was friendly and apart from introducing himself he also gave me the news that he had a variation for me to sign off on. It had 2 items....one nice, one not so nice.
1. Connection to Sewer
In the contract it specified they woudl provide a connection between the sewer and dewelling to a depth of 1500mm. Ours turned out to be 2400mm because the back of our block is higher than the front due to a slight slope. This was going to cost me a tad over $700 in additional site costs. Not much I can do about this one.
2. Kitchen Cooktop
During our selections Casey was adament that we had to have a separate cook top and oven because it looked nicer, and I tend to agree. The standard joint ovens that were on offer look more like a 4 burner BBQ from a visual perspective. The model that we initially upgraded to the 900mm Baumatic BA92SS was apparently difficult to get and had been superseed by the 900mm Baumatic BACG9033-P. Luckily there was no additional charge for this variation.
What's interesting though is that I was told by Metricon this was an upgrade and that it was $2000RRP for this over, not sure if that is in additional or in total. Initially Casey wasn't happy and wanted to ensure we weren't being downgraded. After a call to a very helpful Clive Peeters to query the 2 products I was told the RRP was actually only $1299 for both. The model we had been upgraded to was a new version of the old one and had the same features. We also managed to get the P version which is European version of the cooktop with metal knobs and an embossed label. In the end not an issue, but some interesting things to note.
Progress Update
We drove out to the block last night and noticed that the site had been marked out and we also had our electricity installed. The plan is to have the plumbing done by the end of this week and at the worst Monday next week, obviously weather depending.
The slab will hopefully go down at the end of next week if not early the following week. I'm yet to see any updates on the Metricon site for the construction phase, I'm guessing that will happen once they know a date for the slab going down.
Bank and Stamp Duty
I was contacted today by my broker regarding an additional stamp duty fee I was charged by the bank. After contacting the bank they didn't know what that charge was for and they actually noticed that instead of me owing them $600 in stamp duty they owed me $500 because they calculated my stamp duty incorrectly. I was told that because it was a principle place of residence that the stamp duty rate is lower.
After contacting my conveyancer to ask for the required information to reduce the stamp duty I was told that the stamp duty was calculated correctly because they can't apply for a Principle Place of Residency (PPR) on land. Due to this the rate was right but the additional they had charged us was incorrect. Apparently the only time we can have the stamp duty reduced is possibly when we have completed the house and a certificate of occupancy is received. Even at this point the conveyancer said that they normally won't reduce the stamp duty cost but sometimes do.
My broker is following up with the bank to have the money they debited from my account put back in but hopefully I might even get another $500 back at completion of construction.
He was friendly and apart from introducing himself he also gave me the news that he had a variation for me to sign off on. It had 2 items....one nice, one not so nice.
1. Connection to Sewer
In the contract it specified they woudl provide a connection between the sewer and dewelling to a depth of 1500mm. Ours turned out to be 2400mm because the back of our block is higher than the front due to a slight slope. This was going to cost me a tad over $700 in additional site costs. Not much I can do about this one.
2. Kitchen Cooktop
During our selections Casey was adament that we had to have a separate cook top and oven because it looked nicer, and I tend to agree. The standard joint ovens that were on offer look more like a 4 burner BBQ from a visual perspective. The model that we initially upgraded to the 900mm Baumatic BA92SS was apparently difficult to get and had been superseed by the 900mm Baumatic BACG9033-P. Luckily there was no additional charge for this variation.
What's interesting though is that I was told by Metricon this was an upgrade and that it was $2000RRP for this over, not sure if that is in additional or in total. Initially Casey wasn't happy and wanted to ensure we weren't being downgraded. After a call to a very helpful Clive Peeters to query the 2 products I was told the RRP was actually only $1299 for both. The model we had been upgraded to was a new version of the old one and had the same features. We also managed to get the P version which is European version of the cooktop with metal knobs and an embossed label. In the end not an issue, but some interesting things to note.
Progress Update
We drove out to the block last night and noticed that the site had been marked out and we also had our electricity installed. The plan is to have the plumbing done by the end of this week and at the worst Monday next week, obviously weather depending.
The slab will hopefully go down at the end of next week if not early the following week. I'm yet to see any updates on the Metricon site for the construction phase, I'm guessing that will happen once they know a date for the slab going down.
Bank and Stamp Duty
I was contacted today by my broker regarding an additional stamp duty fee I was charged by the bank. After contacting the bank they didn't know what that charge was for and they actually noticed that instead of me owing them $600 in stamp duty they owed me $500 because they calculated my stamp duty incorrectly. I was told that because it was a principle place of residence that the stamp duty rate is lower.
After contacting my conveyancer to ask for the required information to reduce the stamp duty I was told that the stamp duty was calculated correctly because they can't apply for a Principle Place of Residency (PPR) on land. Due to this the rate was right but the additional they had charged us was incorrect. Apparently the only time we can have the stamp duty reduced is possibly when we have completed the house and a certificate of occupancy is received. Even at this point the conveyancer said that they normally won't reduce the stamp duty cost but sometimes do.
My broker is following up with the bank to have the money they debited from my account put back in but hopefully I might even get another $500 back at completion of construction.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Day 4 - We have a fence!
Casey and I drove by the block on Saturday to take a closer look at the site scrape. The site plans are starting to make a bit more sense to us now that we're seeing a few things starting to happen.
I'm still yet to receive a call from Site Supervisor or my new Customer Service Co-Ordinator. I'll give it a few more days before I chase it up. We dropped in to the display village (the biggest in Victoria!!!) at the front of the estate while we were there to check out a couple of newly opened Metricon homes. Nathan who sold us our house was there and said that we should be in by Christmas all things going well.
From the front of the block, couldnt' get a better shot because of the car parked in front.
Kenny's favourite room.
Standing at the back corner of where our house will be, you can see the dig out in the far right for the garage.
About a 30cm drop off, the rest of the fill was spread over the site. You can also get a feel for how big our back yard will be by looking at the house next door and where their back fence is.
Given I haven't heard from anyone at Metricon yet I'm not sure what the time lines are like but I would expect that we would have a slab within 2 weeks weather permitting. This week I'm expecting to see the plumbing finished and then the slab layed next week.
I was looking at the plans today and where I moved to the hot water system to I'm not overly happy about, I should have left it where it was. I initially moved it towards the back of the house on the side to fit in a water tank but based on where the new down pipe is it might struggle to fit anyway. We'll see what happens.
I also had a bit more of a browse through the building permits and noticed that our house was rated 6.3 stars in energy efficiency which is great.. The label only has 5 in it so that's a positive :) I think the main reasons we achieved this rating was:
That's about it for now, hopefully I'll find out some more timelines this week.
I'm still yet to receive a call from Site Supervisor or my new Customer Service Co-Ordinator. I'll give it a few more days before I chase it up. We dropped in to the display village (the biggest in Victoria!!!) at the front of the estate while we were there to check out a couple of newly opened Metricon homes. Nathan who sold us our house was there and said that we should be in by Christmas all things going well.
From the front of the block, couldnt' get a better shot because of the car parked in front.
Kenny's favourite room.
Standing at the back corner of where our house will be, you can see the dig out in the far right for the garage.
About a 30cm drop off, the rest of the fill was spread over the site. You can also get a feel for how big our back yard will be by looking at the house next door and where their back fence is.
Given I haven't heard from anyone at Metricon yet I'm not sure what the time lines are like but I would expect that we would have a slab within 2 weeks weather permitting. This week I'm expecting to see the plumbing finished and then the slab layed next week.I was looking at the plans today and where I moved to the hot water system to I'm not overly happy about, I should have left it where it was. I initially moved it towards the back of the house on the side to fit in a water tank but based on where the new down pipe is it might struggle to fit anyway. We'll see what happens.
I also had a bit more of a browse through the building permits and noticed that our house was rated 6.3 stars in energy efficiency which is great.. The label only has 5 in it so that's a positive :) I think the main reasons we achieved this rating was:
- Double Glazed all Windows
- Added more air vents for evaporative cooling
- Upgraded the Ducted Heating to 4 star
- Upgraded the Evaporative Cooling to 4 star
- The house runs South / North with little living area and only 1 window at the back facing north.
That's about it for now, hopefully I'll find out some more timelines this week.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Day 1 - Site Start
Yesterday I received a call from my Metricon Customer Service Co-ordinator to advise me that we had a tentative site date...TODAY, weather permitting. Given it never rains the site scrape went ahead first thing.
I went out to the block quickly last night to remove the lock from our tap given that Symonds next door have basically finished their brick work and I managed to get a snap (apologies for the quality) of the heavy machinery sitting, waiting!
I was actually surprised how quickly this phase went by. It took Metricon about a week after we were unconditional with finance contracts and our council report and consent to submit the building permit but it only took 2 days. A couple of days later they started ordering everything for our site start, a day later ordering finished and 3 days later we were onsite and the site scrape was taking place.
Yesterday when I was on the site Simonds had their fence a couple of metres into our block and despite us trying to do the right thing and given them a heads up they they had to clean up the crap they had on the side of our block and asking them politely to move the fence so we can start they didn't. Casey checked on it during her lunch hour to ensure it didn't impact our site start and it looks as though someone dismantled the fence to dig the site out.
Our block actually sits quite a lot higher than the block next to us. The block has gone from about a 30-40cm drop off to the front to about 1 metre after it. We'll see what happens from this point on.
At this stage I'm anticipating the plumbing to go in early next week with the slab laid the following week. I'm yet to receive a call to advise me of our my Site Supervisor is, hopefully that will happen soon.
Anyway, exciting stuff...now we're officially started!!!!!!
I went out to the block quickly last night to remove the lock from our tap given that Symonds next door have basically finished their brick work and I managed to get a snap (apologies for the quality) of the heavy machinery sitting, waiting!
I was actually surprised how quickly this phase went by. It took Metricon about a week after we were unconditional with finance contracts and our council report and consent to submit the building permit but it only took 2 days. A couple of days later they started ordering everything for our site start, a day later ordering finished and 3 days later we were onsite and the site scrape was taking place. Yesterday when I was on the site Simonds had their fence a couple of metres into our block and despite us trying to do the right thing and given them a heads up they they had to clean up the crap they had on the side of our block and asking them politely to move the fence so we can start they didn't. Casey checked on it during her lunch hour to ensure it didn't impact our site start and it looks as though someone dismantled the fence to dig the site out.
Our block actually sits quite a lot higher than the block next to us. The block has gone from about a 30-40cm drop off to the front to about 1 metre after it. We'll see what happens from this point on.
At this stage I'm anticipating the plumbing to go in early next week with the slab laid the following week. I'm yet to receive a call to advise me of our my Site Supervisor is, hopefully that will happen soon.Anyway, exciting stuff...now we're officially started!!!!!!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Building Permits - Ready, Set, Go
After months of planning on the 8th May we finally received our building permits!! Now Metricon have 21 days to be onsite to cutout the area for the slab.
Apparently it takes about 2 weeks for them to order everything but worst case I would expect to be starting before the end of this month which is about 2 weeks ahead of when I was expecting us to be starting. This date may work out well for us given it is 7 months to Christmas and we may be able to get everything finished off by then if we're lucky. Metricon have allowed 9 months to build the house so worst case we should be in by the end of Feburary next year.
Casey and I decided to take it on ourselves to fill in the hole at the front of our block on the nature strip. The hole was filling up with rubbish and weeds and was a bit of a hazard and the estate didnt' want to do anything about it. It looks a bit better than the before photo.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
This hole is deceptively deep and long it took about 10 full wheelbarrow loads to fill it.
Our next door neighbours have started building and have been using our block to make their building process a little bit easier. I met the owner on the weekend and she was friendly. Their builder Simonds has rubbish everywhere on the block and it keeps ending up all over our block. We've asked Simonds to remove the bricks and tiles from our block a couple of times without any success. Now that we'll be onsite within the next few weeks we'll have to keep drilling them because it is our responsibility to ensure the block is clear.
We also have a tap on the block now, it's amazing how we get excited about the most simple things. They put it right in the middle of the block where I would want to put a path so I might have to move it later, as a reference for other people I'm not sure if you have much choice where they put it, the builder organises it and they would just say drop it anywhere irrespective of what you told them. In our case we've put a lock on it until we start because Simonds building the house next door found it more convenient to use our tap rather than the block they were building on. That'll teach em :)
Below is the most recent shot of the block, there is a bit of construction starting to happen.
Next update when something happens on the block!
Apparently it takes about 2 weeks for them to order everything but worst case I would expect to be starting before the end of this month which is about 2 weeks ahead of when I was expecting us to be starting. This date may work out well for us given it is 7 months to Christmas and we may be able to get everything finished off by then if we're lucky. Metricon have allowed 9 months to build the house so worst case we should be in by the end of Feburary next year.
Casey and I decided to take it on ourselves to fill in the hole at the front of our block on the nature strip. The hole was filling up with rubbish and weeds and was a bit of a hazard and the estate didnt' want to do anything about it. It looks a bit better than the before photo.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
This hole is deceptively deep and long it took about 10 full wheelbarrow loads to fill it.
Our next door neighbours have started building and have been using our block to make their building process a little bit easier. I met the owner on the weekend and she was friendly. Their builder Simonds has rubbish everywhere on the block and it keeps ending up all over our block. We've asked Simonds to remove the bricks and tiles from our block a couple of times without any success. Now that we'll be onsite within the next few weeks we'll have to keep drilling them because it is our responsibility to ensure the block is clear.
We also have a tap on the block now, it's amazing how we get excited about the most simple things. They put it right in the middle of the block where I would want to put a path so I might have to move it later, as a reference for other people I'm not sure if you have much choice where they put it, the builder organises it and they would just say drop it anywhere irrespective of what you told them. In our case we've put a lock on it until we start because Simonds building the house next door found it more convenient to use our tap rather than the block they were building on. That'll teach em :)
Below is the most recent shot of the block, there is a bit of construction starting to happen.
Next update when something happens on the block!
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