(Fri 28/10)
HANDOVER AT LAST.
There was no communication with the builder from Wed afternoon until i received a return text on Thursday evening to confirm handover at 3pm Today.
I got a call from him today just before lunchtime saying that the power had been cut to the property by the power company. Since he had organised a final meter read for the property on Wed and no one had called up to say the property was settled, they cut it off!
I spent about 3 hours on the phone at work and got three different stories, so did my wife and the builder. Anyway, the outcome is that there would be no power until Cup Day! Later changed to Monday 31st, then later changed to Friday night/Sat morning.
In any case we agreed to handover, pending checks on the heating, cooling, alarm, spa and other builder supplied appliances later.
Handover went smoothly, apart from no power. Only a few things weren't done but agreed that they were to go onto the 3 month list.
We were really happy to get in there I can tell you.
Blog will continue post handover, and yes, I have taken photos but I can't get them off my new iPhone to the iPad for uploading to the blog. Bloody apple.
Day 364 - Handover rescheduled
(Wed 26/10)
Handover was scheduled for today at 230pm. Builder said I could come early to have a look but then reneged and stuck to 230pm. I was met by his wife out front who stressed to me that he had to be home by 4pm to go out that evening to an important event. Doesnt give us much time for handover were my immediate thoughts. Didn't have a good feeling for the start. A few things weren't rectified from my list of defects which I got a little pissed off about, and let it be known. He got upset and then I started questioning sparkys reliability and ability. My wife added that we were already 11 weeks over contract date and that was it. He walked out and refused to settle, despite my appeal for calm.
There were faults on both sides but I never once lost my cool, I think this would have annoyed him somewhat.
Handover rescheduled for Thursday or Friday......maybe.
Handover was scheduled for today at 230pm. Builder said I could come early to have a look but then reneged and stuck to 230pm. I was met by his wife out front who stressed to me that he had to be home by 4pm to go out that evening to an important event. Doesnt give us much time for handover were my immediate thoughts. Didn't have a good feeling for the start. A few things weren't rectified from my list of defects which I got a little pissed off about, and let it be known. He got upset and then I started questioning sparkys reliability and ability. My wife added that we were already 11 weeks over contract date and that was it. He walked out and refused to settle, despite my appeal for calm.
There were faults on both sides but I never once lost my cool, I think this would have annoyed him somewhat.
Handover rescheduled for Thursday or Friday......maybe.
Day 359 - 'pre-final' inspection day
(Fri 21/10)
Had a 'pre-final' inspection this arvo. All but a few of my long defect list have been rectified. The defects still outstanding will be attended to on Monday and Tuesday next week. Final Inspection and Handover will definitely happen Wed and Thursday next week, that is of course if bloody Origin Energy fit the gas meter.
They have tried twice to date and the sooks complained that the gate was locked. Get real, it's a temp fence, that is temporary, which is insecure anyway. I think they are being a little precious.
Oven and rangehood looks great and so does the rest of the place. Sparkys have still forgotten some minor things which were on contract bit will fix Monday.
The main thing is that WE WILL BE IN THE HOUSE NEXT WEEK :)
Plenty of photos and a YouTube walk through are planned soon after.
Cheers all and thanks for following my blog. It wll continue after we move in as we all know that there are still so many things to do after handover.
Day 348 - Update, I guess
(Mon 10/10)
I'm back again! I guess I've lost interest as I have not much much interest in the place as things keep stuffing up and the project is so close, yet so far.
It took another blow last weekend when my Dad and I moved some lights, under the supervision of my A Grade sparky brother in law of course. We discovered that the fridge cavity is 20mm too short! After I gave them all the specs, this is the 2nd stuff up on this one. When this will be fixed, will be anyone's guess.
Apart from moving the wall lights, I've started fitting off my network/tv/speaker wall plates, which I'm told must be finished before handover. Not sure why but it will be done.
Builder has done the following since last post:
- fitted front door electronic lock
- fitted all internal door handles/flush pulls and doors stops (I provided these)
Would you believe that after 4 weeks from the Stegbar installers fitting the shower screens, they finished, only last Friday! They left a huge hole on one wall and door, due to their carelessness. I was furious at their lack of respect and justly informed the builder.
I have had Telstra out to connect up to the pit out front. It is a work in progress as they are to bore under the road to connect up to the line across the street. Pretty happy that they have recently capped all cabling work to $299, as this previously would have cost me well over $1000.
Concreting quotes are in and have decided to go with the Council approved contractor for the driveway crossover, even though he is slightly dearer at $3300.
The driveway & path, I think I'll go with the local bloke, who has come in at at $7935 compared with $9440 and $10450. The tree removal quote is yet to come as the tree is above LV power lines and a special block is to come to check this out today.
Have organised external roller shutters to be fitted to the kids bedrooms at the rear, including the electric motor and remote. These look ghastly (i know) but the practicality outweighs looks, especially when they are on the back of the house anyway. Good for noise/heat and of course light.
On way home from work, Telstra guy called me and I went to meet him to discuss where he would be connecting me up and boring under road. I found that the Sealant people
were there doing the brickwork AC joints and I am assuming the internal caulking.
Things still nowhere near where I would expect them to be now, especially when we were supposed to be in by now!
Tonight I will be writing an email to the builder informing him that I expect to be in at the latest by the last week of October. We have numerous social engagements which were planned at our house which we have already put off. I will not put up with any more bullshit stories, I just want to be in. I can see 1 weeks work at the most left. Why the holdups!
I'm back again! I guess I've lost interest as I have not much much interest in the place as things keep stuffing up and the project is so close, yet so far.
It took another blow last weekend when my Dad and I moved some lights, under the supervision of my A Grade sparky brother in law of course. We discovered that the fridge cavity is 20mm too short! After I gave them all the specs, this is the 2nd stuff up on this one. When this will be fixed, will be anyone's guess.
Apart from moving the wall lights, I've started fitting off my network/tv/speaker wall plates, which I'm told must be finished before handover. Not sure why but it will be done.
Builder has done the following since last post:
- fitted front door electronic lock
- fitted all internal door handles/flush pulls and doors stops (I provided these)
Would you believe that after 4 weeks from the Stegbar installers fitting the shower screens, they finished, only last Friday! They left a huge hole on one wall and door, due to their carelessness. I was furious at their lack of respect and justly informed the builder.
I have had Telstra out to connect up to the pit out front. It is a work in progress as they are to bore under the road to connect up to the line across the street. Pretty happy that they have recently capped all cabling work to $299, as this previously would have cost me well over $1000.
Concreting quotes are in and have decided to go with the Council approved contractor for the driveway crossover, even though he is slightly dearer at $3300.
The driveway & path, I think I'll go with the local bloke, who has come in at at $7935 compared with $9440 and $10450. The tree removal quote is yet to come as the tree is above LV power lines and a special block is to come to check this out today.
Have organised external roller shutters to be fitted to the kids bedrooms at the rear, including the electric motor and remote. These look ghastly (i know) but the practicality outweighs looks, especially when they are on the back of the house anyway. Good for noise/heat and of course light.
On way home from work, Telstra guy called me and I went to meet him to discuss where he would be connecting me up and boring under road. I found that the Sealant people
were there doing the brickwork AC joints and I am assuming the internal caulking.
Things still nowhere near where I would expect them to be now, especially when we were supposed to be in by now!
Tonight I will be writing an email to the builder informing him that I expect to be in at the latest by the last week of October. We have numerous social engagements which were planned at our house which we have already put off. I will not put up with any more bullshit stories, I just want to be in. I can see 1 weeks work at the most left. Why the holdups!
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