Update Time

So I think it's time for a bit of an update on where things are at.


I had a phone call a couple of weeks ago from HBC saying that they would have to change my Air Conditioner model because the one previously chosen was a run-out model and was complete out of stock. No biggy. They offered me a LG unit. Still reverse cycle, still ducted with zoning capabilities. It's actually a bit of an upgrade (according to them anyways - I'll take their word on it...at least I've heard of LG before and it's a reputable brand). One difference though is that the LG is only a Single Phase unit unlike the Haier which was 3 phase. Now for those who remember, back at Pre-Start I'd enquired about getting 3 phase power but decided it was an unessecary extra so decided not to, only to be told later I needed it for the A/C so got it for free. Well now I don't need it anymore, but have it and it still cost me nothing with a better A/C thrown in. Can't complain with that!

Also, apparently the painter and plumber should've been finishing up as of last week, so floors and blinds should be going in soon and paving outside being about the only other major component left to do (that I can think of anyway!). All up, the builder will have their inspection set for the end of October with my Inspection being around mid-November and handover only a couple of days after that. Not Long to go now!


Oh, and before I forget, a quick pic of the rangehood I've got on layby atm to be installed at my leisure after Handover. It's an Excelsior (e.g. no-name brand :P ) but is very similar in specs to brands like Westinghouse for a better price, and in my opinion, superior looks. A little bit of pezzaz in the kitchen to make the place a little more stylish! And the brand isn't actually visible on the appliance anywhere so will still blend in with all the Westinghouse stove & oven.

Tiling Finished

More pics folks. The Tiling has been finished in the bathrooms and laundry areas. Looks pretty good too. The painter is there currently and will be working along side the electrician and plumber and should be finished in about a week. Also, the air conditioner has changed form the Haier unit to a LG Inverter unit because the Haier unit was a runout model and was out of stock. Bit of an upgrade but no extra cost to me which is always good to hear!

And a couple of pics of the kitchen benches installed plus a couple of other things too.

Locked and Loaded!!!

So I know it's been a little while, but thats not because nothing has been happening, but more because I've been too slack to update things lately. So here's an update! Yesterday I got confirmation that Lock Up has been achieved, and prior to that all the windows have been installed, with walls plastered and ceilings and cornices put in too. Starting to look a lot more like a house now! As my liason lady at HBC said, "It's flying along". So here's some more pics to prove it to ya's. 

Windows to the Living and Dining area's

Looking out across the Dining Room (notice my huge sliding door to the Alfresco!)

The Home Theatre Room window

Main Bedroom (love these windows)

Bed 2

Hallway

Laundry

Back up the Hallway (from Bed 3)

Bed 3

Bed 4

Kitchen Ceiling

Alfresco

Rear of house

"Dead" side

According to Jenna at HBC, my cupboards should be going in today and the plumber is booked for next Tuesday, so that sounds like my next chance to get in and take a look around. 

Laterz!

Hat Trick!

It's done! The roof is finished and the internals are now underway with the plumbing and inital electrical works pretty much done by the looks of it. I'll let the photo's do the talking.

Also, I sorted out with the telecom fella's to upgrade the setup going into the house so that it was more like what I wanted to do after the house was finished. Apparently it's cheaper to do it whilst it's being built (I thought climbing in ceilings was fun though?!). So intead of the original 2 data points at the TV's and a phone point, now there will be 1 data point to each bedroom, 1 to the TV's in the Living and Home Theatre rooms each and one in the Dining where the phone point was originally, plus a wireless router in the Garage. And to top it all off, it was all done in conduit, so double points shouldn't be too hard to upgrade to later if I so desire!

Time for an update

Well a small update folks. I sent off another progress payment thingo today, and as soon as I had, I got a phone call from HBC saying they know I'm pretty on top of it but that they'd sent on out (to which I replied it was already done again ). Anyways, they had also had a phonecall from my cabinet maker saying that the benchtop selection I'd made for the kitchen was having problems at the manufacturing level and that they wouldn't be able to warrant it if they released it in the state it was coming out in, so allowed me to reselect another colour, which I did 15 minutes later. Have changed from the Peral Silver to Satin Silver. Slightly less metallic look, but still a shiny, straighter pattern on it (which will match the floors better in my opinion!).

To also make the day a little better, I'd seen the plumbers at the house earlier in passing, but stopped in and had a chat with them on the way back here, and found them looking at the shower head attachement in my ensuite. Perfect timing! I'd thought about this a cppl of weeks ago at work, wondering if it would be too close to the wall (which it was where they had it positioned), and they too were considering calling the office to ask if they could move it out some more (500mm instead of 300mm from the wall). Pretty much just said, "Do it!" It was the first one they'd ever done too, so was a small learning curve for them. Once again, one of those things you don't normally see in a HBC house.

The Top Hat (see Roof) should be going on tomorrow and I imagine the electrical might be done by then too. FULL STEAM AHEAD!!!!

Pic's of the roof framework for ya's!

 And a pic of the cool wine glasses I picked up in Augusta;

Brickworks Finished

So today they officially finished doing the brickwork. There's a small exception in that they still have to put a couple of bricks around the support bar under one of the front windows which needed to be welded together yesterday. Also, the timber and beams have been delivered for the roof and that is set to start on the 5th of July (next Tuesday) which is good because I go back to work tomorrow and get back the Thursday (July 7th) so won't be missing much while I'm away.
It's also probs a good thing cos the weather here is pretty miserable atm with a nice storm coming through this morning (which I slept through!) so hopefully it'll clear up by then.

Here's some more pic's of the place!

Front wall

 Note - you can see the spot that needs to be finished off here

 Completed Garage

 Home Theatre room

Main Bedroom

 Kitchen/Dining/Family area

 Bathroom

 Bed 2

 Bed 3

 Bed 4

 Alfresco, Dining & Garage entrance

 Front view with roof timbers

Also, I ordered myself a dishwasher yesterday from Appliances Online. It's a Smeg SA8211X2 which I got on sale at 47.55% off RRP (gotta love June sales!). To make it better, it's getting delivered for only $38 which aint bad for a non-metro area. Also picked up a piece of wall decor from BBQ's Galore to go on the wall in the Alfresco which should add a little bit of bling to the place. A couple of weeks ago when I was in Augusta, I also got my hands on a set of wine glasses which are made by hand from recycled glass bottles/jars/etc in Swaziland, Africa by one of the local tribes. Even though I'm not a wine drinker, they'll look great in a glass cupboard somewhere (they're not a standard wine glass look - it's a pretty funky design). Always like buying stuff with a good story behind it. And just to show how on top of things I am at present, I got an e-mail yesterday requesting the next builders payment which I faxed off straight away to the bank. I had confirmation by txt this morning before getting a phone call from HBC saying that the brickwork was officially finished and that they were sending the next payment request. Lifes good right now!