All this work was done in one day yesterday (17/12/12)
This is what we have today:
Even though still no contact from Site Supervisor. It is still great progress!
Monday, December 17, 2012
18/12 - Slab Completed
Even though still no contact from Site Supervisor. It is still great progress!
Friday, December 7, 2012
03/12 - Site Start (unofficially)
Drove past the house and surprise to find out out site has been scraped. The fence was up the next day.
Our post contract variations after Contract Signing has been extremely slow for only minor changes. Still yet received the latest Post Contract Variations form in almost a month time.
Despite admin slow communications, it is exciting to see something happening on site! We're expecting the Site Supervisor to contact us soon.
DEMOLITION Rectification work for Council Footpath has been very frustrating. Promise after promise .. still not done (a month time). Now the Asset Protection Permit is under our names and we will have to chase both Vic Wide Demolition and MainVue builder AFTER Building Completion (~6-7 months time) for any further damages to council asset before we can get our security bond back. What a hassle !!! Not only that, we already paid in the building contract for the Council Protection Permit.
Our post contract variations after Contract Signing has been extremely slow for only minor changes. Still yet received the latest Post Contract Variations form in almost a month time.
Despite admin slow communications, it is exciting to see something happening on site! We're expecting the Site Supervisor to contact us soon.
DEMOLITION Rectification work for Council Footpath has been very frustrating. Promise after promise .. still not done (a month time). Now the Asset Protection Permit is under our names and we will have to chase both Vic Wide Demolition and MainVue builder AFTER Building Completion (~6-7 months time) for any further damages to council asset before we can get our security bond back. What a hassle !!! Not only that, we already paid in the building contract for the Council Protection Permit.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
02/11 - Finance Approved
Unconditional loan approval letter recieved.
Balance of initial deposit paid.
All we're waiting for now is the Building Permit from Council for a site start.
Balance of initial deposit paid.
All we're waiting for now is the Building Permit from Council for a site start.
Monday, October 22, 2012
24/10 - Demolition Final Inspections
So frustrated with Monash Council today, rang them up a month ago just right after demolition complete for final inspection and release of Asset Protection bond, they have no record of my call and request in their system !?!
LESSON LEARNED: Always get a call reference number from Council, which they can provide upon each important call request.
The building surveyor who issued the demolition permit will also need to complete final inspection. However, they are quick. They're attending the next day after my call. Whereas Council required 2-3 weeks time for such inspection to be arranged and completed.
LESSON LEARNED: Always get a call reference number from Council, which they can provide upon each important call request.
The building surveyor who issued the demolition permit will also need to complete final inspection. However, they are quick. They're attending the next day after my call. Whereas Council required 2-3 weeks time for such inspection to be arranged and completed.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
22/10 - Contract SIGNED
Done deal and sorted !!!
We enjoyed contract signing today. Admin girl was helpful even though there were still mistakes and the handling of the documents weren't so great (wondering if it's because she has to look after 100 clients and it's getting out of hands sometimes). Since they were few minor errors anyway, we had them all noted in the Post Contract Variation form signed today as well.
Such a relieve to have things finalised finally!
We should be contacted for update on building permit approval progress in approx. 2 weeks time. Then our admin girl said that she will give us weekly update once construction started.
We were also told that we will have one construction manager through out the project and there're normally 5 site supervisors in which they could be rotated around due to their personal availability / location to sites. They do have meeting weekly to keep themselves on top of things. Hope that this will not be so much of an issue for us as clients to follow things up between one and another SS.
We enjoyed contract signing today. Admin girl was helpful even though there were still mistakes and the handling of the documents weren't so great (wondering if it's because she has to look after 100 clients and it's getting out of hands sometimes). Since they were few minor errors anyway, we had them all noted in the Post Contract Variation form signed today as well.
Such a relieve to have things finalised finally!
We should be contacted for update on building permit approval progress in approx. 2 weeks time. Then our admin girl said that she will give us weekly update once construction started.
We were also told that we will have one construction manager through out the project and there're normally 5 site supervisors in which they could be rotated around due to their personal availability / location to sites. They do have meeting weekly to keep themselves on top of things. Hope that this will not be so much of an issue for us as clients to follow things up between one and another SS.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
16/10 - Contract Still NOT Signed
Two months on and contract still not ready to sign. Too many things were not updated accordingly to markups in the last contract appointment, plus others :(
The admin girl is working to resolve this asap since they were simple changes. Hopefully, all will be corrected today.
The admin girl is working to resolve this asap since they were simple changes. Hopefully, all will be corrected today.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
15/10 - Proposed Contract Signing - 2nd attempt
Two weeks on and second soil test could not be completed due to the land is too wet for drilling. I recall it has only been a few days over the two weeks that it was raining. How unfortunate that the day when they visit site is the wet day.
Weather has been fine this week. I'm so hoping that they get the test done.
I'm still hoping that we could sign on 15/10 as proposed by the admin girl. Cross fingers !!!
Friday, September 14, 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
12/09 - Demolition Commence
After a couple of days delay from the proposed start day, it actually happens today
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It was a nice surprise to have called up Jemena for progress update after a week job was raised to them by AGL and found out they have actually done it. Nothing should be hindrance to demolition now. Touchwood!
It was a nice surprise to have called up Jemena for progress update after a week job was raised to them by AGL and found out they have actually done it. Nothing should be hindrance to demolition now. Touchwood!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
20/08 - Proposed Demolition Date
Demolition NO GO for next week :(
Application to AGL for gas abolishment has contained error. They rang Vic Wide Demo office number and no answer. They just left it as that without reattempt !!! Now I discovered that our gas meter has not been removed after a month . Got Vic Wide Demo to ring AGL and found out what was the issue on the form. New form has to be re-submitted. Now have to wait for another month before demolition can happen !!!
LESSON LEARNED : Always follow up with a phone call after application submission to make sure everything is correct for processing (even follow-up calls for progress ) ... can't rely on third party to call back ... what a wasteful month of idle !!!
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Guaranteed by Sam from Vic Wide Demolition to have job done by Friday 31/07/12. That is an assurance but we're still behind one week than previously planned. Hope that they'll do a clean job so that there is no hinderance to site start.
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Vic Wide Demolition has been very helpful through out application for demolition. They're waiting on permit of their Surveyor. However, they've proposed to our council asset protection permit application that demolition to happen on 20/08, which is on Monday week.
Cross fingers that it will happen as proposed !!!
Application to AGL for gas abolishment has contained error. They rang Vic Wide Demo office number and no answer. They just left it as that without reattempt !!! Now I discovered that our gas meter has not been removed after a month . Got Vic Wide Demo to ring AGL and found out what was the issue on the form. New form has to be re-submitted. Now have to wait for another month before demolition can happen !!!
LESSON LEARNED : Always follow up with a phone call after application submission to make sure everything is correct for processing (even follow-up calls for progress ) ... can't rely on third party to call back ... what a wasteful month of idle !!!
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Guaranteed by Sam from Vic Wide Demolition to have job done by Friday 31/07/12. That is an assurance but we're still behind one week than previously planned. Hope that they'll do a clean job so that there is no hinderance to site start.
======================================================================
Vic Wide Demolition has been very helpful through out application for demolition. They're waiting on permit of their Surveyor. However, they've proposed to our council asset protection permit application that demolition to happen on 20/08, which is on Monday week.
Cross fingers that it will happen as proposed !!!
Monday, August 20, 2012
17/08 - Contract Appointment - Not Signed
Contract Signing has been postponed until after second soil test is done. This way we can have a more defined site cost as well as slab design ready for council building permit.
As soon as Demolition is completed (which will be by Friday 31/08/12), we'll inform our Admin girl to book second soil test. Results and slab design will take ~2weeks, contract signing will be the week after. So it's looking at third week of September now to sign contract and site start would be early to mid October. Hope that there will be no further delays to site start.
Even if we have signed contract earlier, MainVue would still need to wait for second soil test and slab design. Therefore, it would not make no difference apart from contracting more/less to the provisional lump sum for site costs. Therefore we decided to wait until all costs refined.
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So glad our admin girl who's filling in for the sale consultant is based inMount Waverley Henley . I suppose there's always exception!
As soon as Demolition is completed (which will be by Friday 31/08/12), we'll inform our Admin girl to book second soil test. Results and slab design will take ~2weeks, contract signing will be the week after. So it's looking at third week of September now to sign contract and site start would be early to mid October. Hope that there will be no further delays to site start.
Even if we have signed contract earlier, MainVue would still need to wait for second soil test and slab design. Therefore, it would not make no difference apart from contracting more/less to the provisional lump sum for site costs. Therefore we decided to wait until all costs refined.
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So glad our admin girl who's filling in for the sale consultant is based in
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
16/08 - Electrical appointment
Electrical Appointment did not start too well with Argus refused to do downlights to kitchen bulkheads as they say they saw it burns holes to overhead cupboards. Even if we accept the liability and take the risk, they just would not do it. We intended to do this as kitchen features like displayed. Now we just have to fall back to plan B with the 3 x pendant lamps over the kitchen island bench.
Otherwise, everything went well and the Argus girl was quite helpful in working out how many lights and provision we can have to not breach 6 star energy requirement.
We invested all downlights to ground floor as they would be too hard to do after hand-over and keeping first floor standard, apart from the light in the niche, which would be hard to do after hand-over.
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So glad to have called the admin girl today to book in for an appointment with Argus. Even though tender has note for MainVue to organize however it would have been forgotten. Argus is all booked up until 16/08. Since it's only 1 day before contract signing, it still has to come as post contract variation.
Otherwise, everything went well and the Argus girl was quite helpful in working out how many lights and provision we can have to not breach 6 star energy requirement.
We invested all downlights to ground floor as they would be too hard to do after hand-over and keeping first floor standard, apart from the light in the niche, which would be hard to do after hand-over.
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So glad to have called the admin girl today to book in for an appointment with Argus. Even though tender has note for MainVue to organize however it would have been forgotten. Argus is all booked up until 16/08. Since it's only 1 day before contract signing, it still has to come as post contract variation.
Monday, August 6, 2012
15/08 - Contract Document Received
So much to read and check through ... Already found a few mistakes:
1. Did not delete standard bath tub as requested
2. Did not add to provide replacement rangehood as requested
3. Husband name spelt wrong
4. Door dimension incorrect in drawings.
1. Did not delete standard bath tub as requested
2. Did not add to provide replacement rangehood as requested
3. Husband name spelt wrong
4. Door dimension incorrect in drawings.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
23/07 - Settlement
The new property to be demolished has been settled today. Abolishment of services are being organized. 10% Deposit has been paid to Vic Wide Demolition Pty Ltd. Awaiting certificates and permits now for demolition. Contract appointment is coming up. Hopefully can sign in mid August before hubby going oversea.
18/07 - Tender Appointment
Appointment confirmed for 9am at Saltwater Coast Mount Waverley
21/06 - Interior Design
Email correspondence between the interior designer and us has been slow. There's only minor changes that we wanted to do (e.g. Brick type and front door) but it takes couple of days before getting a response :(
The interior designer needs 2 weeks to finalise the documentation for our colour selection.
We're hoping to be booked in for Tender appointment on Tuesday 17th of July 2012.
We drove around sample addresses from Austral Bricks to check out Kooyong and other types. We were disappointed with Kooyong (Bricks look too different from the showcase picture).
On the way home, we saw new houses with exact brick colour that we really like. We knocked on the door to query owner and found out they were Homestead Blackwood.
I'm glad we changed our brick to Homestead Blackwood - cat 2, which only costs $1,300 (less cost but look better in our opinion).
The interior designer needs 2 weeks to finalise the documentation for our colour selection.
We're hoping to be booked in for Tender appointment on Tuesday 17th of July 2012.
We drove around sample addresses from Austral Bricks to check out Kooyong and other types. We were disappointed with Kooyong (Bricks look too different from the showcase picture).
On the way home, we saw new houses with exact brick colour that we really like. We knocked on the door to query owner and found out they were Homestead Blackwood.
I'm glad we changed our brick to Homestead Blackwood - cat 2, which only costs $1,300 (less cost but look better in our opinion).
19/06 - Decision Made - 2nd Deposit Paid
It is now decided that we will go for MainVue Emporio ER432.
Sale rep fromSaltwater Coast
The colour went quite quick as we already knew what we want. However, we were not too sure with the standard brick selection and may go for the upgrade of $3,500 to Category 3 Kooyoung from Austral Melbourne 76 Series.
All upgrades cost more than $10k, which is not something we envisaged. We will have to revise and cut down some of the upgrades. Some of the upgrades are:
Pivot doors ~ $4,000.
Tapware and basin ~$3,000.
Porcelein tiles and wall to ceiling extension ~$2,000.
Stone bench upgrades to 40mm ~$1,500
Adding drawers to ensuite and bathroom cupboards
Upgrade internal doors for detailed look instead of plain flush ~ $1,500.
Tender appointment is ~4 weeks time (mid July).
Electrical appointment will be after Tender appointment. Then,
Contract appointment (mid August). Finally,
Site Start (mid September).
Hopefully all goes to plan !
Sale rep from
The colour went quite quick as we already knew what we want. However, we were not too sure with the standard brick selection and may go for the upgrade of $3,500 to Category 3 Kooyoung from Austral Melbourne 76 Series.
All upgrades cost more than $10k, which is not something we envisaged. We will have to revise and cut down some of the upgrades. Some of the upgrades are:
Pivot doors ~ $4,000.
Tapware and basin ~$3,000.
Porcelein tiles and wall to ceiling extension ~$2,000.
Stone bench upgrades to 40mm ~$1,500
Adding drawers to ensuite and bathroom cupboards
Upgrade internal doors for detailed look instead of plain flush ~ $1,500.
Tender appointment is ~4 weeks time (mid July).
Electrical appointment will be after Tender appointment. Then,
Contract appointment (mid August). Finally,
Site Start (mid September).
Hopefully all goes to plan !
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