Well we're another 8 weeks on and still in Council. trying to get a returned phone call or decent update on timeline appears an unreasonable request so I'll be ringing the supervisors on Monday if I don't hear back by lunchtime.
Over the period of the past 9 weeks, I have left 3 phone messages and sent an email. Every call was ignored and never returned and after a week I had a response to my email saying plans were with the engineering dept commenting on flood. That's fine, but they've been commenting for 2 weeks now so must have alot to say!
Our block is classified as flood, but only because of a little creek that runs down the back of us (100 metres away) between our block and the golf course... our neighbours are the same and they all seemed to get through in 4 weeks. It's so frustrating.
Even Kurmond have left 2 messages at the end of last week and surprise surprise no return phone call.
On other areas, pulled a few extra items out of the build. Providing our own Kitchen sink now after an expensive visit to Winnings. Love that place, they just have everything and so accommodating. Just waiting to come out of Council first before we put down our deposit on everything but they will hold it all until we're ready.
The sink is black toughened glass by FRANKE and also getting the tap too, which has a small black glass feature to match. It will look great in the middle of the white stone island bench. Our appliances are also black (Miele).
Also decided to fitout the home theatre. Got some great prices from Harvey Norman Auburn so the guy we dealt with has worked with Kurmond before so he is going to come onsite and pre-wire when we're at frame stage. He doesn't work at Harvey N. anymore but have his mobile so he said he will come and do it himself. The rest of the items will just be drip fed to us as we need. Decided on projector and screen instead of big tv.. Picked up the amp (only item we had to take to get the price). My only concern was losing a year of the warranty on the amp as it's not even going to be opened for another 9 months realistically, so he extended it to 5 years at no charge... fixed that issue!
Also finalised the main florring and have decided to tile. Really wanted to floorboard in our main kitchen family/meals and rumpus area but the Kitchen company has advised agfainst putting the wood down first and i really don't want the skirting of the floorboards going around the island as it has waterfall edges, so tiling seems the easier way. Will probably look at laying large platform tiles as it's quite a large area.
Anyway, hopefully will be able to update with some progress soon.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Friday, 20 January 2012
Now in Council.... Drama Drama Drama
Well, We thought we were in council back in November, but No! When I followed up actually our plans had been rejected due to an acoustic report requirement and we didn't have it - nor did we know we needed to.
Anyway, I will not go in to the details as it goes forwever, but after 2 months, several phone calls later, it turns out Penrith Council were wrong and we didn't need it after all Aaaahh!! so frustrating.
So on Monday I got the confirmation that we are in the clear of the 20 ANEF contour lines and we do not need an acoustic report for the supposed Badgery's creek airport that everyone knows is never going to exist. Wendesday, Kurmond went in armed and our plans were successfully lodged... Yaay!!
So excited, so if we can get everything pushed through we may still be in before Cooper's birthday.
That is our goal - Have Cooper's 4th B'day at home.
In the meantime, all electricals are complete - still waiting on the optional upgrade list... a bit concerned how these prices will add up.
Did a few upgrades with the tv points and alarm. Got the security tv etc but that's ok it's important.
Anyway, just waiting for DA approval now, get over all the levies that will be charged on completion and hopefully see some real progress.
Anyway, I will not go in to the details as it goes forwever, but after 2 months, several phone calls later, it turns out Penrith Council were wrong and we didn't need it after all Aaaahh!! so frustrating.
So on Monday I got the confirmation that we are in the clear of the 20 ANEF contour lines and we do not need an acoustic report for the supposed Badgery's creek airport that everyone knows is never going to exist. Wendesday, Kurmond went in armed and our plans were successfully lodged... Yaay!!
So excited, so if we can get everything pushed through we may still be in before Cooper's birthday.
That is our goal - Have Cooper's 4th B'day at home.
In the meantime, all electricals are complete - still waiting on the optional upgrade list... a bit concerned how these prices will add up.
Did a few upgrades with the tv points and alarm. Got the security tv etc but that's ok it's important.
Anyway, just waiting for DA approval now, get over all the levies that will be charged on completion and hopefully see some real progress.
Saturday, 26 November 2011
In council
Well, it's been a few months but we are in council and we have at least progressed quite a bit.
These things certainly take longer than you expect, but as long as it's all done right, then I don't mind.
We anticipated 12 months and hopefully if we can breakground early next year, then by August we hopefully will be in, putting us at about that 12 month mark.
So we have picked all our external colours, these are:
Brick: Nutmeg smooth face
Mortar: Off white (flush)
Garage doors (Seville): Surfmist
Fascia/window frames: Surfmist
Gutter: Woodland grey
Roof: Linea Charcoal colour through
Render to portico / verandah pillars / Cladding: Taubmans Athena
Front Door (2 x X24): Jarrah finish with translucent glass
stacker doors to portico: Surfmist
Internals we will complete once council has approved and electricals we are completing on Monday.
So far we have not spent alot on upgrades, just the front door and glass finish ($200 for both doors) and we added a second omni lock handle - so total so far is about $1400.00.
We have picked our tiles and to be honest stayed with Kurmonds standard range for most of it. We are only getting Kurmond to do our bathrooms and laundry. We upgraded some of the floor tiles, i think for our ensuite feature wall but don't have this pricing through yet.
We are using floorboards for the main living/kitchen/rumpus area, carpet for bedrooms, formal living, study and home theatre rooms and then tiling to the entry and hallway and will arrange this ourselves post build.
We are also getting our own appliances and when we do our internals after plans are approved, we will fine tune our kitchen design. the cooktop will stay as is on the plan but beside the fridge will be an appliance wall with a built in coffee maker. On the other end of that bench will be a second appliance cupboard with oven and microwave built in above each other. Appliances we have decided to bite the bullet and go with Miele. Even though they don't discount, we will leverage of this purchase to get a deal on our fridge and disshwasher, which we also need to get.
So that's where we are up to at this point. Twin creeks have approved our plans and they are now with council, so just waiting on that.
Once we are all approved I'll update again.
Ta
CM
These things certainly take longer than you expect, but as long as it's all done right, then I don't mind.
We anticipated 12 months and hopefully if we can breakground early next year, then by August we hopefully will be in, putting us at about that 12 month mark.
So we have picked all our external colours, these are:
Brick: Nutmeg smooth face
Mortar: Off white (flush)
Garage doors (Seville): Surfmist
Fascia/window frames: Surfmist
Gutter: Woodland grey
Roof: Linea Charcoal colour through
Render to portico / verandah pillars / Cladding: Taubmans Athena
Front Door (2 x X24): Jarrah finish with translucent glass
stacker doors to portico: Surfmist
Internals we will complete once council has approved and electricals we are completing on Monday.
So far we have not spent alot on upgrades, just the front door and glass finish ($200 for both doors) and we added a second omni lock handle - so total so far is about $1400.00.
We have picked our tiles and to be honest stayed with Kurmonds standard range for most of it. We are only getting Kurmond to do our bathrooms and laundry. We upgraded some of the floor tiles, i think for our ensuite feature wall but don't have this pricing through yet.
We are using floorboards for the main living/kitchen/rumpus area, carpet for bedrooms, formal living, study and home theatre rooms and then tiling to the entry and hallway and will arrange this ourselves post build.
We are also getting our own appliances and when we do our internals after plans are approved, we will fine tune our kitchen design. the cooktop will stay as is on the plan but beside the fridge will be an appliance wall with a built in coffee maker. On the other end of that bench will be a second appliance cupboard with oven and microwave built in above each other. Appliances we have decided to bite the bullet and go with Miele. Even though they don't discount, we will leverage of this purchase to get a deal on our fridge and disshwasher, which we also need to get.
So that's where we are up to at this point. Twin creeks have approved our plans and they are now with council, so just waiting on that.
Once we are all approved I'll update again.
Ta
CM
Sunday, 7 August 2011
Here we go!
Ok, so this is the beginning. Over the past 12 months we have been saving and trying to get our design right for our build and we are finally there at a price we can afford.
We have made the decision to build with Kurmond Homes after much consideration. We are about to sign our contracts once our solititor has finished with them and we now hope to move forward from here.
It has been a lot of ups and downs but in the end we decided to design our own and we are thrilled with our end result. We could get all the rooms in we were after and really happy with it.
Here is our floor plan and hopefully over what we anticipate will be the next 12 months, this plan will eventuate in to our home.
We have made the decision to build with Kurmond Homes after much consideration. We are about to sign our contracts once our solititor has finished with them and we now hope to move forward from here.
It has been a lot of ups and downs but in the end we decided to design our own and we are thrilled with our end result. We could get all the rooms in we were after and really happy with it.
Here is our floor plan and hopefully over what we anticipate will be the next 12 months, this plan will eventuate in to our home.
Anyway, I will be sure to update as we progress.
Ta
Cbc
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