Lessons Learned - Building a House

[Squawk]

We're at the tiling stage (inside) - stuck there for 3 weeks now!

Make that 5 weeks now.

[dont think do]

Been a while so better give you all an update. Been in the house for 3 weeks now and havent stopped. Was thinking it was mad before wait until you get in. Still have boxes all over the place.

Is it worth it?

For sure, is great to be in, and its just as we had hoped. So good luck to all those building.

note; we where very lucky in that we visited the site as they where building so didnt have to wait till it was finished to tell thenm what was wrong. Even then we had to wait 3 weeks for a garage door, and still waiting for some little things to be fixed.

[Dutchy]

Yep we are 2 weeks from moving in, tiles in living areas started yesterday and carpets ordered today for bedrooms, the oven and dishwasher need to go in and we are set!

its really started to move once lock up occured, of course its hardly rained since they put the roof on we still have all the landscaping to be done but thats all booked in and wont stop us moving in, we have to be in by 2/11 as that is settlement on our house!

[mighty_tiger_79]

DUTCH

we are all getting excited about the house-warming with the plasma!!!!!!

[rsemmler]

G'day guys,

A mate and I decided to build a bit of an investment property to live in for a few years then sell off in 2009 or so. Being built by Fairmonts, located in a new estate in Tanunda.

The slab finally got poured on September 2, the frame photos are where we're at today (October 9)

[Wedgie]

Good luck with it Ro!

Buying houses/real estate 10 years would have been a great investment but I can't see it dying.
With the mining boom in this state I can only see us continuing to have our real estate go up at ridiculous prices like Perth's has done in recent years.
Might even be moreso here with the inability to expand in 2 directions.
All the best mate, hope it makes you a mint.

[rsemmler]

Thanks Wedg, here's hoping too!

[Dutchy]

DUTCH

we are all getting excited about the house-warming with the plasma!!!!!!

LCD you idiot!!!

[Squawk]

Yep we are 2 weeks from moving in, tiles in living areas started yesterday and carpets ordered today for bedrooms, the oven and dishwasher need to go in and we are set!

its really started to move once lock up occured, of course its hardly rained since they put the roof on we still have all the landscaping to be done but thats all booked in and wont stop us moving in, we have to be in by 2/11 as that is settlement on our house!

Our update -

painters in. Had our first open last weekend - 30 people, 5 parties wanting to be kept informed. 4 more opens then auction.

Not sure of handover date but like you Dutchy we have landscaping ahead of us. Will be paving before we move in plus putting in the a/c and all going well we will be in by xmas. I hope!

[heater31]

Dutchy, Squawk and others, one big tip I would give out before moving into any new home is to check some things that could cause major damage in the future specifically referring to wet areas.

Has the tiler allowed a sufficient gap between each tile particularly in the corners of the tiled areas to allow movement due to tile creep?

Have all gaps between tiles been sealed to prevent water seepage behind the tile with grout or flexible sealant?

Also it might be beneficial to run over the contract items to check if the works stated in the contract have been completed if you haven't already done so. For example I know of tradesmen not from the Adelaide metro area conveniently forgot to put sarking under a colourbond roof on the beach front. Result was one hellava dog fight and a totally brand new roof


any more questions I will try my best to answer remembering that now I am a bit more experienced than when this project began for you

[Squawk]

any more questions I will try my best to answer remembering that now I am a bit more experienced than when this project began for you

Considerably so H31! Its been nearly 2 years since we started! Not a laughing matter really but your quote did raise a smile!

[Dutchy]

thansk for the info Heater....looks like we get the real keys next week

[tazz]

just signed a contract with sterling. We're going with a modified Toorak 200

[smac]

just signed a contract with sterling. We're going with a modified Toorak 200

Good luck tazz, good to see someone will keep this thread alive!

[Dutchy]

We are moving in next week, got next Wed,Thurs and Friday off to do the move myself...

physical labour

[Felch]

just signed a contract with sterling. We're going with a modified Toorak 200

We are building with AV Jennings, work due to commence within the month.
Built our last house with Sterling (Redbank 175) about 8 years ago.

[mighty_tiger_79]

We are moving in next week, got next Wed,Thurs and Friday off to do the move myself...

physical labour

WELL im available for a small fee though

[Dissident]

Where are you all building?
Was the land a new release?
Was something knocked down?

It's hard to find land that isn't a silly price these days :/

[Dutchy]

We are moving in next week, got next Wed,Thurs and Friday off to do the move myself...

physical labour

WELL im available for a small fee though

**** that! just rang up to hire a truck to do it myself and it costs $350-, to get a removalist its going to cost not more than $500-....easy decision! now I can play golf on Friday

[Felch]

Building at Mawson Lakes, The Bridges. Had the block for about 4 months. Had previously been looking for ages for the right land to build on. Our previous home was at Port Adelaide, in the Harbourside Quay development. We were keen to stay in the western-beachside suburbs but just couldnt find any affordable land. Couldnt afford an established place that was any better than what we were selling either.
We had basically picked out the home we wanted to build, it was just a matter of finding the right place to build it. When we stumbled upon the right size block at Mawson, we bought it, even though it was a little bit more than we wanted to spend(i suppose thats always the case!!! )