Hi there,

So I know it's been a while. We moved in on the agreed date.

So on the final inspection, again our awesome site supervisor double booked and conveniently forgot about our meeting. So we had the construction manager come out to meet with us. The final inspection began approximately 1/2 hr to 40mins late! Eventually the site supervisor arrived. Surprisingly the site supervisor arrived BEFORE us for the handover inspection.

So the guys installing the oven left the mess there along with the box full of crap from the day and the bin was taken away before we could put it in.

The kitchen guys had to amend the bulk head for the top cupboard. I couldn't be bothered arguing with 6 guys that it was STILL not straight. So I just let them do it and leave!!!!

We have also notice with the underneath on the top cupboards, one side is the designed laminate and the other side is white laminate??? I still need to confirm if this is how the display is? When installing the oven, they have used a blunt hole saw/drill bit and it has ripped through the laminate on the inside. So a 2" hole then becomes 4". (Sort of) basically there is about another 2" of chipboard you see instead of the white laminate. However, we requested they fix this. It was fixed by placing a thin piece of white laminate over it and drilled through. Awesome enough, they did exactly the same thing with this piece.

The splash back has grown on me. I must say, ignoring those issues I really like my kitchen.

Carlisle have great ideas. In the laundry, they put the power and taps for the washing machine inside the laundry sink cupboard. In theory this is awesome. So they put the power on the top shelf and the taps on the second shelf. They drilled one hole connecting to the lower shelf. So, just pull out the shelf you say to drill a connecting hole? well no, this has silicone all around the pipes connected to the shelf. We could not pull the shelf out without cutting through the pipes. So we had to drill a hole through the shelf from within the cupboard. We managed to do this without ripping through the laminate? It's really not that hard?

The painting is still crap! We asked several times for the second sink in the en suite to be connected. We couldn't use it until last week. So 2mths with several phone calls and one email!! So perhaps the site supervisor didn't like us or something, but we wouldn't have to be such pains in the ass if people weren't so incompetent at their jobs!!!!

Most issues from the final inspection were being fixed on the day of handover.

We have installed the flooring ourselves. It's not too bad. I don't like it much as the colour doesn't look the same once it's in the house compared to the store. However, everyone that has seen it seems to like it?

We have set up all rooms now. The theatre is just missing the back speakers for the roof and curtains. (They will be on all four walls and open up in the middle at the front). The projector is awesome and so clear. The playstation & xbox is soooo much more fun :D Wiring and speakers we purchased/are purchasing from Selby Acoustics in Hallam. Price comparison to anywhere else is AWESOME!!!!

We got the fly screens done too. That cost about $700 through A & L Windows. They already have the plans from when they do the windows for building. Our cat cannot get used to these tho. She has run into the back fly screen door several times? (Unfortunately, this is hilarious and puts me on the floor laughing nearly every time!)

We also got our curtains done by The Curtain Warehouse in Hallam. We dealt with Kelly. She is awesome. They look great! We couldn't get curtains for the whole house straight up, so we still have some windows missing covers. I made some 'temporary' curtains until we can get the permanent curtains. They don't look too bad. But Kelly's are much better :D.

We did up a white laminate desk for the study. It doesn't look too bad :D. We also got a long seat/cushion that opens for under the window also for the study.

We still haven't bought any fittings i.e. toilet roll holders, towel rails etc. Thats probably next month. We also need to get a dining table before Christmas!

Kurt has installed 3 down lights out of the pack of 12 he purchased.

There is probably so much more to add, but I think I'll leave it at that for now :)

Have fun :D

Right, so after much discussion between management and ourselves; we are now CONFIRMED for handover on the 11/08/2009.

Carlisle have also decided to install the correct tap ware requested from the beginning along with door handles at no charge. However, the tap shouldn't be charged to start with.

They have also agreed to at least look at the paint job this time. As was mentioned in the previous blog, the painting is crap basically. However, when this was mentioned at the final inspection we were advised that you would never get it perfect. This I agree with, but it does look like a preschooler has been painting on the edges.

It has now been exactly 1 week since the inspection and all that has been done out of four pages of issues, is paint touch ups (not painted yet) just bogged.

Ah, OMG just give us the keys and be done with it all! Pretty much we are just OVER it!

Hi there, so we had the final inspection today.

So, turns out that a builder can change the contract without telling you.

When you requested a certain tap mixer for the kitchen, privacy door handles for the bathroom, W/C and master this doesn't matter. Apparently they can change this on the contract that YOU signed originally without notifying you and then when you say... Where are these items? They can then say... ITS NOT IN THE CONTRACT?

Great dodgy service here!!!

When making appointments, apparently it's ok if they forget which day and what time? This is the second appointment made with the site supervisor (this time with written documentation) providing date and time. And as per previous appointment, the site supervisor conveniently confused the dates and times. Therefore, our final inspection started off with the construction manager and eventually the site supervisor arrived to complete this process.

Oh, also let me add that with this being the final inspection day they had three contractors there. One was FINALLY adding the capping that has been sitting in the house for nearly 3-4months waiting to be put up. Then we had the painters doing finishing touch ups and the kitchen contractor putting in the door to the top cupboards after a couple of months also. So really, this house was NOT ready for the final inspection. architraves. However, they obviously did this to shut us up!!!

Can someone tell me if it is normal when painting the walls and skirting that you can see where they have gone off the skirting onto the wall? so the finished painting is not straight? Same as the roof skirting, they have the wall colour on the architraves.

Basically now, we are just ready for hand over so that we do not have to deal with this ridiculous excuse for a company any longer! Final matter - DO NOT EXPECT ANY COMMUNICATION. U WILL HAVE TO MAKE ALL CONTACT. I AM UNSURE IF THEIR PHONES CAN CALL OUT?

We found a major issue with the house today, the front porch brickwork is not at at the correct height it sets lower then the plan will post figures soon...

Update they told me that the house is correct to the contact but is different to the display, have not given reason for this.

So, the bulk heads have been raised from 2150 to 2350. It definitely opens the place up alot!!

They have also finished the painting of the house. Electrical work

is done and wall tiles are also done. We are apparently waiting for the 400x400 tiles to come in from a ship somewhere? Which are due Wednesday next week. However, Carlisle conveniently advised that they could provide the 330x330 tiles. Obviously we said NO! But then our tiler is going on holidays overseas?

Our site supervisor has advised that they cannot do anymore work on the house until the tiler is finished? personally i think this is bullshit, but hey I'm not a builder! I guess,

men can only do one thing at a time right? haha!

Oh, also the rendering to the front of the house is only half up this one wall which looks ridiculous. But they are apparently going to fix it and do it all the way up?

Anyway, so delays on the house. Instead of being in Mid July, we are looking at probably Mid-Late August. So once we have photos we will post them!

Here, you can see the inside a little more. It feels so different now

with all the plasterboard up!

This is Lock up stage now. The first photo is looking out of the theatre room (before the new window has been put in place). The second photo is the view from the hallway (entrance) 'again prior to the window change'. The third photo is the 'cut off' view from our ensuite looking back to where the bed will be and the beginning of the wardrobe. The rectangle you can 'sort of make out' that is a cut out into the wall where dow

nlights will be installed.

So, you can see the bathroom, ensuite & Laundry cabinets. We are really happy with the colours chosen. I kinda wish I had of chosed the same bench tops that are in the Kitchen for everything. But oh well!! The bathroom etc, don't look that bad. We are really really happy with the Kitchen and with the new window, it makes all the difference. You can see that we also chose the round sinks for the basins. So far thats about it.

Oh, one thing that is pretty much STUPID.... 'apparently this is the plumbers job' roofing issues?? Anyway, the have not done the capping for the roof on the bedroom to your right as you walk through the front door. Because of this, they have to replace the cupboard frame etc. as it has started to swell already due to the rain we have had. With no roofing, obviously the water is coming in!! DERR FRED! haha.

Kurt is starting to sook a little as they haven't done anything since Thursday last week, 30.04.09 and it's now 6.05.09. Hey, they have done an inspection and did a site walk through with us on Monday. Of which, the site supervisor conveniently forgot about this, even though he'd discussed this with Kurt on Friday. So we showed up at 7.30am as discussed as Shane (site supervisor) didn't want to do it after 5pm to suit us. Anyway, so at 7.45am, we were getting impatient and called him when we got the reply of.... OH F#$% that was today? I have it for tomorrow. I'm leaving now! (AWESOME we thought) anyway, he got away with it cause he turned out to be an alright guy! And this is pretty much where we are up to so far!

Will update again shortly (hopefully) fingers crossed!! haha!

So, as you can see there is a glimpse of the inside once it has been plastered.

Also, we thought we would show the Window difference!!!

The first one (obviously) is the old one they put in. The second one is sooooo much better and lets in sooooo much more light!

The House Looking like a House

Our house is starting to look like one, with the brick work complete windows in, just waiting for the roof to be complete.




With one thing they bricked around the window but have not replaced it with a new one. It been around 4 weeks when we asked for the new one, and still waiting.

Roof

At last we are starting to see more work on the house,
as you can all see the roof is going up and the brick work will hopefully start very soon.


But to the other matter of the kitchen Window we have signed all
the paper work and the new drawing, but still no work has been
done to the window will be chasing them up in regards to this.
(Hope they don't start the brick before window is fix or will be a big job to change)

Frame UP

As you can see the frame is up, and we are starting to see the outline of our house.

Also the windows are supposed to be going in today.

So yes... the windows have been delivered.

Dilemma 1...... In the 'Indulgence Package' which we payed an extra $1,999?? for, it says three stacker door. However, A&L Windows have delivered a two stacker door. (Sliding door). This door is for the entrance from the alfresco into the living area/kitchen.

When we discussed this with Carlisle Homes, we were advised to read the 'small print' advising it says three stacker door as per display. Now the Madison display house only has the 'two stacker' door. So Carlisle Homes are ONLY referring to the 'as per display' and ignoring the one, two, three obviously! Perhaps they just cannot count?

Then we have Dilemma 2..... The window for the kitchen to the alfresco area..... A&L Windows have delivered just a normal two sliding/side window. However, in the display home it shows a window with two fixed sides on the right and left and then two sliding sections which open up from the middle to leave a large gap in the middle of this window. Instantly we could (I could) tell that this was not correct as it looked much smaller than the display window. Not to mention the completely different design. Due to the size difference this makes the alfresco 'appear' smaller. When discussed this with Carlisle Homes it was noted that the 'display home' window is much larger than our window delivered being 200 x 1810.

However, with this one... Carlisle Homes are willing to 'amend' the window for an extra cost of $408. This cost was advised by their 'sales' administration. Which we are reasonably happy with as this definitely opens up, not only the kitchen but the alfresco too.

The hole point of the door, the three stacker door opens up much larger. Where as the two stacker door only opens half way. However, the window to me is more beneficial!

We just spoke with Carlisle Homes and it has been confirmed that they will put in the 'better' window between the alfresco & kitchen free of charge.

The Frame

Right, the house across the road as you can see in these photos started two weeks after us. Yet for some reason their frame is already up? The land next to us, only started a week ago and they already have their slab and are preparing for their frame?

Anywho, our frame is being put together as you can see from the photos. However, our windows and doors have already been delivered. Kurt went to see the progress last night (10/03/2009) as I was at work I could not go with him :(

We believe they have delivered the wrong sliding doors. As part of the 'Indulgence Inclusion Pack' we signed, we received a two paneled door instead of the three that is in the contract. The three sections make it so that the opening is much larger when the doors are open. Whereas the two doors can only open half way. We will be speaking with Carlisle shortly and will let you know of the outcome!

Interior Colour Selection

The first 'Laminex' colour you see is called 'Licorice Linea'. This will be our kitchen bench top.






The second colour you see is 'Bogart'. This will be the colour behind the glass splash back.

The third colour you see is 'Oyster Linea' this is for the cupboards, draws and shelving throughout the kitchen, bathroom, ensuite and Laundry.






The fourth colour you see is 'Espresso Ligna'. This will be for the bathroom, ensuite and laundry bench tops.







The fifth colour you see is Dulux 'Hog Bistle'. This colour will be for ALL internal walls.







The sixth colour you see is Dulux 'Whisper White'. This will be for the ceiling also in gloss this will be for the internal window frames, door frames, doors etc. Unfortunately, the pantry doors in the kitchen will also be in this gloss colour. To have the laminate doors like the display home they are $700 each door. Thats right.. $1,400 for a set of pantry doors!!!!! Obviously we said NO!



Our door handles for the cupboards etc are going to be positioned horizontal and we are using brushed stainless steel (less cleaning and polishing :D) As you can see in the Madison display picture, the handles will be the same!


This handle is for the front entry door ONLY.





This is the style of bath we have chosen, but you will have to 'imagine' the tiles around it as our bath is not freestanding. However, it was the closest thing I could find to match!


This is the basin we are getting for the Bathroom and ensuite.

We believe we have covered almost everything (almost) there is so much more we could tell you. But don't want to bore you too much!!!
So if you want to know anything else... Just let us know!

Exterior Colour Selection

Hello again,

Well we figured it was about time to advise of the colour selections.

So here we go!

The roof is the 'Tudor' style and will be the Barramundi colour. These are from Monier Roof Tiles. (The spell check doesn't know 'Barramundi' haha)

The 'Woodland Grey' from Colorbond is for all finishing i.e. window frames, door frames, garage door etc. The partially rendered front will also be in 'Woodland Grey' matched to copy by Dulux.

The bricks are 'Brown Terrain' from Boral. We really wanted something darker, but of course that would cost much more money :(

We located a program on the Colorbond website we believe, which allows you to choose the colour of your bricks, finishing, render, roof etc. That is where the 'house' photo came from. It is similar in colour selection to ours, therefore we thought to put it on here for you to see.

The Frame Commencement

Today we went to see if any further progressed had been made. We were a little surprised to see the delivery awaiting us!

I don't know if you have noticed, but the 'council' we assume have also erected a fence. This fence blocks off the neighboring power line paddocks. Unfortunately they are not installing a gate, which would have been excellent for dog walks!!! (that is a hint to Kurt) However, they have also installed a fence to the back of our land. Our land neighbours a vacant block which is 'leased' by Telstra. (Remember the tower for great reception!) We were not advised at any stage that this fence would exist. So we were a little disappointed as we liked being able to look out across the paddock.

Today we also spoke with a resident of the area who advised that the power lines are 'supposed' to be going underground at some stage? As this would cost 'millions' we will believe it when we see it. Also that 'Telstra' tower is rumored to be removed eventually too?

So we now await the frame to be completed!

Again, if you have any advice please let us know!!

The SLAB

So the slab is down. It wasn't down long before we got the photos. As you can see the concrete is still really dark. The one photo showing the side of the slab shows just how deep the slab is. We 'assume' this is a good thing? We took a photo of a dodgy side that seems to be not completely covered and you can still see the wire. We were not sure if this is normal or not. So decided to take a photo either way?

So remember how I said there had been no wet weather? Well it decided to rain that afternoon that the slab got poured. And then after for the past three days roughly it's been on and off raining. Thankfully the rain has not been heavy. So fingers crossed it's not too bad until they get a roof on at least?

By this stage, you could imagine that we were finally starting to get 'excited'.

Preperation for the almighty slab

Right... so you will notice there is Styrofoam instead of dirt in the middle.

We have done a 'little' research via the web and have so far figured that it is due to the conditions of the soil/grounds. As everyone else around us have used sand/dirt we are a little skeptical. If you know anything about this, any advice would be great!

We were actually a little surprised at the depth of the slab. But once the slab was laid, the dirt was smoothed out and the depth was not so noticeable. It just appeared to be a large step from the ground.

Other than that... this is the preparation photos for the slab.

Preperation of the land

So, we then signed the contracts for the house and got all the paperwork out of the way.

We were advised that building would commence mid February 2009. The paperwork to advise building has commenced would follow shortly after. However, we did not receive any paperwork until the day before the slab had been poured. (Not that this bothered us, as we drive by each night after work anyway as it is on our way home).

We did take photos of the land with JUST the portaloo, but they were on a different camera and didn't work out right. That and seemed a little 'bogan' so we thought twice about posting that photo :D

However, we do have a photo which shows the land being leveled and the plumbing prepared for the slab. Isn't it lovely? haha.

By the way there has been no 'wet weather' so far to this point. Only a couple of hot days which stopped the laborers from being able to continue work. So nothing too bad just yet thankfully.