Monday 9 September 2013

Three months has come and gone

Eden brae sent us a letter the week our three months was up... We had been compiling a list of things we wanted rectified. It was really just cosmetic stuff.

We made the appointment for the maintenance  when it was convenient with our work. The guy didn't look at our list wanted to see all the things we listed no matter how trivial. We worked room by room. Whilst  pointed them out he took notes on his laptop and then took photos.

In our ensuite we have a semi frameless shower. There is a strip on the bottom so water doesn't come out of the shower... This is split. They never used to put this on the showers the man was saying but so many people complained about water escaping the semi frameless shower that Stegbar started putting these on. He will replace no worries.

There are some paint touch ups that we have since notice and when my range hood was flued post handover they didn't seal it around the gyprock, so that will also get done.

It was very efficient, allow for over an hour. At the end, you go through the report generated, use a stylus to sign on the screen. Our inspector emailed us later that night with the report and when I looked at the EB portal, it was updated with our jobs. EB don't actually do the maintenance, another company do, and they will contact is within ten days. I will let you know when this is... Hopefully by the end of this week.

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Landscaping nearly complete... Progress shots.

Our landscaper has been on site for just over a week, and it is now looking a big more like a garden I will enjoy. He has to come back tomorrow and finish the top of the letterbox, tidy up the pavers and do a general clean up. I can't wait to take more photos as the plants develop and grow and I add my own personal touches.
Front retaining wall and garden

Close up of garden bed with paver edge
Feature tree. Dwarf magnolia little gem. With feature lighting... It's the little silver light thing in front. The pipe behind it will be cut down to garden level. Its from the storm water, something or rather.

Lastly our clothesline is finally up, a slab for our shed in the corner, and some plants around the edges. I will take some photos of the paved areas later in the week.


Wednesday 17 July 2013

Landscaping commenced!

I was so excited this time last week to see our landscaping supplies arrive, but it has taken a week of preparation to see them laid and the beginning of what our end result will look like.
Pallet of 400x400 Adbri European Prague pavers

Pallet of front retaining blocks

And here is what they look like laid out front with our letterbox in progress. I am  still deciding what goes  on top... Slate look tile or sandstone.

Driveway getting extended... We should now fit our cars comfortably on the driveway.
Our alfresco paved and extended...








Wednesday 29 May 2013

NBN disaster

I feel my NBN was a big balls up with HSI.  There are cables in the garage connecting to the main hub located in my study. All other cabling runs from that point.

NBNco installed their equipment in the garage. The man who installed this equipment took out the cabling that the electricians installed for the connection to the street as it was not long enough. That was okay.

Telstra came and installed the home gateway in the garage as they install this with the NBN equipment.

We got Internet but not phone...so we organised a telstra technician to come out the next day as they thought it could be a fault as the light for phone wasn't lighting up. When we were trying to problem solve the fault, we plugged our phone into the phone socket directly with Telstra's home gateway and we had a phone dial tone. So Telstra deducted it wasn't a fault with their equipment but with our house wiring.

Now again, I will get on my bandwagon and shout...NBNco distributed a new information booklet in January 2013. I contacted HSI about this when I discovered that they prefer all equipment in the one spot. Ie. the house in an area out of the traffic zone, or like what HSI consult in the garage....but no! HSI have been told that NBNco want the equipment how they install it... NBNco equipment in the garage and everything else in the home. They want to know why I'm the only one of their clients who want it a different  setup. Can I add that masterton and jandson and Macquarie grove homes all in my street had it set up, the preferred NBNco way... My house is the only odd house... I called the after handover electricans to reconnect my wiring so that the data points and phone line in my home work. They werent talking to the telstra installed hime gateaway in my garage. They spent an hour and a half, reconnecting and checking connections in the house and the only way i can use my data and phone in my home is to move the home gateway unit into the study.  So in my study I have my home gateway from Telstra, with my phone connected to it, and four cables coming from this into the wall. It uses the only PowerPoint I have in that room. One that I dedicated for the use of my computer and printer... So it looks like along with these atrocious sight of wires coming out and into a box, I will have to have a Power board to go with this to use my computer. It wasn't my plan, and on the turnaround. The double power point in my garage that was included in the NBN upgrade for their equipment is left empty as there is no equipment there to plug in!  Can you tell I am not happy! I have sent off a strongly worded email to HSI and EB, as I raised some of these issues whilst in construction. What I can't fathom is M from HSI indicated having the NBN equipment would be untidy and unsightly in the home! Does the equipment I have in my study look better than the beige nicely compacted equipment I have in the upgraded comm box! Secondly, why do they say you are the only client who wants it a different way... I feel like they feel I am trying to cause them an inconvenience. As I said before my neighhbours all have it done the other way... It's just EB home builders who have it different! I will update my blog with a photo of the equipment in the house. Truly, I have been so annoyed about this since last Thursday when it was discovered that I needed the electricians back again cause Telstra's equipment wasn't talking to the upgrades we had made!

The untidy equipment in  my study using the only PowerPoint. All my neighbours have this in the included comm box in the garage!

Thursday 23 May 2013

Bathroom pics

We picked the same colours for bathroom and ensuite. Platinum micro for the benches and smoky sapelle for the cupboards. I love the standard inclusions with Eden brae.
Heater lights come standard as well as caroma basins, baths and toilets.

We upgrade our bath to the next length up... You can stretch out and soak... Best thing is we have two of them, one in the main bath and one in the ensuite. 

We also added the fluro bar light above the mirror to assist with shaving and applying make up.
We upgraded to floor to ceiling tiles in the shower. Niches are standard with Eden brae, and so is the hand held shower rail. We increased the height of the niche but not enough. I really wanted to put my pump size bottle of Pantene shampoo and conditioner in the 

Nearmap updated

Picture from last week
An older aerial pic of my estate! Look at the progress!


NBN working!

Woohoo! One week in our house and Telstra have connected  us to the NBN. It took 4 hours for it to come online... I checked it before dinner and we didn't have a signal. Picked up my iPad and saw a wifi network that was named something similar to the Telstra code we were given, and guess what?  It was ours!

Only thing is I can't get a telephone signal yet! They are booked to come out tomorrow morning. Hope it gets sorted then, my mobile phone usage is over $400 for two weeks. Mostly it is from ringing 13 numbers trying to organise Telstra. Lol.

Wednesday 22 May 2013

Handover from Eden Brae

I have been so busy, I forgot to share with you our handover day.

We went through the house at 9am with our SS Paul, checking to see if all PCI items had been completed and any other niggling problems... All was good. Griffin air were in before our SS got there and since it was a brisk morning, we turned the air con onto heat. It warmed up the  place in under5 minutes and was super quiet I didn't even know it was on.

The appliances were due to get delivered in the morning and so went on our merry way up to Bella Vista to hand over our final cheque. When we got there our lovely CSA Katherine had us read and sign some documents. She explained the warranty process and our handover folder. Yes you get a folder full of information on everything!

We were given key rings and a big white box with a black ribbon bow.

We wandered to our little hideaway cafe that we visited each time we went up to the head office or HOG and enjoyed lunch before trying our new keys in the door. 

We received the final occupation certificate the day before in the mail from the Local group. So we decided to drive straight to the council and organize our bins. They arrived the next morning.

We didn't need to open our door with the key as when we pulled up, the house was busy with  electricians installing our antennae, plumbers connecting the hot water and dishwasher. More electricians doing the alarm adjustments,and fixing up our light fittings that we had them install. As the appliances didn't get there until lunchtime. The electricians were there until about 7pm, and they needed to come back the next day again as they didn't bring dimmable downlights as  per contract.

9am the next morning the electricians were in and out. I had my dad line my drawers and cupboards with the Ikea drawer liners. I initially bought 14, but needed back up support to go get 10 more rolls the next day. It took my dad about three days to measure and line the ensuite, kitchen, pantry and bathroom shelving. Gee it looks good and will keep everything looking like new.

So what's inside the box....
Two cotton bath sheets, a hand towel, washer and bath mat.

Kitchen appliances

I am still getting used to my kitchen appliances that came as part of the $1 kitchen promotion. The gas cooktop is easy to use. However, I haven't quite got the hang of the oven. The first time I used I actually set the auto cook feature and not the clock. So I didn't think the oven worked. Miraculously it turned on, that's when I discovered the auto cook feature. Lol I cooked a packet mix of blueberry muffins to test it out and it took an extra 15 minutes to cook them. I also cooked a baked chicken dinner that needed extra time and a frittata that I ended putting in the microwave to finish off.

I have never owned a dishwasher so I am also trying to work out the drying thing... I adjusted one of the dials inside to try and make the dishes a bit drier on completion of the cycle. I made another adjustment this morning, hope this works. The aftercare with Think appliances have been wonderful answering my queries on trying to use my new products. 

At handover you get another folder with warranties and emergency after handover phone numbers to call if things aren't quite right. This is where I found Think appliances phone number.
Lastly our microwave... Haven't played with this one much.... It has a grill function. We didn't get a microwave cupboard so it's sits on top of our bench.

I love our over head cupboards... And the pot drawers.

And my lights under my cupboard overhead cupboards. 
If you look carefully between my plates you can see my clear Ikea drawer liners. Have I said how much I love my new kitchen?









Still unpacking!

Boxes boxes and more boxes... I hate unpacking as much as I hated packing! I hope to sit down sometime this weekend and enjoy glancing about the house. Finch removals http://www.finchremovals.com.au/ did such a fantastic job of moving my furniture. I was really worried about my great-grandma's china cabinet making the journey but the boys took great care with my possessions.
We have had our security doors installed by Advanced Security doors. Corey did such a fantastic job!



NBNco have installed their equipment.
This is the comm box we upgraded to during construction. As you can see the NBN equipment was due to go on an uninsulated wall... Imagine the dust and dampness that may have interfered with the equipment below.



Sunday 19 May 2013

We have keys!!!

Actually we got them Tuesday... Just been too busy to sit down and take photos and blog... Will do soon. Promise!

Sunday 12 May 2013

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's day with my family, brunch with my mum and sister and the kids at the scrumptious restaurant Barenz in Camden. After this I made a dash down the M5 to Ikea Tempe to pick up my drawer liners... So very happy, also got a plastic bag dispenser to put in the pantry.

On the way home popped into Kmart and bought a new ironing board cover, new pegs and new brooms. Then back to the house to resume packing.

I got an Aussie skip bag http://www.aussieskipbags.com.au/ delivered yesterday and have been busy filling it... I am getting rid of the old microwave as we get one included in our kitchen appliance package. I also have thrown out my toaster, it was a cheapie one when the old one went... I have forgotten to buy a stainless steel one today... Opps no toast tomorrow! Hope the one that was on sale at Target is still there tomorrow.

Monday 6 May 2013

Security doors

I was soooo happy with the quote I received from Advanced Security doors... Corey  Adams  0430327186. He is based in the Macarthur area. He will be powder coating the front trilock door  the same colour as our wood work so it will match, it will be the toughened screen, and providing sliding doors for the laundry and alfresco areas, matching the window trims in these areas, and the same toughened screen. These doors will all be keyed the same, so we will just need one key! Best of all because we ordered today, they will be ready next Friday. Yeah!

I got three quotes and Corey's was the best by far... An enormous saving from what EB originally quoted. One thing down....so many more things still to do. One of them packing lol

Sunday 5 May 2013

Fence removed

Now we can see what our house looks like fully from the front...
The painter was down on the corner EB house working this morning. As our garage door is up, I am hoping they swing by our place this afternoon to do the touchups... I noticed through the windows, they have sanded the walls where we put the tape.

I hope to get a couple of solid quotes for landscaping in the next fortnight. We looked at some blocks to use for the retaining wall yesterday. I hope the neighbours like them.

I also intend on going to Ikea this week to buy some  drawer mats... Here is the link http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/60177741/  My sister in law lined her kitchen shelves and drawers with it, it is such good quality, and it will stop marks on the beautiful new cabinetry.

Friday 3 May 2013

Packing house...

I have been busy the last few days packing up... I have run out of packing tape on three occasions. But I must say I have enjoyed taking the break and wandering around Bunnings and on another time Masters looking at all the things I can buy after handover.... I still haven't found a front door mat I like. I have looked at clothes lines, and wardrobe organization, as well as laundry organization. I have taken bags to the clothing bins, had a council kerb side pick up, sold things online as I have decluttered.

One of my favourite blogs wrote these tips yesterday...
http://theorganisedhousewife.com.au/organising/moving/how-to-de-clutter-when-moving/

I will also add a couple of my tips... Buy some colorful round stickers... Anyone who know me knows that I colour code things to quickly get my hands on something. So I have colour coded my boxes as well as labelled them with room and contents. Eg... Blue stickers are for my son's room, green for Bed 4 etc. I hope it will all help on the other side.

At this stage, packing is overwhelming, exhausting work. But I better get to it, my partner is taking me out for dinner tonight. Looking forward to that :)

Tuesday 30 April 2013

PCI day

I was very excited, I hoped to get lots of photos but spent a lot of time looking up and down the walls and ceiling in lots of various angles to see if I was happy with paint finishes. Opening and closing windows, switching on and off lights, opening and closing door and drawers. Checking everything with a fine tooth comb.

End result.... Very happy with the quality finish of our home.
Our ensuite! Love the long mirror,

Our shower but the rainwater head is there but the hand held shower point is missing. I didn't notice, lucky Jeff was turning on and off the tapes checking water flow. 

My bedroom light again, this time with carpet... The walls look a funny colour in this light in this picture  but it's the same colour throughout the house.

Our formal lounge room... Love this light I have a Bali water feature with a thick bamboo screen planned for outside that window.

This is my only concern - I dont know if you can notice it, but we have three joins in the carpet in this hallway. This is a major traffic area... our bathroom and main toilet. I want this redone in one piece!

My little munckin playing in his bedroom whilst we had PCI. I forgot that school didnt go back until Wednesday!

My kitchen - so love this! Looks like I just got home from shopping... LOL One of the pendants got broken... They have replaced it, but will be installed the same time as the oven goes in.

My fanaway... we have these in the bedrooms and kids rumpus room.

Friday 26 April 2013

Nearly at the finish line

We are nearly there. PCI booked in for Tuesday. Cant wait to go in and spend some time in my house!!!

Whilst its so close, its so hard to stay away from the house, all I can think of is all the stuff that needs to be done when we get the keys...

Turf... I sent our plans out to a couple of companies to quote on preparing the ground and laying turf for our block, but no quotes yet!

Clothesline... I might hold off buying this until we move in.

Letterbox... We have a pallet and a half of bricks leftover, ideally I want a brick letter box, I asked our SS could I get someone in to do this before we get the keys, but no... Will just have to wait!

Security screen doors... I lined up a few quotes when we move in. Imagine my surprise today when one of them turned up at my block and waited for me to get there. My SS was here and he apparently asked him if he could go through. I was actually scared because I was caught onsite on Monday and didn't want to jeopardize the final weeks... So glad we got quote $1200 cheaper than EB! That's for invisgaurd trilock screen door powder coated to match my woodwork for the front. Stacker sliding door in the invisiguard and two more sliding doors to match my windows. So glad he quoted, I know one cost I am up for post handover.

Landscaping... I have quite a few ideas but will have to wait post handover for quotes.

Howard Ryan surprised me tonight, originally he was going to do his inspection tomorrow but was in our area and completed it today. His report puts my mind at peace... Love the colour photos as a reference, he didn't pick up any major issues, just paint work that needs touching up. I will use this as my reference on Tuesday at PCI. I am glad we got it done as he even crawls in our roof cavity... I wouldn't have done that LOL Rest assured its all as it should be.

And with PCI comes the final invoice we also received this today... It has our Building Variation for the comm box... We asked the bank would they issue the amount as a cheque for us, they will but not include the $220 variation, so we contacted EB, they will not take personal cheque only cash or credit with a surcharge... 

I also took advantage of the Target sale today, got the little man and I some winter Jammie's but also two cushions for his room, it's going to be a grown up boy's room in the new house...some towels for his bathroom, some sheets for the spare bed, can't find a quilt cover I like yet. I also bought some new accessories for the bathroom and ensuite... New toilet brushes, new soap dispensers and toothbrush holders. I have written a wish list for furniture... I'm going to concentrate one room at a time... Which one to choose LOL

So very excited, I hope this time goes quickly!

Wednesday 24 April 2013

Driveway done


When we pulled up the landscapers were just about done, they were sweeping the special sand that when wet is like glue. So I asked them if they could put the garage door down so we can see the house in daylight when it's down... They happily fulfilled my request.

They mentioned that a few people came and went today. I noticed my doorbell was in... So I think the electricans came back... Hopefully they finished some of the work that was left to do.  Bring on Tuesday 9am!

Tuesday 23 April 2013

Happy days

We have resolved the issue of the alarm and it's NBN compliance... HSI have worked it out... We have upgraded to a cabinet in the garage to protect the NBN equipment from dust and dirt.

As much as I was excited to see the portaloo arrive on our site, it is still just as exciting to see it gone... The end is getting near. I have booked removalists. I have two tentative dates... Hopefully we can go ahead with the first preference but do have a back up plan.

I am getting quotes for turf. I highlighted a copy of our house on the block with measurements and sent it off to a couple of places. Hope to hear from them soon.

And they started the driveway today... Not a good photo, the sun was not in a good spot. I will try to get there earlier and get a better one tomorrow!

Wednesday 17 April 2013

Frustration

Had a busy few days... Trying to organize quotes for the security doors. I am hoping the fence will be down in early May so we can have some done. It will take 3 weeks or them to be made and I would like them in as soon as possible.

I have arranged for outback landscaping to give us a quote  for landscaping...also in early May.

Also arranged for the connection to the NBN... All set for when we should be moved in. But this has also caused frustration. Since I was talking with Telstra about our needs. They alerted me to the fact the alarm we are having installed as part of the inclusions in our essential package is probably not NBN compatible. Upon further phone calls, this is the case. HSI is giving us a quote to upgrade it, but this is not acceptable to me. Upon tender presentation EB knew we were in a NBN estate, our electrical appoinment were aware we were in an NBN estate. We upgraded data points and alarm features: extra sensors, remote keyfobs, but also a phone point to the unit so that we could have back to base monitoring. This is the problem. It is not NBN ready for back to base monitoring. upon emailing EB they referred me back to the electrical consultant for an upgrade. I am not going to pay for this upgrade. EB and HSI were aware of our needs and did not advise upgrading at the point of needing to. I have escalated this to management as I do not think we should have to pay for the lack of communication and advise. We were not given spec sheets for our included alarm, so we could question  the specifics. An alarm is included in our contract. We upgraded thinking that it would cater for our needs. At the time of the appointment we were shown sensors, strobe lights, internal alarm siren and keypads. We should have been advised here it needed upgrading for our requirements.  At present the "included" alarm plus our upgrades does not meet our requirements. And to think we could have moved in to discover this? EB will give me a decision by Friday.

On a happier note, I could see through the windows wire shelving in our wardrobes.. The linen press doors were open but I couldn't see the shelves. I just wasn't tall enough. In our front bedroom windows I was suprised to see my reflection... The mirrors must be in.. Can't wait to see if our ensuite mirror goes right to the edge of the wall.

And  our pavers were delivered! A busy week and it's only hump day!

Friday 12 April 2013

The things we do

I desperately tried to leave work in daylight hours tonight so I can get a decent photo of the front of our house with the garage door on. But when I got there the fence was secure and with the garage door up!! What the...

I was desperate to see if we have any work completed inside today, so I walked the perimeter of the fence. Our bedroom windows are probably neck level... I'm short lol, so to get a better look I stood on the bases of the security fence and heaved myself up so I could see inside...the lengths we go to, to see progress lol

Anyway I could see the handles are on our doors! I saw the bedroom door handle and the linen press handle. No pics as I didn't have a free hand lol

Thursday 11 April 2013

I don't like daylight savings over

I struggled to get to the block tonight in daylight hours... And just my luck the garage door I have waited on since Monday was delivered today and installed....

I think the neighbours must think I am weird because I parked as close to the fence forward facing with my headlights on high beam to get this photo... Can't wait to see it in daylight hours, hopefully tomorrow.

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Another sneak peak..

Front pillar lights

Taps in the ensuite

Shower head in ensuite

Not to forget the toilet lol

Bath is in too, but it needs a massive clean up before I post that picture. I can't wait for the next site  clean up... That might mean we are close to being in too.