Site tests returned

So we got our site tests back late last week. Chris our sales rep opens it up and starts reading over the phone.

"Site tests not performed... unsafe due to long grass".  It took 3 weeks to tell us that! Now were going to have to wait another week or 2 again while the grass is slashed and the soil tests are actually carried out.

Admittedly the site is overgrown and does require attention but they could have told us that 2 weeks ago so we could have done something about it.  Apparently the vendor was also instructed by council to do something about it, but he is dragging his heels.

With only 4-5 weeks till settlement were starting to slip behind schedule and we have not even turned the first sod. *sigh*

Official renters

Today we pay off our mortgage! Woohoo yeah, right on. Well its temporary :-(

We settle on our unit today and begin our rental agreement.  Our purchasers had their final inspection yesterday and the rental agent also did their condition report. I remember asking the agents to not leave anything to the last minute so as expected everything was left to the last minute. Hopeless.

The surplus funds from our sale will go into our savings account gaining a few extra $ for about a month or so, then we take up our land mortgage in mid December and do it all again.

Its too early to find out about our soil tests.  Hoping we can get them back by Saturday week.

Soil tests ordered

Not much of an update at this time.  Our builders have finally fixed up our preliminary site sitting which only took them 2.5 weeks,  hopefully this isnt a sign of the process to come as were aiming for a fairly strict timeframe.

We have authorised soil/site/contour and feature surverys now. Once that comes back we will know exactly what our budget is.

On other news the settlement on our unit is just a week away now. We will be returning as renters just like old times.

You designed us a cave? Thanks

So we have been working with a volume builder on the design, layout and options of our new place and you would think they would have the foresight of thought.... evidently not.

In early setout plans they decided to have no north facing windows in our kitchen, dining and family room and only a western wall made of glass.... it also gave us 2 disjointed side yards.... great thinking....not. 

I dont know about you but living in an area that has effectively become a cave that would be dark until midday then facing the searing western afternoon sun isnt that appealing...AT ALL!

I really wish they thought things out better and applied some logic. It really was a face palm moment.

Our alternative is to put in a large horizontal window on the northern wall and shrink the house by 300mm and remove a non structural pilar of 600mm which will give us a 1m walkway behind the house and access to both side yards would be joined.

Land deposit paid

Today we paid the balance of our deposit for the land and have asked the vendor if they are able to clear it sooner rather than later so we are able to perform soil tests and site surveys as that is the next step holding us back.

We already know that our land is "P" class due to neibouring trees however the building area is "M" class. We found this out from our own soil test we had done prior to purchase.

We are now accelerating the steps to get moving and will are in continual contact with our builders.  Early indications are for a May finish.

Ducks in a row

Seems like all our ducks are lining up in a row now.

I know I have mentioned in a previous post that we would not and could not settle for anything less than a certain amount but sadly the interest in units is not as great as houses and all the price indications and offers we got were substantially less than what the agent quoted us to date.  Over the past few years the price on units has been falling (about 18% according to rpdata).  We only fell a few grand short so in the scheme of things its really nothing.  At least we can move on with our lives and our build.

So we have accepted an offer on our unit but it comes with a small shortfall on what we based all our budgetary figures off but on the plus side we have a shorter settlement and a rent contract lined up so we dont have to find a place to rent, no canceling and reconnecting services, no additional mail redirections, no storage fees and we wont have to organise all this with 2 little tackers getting in the way* It's the stuff moving nightmares are made of. *sorry boys you will be a thorn in our side here*

Because our unit will settle before our land, we will be cashed up making the loan for the land much easier and allowing us to progress to the next step.

Now we are able to get things moving with a builder and hopefully get to the state where we can start building early in the new year.

Congratulations... you bought it

We have a block of land now :-) well all condtional on finance and some terms we put on the vendor but should be all good to go.

It was our first preference block as it in a magnificent location, nice and quiet and in an RZ3 zone meaning "incremental updates only". So basically no 2 story places allowed, in an already established residential zone, no McMansions and no houses jammed up together side by side. Best of all we were able to get it for less than the vendor was wanting which is a bonus as it allows us to spend more on the house. Only thing is its a back block but we dont mind that.

Its around 550m2 mostly flat, there is 1 corner where the block slopes down which is my main worry for site costs but the price was right.

The settlement on our land will be mid December giving us a good chance to settle our unit in the meantime which would be the best case scenario.

We also appear to be getting more interest in our place which should interpret to us getting some more offers soon. Fingers crossed that everything starts falling into place from here on if not we will be juggling 2 mortgages and be eyeballs deep momentarily.