Getting closer

So with the estimated title date fast approaching (ETA end of September, but more likely sometime in October), I went out to see how things are looking.

Here's a video from the main road of Stage 11 (St Arnaud).

 

And here are two photos of where our house will be, and looking down the road towards the direction of the future school.

And time almost stops...

So 3 months to the day since we took those last photos, we went our again... hoping that much had developed.

Sadly, not much appears to have been done other than removal of rock piles.  I'm sure there's a number of changes underground that aren't visible, but it is disappointing to see our stage so far from completion.  The latest estimate sent our by Eynesbury is early September - 4 months late.  After seeing the state of affairs, I'm a bit concerned that they might not even make that date.  Below is a picture taken from the edge of Stage 9, looking up towards Stage 11A1.

 

Time moves on...

So we've been out to Eynesbury again to see what's happening.  Stage 10 is basically ready for the builders to get going so I'm sure the people in there are going to be looking forward to their houses going up.  Last estimate I saw on Eynesbury's site was that there were around 350 houses up already.  Stage 9 has the roads in and they're going well.

If you look back at the start of the blog, I posted a video clip of the area of Stage 11, well, here's a photo and video of how things look now.  Things are going slow due to the rocks it seems.

Eynesbury Construction Update

We got an email today with the following bits of information in it.  We are hoping that we are the Stage 11A1.  It means that we just MIGHT get our house before Christmas!

Greenhill Water Tanks and Transfer Mains Construction is underway at the top of Green Hill installing two large water-tanks to ensure that the township will have an adequate, independent water supply into the future. Each tank will hold over one million litres of water and will be used for Class A recycled water and potable drinking water. The project is expected to be completed late February 2012.

Stage Construction Stage 3 – Landscape works are almost completed with waterway areas very advanced Stage 9 – Civil works are tracking well. Titles expected April/May 2012 Stage 10 – Work is ahead of the program. Titles expected April/May 2012 Stage 4A1 – Construction will start this month. Titles expected June/July 2012 Stage 11A1 – Stage 11A1will commence this month. Titles expected June/July 2012 Stage 7C – Civil works will also begin this month. Titles expected May 2012

Floor Plans

So I'm sure some of you would like to see our design.  So I scanned it in (removed private info) and here it is.

Lot 11010 Scanned plans

Those interested in ideas for kitchen/WIR/bathroom ideas may get some inspiration.  We put quite a bit of thought into each.

For example:

The oven was moved to the tower to put it at a better height to see inside (saves bending down).  Also the Microwave will sit at pretty much our eye level so we can see it easily, and keep it safe from kids.  We've added double pull out bins to where the microwave used to be.
We've also taken to adding twin "spice rack" vertical drawers either side of the cooktop.

The en suite has a double shower with 600mm niche.  Instead of just a large mirror, we've added mirrored cabinets.  The WIR had the height of the rails raised to allow for the middle twin rail area.  We also put in drawers with adjustable shelves - shelves in all other bedrooms.

Post any questions and I'll answer them as best I can.

The long wait...

Happy New Year to everyone!  I hope you had a blessed Christmas with family and friends and had a relaxing time.

Just before Christmas we received conditional approval for our house plans from Eynesbury.  This means that our house is approved, but we need to submit both landscaping and fencing plans in the next few months.  So we'll be off to the Eynesbury nursery to speak to the people that know what plants we can use and give us plant advice - not design advice, because we've been told that's not what they do, and we didn't expect that.  But just an FYI.

So now we wait until the land titles.  We went out there this last week and Stage 9's infrastructure is starting to take shape, but it's a long way off being done.  There is one sign that points in the general direction of where Stage 11 will oneday be.  But for now, it exists purely on paper.

Will post again when I've had a chance to copy our floor plans and remove some of the info off it (like job number, names, etc.)

Contract Signed

Well, it's been almost a month since our last post.  The last few weeks have really been about us bedding down our colours, and the final changes - particularly to the kitchen.

Today we went in, did our electrical with a very helpful guy that gave us good input and helped us decide on a number of things - one of which is to have 2 extractors in the en suite - a concern we had with have a "cave-like" WIR near the double shower.

The only remaining item is the wiring of the theatre room, which we will arrange closer to the land title time so that we get a better view of what options are available at that time.

The floor plans needed one or two minor fixes, after which I will post the whole floorplan here, along with elevations for everyone to peruse. 

Oh... the bricks... Homestead Tan... Category 2... no extra cost to us... after all that...
Or tender lady has been amazing, she's helped us with our kitchen design so much, and as a mother herself has given us great input into a family home.

So, the contract is now signed (will be going over it closely tomorrow) and now we just have to wait a FEW months...