Some answers and some action

After not hearing back from our covering SS or the office all last week i took action and called this Monday.

My CSR was sick last week but she managed to get an answer on the kitchen, which was good news. Our plans were wrong and we should have got cabniets in the fridge cavity so the building manager has signed off on the variation and they will order with the supplier this week (this could delay us a bit but better to wait and get it than not have it at all)

Luckily at the time I called the SS he was in our estate and near our place so we went over to our place. I explained that we had no contact since before Christmas and just wanted an update as to where things were at and also wanted to arrange a walk through. He looked at what still needed to be done (a lot more that he was under the impression of) and said he'd arrange the tradies so things would start moving again. He also said that my SS would be back next week so could the walk through wait to be arranged til then.

Anyway speed ahead to today, I drove by the house on the way to work (I do most days) and YAY there were people in the there. I couldn't help myself, I had to go inside and have a look. I finally got to inspect the floor tiles and thankfully they are not too bad (not excellent but not terrible). I also found that the toilets, bath, shower screens and mirrors had been installed so bathrooms pretty much complete and in the kitchen the glass and stainless steel splash has been installed.

From what I can see, the following still needs to be done:
*Kitchen cabinetry (above the fridge that's just been approved)
*Airconditioning
*Carpet
*Lots of touch-up paint
*gutter guards (where they have missed some)
*Fly screens
*Driveway

We may be delayed due to this terrible weather with the driveway but given the extension for the Xmas shut down period, they still have until mid-end March before the contract period is up and the penalties will apply

A long break but small movement again

We are a bit perplexed at what is going on with our build of late, we spoke to our SS before Xmas regarding the close and when work would start again on site (to make sure we knew what was going on and so to keep an eye on site). We were told that they would be back at work and also on site on the 16th.

This week rolls around and still no-one on site so we call our SS for an update only to get a voice message to say that he's on annual leave (no inidication of when he's back either). We then called his boss and were told that he is on holidays til sometime in Feb and another guy is looking after our site (thanks for the heads up! - not). We explained that nothing has happened on site and were given the new SS contact details. Amazingly workers are now back on site but still no call back from the new SS.

We are also waiting for our CSR in the office to get back to us on another issue also.

The lack of communication and having to chase to speak to anyone is getting quite frustrating and is concerning especially at this end of the build.

Main Floor Tiles

Hubby is still on holidays so yesterday he drove past the site (have been keeping a check on it while no work is going on) and he discovered lots of activity on site! He said that there was a team of approx 8 people laying our poreclain tiles to the main floor area (YIPPEE).

He went back later to check the progress and WOW, they had finished in one day! I just hope that they have taken enough time and layed them smoothly as they rectified edge will be a problem if there are corners poking out.

I can't wait for our next visit to check them out properly (and get some photos).

Not sure what is next or when that will be (SS had told us no one on site til the 16th) and I also know the tilers caught the SS off guard with how quick they were with the wet areas.

The house is getting closer now.

Kitchen Cabinetry - error in plans, not sure what to do

We went back out to the display home (a bit of a distance from us so can't do regular trips) just before christmas to look at styling and to take some measurements to help us with the post-xmas sales. When we were there we noticed that our Kitchen is not "as per displayed" which is what we asked for and what is on our contract tender. We then checked our plans and have realised that our plans were not completely drawn to "as per displayed". We are not sure what our recourse is now. Are we stuck with as per the plans or as per the contract tender (both form part of our signed work order)???

Okay what is the main issue - the fridge space. This should have some cabinetry shelving and bulkhead of which we have none. At the very least the bulk head is drawn on the plans (but still not worded on the plans).

Here are some pics:
Displayed Kitchen

Plans

the kitchen to date

Bulkhead has now been installed above cabinetry but still missing for fridge recess.

A bit more progress

We went to visit the house yesterday and more work had been done (yay)!

The rainwater tank has been delivered (I can just squeeze past it down the side of the house if I need to).

There were two downpipes that weren't connected to the underground plumbing that have now been connected.

The termite protection lines have been put in (not sure if they stay exposed or are to be covered up??).

Also the bath has been delivered, it's currently sitting in the dining area :-)

Site Visit and meeting with SS

Today we had a site visit and got to meet our SS. It was only a quick visit and nothing happening on site today but it was good to go through the inside and ask a few questions. Most of my concerns the SS knew about and had answers for straight away which was great. At the very end of the visit he said "you haven't asked the big question...when can you move in", we simply said we wanted a good job and didn't want it rushed and didn't know if it was too soon to ask yet. We will get stung by the Christmas shut down and holidays but will hopefully be in late-Feb. Our contract (including the Christmas extension) goes to end-March so I will just still base it on that.

Now for activity over the last few days... quite a bit actually. Garage doors have been installed, caesarstone bench and sink to the kitchen installed and tiling to all the wet areas completed. The SS actually admitted the tilers had caught him off guard as he thought they would still be there but they finished early!

now for some pics....

The garage doors
Pergola still to go above the left hand door

The front door and stairwell painted

The ensuite tiling
Vanity and tiling (mirror still to be put in)

The feature wall in the shower

Where toilet will be and window - tossing up between getting an obscure film added to the glass or shutters

Main Bathroom
I wish I had continuted the coloured tiling from the bath up that wall now - oh well definitely too late now!

Feature tile strip in the shower

and last but not least...
Laundry

No action at all this past week

After such great activity the last fortnight we have come to a staggering hault with no action at all on site this week. It's a bit disappointing but I guess so close to Christmas it's a matter of lining up tradies and who is available I guess.

On the good news front we have a walk through booked in for this coming Tuesday. We will get to meet our new SS (who has been nice and helpful on the phone to this point) and get to properly view all the progress as well as ask lots of questions regarding things we are not sure of.