Week 34 - 2nd Dec Slow progress

Internal painting continues.

Garage door installed.

Plumbing did not commence.

Painting to finish this week

We have been at lock up stage for a few weeks and visited the site on Saturday evening. The door was wide open! Contacted SS right away but didn't receive a response. 😡

Internal painting of walls, frames and doors.

Week 33 - Delayed!

A month ago we were informed that it was another 5 weeks till handover. We were excited to find that we  would be able to move in before Christmas.

To our disappointment, yet again we were informed that it won't be complete until after Christmas.

To our understanding 21/11 marked it had passed the 32 week build period of completion, so we should be receiving a penalty payout. Not matter how small it is, we wanted some compensation.

Of course there was some loop hole with the 32 week build time. It didn't account for public holidays or bad weather. F%$##%!

Timeline
Kitchen and stone bench top installed.

Wet area tiling partially complete.

Painting started this week will be done next week and plumbing will commence.

Week 22 - Roof and Solar Panels installed

Roof and solar panels have been installed. Next week the down pipe, waves for first floor to be installed.

Week 20 - Finally sigh

We were given an estimated 6 weeks for bricks to be completed. A month of delays and the only reason when weather couldn't be used as an excuse was that the brickie was slow but good. Seriously!? Sigh...it was finally finished this Tuesday the 23rd. 

SS advised fascia and gutter will be completed today. Roof tiles will be completed Monday or Tuesday next week along with the solar panels.

SS assured the roof trusses and frame carpentry issues will be repaired before lining is installed.

Saturday 20th August - Week 19

Saturday 6th August - Week 17

Saturday 30th July - Week 16

Sunday 24th July - Week 15

Week 9 - 10th June Not Happy

After a 2 week delay and absolutely no progress apart from plumbing.
We get told the free upgrade to bricks is now void. Clarendon are absolutely unprofessional.

Bricks will only arrive next Thursday. So our build will be on a stand still for 3 weeks.

Our privately hired building inspector has found some significant overhanging frame issues that don't comply with the building standard. As well as honeycombing in the concrete.

Week 9 - Completed plumbing

Visited build on 12th June

Week 8 - 3rd June

On Tuesday I received a call from SS that our chosen bricks are out of stock. It will take another 2 1/2 weeks for arrival. Yet another delay. We were given two options wait or make another selection. I asked SS if we would be entitled to a free upgrade.

SS kindly chased it up and great news NSW Sales Manager for bricks approved a free upgrade to Biscotti range. The seemingly disappointing news actually works in our favour. 

We made our selection and just hope the colours consultant gets back to us sooner!

Week 5 - 7 Updates

Week 5 - 14th May
Despite being assured it can been done and an engineer would oversee the whole process. To prevent further delays and also fear of the process of cutting then re-concreting damage to the rest of the slab and who knows they could cut corners. We have decided to go ahead with the 'Man Cave'option.

SS advised Frames would be completed by Friday and Monday at the latest

Week 6 - 20th May
Didn't receive the usual Friday afternoon update. So I left a message.

Visited the site 20/05. Little progress from the last visit. Frames were far from complete.

Advised on Monday 23/05 Frames by end of this week
Rough fittings early next week

Week 7 - 27th May
Frames carpentry are complete
Plumbing rough fittings and electrical undergrounds booked in for early next week, as well as a site clean
Bricks due for delivery towards the end of next week
Brick laying will be starting early the following week

The Plans - Highly Modified Wentworth 33

Week 4 - 3rd May 2016 Set back :(

Last week we inspected the slab and noticed the missing nook in the garage. We waited. Also noticed some issues with slab chipping, fraying and small long crack along the porch. Raised this issue with SS 9/5/16 via sms no response yet.

Received a call from Clarendon draft leader on 3/5/16. Clarendon have taken full responsibility for the slab mistake. When drafting the concrete plans the nook in the back of the garage was missed! They have offered to rectify by cutting it out as the original plans however it will slow down the entire construction process as an alternative they have offered creating shelving 'Man Cave' for the nook.

Despite being assured we would receive an email with a sketch right away for the alternative, we received the sketch the following day after I called in the morning to follow it up. It's a sketch without photo's and advised we can't decide or move forward without a photograph. Now it's 10/05/2016 still no photograph!

I spoke to my SS about our concerns with cutting it out Saturday morning 7/5/16. Will it affect the rest of the foundation? My SS explained the  process to cut the concrete. They require an engineer to draft the plans, cut it out and re-concrete the area. By the sounds of it not only will it be time consuming it sounds expensive for Clarendon. He also told me to inform him if we still have not received the photo's of the Man  Cave by Monday to let him know. Also there had been some miscommunication because the frames started going in today! Told me not to worry as they can just remove the nails if needed.

We visited the site Sunday 8/5/16 Mother's Day and brought bub along. It started to drizzle. That's when we noticed some nailing faults in the family room wall frame, missing the wood and concrete slab chipping, fraying and small long crack along the porch. Not happy.

Week 3 - 29th April 2016

- Underground surface completed

- Frame delivery due mid week

- Carpentry will start soon after that

2nd Progress payment paid 27/04/16

Week 2 - April 22nd 2016

- Slab is poured

- External drains next week

- Frame delivery booked for the 3rd of May

Week 1 - 11th April
- Piering

The winner is Clarendon! - Modified Wentworth

We began our search early 2013. Recommenced visits to display homes in Feb 2015 to June 2015. Meetings with builders and tender requests. We had the following designs short listed.

Clarendon - Wentworth : Paid tender $1K or Sheridan

Masterton - Synergy : Free tender

AllWorth - Panoroma Compact or Waterford Luxury Ensuite : Free tender

Wisdom - Aspiration/Inspiration/Washington

30th June 2015

Signed and paid for tender with Clarendon to lock in the May 2015 price list. $1K

Advised it would take 2 to 3 weeks for tender and possible delays because of the high demand. 

It was completed 4 weeks later. The earliest appointment available was 14/08/15 for the tender presentation. A total of 6 weeks.Due to the late tender we were hit with a number of price rises for other builders we were considering.

14th August 2015

Made a number of changes and requested a revised tender to include changes.

30th September 2015 

Presented with revised tender and answered questions

Paid $5K

31st October 2015

Post variation changes

Paid 5%

19th November 2015

Colour Studio appointment

Kitchen

Colours

Air-Con

Flooring

20th November 2015

Tiles appointment

24th November 2015

Stairs, EHI, Smart Home,

26th November 2015

Electrical

Revised Colour Studio appointment

8th January 2016

CDC Lodgement 

Advised it would take 15-20 working days

Completed 22nd March 2016 due to miscommunication of vehicular crossing and second change of Clarendon staff. Our third representative.

6th April 2016

Formal loan approval

7th April 2016

CONSTRUCTION Begins! Excavation