New addition to the key ring.
A short story...........
Around 15 months ago, we made the decision to upgrade our home. This decision was with some apprehension and emotion, as we had built our current 18sq home 23 years prior.
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Current house
For weeks, we battled with the decision between building a Henley Riviera 33 or Porta Davis Cremorne41. Despite it never being our original intention to go to 41sq, the Cremorne won out in the end, for reasons stated on my blog home page.
Just prior to our build start back in June, I stumbled across Perry and Bernadette's blog one night when I was googling Cremornes. I contacted Perry the next day to discuss his experience, and he suggested I create my own blog. I hadn't contemplated this for a minute.
Perry, for this suggestion, I owe you a mighty thanks. You provided me not only the means of adding an interest to our pending build, but also a gateway to a group of people who have made our build so much more enjoyable and knowledgeable than I could ever have anticipated.
To all you bloggers who have contributed to our build, to those that have passed on such valuable knowledge, and to those who have had me in fits of laughter, I thank you all so much.
Not only do we now have a beautiful new home, but we have also gained some terrific new friends. Particular mention to Toni and Andy. The frequent support from you guys during what is normally a stressful process, has been so welcoming. And Liana........ well....who can EVER be stressed when you have Liana's updates just a click away.
Thanks also to G&V, Petal, R&C and Bellebeau. Been great fun bantering with you guys.
Our time line
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Friday was such a massive day for us. Our handover went exceptionally smooth. A quick check of PCI issues with Scott (ALL completed) and a dash to Deer Park to hand over cheque and pick up keys.
Then, in the blink of an eye, I went from "building a house" to "owning a house", and my world went mad...!! Now I know why bloggers go quite on their blogs after receiving their keys. Quite suddenly, you realise the work ahead of you, and the keys in your hand scream at you to get started..!!
Laminate first. Started Friday night. Got a little bit done, then returned on Saturday on my own and plugged on. Progress was slow due to my "Click and Lock" flooring doing everything BUT "Click and Lock"..! There is a real knack to this stuff, which took me til late Saturday to master.
Today, I was inundated with brothers and friends who weren't going to take "no" for an answer in helping me. I couldn't believe the progress with the extra hands. What was I thinking in wanting to do this alone?
So... a mighty thanks to mate Brian, brothers John and Brian, and son Jeff. You guys have been fantastic today. BBQ and beers soon.
Our new, but dusty floor. Cabin Oak from Fowles
Brother Brian and Son Jeff. This photo at 10pm...!! Still going. Laminate about 80% complete
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This week - Security system, Appliances, Driveway and Fence.
Next week - New furniture
Official move in - By 31st Dec.
17 comments:
Guys, congratulations, 23 years is a long time in one place, you must be so looking forward to moving into the new home. Well done and just before xmas too. Look forward to seeing the after handover progress. R&C
Thanks for the mention DG. We are all very glad that you took the opportunity to put together your own story. It's been terrific to read the updates, and all of the Cremorne owners benefit from other experiences. Just remember that this isn't the end for your blog. We all want to see landscaping, interior, and so on. Cheers!
I meant to say too, nice job with the laminate. It's a bit of a pain to master (as you found), and not every piece is dead straight, but the persistence yields good results. I did most of our flooring on my own, so it seemed to take a fair bit longer than yours did. When you get a chance, I'd love to see some closeups around your laundry and powder room. Cheers.
R&C. Yep, will ensure that post-handover updates and photos keep coming.
Perry. Thanks mate. Kind words.
Will certainly update on the flooring process as it completes, and add a few detailed photos with it. I underestimated the valu of having some help with the flooring, so for you to do the lot on your own is a worthy effort.
FYI, that door jam undercutting tool I was asking about last week is the Bosch PMF180.
http://www.bosch-do-it.com/productspecials/diy/pmf180e/au/en/
$150 from Bunnings. I thought initially a little $$, but have convinced myself over the weekend to get it (today), particularly as I am yet to lay flooring near those tricky laundry sections.
Toni. I'm happy to lend this to Steve, save him buying it.
Wow, congratulations, out of all i just love the colours in your Kitchen. Your house looks so beautiful. Well done on having the guts to start the flooring on your own. This is fun time. YAY!!!! Well desrved BBQ & beers :-)
oh great pics! I'm so excited now! Floor looks great and makes the place look soooooo different. Bring on Carpet and furniture!
How lucky to have Jeff and brothers and friends helping out. Can't believe how much you knocked over in such a short space of time. Well done!
Yes it must be hard to leave your previous home of such a long time (I was 14 when you built that hehe) but just think of the new memories you and Suzi will create over the next 23 years with your kids and then grandkids!!!! Love the family shot too.
Thanks for the mention too, all I can say is ditto :-) I've appreciated your emails and advice, knowledge and support too. This blogging has been a great tool for all of us building, I hope all of us don't go too quiet once we are in. Annual BBQ on the calender I think :-)
Congratulations once again. Four more sleeps for us :-)
oh forgot to say thanks re the offer of the undercutting tool. I'll email this link to Steve :-)
Guys, Welcome to the Cremorne Club...:)
Congrats, its a great feeling when you collect your keys, a sense of achievement, all that research, late nights discussing colours, upgrades, daily visits, endless photos & inspections......are all worth it in the end.
The flooring completes the home, as it transforms it to a livable home compared to a construction site...:) By the way, you guys have done a great job, and saved money in the process....
Once the driveway is done, you can easily enter in without all the mud/dirt...
And its been my pleasure assisting you guys, in passing on my advice & tips, and becoming friends. :)
I hope you have deep pockets, as the house will milk you dry.....:)
Chat soon
Andy
Hey David,
Congratulations!
You've made it to handover relatively unscathed and without experiencing or resorting to any of the following:
1. Assault charges
These usually happen on site when the tradies tell you that building your house upside down and inside-out is perfectly acceptable.
2. Replacing your phone
This is often thrown at something when you forget to take your happy pills before a site inspection.
3. A divorce
Oh, but you can't divorce your builder, so refer back to item 1 and 2 above.
4. Stockpiling Panadols in preparation for Red Dot Day
These should come with your contract, but I think you have to sign a variation for that upgrade.
5. Enrolling in anger management classes
Usually suggested by your SS when you push the point that the huge square hole in the wall really should have a window in it and if you pull your drawings out, he will enroll you himself.
6. Becoming a VIP member at your local pub
You’re not allowed to step foot on your own land, so you may as well sit with all the other PD customers at the pub. Yep, that’s where they all hang out and talk about defects, red dots and “bottoms up” suddenly has a whole knew meaning.
7. Home visits from a Shrink
That’s just common sense, because you can’t drive if you’ve just come home from the pub, fully tanked, hallucinating about red dots and wondering whether someone called you a “defect with measles” last night.
8. Stalking your own house
Sitting in your car, outside your house, slumped down in your seat with binoculars, and a clever disguise, to keep an eye on thieves and graffiti artists. Only to get arrested because you’re too close to a school.
9. Getting arrested
You want to try and avoid this, because you’ll have to sign a very hefty ($$$) variation if you want your SS to visit you in jail for your site inspections. If you want to see a photo slideshow of each inspection, that’s another variation. If he has to bring his own laptop, that’s another variation. If he can’t see you between 9.07am and 9.08am, that’s another variation.
10. Going to the Bahamas between site scrape and handover
This is by far your best option. You seem to have avoided all of the above. So how was the Bahamas?
So ... bottoms up, here’s to you, your family and your beautiful new home. Enjoy!
CHEERS!!!
Liana
Congratulations! So happy for you and Suzi that everything went smoothly with the handover. 23 years is a long time to accumulate "stuff", so I assume you are not looking forward to sorting and moving all of it.
Now the stressing stops and the hard work begins because it is all in your hands now!! The flooring looks great. We did the floors in our current house and once you do manage to "get the knack" it just goes together like magic and it looks a million dollars. Although it is time consuming, as you found out. So a big thumbs up to everyone who helped out.
Thank you for all your positive energy with our build too, I hope that we come out sane like you guys at the end. Really looking forward to the landscaping and the carpet updates, although I cannot blame you if the BBQ's and beers become a little more appealing at the landscape stage.
Have a great Christmas, as I don't think we'll see much of you before the new year.
oh Liana, you crack me up every time :-)
Hey Toni,
It's a happy time for the Gaul family (and your family), so we may as well laugh at this journey we're all on.
There's going to be a huge bloggers bbq coming up somewhere soon. I'd offer to host it, if you can all wait until 2036. We should have handover by then.
Cheers
Liana
Hi all. Have just got home from ....you guessed it...laying laminate..!!
Your comments are all terrific. Thanks.
Would be Home. Thanks for your praises re our kitchen. I was always sure the deep red splash would go well, and the downlights give it that little extra.
Toni. ok,ok...knock it off with the age thing..! Big yes to an annual BBQ, and I'm so glad you have started your countdown clock. Not long now. Can't wait to hear how you go, but if you’re like us, we probably wont hear from you till around Monday. Your world is about to be turned upside down.
Andy. As always, thanks for your help mate. My deep pockets have got holes in them, so not much left in them. gggrrr
Liana. What can I say? As usual, you have delivered. Love #6 & #9. You're our inspiration, a nutty one at that. Cheers
Hi Belle. Thanks for your kind words. Our laminate was a big job, 99sq meters. Not easy at the start, and a bit of hard work, but we are so happy with the result.
thanks all
Congratulations, DG family. So exciting, isn't it?
Your floor looks fantastic - great to have some helpers!!!
Lots of late nights ahead....
Congrats, & enjoy!
Hi DG
Congrats on taking ownership of your new home. Very jealous must say. Hope all is going smoothly as no doubt huge job ahead of you.
It's a bit sad really as all you guys are moving in now and we are still waiting, waiting, waiting. Feels like our little blogging community is coming to an end....
Well done on the floors - don't think we'd have the patience! They look great.
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