Waiting...

Tuesday 22nd September '09

It's been over a month now and I'm still waiting. Waiting for the builders to get my contract ready for signing. Waiting for Keystart to decide whether they'll approve my finance. Waiting for that phone call to get me to go and sign my financial freedom away for the next few decades.

Meanwhile, I'm trying not to think too much about the actual house. I've been focusing more on the budgeting but during those moments when I do let myself fantasise about the home that I will be building, I can't help but feel a rush of excitement and I literally chuckle in glee at the thought of my own kitchen.

I took these photos of the display home during my last visit. I know some of you have gone to see it with me already, while others of you are eager to know what it looks like. You want to know what was so special about this house that I decided I wanted it within seconds of looking at it. And only just this one house. There were no others. I knew that this was the one I wanted. I knew before I even saw the display home. I could see the potential in the house plans that I printed off the website. Even a few weeks later when I looked at the other display homes down the street, it only delighted me knowing that I didn't feel that panicked dread - "Oh no, this one's better than the one I chose. Is it too late to change my mind!?"

I remember approaching the display home for the first time that day...I was already grinning before I even stepped foot inside. As soon as I saw the kitchen area, I was smitten.

Yes, House. You had me at hello.

the living area - dining, kitchen, living room

I love the open plan living area of this house. It just opens up the house and as you step inside from the front door, you can see all the way through to the back alfresco area. The second I saw the kitchen, images leapt into my head of people standing by the island counter with cocktails poised to their lips; people sitting around the sofa nearby; and others outside in the alfresco area enjoying a BBQ. I could see it in my mind - it's an entertainer's heaven. I can just see myself entertaining in this house.

the ensuite bathroom

the entertainment room

the gorgeous alfresco

Of course, all I'll have is a bit of paving out the back but I do love the decking and hope to adopt a similar look for my backyard when it's done.

So...there you have it. A few photos for a sneak preview of where the party will be at.

Drive By

Saturday 12th September '09


I stopped by on the way home from work to see if I could spot any work done to the land. I was looking for some sort of sign that the builders had started the Preliminary Works on the site.

Nothing.


I did find this watermelon though. I'm not sure if it's actually growing there - I didn't take that close of a look. It would be funny if it was though. I'll look out for it in future when I stop by.

As time goes by...

Thursday 10th September '09

Yes, it's been a while since my last post. Not much has happened in the past two weeks, but I am getting more anxious by the day.

Last week, the builder rang me and said that they could not proceed with the contract unless they got the finance approval from Keystart. I rang my broker immediately and he got in touch with the builder. The situation was that Keystart would not accept the variation that I had the builder draw up for me regarding me doing the floor and window coverings myself, which means that my finance would not be approved. However, they got back to my broker to say that if I could provide relevant quotes for the materials and work, and evidence that I have sufficient funds to pay for them, then they would allow for that. Provided that the builder stipulates in the contract that they will grant permission for my independent tradespeople to be allowed onto the building site to carry out their work and for it all to be completed before key handover.

Aargh!

I wish there was a comprehensive 'to do' list for me to go through, instead of bumping into all these little problems. It all just contributes to delaying the all important builders contract that I need to be signed before 30th September. I just feel so misinformed, and I hate it. It's like at work, when someone is showing someone how to do something. They just tell them what to do, isntead of explaining the reasons why something is done or not done, so that the person can get a clear idea of the whole picture and know why they're doing what they're doing. That's how I train people at work. People need to understand why they have to do something. So in a way I'm feeling like I'm being let down by the builder and Keystart where they're not being thorough with what they require of me.

It's totally frustrating.