They're closing in... (pic)

This picture shows the development around our block of land between 29/12/09 and 23/10/11. I got the images from a website called nearmap.com .

In the first image at the end of '09 the estate construction fence passes through block.  By October '11 we are almost completely surrounded.

DA Submitted!

A big step - our DA was submitted to Council yesterday. Service from Fowler Homes seems to have been a bit more reassuring and responsive since we started working with the Head Office. However, it has taken more than twice the time quoted to submit the DA.

I have had a look at Council's recent approvals and they appear to be turning them around pretty quickly, some as quick as 2 weeks. I hope that they don't come back with any significant ($$) revisions.

We have been thinking that we might be better off if building does not commence until after Christmas - we'd prefer to not have to pay any progress claims, and hence the bigger mortgage, before they stop for the Christmas break.

It has now been over 5 months since we signed on for a Tender. It is likely that it will be 8 months before commencing construction and probably 15-16 months til handover. This seems like a long time in a period of record low building activity. The actual work gone into all of this so far is probably 1-2 weeks worth, which means that our job sits in queues a lot of the time. There must be a better way.

I found this cool picture of an endless stair case which is akin to where we are right now.

The picture also reminded me of the first verse of Helter Skelter (The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, U2...):

When I get to the bottom
I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and turn
and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Can you tell I'm getting a little bit bored? All of this kind of sums up the experience so far - exciting and monotonous, tantalising and tedious. The builder's paradox.

Sub-Contractor Delays During Colour Stage

We were hoping to have all of the outstanding options finalised by the day after the Colours Appointment (30 Oct), as suggested by the Fowler Homes Colour Consultant. It has now been over a week and we are still waiting on prices for some kitchen upgrades...

Also, it has been over a week since I made my first of three calls to Vaccaro Electrical to make an appointment to do our Electrical Plan. Twice I was told that I would receive a return phone call, on the third I was told that I will get a call on Monday.