Lots of frustrations but also lots of updates

Since the last post, much has been completed.  The bank loan was approved but due to a new witnessing rule I had to re-sign my mortgage document which I was able to get it done in Melbourne when I was there for a short break end of last month.

However the frustration part was with my settlement agent, they are so incompetent and unknowledgeable and kept giving me wrong information.  I had to re-do my land transfer documents 4 times..YES 4 times.  It drove me nuts and I ended up scolding them and all they said were "We were merely passing the message".  But the one doing the running about and spending money redoing the documents is ME!!  I even complained to my bank and to my builder, it was all so head wrecking, stressful and a few times I feel like walking out from this deal.  All these stress doesn't help my thyroid situation *arrghh*

Anyway my land transfer document is finally approved and I have a final settlement date which is 30th Sept but I still have to run to the bank to make sure the remaining settlement fee is transfer to the settlement agent to sort it out with the developer.  Honestly I don't feel the settlement agent deserves the fee that I need to pay them but don't think there is anyway of running away from that.

I hope my next update will definitely be on the build process. It has been a long and tedious process in putting down the deposit for the land to finally settling it, the whole process had taken a long 11 months.

Meticulous

Given my thyroid issue, I should try to take thing easy but because of this house build, I find I had became more meticulous than usual.  I usually things go easily but everytime I get new documents from the builder, I will always spot errors.  Although I am glad I am so careful but on the other hand I wish the builder will stop making the same mistakes over...it is tedious to vet documents as well ok?

Boohoo

Now that the bank loan stuff is almost complete, the bank is working with my solicitor to transfer the ownership of the land to them...boohoo...debt is mine but asset is not...sigh.

Signing my life away

Didn'r realized had not posted for so long.  Still in the midst of sorting out the building contract and the financing.  Finally sign on the dotted line today for my bank loan and thus for the next 20 years, I will be scrimping and saving just so I can pay off my debt!

FINALLY

My land title is FINALLY issued today, now on to the building contracts and then the bank loan and the house build...yeah!

Positive Sign?

Got an email from Stockland on potential land title issuance and the date is to be on my birthday itself.  That will be fantastic news...I could do with more good news and positive signs in my life!

Anyway looks like most to-do work items are done and the land will be pass over to the land surveyor for surveying this week, if all goes according to plan then title will be issue in a week.

That's when the fun begins I believe and for me will be a new chapter in my life as I will then be pushing through with my bank loan (perhaps I should even start working on that prior to the land title - provided the builder is able to submit to me the finalized figure for the house build) Note to self : CONTACT BUILDER! to chase them for the finalized build cost since I already finalized all my changes 2 months ago!

Then after my bank loan is secured and started on payment mode, I can quit my currrent job and go for a new role that will support my mortgage better.

New Pics

So happy when I checked on nearmap and saw that new aerial pics were taken.  Though it was taken at least half a month back and just posted but I am quite happy to see that this time round the resolution is so much more sharp, could be a change in the weather but it must be taken on a good day!

The pic for my plots seem clearer now, can see a roundabout diagonal to the house next to mine and there is a road divider in front of mine.  The thing is I do know there is a divider in front of my house but I don't recall a roundabout but I think my house is angled in such a way that it won't be affected by the headlights of cars.

Anyway, here's the pics, 1 is taken on 14th March and the other is the most recent, from 20th April.

Section 70A

Received a package by post from Stockland, asking me to sign a document agreeing that since the plot of land is location next to a regional park, I agreed that the government can conduct some activities there, such as spraying of chemicals for agricultural protection, etc.

The agreement will be put in my land title showing I have agreed to the terms and conditions.  Seems like a no brainer as everyone will sign for sure.  No one will stop the goverment from protection of wildlife but then I guess Australia is just being safe and do not want to be sue for anything.

Anyway I thought I will just get it sign and mail out but I totally forgot about it until an hour back or so.  Will get it signed and witnessed and off it will go to Australia.

Kitchen Colors

As you read in the previous entry I have changed the cabinet colors from Raw Linen to Oyster Linea.  Here's 2 pictures to show the differences.  Which one do you like better?

Raw Linen

Oyster Linea

More Color Changes

After half a month, I have decided to make some changes to the exterior colors.  Exterior will be more greyish tone and the interior will be more earth tone.

Front Elevation

- Gutter and Fascia : Colorbond Surfmist

- Downpipes : Colorbond Shale Grey
- Render : Colorbond Shale Grey
- Garage Door : Colorbond Surfmist
- Front Feature Wall : Solver Russet Red
- Entry Door : Solver Russet Red

- Rear Garage Door : Colorbond Surfmist

Laundry

- Wall Tile : Change from Matt Alabaster to Flutes Creama

WC

- Wall skirting will be Lanka Cinnamon, same as the floor tile. 

Kitchen

- Cabinets : Change from Laminex Raw Linen to Laminex Oyster Linea.

Surfmist

Shale Grey



Lanka Cinnamon



Oyster Linea

Exterior Color Selection

Although nothing had happened so far but thought it is time to share my color selections.  Basically I am pretty happy with my interior colors and matches but I am still thinking of my exterior colors.

This is a photo of the facade of a display home which is similar to the one I am having, just to give you a comparison.  Forgive me for the dark photo because it was so hot and the lighting is so screwed!

So these are my selection :

Harmony Roof - Flint (Greyish Black)

Render - Colorbond Dune (color seems grey but some said it is a bit pinkish under the light)

Feature Wall - Colorbond Dune with 50% more intensity meaning a darker Dune

Gutter and Fascia and Downpipes - All in Dune as I want it to be the same as the render color

Garage Door is in Georgian Design and painted Colorbond Paperbark (Thought it look creamy but appears to be quite dark cream and people and saying Paperbark and Dune don't go well together)

My entry doors are double Madison 114 model and will be painted in Colorbond Paperbark as well.

My 2 course bricks around the house are Loogana Limestone

Driveway paving and around the house - Natural brick paving with charcoal border

There's all for the exterior, will share more of the interiors later.

Land Title Delayed

Haven't posted for a while and that's because nothing is happening.  I just came back from a trip to Perth hoping to see my plot of land but was told other than tradesmen, there are no access roads for others.  Apparently the developers are in the process of laying down sewage and electrical cables underground and so the land titles cannot be issued and without land titles, I can't get any building license, I can't get bank loans, my builder can't inspect my site so everything is at a standstill.

Nonetheless I can show here the aerial view of my plot of land.  First one was taken on 8th Jan and the 2nd on 15th Feb.  You can basically see some digging done around my plot of land.  It is kind of hard to tell you which one is my plot but it is there in these pictures.

During my trip to Perth, I also managed to choose the colors for most of the fixtures in my house, in fact it took me 5 hours to complete that but that's quite a short time compared to some who does it over 1 day.  Anyway I have taken some pictures of my selections and will post them when I download them.  It is hard to see how the overall house will look like but I hope all the colors will come together and the entire color scheme is pleasing to everyone's eyes.

Holiday Break

No update since I emailed them my new changes and comments.  Also no comments from my email to them giving them my trip dates to Perth.  So just going to go ahead and plan my roadtrip without booking any accomodation first and when the builders are back from their holidays, will work my roadtrip into the schedule required of me.

Somehow not used to the idea of some people taking a month away for holidays.  Are we too work oriented or simply doesn't know how to take things easy?

Floorplan Update

Finally after sending the builder some of my proposed plan, I got back an updated plan which is more to my liking BUT doesn't know how much it is going to cost me since they never sent me the quotation sheet with it.  Anyway I had to ask for it and I was fortunate that I asked early or they will be away for a month for the Christmas break.

Anyhow I am not posting it cos I have yet to scan it and also it is only near perfect...BUT not perfect so there are some more changes I am making.  They forgot something I wanted to change and I saw something that needs changing after looking at the redrawn plan.

Latest Updates All In One

Got my land contracts from the land developer via post, after which the Conveyancer (aka lawyers) sent me an appointment letter for me to sign which will officially appoint them as my settlement lawyers.  That is so done and over.  The said appointment letter is currently on its way by post to Singapore.

Looks like very soon there won't be alot of things to hide from my parents as they have started seeing documents coming from Perth to me.

That aside, my current worry is that I have gotten my signed land contracts and it is indicated that the contract is tentative while pending my FIRB approval within 21 days which is fast approaching but I have yet to hear from FIRB...makes me wonder if I have written the wrong email or they have type the wrong email....

But that hasn't stopped me from looking around for bank loan options.  Although someone is working on getting some loan approval for me from banks in Australia, I happened to find out some local banks do allow me to take a loan from them for a property in Australia...meaning I pay in my home currency but there are so much conditions and requirements that I am not sure if I will meet them....decisions decisions.

And a few weeks back I saw a floorplan from the builder which I like very much, very minimal changes if they had proposed that plan to me and thus I went back and forth with the builder and they asked me what changes i want to see from the one they proposed to me...LOTS and major the way I looked at it but since they asked for it, I finally sent them over.  They have yet to get back to me with whether my changes are possible and if they can be accomodated and what is the additional cost to me?  Personally, most of the changes I made were to make sure I make full use of the house orientation and locate where some places are supposed to be located..my point of view of course.

So now, I wait! Waiting for the re-quote or revised floor plan from the builder, waiting for response from FIRB (UTMOST IMPORTANCE!), bank loans options and then after that wait some more for the title to be issued but prior to that, I need to wait for the right time to make a trip down for pre-start.

Art & Craft Project

So, as I was doing some re-designing of the floorplan so first of all, I copied out many sets of the drawings that was given to me by the builder.

Then I started to cut and paste and change the layout a bit, this is my art & craft project work in progress.

Land Contracts

Not much going on since the last update since paperwork were submitted and I was purely waiting for updates on the land and FIRB etc.

Yesterday I received an email from Stockland confirming that my land contracts are completed, yippee. 1 down more to go.

In the process of getting some documents over to the builder so the Finance guy can help me to submit for pre-financing approval.  Lots that need to be done but not able to as I am down with rashes.

That aside, I have also being busy re-designing the floorplan, will show you all in the next post.

Delay Delay

Had a meeting yesterday with the builder's representatives who was in town over the weekend.  Only then did I find out the FIRB document that I submitted 10 days ago were not submitted at all due to some stickers that was not removed on the original document.  So I am definitely not going to receive an approval within the next 1 month, 2 weeks delay without notification.  Hate it.

Anyhow, the only progress is probably seeing the entire plan drawn out and the actual house plan.  HOWEVER, looks like what I wanted originally to build did not come out at all in the drawings.  They had given me a modified plan of a display home they have.  The consolation is this display home plan is actually one of the plan I like from their range.  The build cost is horrifying though, total at this moment is AUD 18,000 out of what I will like the total cost to come up to.  House is also much smaller than I want it to be.  There is a remark on the drawing saying the house cannot be more than 50% of the total area which is like total waste of some land I have at the back so I have a smaller home than I wanted but a huge backyard (Which is not a downside given that I think a huge backyard will be a big plus to tenants with kids who want room within the house area to let their kids roam safely).  I think I will need to do some research on that more because I do see some houses with only a 1m lengthwise backyard compared to me having like 7m lengthwide backyard.

Also, how can a letter box cost AUD 400 to build when it is a simple brick like structure which is nothing fanciful? On top of that a clothesline for AUD 435? Arrghhh this is just so weird.  Thinking of taking that out and doing it myself.

I can definitely think of items I want to take out, like keeping the passage openings 1c shorter rather than pay AUD 2000 to up 1c. Makes no sense either.  Removing of the funky windows they are designing in the study room will save me AUD 516.  At the end of the day, the study faces the side of the house, I don't need the windows to look good there and being a study, I want lots of lights coming through versus the funky windows that will not fully allow the lights to stream through.

Once I managed to scan it, I will try to post it for everyone to see and also hopefully post it on some forum to let some experts tweak the design a bit for me.

Land Contract

Signed the land contract with Stockland today after reading all the conditions last night and emailed it to my agent for her follow-up with her Perth counterparts. 

The document stated how to ensure settlement and some of the estate's design convenants all of which I am no issue with.  In fact with this estate being more of a sustainable estate, I am surprised to find that the design convenants did not cover much green or eco-friendly features.

With the FIRB document and this land contract signed, there is still a 40 page legal document to finish reading but as it is not required to be signed and just for my own information, I can take my own sweet time finishing it.  Hate legal lingo. 

Next up will be waiting for FIBR to be approved within 30 days and I will be one step closer to having my own property.

How I Ended Up With Heart?

So, I have been contemplating buying a plot of land to build a house in Perth since I returned from a trip to Perth in September 2009.

Went to some Perth builder's office locally and they were then selling some house and land packages in Breeliar, Meve Estate.  The location was however not that attractive to me and despite them spending alot of time trying to persuade me the area is nice, I just wasn't that convinced.  That was December 2009 then.

Fast forward to September 2010, the same builder whose office I visited in 2009, came here to see some customers and I took the chance to meeet up with him again.  Apparently he has my past visit on record, eerie but can't fault him for good record taking.  This time he is promoting an estate in Thornlie.  Again not my ideal location but the visit really revived my interest to build a house in Perth. 

Thus, from mid September to early October, I was visiting property websites everyday to see if new land is release.  My ideal location is Canning Vale where I am most familiar with. But land there is expensive, way out of my budget but I refused to give up.

In late September, I chanced upon an advertisement by another builder from Perth which has set up a local branch here.  I make an appointment to meet up with the agent to discuss about my options but it is clear the agent is not quite certain and serious about my interest but we remained in close contact with one another.

Then came October, I started to consider other locations around Canning Vale.  It so happened that there is this humongous piece of land just 5 mins drive away from Canning Vale that was being developed and market.  This estate is call New Haven in Piarra Waters. Sounds heavenly already.

On 14th October, the land developer released a new plot of land in the New Haven estate, called the Heart stage. Immediately my agent started to perk up and asked if I am interested as usually by the time they found out about new releases, most would have been sold out by then. 

So I took a look at some of the plots in this new estate, maybe I am fussy but in my heart, I still don't really fancy the location but I kept telling myself if I don't grab this opportunity, I may have to wait for many more months before new estates are released elsewhere.  So after much consideration, I asked my agent to put in my interest on a particular plot of land and that was 15th October.  On 16th October, I went to the local office and paid my deposit to secure the land. 

On 18th October, I was notified that the plot of land that I wanted had been reserved in my name.  Wonderful! 

There are more paperwork to be completed before I can finally say I own this land and start the building process.  I signed the document for FIBR yesterday, dated 20th October 2010 (i.e. 20102010) and I see this as a very positive sign of good things to come.

I hope to continue with this blog until the end of the build.  So keep watching this space!

Build With Heart

Why Build With Heart? Simply because I can't put the image of a heart shape to represent L.O.V.E in the blog.

Basically it is because the location where I am building a house is in the Heart stage release of an estate and also in a way, I am building it with all my heart and soul and money of course.  Aptly named Build With Love!