Suspicious soil?

Yesterday, I received a phone call from National Builders Group to say that the results of our soil test were in.......

The company involved with performing the test have listed our block as "P"class-problem block! This is despite the fact that every other block (including the one next door)in the area meets the standard for "M"classification-or a standard slab.

The reason given is that there are"trees on this and adjacent blocks"! Yep, the fact that our block has a mature gum tree at the very front boundary is cause for concern.......the city centric twit who has performed the soil test believes that the fact that our house will be set 20m away from the 7m high tree is still cause for concern!

The funniest quote from the report is that the block is "subjected to unusual moisture conditions"-because we actually get rain here-unlike Melbourne!

The actual readings taken from the report are well within the range for a normal slab-so I have spoken to the local builder who will be actually building the house and he's perusing the report and will talk to the company involved. I have also submitted a soil report from the block across the road (thanks to the builder whom we bought the block from) which shows nearly identical readings and recommends a standard slab.

It will be interesting to see what the outcome is-if it will only cost a couple of thousand for a slab upgrade, then it may be worth it. If it is thousands then we will get another soil report done by a local company who know more about rural areas and go from there!

Freaking out the "city folk"!

Yesterday I received a couple of calls from the engineering firm which will be conducting the soil test on our block-which is quick work I must say!

The gentleman was a bit perturbed at the fact that Google maps shows very little in the way of development at Winslow....and was also a bit nonplussed when I told him that one of the local farmers has placed a couple of head of cattle on the block with a temporary electric wire! Apparently that's not done in the City!!! :-)

He was relieved (somewhat) when I explained that the image on Google is slightly outdated and that we actually have a sealed road all the way to our block!

I discovered last week that Winslow is actually classified in the "hamlet"catergory-how cute!

Ballaarat-here we come!

Tomorrow, His Lordship and I are driving the two hours to Ballaarat to meet with Leah-the Customer Service Rep from National Builders.

While there we will go through the list of changes we will need for the house...and what they will cost! :-)

Friends of our son's are also building with NBG at Winslow-on a block at the other end of the street from us..so it looks like we will be building at the same time!

Last Saturday we took our two young grandsons out to the block to have a rum around. While we were there our neighbour turned up with a rideon mower to mow his block-so we got chatting. Actually, we probably spoke more to him in 15minutes than we have to any of our neighbours here in the last 5 years-that's community in the country for you!

Saga continues....

OK, it now looks like we may be back to building with National Builders Group again! We are still waiting on the quote from Rod Stephens, but have also found out that National Builders will build at Winslow. NBG also offer the option of a waste water treatment system instead of a normal septic-which will mean water for the garden won't be an issue...

WE can get much more house for the money through National Builders and it will also include a double garage and the house will be brick veneer-which all means a better valuation-very important when you are applying for the bank loan!!!!