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!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
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He was relieved (somewhat) when I explained that the image on Google is slightly outdated and that we actually have a sealed road all the way to our block!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!
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!
Monday, October 12, 2009
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!
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!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
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!!!!
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!!!!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Big, Big Backflip!
OK, it's been nearly two weeks since the last update-and what a change has occured!
His Lordship and I have decided that we are actually going to buy an acre block out at Winslow ( Lot 6 Church St)! Economics and lifestyle have been the driving force behind the decision...after all, owing 100k less to a bank can be quite an incentive....
The reality is that by moving 15 minutes out of town we will be enabling ourselves to have a much more self sufficient lifestyle- to say nothing of the amount of space we will have!
We are currently waiting on a quote from Rod Stephens- a local builder who specialises in building country homes. We have selected a design which has around 18 sqs of living-smaller than what we are currently in, but more effeciently designed.
Rod's quote will take a couple of weeks to come in, so in the mean time I will be checking out various appliances and options. There is power, but no gas or town water on the block, which will mean rainwater tanks and a septic system.
His Lordship and I have decided that we are actually going to buy an acre block out at Winslow ( Lot 6 Church St)! Economics and lifestyle have been the driving force behind the decision...after all, owing 100k less to a bank can be quite an incentive....
The reality is that by moving 15 minutes out of town we will be enabling ourselves to have a much more self sufficient lifestyle- to say nothing of the amount of space we will have!
We are currently waiting on a quote from Rod Stephens- a local builder who specialises in building country homes. We have selected a design which has around 18 sqs of living-smaller than what we are currently in, but more effeciently designed.
Rod's quote will take a couple of weeks to come in, so in the mean time I will be checking out various appliances and options. There is power, but no gas or town water on the block, which will mean rainwater tanks and a septic system.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Plans perfected?
Although it has been over a week since my last report, there has still been quite a bit happening!
We have visited quite a few display homes and also continued to research which option would be best in regards to our block of land. We had been toying with the idea of an acre out of town ( from $75- $95k)-which enables quite an extensive garden and a certain degree of self sufficiency. However, at this point the 20 min drive in and out of town a few times a day makes this a less than feasible proposition!
Therefore, I have contacted the agent for Marrakai Estate nad confirmed our purchase through them. Our house doesn't settle until December 1st, so we have negotiated a smaller deposit until then.
We have also made an appointment to travel to Ballarat on September 30th to meet with the National Builders representative for costings on changes to the house plan we have chosen. There are a few minor changes which we would like to make, so the cost should be reasonable!
We have been through a number of display homes with various builders- but none can offer the value for money that National Builders can. Symonds comes close, but doesn't quite make it!
We have visited quite a few display homes and also continued to research which option would be best in regards to our block of land. We had been toying with the idea of an acre out of town ( from $75- $95k)-which enables quite an extensive garden and a certain degree of self sufficiency. However, at this point the 20 min drive in and out of town a few times a day makes this a less than feasible proposition!
Therefore, I have contacted the agent for Marrakai Estate nad confirmed our purchase through them. Our house doesn't settle until December 1st, so we have negotiated a smaller deposit until then.
We have also made an appointment to travel to Ballarat on September 30th to meet with the National Builders representative for costings on changes to the house plan we have chosen. There are a few minor changes which we would like to make, so the cost should be reasonable!
We have been through a number of display homes with various builders- but none can offer the value for money that National Builders can. Symonds comes close, but doesn't quite make it!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Firm Foundations
Even though it will be some months before we can commence building, we have still been busy with the whole process! Over the past week we have confirmed that there will be some fill on the land. After speaking to Mark Conlan (the local builder who builds for National Builders), it has been confirmed that we will definately be looking at around $5000 to upgrade the slab.
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