s the title says, today we signed the contract and now all we have to dois pay for it, perhaps we need to plant a money tree?
Over three hours of pouring over documents and comparing them to our lists of requests, emails and the actual drawings. None of the things we had missed in tender and asked for immediately the next morning after the tender were in the contract nor were they in the drawings. Start Post Contract Variation 1.
A few things needed to be cleared up. Firstly, when I asked to upgrade the paint. It seems that I only asked for the paint on the walls to be upgraded, not the paint on the skirts, architraves and doors. Ummm?? Ok, Add that in.
Changing the window in the Alfresco to timber, yes they let me do it BUT the cost was the same as for the DOUBLE glass timber doors opening into the other side of the alfresco. That I just can't quite understand, but I am not going to quibble given that they let me change it.
The bigger windows in the lounge were not in the contract or the drawings and the doorway that we asked to be moved was not there either.
If you read this and have not been to contract, make sure that you check all specifications to the drawings. Whilst the written word takes precedence over the drawings, in a lot of cases the contract refers to the drawings. My DH is tall, so we asked to have the showers set higher on the walls and the benches at a minimum of 900 high everywhere. In theory, no need to state that in the contract, as it will be shown on the drawings. Kitchen was fine but the ensuite/bathroom were all left at 865. Ensuite shower was higher, but the bathroom shower was still at 1800. I realise that a lot can get changed on site if you ask for it but I would rather that it was right in the plans so that it does not have to be redone later.
We tried to get a copy of the contract documents prior to signing for our solictior to look at, and whilst PD would give us some parts including the HIA contract and extra schedules, we could not get the full set until contract presentation today. So after discussions with PD, our solictior requested that PD acknowledge that we had not had the benefit of legal advice, so we could take the contracts to him this afternoon for him to review and not loose our cooling off period. So, after we signed, we took them straight to him.
I hope that he is happy with everything because, quite frankly, it's been fun but now it's a bit been there, done that, and glad it's over. I really do not want to start again with someone else, so hopefully we get the big thumbs up. Then a start sometime in November and 242 days later, a house!
10 comments:
oh contract is a big day isn't it? I get a headache thinking of ours. Our first CSC quit the afternoon before, she had bits of paper here and there I had mountain of emails and notes and going through everything whilst making sure nothing was forgotten was a BIG job!
You must be pleased it's over!
hehehe about the paint, well actually it's not funny at all. If you ask to upgrade the paint it should be the whole lot. We were going with a vinyl wrap kitchen in gloss and our first csc only quoted for the cupboard doors, she forgot to do the end panels and back of island......????
Pleased you were able to make the changes you wanted to. Hope that all goes well with Solicitor and Contract.
Please send a cutting from your Money Tree my way ;-)
CDB,
congrats guys at making it through the contract appointment and getting them to let you take the contract to your solicitor, thats rather novel.
It is rather a harrowing experience, especially the pause after you leave the PD office, have we forgotten anything. We just sat in the car looking out the window lol.
Well done.
R&C
What, What, What?? This can't be happening!!! I feel so bad for you! And can't believe you have the mental stamina left to stay up and post a blog!ts Your contract day is the day that I was expecting, but didn't actually get. I was hoping that seeing as our contract day ran fairly smoothly that maybe PD had got their act together and all would be smooth sailing for you!
1) You chose Chalkdust for your skirts and doors didn't you? As did we...but we were told that this was an upgrade colour- and certainly paid heaps for it!
2)Window to dining/alfresco put us back around $900 ...similar?
3) Get all the height changes you want put in the contract and on the plans now. That way, if you can't get to the site at around the time those things are being done, you've got something to fall back on if they do it wrong.
4) good on you for getting PD to give you at least part of the contract to look over..we got a big fat no when we asked for that one!
5)How did you go with being able to extend the garage and extra site costs?
6)242 days!!! What the...? Are they doing all your flooring?
Fingers crossed for you that your solicitor is happy...and most importantly, you and DH are!
Wow H2B, I can't imagine trying to work this all out on my own. Our CSC is actually really good and has made it fairly easy. All my stuff agreed with hers, basically the drafting was wrong and she did not have prices from estimating.
The paint was a bugger as it was an upgrade of almost 2K so we thought it was the whole house. Nope, another $800 for the skirts etc.
R&C, we actually thought the pub sounded really good but DH had to go back to work, I went and had a bex and "good lie down"
Hi K,
1 yes,we had chosen chalkdust -not aware that it was an upgrade colour? I have to get back onto the CSC tomorrow as the paint upgrade says "low sheen", sorry guys, GLOSS is what I asked for.
2 The timber double doors dining/alfresco ~$850. Replace alum window next to the bifolds from the promo with timber window,~$850 go figure? I give up!
3 We got 1.3m in the garage and the site costs are because we have two retaining walls, one each side. We are basically building the entire length of our block. There is one wall for cut that starts at the front on one side and another on the other side from mid way to the back for the fill. It's only 1.2m over the block but it's almost the whole area.
4 We have extended the Illoura to just over 40Sq. Base days are 161 Add 51 for our variations at tender, Add 28 for christmas. The PCV we put in for the timber window swap ADDED 2 DAYS to the contract time as well, so now 242 days!!
No they are not doing any flooring, we can't afford their prices!
Hi J,
Ok, that makes more sense to me now, sorry to fire off so many questions at you, but I was so peeved for you!!!
Aren't u semi-glad the contract day is over now!? hehe now u just have to WAIT for the house to be built...right...hehe
Don't worry if you have missed anything (which I'm sure you haven't!) nothing a little PCV won't fix...hehe...we had 6 pcv's (plus 5 bv's!) :S
P.s. Like h2b, can I please have a cutting from ur money tree too?!
hmmmmm, that is about the 4th time I've read the Chalk Dust is an upgraded colour. We are also having chalk beige and dust and we weren't charged a thing for it.......we also asked for gloss and our colour selection says Wattyl Easyflow Gloss.....hope it's right :-)
Hi Newbies, If I could find a money tree everyone would be in line for cuttings! Yes, now we wait AGAIN lol!
H2B, I don't understand this paint upgrade stuff at all. I was told that the paint upgrade means that they spray the undercoat and first coat and roller the second, so it is a better finish. I hate painting! so if this means it will be a bit longer before we paint again, I am all for it.
Hi you guys. First time I have accessed your blog. Will add it to my list and watch your progress.
Your fun is about to begin, and I am very impressed that you are fronting up for your 3rd build. Either very confident, or a little mad...!!! Good to be a little both I think.
Would love one of those trees....
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