The beginning

I had the best phone call today from the bank. My loan has been approved! This means everything is underway! No more hoping this is going to happen. It is happening!

Now, I just have to wait for Simonds to pour the slab.

The other exciting new is that I went to 'The Colonial Lantern' shop in Ballarat. They told me about this wonderful thing called DIY lighting. She showed me a DIY pendant kit (see picture below). You just screw it into the existing light fixture and voila' - instant pendent!

Now I can't wait to have a ceiling and add hanging lights myself.

Do It Your Self DIY        http://www.oriel-lighting.com.au/ola2008cat/catsections/ola_diy/index.html

Signing in blood?

Yesterday was the day - the day of signing!

So much was running through my head (or should I say still running through my head); why didn't I study law or something so I could understand the contract wording; what happens if house prices drop and I'm left with a larger debt than the house is worth; what happens if I can't afford the loan repayments, bills, rates, petrol and food (can I eat less?); what if I chose a bad combination of colours; what if ... what if... OMG!

My solicitor, BJT Legal, were wonderful. They sat down with me and listened to me as I asked them questions about the contract (I used a lot of sticky notes). And after that, I felt much better. After all, I am doing this for me - the next step in living my life as an independent woman!

By the time I got to Simonds to sign contracts, most of my anxieties had receded. The Simonds' Rep, Danny, joked about how I had to sign until my hand cramped and I couldn't sign any more. But I was surprised at how easy it was to sign that much money away - lol - no cramps in my hand. I just hope I don't get cramps in my stomach from regret.

Who knows what the future holds. I know that I'm excited. I know that lots of things will happen (both good and bad) between signing and moving in. But I will move in, and life will begin. And that brings a smile to my face! 

The Floor Plan as promised



Here is the place I will call home.
The Crestwood, by Simonds Homes, was the plan that caught my eye.
And lucky for me they had a display home in the local area.
The only problem was that they built the upgraded model - which I didn't like.
The upgraded version expands the living room by another 3 metres (estimated). However, they only extended the house by about 2 metres and took the extra metre from the bedrooms and family area. This made the bedrooms too small (just over 3 metre) with no room for a queen bed. This upgrade also added another room between ensuit wall and bedroom 2.

My Crestwood floor plan



This picture shows my wooden floor area down the hall, kitchen and dinning areas.

It shows the carpet area to bedrooms, other hallway, family room and living room.

I like my version better.

I added a wall with double sliding doors to the living room.

It was surprisingly cost effective considering I now have another enclosed room (under $1100).

I also changed the bedroom 3 robe to mirrored sliding doors so that it gives more room for a queen size bed (under $600). I upgraded my sliding door to a 3 panel sliding door through one of their promotions.

I moved the kitchen island bench to the wall (for free) so that the kitchen is not walk through.

I love looking at my plans. It makes me so excited.

Even better is to drive past my block and see all the other houses starting to go up.

I have neighbours! (Well across the road).

Now, driving past any new houses being built is exciting.

My conversations are now about tiles and carpet, feature walls and window blinds!

(OMG, that sounds pathetic)

Next, I sign contracts! I'm sorry to the guy on Sunrise yesterday that was encouraging first home buyers to 'go on strike' and not buy/build home. I can't wait! I've waited for life to be right - with the market to be well priced and the right guy on my arm - it is never the right time.

So I decided to do what is right for me - to build!

Now the long awaited photos!

This is my block, my tree, my dirt, my grass and my back neighbours.

It's mine! All 658m2 of it!

Me at the Simonds Home Gallery in South Melbourne.

Out side colours (In order from left Woodland grey, Monument, Dune, Woodland grey match for Garage)

Unfortunately I was too excited to get a photo of the bricks and roof tiles.

I chose;

Barramundi for roof tiles.

Homestead Red bricks for the house.

Woodland grey for Garage door, aluminium windows, fly screens and doors.

Monument for guttering, down pipes, meter box.

Dune for fascia and under eaves.

These are the power points and light switches that I chose.

The slimline cost $15 each. I put 2 of them in the kitchen because they are located next to the bench.

For the standard option, I had the choice of 4 door handles for the front door. Square or round handle, shinny or matte. I hated the thought of having to clean the shiny version, so matte it was. And I liked the round handles.

Keeping with the round theme, I chose these round handles for all the internal doors (standard option).

For the Bathroom, Ensuit and Laundry cupboards I chose Asian Night for the doors and Cashmere Shimmer for the bench top.

The walls throughout the house is Bliss. I wanted to have half-strength Hogs Bristle (which is a Dulux colour). My uncle is a painter and has painted his house and lots of others in this colour. It looks great, but Simonds only use Haymes paint. Bliss is a very close match, so I'm happy.

These are the colours for my kitchen bench. Oiled soapstone for the bench, Dawn for the cupboards, and Feldspar Shimmer for the skirting board. With the Bliss colour on the walls, I think it looks quite good. I also have Kempas floor boards and Granite colour carpet (No photo yet, sorry)

My front door. Knock, knock!

My internal doors!

I chose a round bath (upgraded to 1800mm) and round taps.

I chose Cove style for my cornices. They were standard and nice enough.

Now, hopefully put it all together to create a wonderful and stylish home!

I can't wait to show you the real thing.

(Plans to come next)



The Simonds Gallery

With butterflies in my stomach and my legs, mum and I headed to the Simonds Gallery in South Melbourne. I was so excited that we got there an hour early. A seek-peek at the gallery made me smile and I patiently waited for my appointment to start.

Eventually when the clock ticked over, I went to see the 'Electrical Lady' who talked me through all the opinions I had. I liked that I could move lights and power points for free. I added two security lights to outside to light up the yard at $180 each. I added an outdoor power point for my fishpond for $112. I was disappointed that I had to pay for the wiring for the phone line at $341.

Next was my colour appointment. This 'Colour Lady' was also very helpful and nice. She walked me through all the options I had and the upgrades I could pay for. Because I'm on a budget, I decided not to upgrade if possible. There was lots of choices in most areas, especially the laminate and bench tops. The only upgrades I made were for convenience rather than for decoration. I picked a solid wooden door for $742 so people can't look into my house. I chose locks for the bathroom and toilet doors ($22 each) because I hate going to homes and feeling like people are going to barge in during inconvenient times. I added towel racks to both bathroom and ensuit ($174) and toilet roll holders ($115) for obvious reasons. I loved the free up-grade choices. I got to pick lots of free items such as higher ceilings, pot draws, above bench cupboards, larger laundry cupboards and above cupboards, three-panel sliding door, etc. I also love being in a regional area, all flyscreens are free, even to my up-grade sliding door.

At this point, I felt like the 'Little Engine that could'. With such a big hill of excitement and the unknown in front of me, I was on a high. "I think I can, I think I can". Up and up. So exciting....

But there is always something... I hate that something that appears to dampen the mood! My something was the 'Flooring Guy'! And he definitely was 'flooring'. My heart sank with ever word he uttered.

"Extra costs for wooden floors as they went over the 50m2 that you are allowed...."
"Extra costs for carpet as they went over in the 100m2 limit..."

So much for my budget!

What made it worse was that the carpet I could choose from was very poor quality, felt rough and looked awful with barely any colour choices. If you are building with Simonds, be prepared and willing to pay extra for good carpet. Holding back tears, I tried to work out what I could afford. The 'Flooring Guy' only made things worse. He was so confusing as he talked about prices and kept hiding the full cost. In the end I chose upgraded carpet that felt alright but wasn't quiet the colour I had in mind.

As the day ended, I didn't feel quiet as excited. I don't think the 'Colour Lady' ever has many people almost in tears by the end of their Gallery appointments. (Thanks a lot, Flooring Guy!).

Over all, I was happy with my choices. I can't wait for the next step. I can't wait to see the finished product.

The waiting place

I grew up in an unconventional family. Not the typical mother, father and siblings. As the only child from a 'broken home' when I was at Primary school, I always watched other families, jealous of the bonds they had. It seems silly with all the single parents around now, that 30 years ago, one-parent house-holds were rare.

Never-the-less, it wasn't that I was neglected of love. Quite the opposite in fact. My mother and grandparents spoilt me with love and affection, and I never felt the need to rebel or act-out. But when it came to imagining my life as an adult, I dreamt of falling in love, getting married, building a house and having babies.

Turning 31 and still being single was not the ideal life I planned. And, for the last few years, I have been waiting for Mr Right to come along so life could begin - The waiting place!

"Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow, or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting."(Dr Seuss, Oh, The places you'll go). Including me!

Many people make new-year's resolutions and don't keep them. For 2011, my resolution was to stop waiting, stop searching the waiting place for the Mr Right that should be there searching and waiting for me. So I decided to build a house and make a place where my life can begin - make a home. No more waiting around!

By the middle of January, I had made an offer on a block in Ballarat, and contracts were signed!
By the end of January, I had found the house that I wanted to build with Simonds - The Crestwood.
By the middle of February, I owned the land - never thought I would get that excited over dirt!

And now, in the middle of March, I have an appointment with the Simonds Gallery to pick colours and materials for my house.

Best thing about doing this by myself is that I don't need to negotiate with anyone. If I want a red feature wall, no-one is going to debate the issue with me. I get my way every time.