Here we go again, our Eden Brae Madison is SOLD, now for the next building journey.....

Since early last year I have had the itch to sell and go again, given the recent boost in the local market finally we took the plunge in May and after a couple of open homes, we got a great offer.

Here are the photos from our online advertising of the house, they came out great and I started to doubt my decision to leave my beautiful house!!

 

So now the hunt is on for a new patch of dirt to start again, also the hunt for the rental property too! We are thinking with the prices around here, we have to look towards Schofields to get bang for our buck though! Hubby not so keen on going over that way as it's slowly being developed unlike the major development like The Ponds (Landcom) and The Avenue (Mirvac) the Schofields area is going bit by bit under many developers. Any suggestions on where we should head next??

Loving our new light...

We finally have got around to installing a feature light to our stairs, loving the one we chose....

 

 

 

I also bought these three framed prints on ebay ($40 including postage) they came from Melbourne wrapped in the thinest piece of bubble wrap and some paper, I can't believe they didn't get damaged! They add a nice bit of colour to the walls.

 

We still have a few items being finished as part of our maintenance, yes it's been dragging on for months!, but credit to Eden Brae, they are following up on everything we ask, given that our SS left them shortly after our home was completed!!

Finally some sunshine! Photo update...

Finally some sun has been shining and I could get out to take a photo of our completed landscaping and walls.

We met our next door neighbours (who very kindly came around to pay us their portion of the fence before it even went up!) they are starting their build soon with Allcastle Homes and are a very nice couple with a toddler. It's nice to see lots of couples who built around us are of similar age to us with kids either a little older or younger than ours. I can see all our kids forming neighbourhood friendships in the coming years!

Blinds have been installed (missing the ones that side our alfresco area though!) and we are just waiting on our gates to arrive this week now.

Front stairs are tiled, we are finally getting there.....

We are starting to get there, it's been just over a month since we moved in all of the landscaping is done, the fencing begins next week, waiting to confirm our blinds installation, our SS was back this week to make a list of things to follow up (including lots of external paintwork that wasn't done before handover!) and our front stairs were tiled yesterday.



Here is a photo of the front entry stairs, they still need to be cleaned, but we picked a sandstone looking tile to match the sandstone capping we have, the tiler did a great job! Photos of the inside to come after our blinds are installed....

It's ours, let the mayhem of moving at Christmas time begin!

What a great Christmas present for us, to be moving into our new home, there are still a few things to be done but given the last minute rush to get it finished, I am surprised we had handover before Christmas.

Here are some photos taken today:

Landscapers laid some grass for us today, but the rain delayed the backyard being laid.

Front stairs and letterbox....

The brickies were in today to do the front stairs and our letterbox, we are still holding our breath for the occupancy certificate, without this our lender won't release the final payment. We also need this stupid rain to go away, so the external painting can be completed tomorrow!

Balcony columns.......

Here is a photo of the balcony columns that were installed on Monday, it looks so much better than before!

Still waiting for the site to be cleaned up, the front stairs to be installed and the external painting to happen, but today the inspection by Local Group was carried out, the left hand side retaining wall including stairs was pretty much completed and the painters were back to fix up the stairs.

FINAL INVOICE ISSUED TODAY......

Today our final invoice was issued and has now been sent on to our lender, the carpet was being installed today, the balcony columns and flooring were installed yesterday and just hoping for a break in the weather now so that our front stairs and external painting can begin. The end is near!

The best Christmas present of all........our house!!!

Met our SS on site today, went over the list of things still to be done, all will be completed in the next week with our SS assuring us it's all systems go for a handover before Christmas!

Full credit to him, our home is way ahead of schedule (given our slab was poured on 29/6) and I was not looking forward to waiting until February to get the house. Thank you to our SS for the great job done and for putting up with our constant moaning!

Let's hope now, that all work gets completed and our lender comes to the party also, fingers crossed, but it does make for a very hectic Christmas time!

Here are some photos of the main floor tiling, taken last weekend.

WALK IN PANTRY (which we created by moving our downstairs powder to the other side of the house)



Our balcony columns will finally go in on Wednesday, this will be a nice change from the match stick looking posts that are there at the moment!

Off to see Mary Poppins with my 5 year old daughter tomorrow, hoping we have a great time!

Driveway Part 2.....

Well that looks better now, can't wait for the big pile of rubbish to go.

Spoke to our SS today, the balcony columns will hopefully arrive tomorrow (fingers crossed), cleaners spent the day at the house today, roof service was carried out. Possible walk through on Friday, let's see what happens next.

Finally we have a driveway......

Given the recent crazy weather this has now been delayed by a few weeks but today (Tuesday) our driveway and path were laid, can't wait to see how it looks when they remove the stencil.

We are still waiting on a PCI, apparently there is a delay with the columns for our balcony and there are still a few things outstanding, not sure at this point when we will get the house, was wishing to have a very special Christmas in our new home, but this doesn't appear to be eventuating for us. It could be late January or early February after that! But we just don't know because our SS won't tell us!

Are Eden Brae Homes already on Christmas Holidays........

In the last week I've sent numerous emails chasing up bits and pieces that need to be sorted, the response is always, we'll get back to you (but they don't).

Sorry to have to say it, because after our site meeting with our SS less than a month ago, everything went full steam ahead and all was looking positive, the closer it's getting to Christmas, the less they are saying to us and the less responsive they are becoming, clearly this means we will NOT be getting the house before Christmas, I wish I could have faith in them to do it, because it would be possible, I just don't think their customers are important enough to them (they just have too many!)

I think Eden Brae have already clocked off for the year!

Good luck to all of you other bloggers who are building with other builders who WILL get you in by Christmas, may you all have a very Merry Christmas!!!

That's my bitch over with, thanks for listening!!!!

So close!!!!!! But when will we know the PCI????

In the last couple of weeks, the following has occured:

• Painting finished
• Front doors stained
• Taps, toilets and baths installed
• Door hardware installed
• Electrical completed
• Driveway excavation
• Front facade moulds being finished (today)

We had a meeting on site today with Outback Landscaping, to discuss our front stairs and other things we need to do around the outside, looks like the front stairs and driveway will be done next week, that is if the weather cooperates!

The painters finished last weekend, but unforunately the colours we had discussed with our SS for our staircase did not eventuate, they stained all of the staircase rather than just the handrail as we had discussed! I believe they have been booked to come back and paint the stairs, but I am concerned how this will look now the stain has gone on!

It actually looks pretty good with the stain, but I am conscious that we have chosen a dark carpet and floor tile and wanted to keep the entry area light and bright!

Very happy that I changed my choice of splashback tile in the kitchen, love the way the new ones have come up.

Bathrooms are looking good also now that the tapware and baths are in.

Ensuite bath......

Main bathroom bath......

RIP MY BUDDY BOY, TAKEN ONE YEAR AGO TODAY! WE MISS YOU!

Garage door and more....

On my way out to visit my family today, I decided to swing by the house to see if anyone had worked yesterday (Saturday) to my surprise we had a garage door installed (see pic below) a peek through the window suggests the painters had been back and another peek through the back windows I could see that the kitchen splashback had been tiled.

A quick peek through the window was all I had time for and a thunderstorm was looming overhead so I didn't want to stick around, but very happy with those few surprises anyway.

If our SS keeps up this pace, surely we are a chance for Christmas!

Photo update - tiling, vanities, benchtops and sink, go go go Eden Brae!

We met our SS on site on Friday, to discuss what is still left to be done. He is hoping by the end of next week he can schedule all remaining jobs and set our PCI date.

He will not guarantee that we'll be in by Christmas, but we are one of the close to completion that may just get there (please Angels, please!)

The error made with our skirting and architraves will now be left as is, we have decided it is not worth the delay to the build and given that we are so close, I will just have to grit my teeth and bare it in order to keep the work going!

Here are some photos taken on Friday during our visit:

My undermount kitchen sinks

Kitchen



Ensuite bath and niche

Ensuite shower

Ensuite vanity

Main bathroom

Main bathroom shower

View from our main bedroom (as taken by our 5 year old daughter) so a short person's view towards The Ponds

Skylight installed

Staircase installed