Chop Chop

It's been a roller coaster week.  We have been trying not to get too depressed around the prices we've received.  But last night we got through some feedback on costs savings from 2 of the builders.

One builder has pulled out.  He has just won 3 jobs and wouldn't be able to start our job until March.

The good news is that the 2 builders came back with a bucket load of cost savings based on the list we sent them.  It really cheered us up to see that we are now getting very, very close to a price we can move on.  One of the big changes we've instituted is to remove the area along the side where we were building out to the boundary.  This is the wall that has caused all of the angst with the next door neighbour.  We have looked at how to redesign so that we work within the existing structure of the house.  It means a smaller laundry and cellar.  It also means the Butler's Pantry is really more of a walk in pantry.  The ensuite has changed (but I actually prefer it) and strangely the Walk in Robe gets bigger!  Overall, we are quite happy with the outcome and if it saves us money and we no longer need to deal with the neighbour then win-win.

After conversations with the architect today we have narrowed our selection down to one builder and we're now going to work with him to whittle the last few dollars out of it.

And guess what?  He can start at the end of October.  I can't believe that my October plan might actually come to fruition.

Ch-Ching

Tender quotes came in on time last Friday afternoon.  Within a short space of time our architect sent us a comparison work sheet for all of the costs.  After I fell off my chair we then looked at them in detail!

Unfortunately, despite all of our cost cutting measures during the remainder of the design process, the prices have come back in the same as the preliminary costs.  Not quite what we had in mind.

So the process begins to shave at least 20% off the prices to enable us to start.  I guess at least with some real costs in front of us it has galvanised us into action around making some key decisions that will influence the price.  We're trying very hard not to compromise the overall design but it's proving to be quite tough.

We now have quite a long list of items that is going to be presented back to the builders around cost savings.  This will certainly work out who is keen for the work.  Stay tuned.

Update

This is the last week for our builders to work on their tender pricing.  It's been busy having various builders and their sub-contractors running through our house.  Great that they are taking the time, so hopefully that bodes well for the final prices.  I have a number in my head and I'm just praying that the total price is close to that.

As for the neighbour....her objection was bundled up and sent to the Council as per procedure.  There has been a bit of back and forth with the Council and now we sit back and wait.  Will hopefully have their decision by the end of next week.


Below are some 3D images of what our eventual house will look like externally.

And no, we don't own a Porsche.  Just the architect's sense of humour.

View from the side.  This side faces North.

This would be the view if you were standing in our neighbour's yard (not the objecting one) and there was no fence between us.

And this is the other side.  Again, this doesn't show the fence, although you can see the bit of wall at the front which is the contentious point with our neighbour on this side.  What this does show is our long glass window in the open plan area that also doubles as a splashback.  We will be able to look out onto some lush foliage and a boldly coloured fence.  Just need to pick a colour!

And finally an elevated shot depicting the rear of the house.  You can see our garage door which is accessed via a ROW.