last push

Am so ready to fall into bed. This weekend has been exhausting! We set a cracking pace to get all of the final bits and pieces done to have the real estate photos taken tomorrow (and go on the market!),and we actually got there.

It was one of those days...wake up, put on washing, pick up turf aerator, have a squiz at a show home, get home, hang out washing, clean down outdoor furniture, stain back deck, iron a bus load of washing, lunch, return aerator, buy curtain rail, stain front deck, wash down driveway, move outdoor furniture around some more, vacuum, mop, dinner, hang some pictures, tidy up, clean bathroom...ughh, I'm exhausted just writing about it!

The house looks fantastic. We've never seen it look so good. There are a couple of things we still want to work on but even if we sold tomorrow (how cool would that be?), we've still got time to finish a few small things. I'm so proud of what we've done. It's enormous when you think about it, and I think it shows in the finished product.



I've got more to write but can barely lift my fingers to type so I'll add another post in a few days. Wish us luck! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

good news

Our final inspection yesterday with council was a success. One alteration required (we knew there would be something, but this is an easy fix) and we should receive the subdivision certificate next week.

I had to laugh, after all the debate of access into the stormwater pits including ladders, step irons and australian standards...the council inspector didn't even lift up a grate to have a look inside. Oh well, it's done, it's approved and it's safe for the new owner.

Our house painting also started yesterday and already the house looks transformed. The windows have been primed but not finished. I'll post a photo when the front is completed. It looks fantastic.

The last bit of good news is that the occupancy certificate is official. This was an underpinning piece of paper required from the moving of the house (yes, it took that long!). It ties everything together for the subdivision to go through.

we're only a few weeks away

Not long now and we should be putting the house on the market. While the list of big jobs is diminishing, the small jobs are growing - it's all the detailed stuff that we've been putting off that we need to get around to.

This week I gathered the required info to finish off the occupancy certificate (necessary to move forward with council), picked up the surveys of work completed and with a list of all the construction certificate and development application criteria completed, submitted this to council, lodging the subdivision certificate.

We've got the final inspection with council this week and hoping (and praying) all goes well, it should be through council in 10 days. Judging from prior experiences, we should really allow a good 3 weeks. Then it's onto the bank, then the land and titles office to make it all official - exciting!

Hang on...did I really just say that? A subdivision is what I now consider "exciting"? Is this what life has come too??? A word to the wise: if you really want a life, if you really want to discuss other topics than the state of your house, if you really want a normal social life (that doesn't revolve around trips to bunnings or home world)...don't renovate! Get out now, before it sucks you in!!!

On the upside, the rain has eased and we've been able to get some more prep work done for the house to be painted. See how I did that? I just started talking about renovations AGAIN!!


The staining on the deck has really transformed the look of the house (scroll down for the 'before' picture). We've sanded the house back (which is why if looks a little worse-for-wear) - ready for a fresh coat of paint.

Through the survey drawings we can really see how good our structural engineer, concreter and plumber have been at their jobs. The works-as-executed drawings highlight the original plans against actual work, and they've done a fantastic job under (sometimes) difficult conditions and specifications.

Ok, am going to go and relax now...maybe have a glass of red and watch an episode of Grand Designs. Arggghhh, it's taking me over!!!