Variation Update

Received a reply from the builder today regarding the powertainment units ($495 each). They are sticking to their guns regarding the pricing which is more than the sum of the parts. So the contracts administrator has offered to write variation number 3 to change the powertainments units back to 3 double power points and a TV point (family and home theatre)/data point (kitchen). She will also waive the $150 administration charge for this variation.

Don't know if this is a relief or setting ourselves up for problems at construction time.

So that should be all paperwork done now. Just waiting for final plans and addenda with our pre-start (plus 3 variation) changes.

Variations

Dropped off the variations today; both, yes 2 variations already before we even get started. The total damage is $39,494 We are still disputing the cost of the powertainment units being installed. The builder admitted today that it is cheaper to install these however there is a "premium" to use it as the powerpoints look "neat". What a lot of crap!
So we are waiting for the builder to reply to the latest email on this issue.

Packing continued....

Here are more photos of the packing today.

Container partially packed with all cupboards

A slight dent to the stack of boxes

However we did get more boxes today. So the count is about 50 tea chest boxes and numerous small boxes from friends and family.

Bank Problems

One step forward, hit a bump and tumble all the way to the start (by the way you don't get $200) The bank is now stuffing us around. They called yesterday to say that they will not lend us 95%. The max they will lend is 80% which is just $100k short of what we need. So it was a quick call to my good friend K who lives down in Mandurah. The first time that the global financial crisis has affected us.

Let's see what she can do for us.

Packing

OK. So we are now earnestly moving out. Spent the weekend with the brother in law and father in law digging out the shade-sail posts so that we can re-use them once the new house is built. The posts were not just square posts with concrete. They had T-bars at the bottom to ensure that they are not pulled out in a cyclone! BUT that meant that we had to remove all the concrete (and I am sure that they used more than 2 bags in each hole) before we could pull out the posts.

Looks easy....

Our helper!

Houston, we have a problem!

Also loaded the cupboards to be re-used in the garage and games room. I am now wondering if we could have got away with a 20' container as the 40' HC now seems large. With the cupboards standing up, they do not take up much space and the container is looking very empty with all the large cupboards loaded.