It’s a Pipe Dream until it’s not.
That’s how I feel about our build at the moment. There are times when its reality becomes more vivid…like when we pay a big bill, but until we pay scrutiny fees and the build begins in earnest, it’s a pipe dream. I can’t get my head around the idea that this massive house might rise from the mountainside.
Today was an important day. The final discussions were had with the builder. We have amended the contract as we discussed with him and emailed it off. Once he has made the required costing changes, we will get it back. One of the massive and expensive changes relates to the second storey floor. This is something that has been under discussion since the get-go. The first storey floor is concrete. The second was not going to be concrete and Mike has been concerned about the noise that may carry from Julian’s floor down to ours. Mike has done lots of investigations and YouTube watching about what is effective in reducing noise. In the end he settled for light concrete, but today he got the news that to do that we have to put in, wait for it, an additional THREE piles. Each one at about R20k. We were all horrified, but after more discussion, the builder agreed that it is the one thing he would change about his house. If he knew then, what he knows now about his floor, he would have put in the extra money for it. So that’s one of the things under review right now. He needs to try get us a special on piles – maybe he can wangle 3 piles for the price of 2, like Clicks does when selling soap!
Anyway, Werner, the builder says with no changes, he’ll get this baby up in 180 days. Hopefully the scrutiny fees will come in the next few weeks and he’ll be able to get on with the foundations as soon as the piles are done. After his foundations, with approved plans, we’ll be on our way. That’s how it’s supposed to work.
Watch this space!
Today we walked to the end of Echo and looked at some of the houses that are under construction. This is taken from the final hill before the end of Echo Rd.
Mike and Julian walking a little further down…
And this is looking up at Echo from Simon’s Town Rd below…
We walked to Harbour Bay for dinner…
Then we came home and wrote up the contract.
It’s the end of the week for me. I am off for the weekend with only the offer to keep an eye on email. Yay!
Deuteronomy 7:9
He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes His unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commands.
I love that work ‘lavishes.’ God lavishes His unfailing love…
These are the days.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂
Gym:
An hour walk with Mike and Julian –
Braces:
Day 156