Finally the day has come and the house can now depart Hornby Christchurch to Loburn Rangiora, some 46kms.
The house is loaded and ready to transport this Sunday night.
As exciting as it is, not is all that it seems.
We still don't have the building consent, although the council has allowed us to move the house onsite, while we work out the remaining issues.
SIT (Southern Institute of Technology) whom we are buying the house from, demanded the removal no later than the 18th December. I fully understand their situation, the delays we are experiencing are incredible.
However trying to find a house mover this close to Christmas was a challenge. Also we couldn't afford to move the house twice. Our predicament, was that we could move the house to the property, but we are not allowed to build the foundations etc until we have the consent, thus requiring two moves.
Smith Cranes, came up with the solution that they will move the house to the correct position and sit it on blocks. Then once we have the consent, Smith Cranes will return to raise the house to 3m, so we can build the foundations under the house, then lower the house down onto the new foundations. So that's the plan for now.
Now... this is our second attempt at moving the house. It was supposed to be here last night. Might possibly be karma on my part. About 2 months ago I lost my marbles and went totally spastic at the SIT lawyers. I mistakenly paid the deposit directly into their bank account, when it should have gone to my lawyers to pay to them. Anti money laundering rules etc blah blah blah. The SIT lawyers got upset and demanded $250 + gst to verify my id. I wrote back to them saying this is daylight robbery and I'm not paying that. So through the lawyers we sent verified copies of passport, driver's license and our latest rates bills. At this point I was being reasonable and playing the game. However then the SIT lawyers wanted a verified copy of my eftpos card... and if I failed to provide they were going to deduct the fee from the deposit.
Now I lost my cool.
My words were... "do you want to sell the bloody house or not?" "If this shit is going to continue, refund us the deposit and I will go elsewhere" I was advised they couldn't refund the deposit. I then advised them I couldn't work with them any longer, Gary will have to take over, because they are being so ridiculous.
Now just to confirm I wasn't being unreasonable... our lawyers backed me.
Meanwhile Gary was researching JP's so he could take me to have my eftpos card verified. I said to Gary, "you go, but I'm not going". "I'm just not doing it". They are not having it, also there is no name on my eftpos card. Anyone who knows our family, the Atkinson side, Mum's side of our family, we are very stubborn... especially when we are right. I was not going to provide any further id than what was already supplied.
Now for the Karma part. SIT required full payment before moving the house. I instructed our lawyers to pay Wednesday, and SIT lawyers had to provide some paperwork but would do that Thursday morning and said it will be ok. Everyone knew the deadline and the truck was coming Thursday afternoon. Paperwork done, balance payment made, all was done by lunchtime Thursday, and copies of payment sent to SIT lawyers. Well... SIT wouldn't release the house as the payment wasnt showing. Now this is where I wonder if games were being played. We did as requested and bank transfers are pretty much instant nowadays, but SIT lawyers might have afforded themselves the last laugh... payback.
I wasn't advised there was any issues at the time. Smith Cranes arrived to collect the house and were turned away. They were furious... understandably and as was I, once knew. No one phoned me to advise there was anything wrong. I would have been straight back on the phone to the SIT lawyers if I was made aware.
So Smith Cranes are very kind enough to work Sunday night to deliver the house, otherwise a delivery before Christmas just isn't going to work. I'm very grateful.
So fingers crossed for a smooth delivery tomorrow... I'm very excited to get the house... finally.
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