We have the paperwork...an interim certificate of occupancy.
Imagine - the key to the door at last.
The floors are polished, the woodwork is complete, the water flows through the taps, the loos flush.
The doors to the nonexistent balcony have been sealed.
There's still stuff happening, like oiling of the architraves and skirting boards, shellacking the banister and balustrade, a few doors to put in place, a few cupboard handles to put on, carpets and window treatments to put in...and dust is still settling, both literally and metaphorically...but it's safe and livable!
We can stay there when we visit and as we do all the fine tuning.
We have stayed there!
A couple of beds have been put into rooms (ok so one is just a mattress on the floor), along with the appropriate accoutrements, and although they are king size beds, they look quite small in the rooms which are enormous - all of them are 5m by 7.2m.
Outside is still rather a mess, but it is pointless doing much out there as we hope to start the next phase shortly, including the verandah surface and beautiful 'fencing' comprising columns and ironwork to match that at the rear of the building.
Most of the tiles of the verandah are broken, and there are numerous 'infills' of various sizes and composition. The aim is to restore as faithfully as we can to original, but it'll have to be replacement tiles.
But hey, there's even outside lights...
...and just look at the front door. There's now locks in place, though we are saving our special brass handles until we finally get to really move in!!
