23rd April – Thames Water fail the water inspection

16th April – The drains are completed and signed off

13th April – The gas supply is installed

29th March – The exterior barge boards are painted

24th March – Electricity meter is installed

8th March – EDF Energy connect the power

6th March – EDF Energy dig up the road to install the electic supply

24th February – Work begins on the service trenches

19th February – NHBC sign off the roof and I can request the final stage release from the mortgage.

18th February – Work starts on the flat roof

11th February – The tiles roof is complete

30th January – The roofers start tiling the roof and install the Velux windows

27th January – Eco-Redwood come to measure the windows and doors

27th January – I order the Velux windows

25th January – The roofing tiles arrive on site

22nd January – I order the new dining table, sideboard, and sofas to make the most of the January sales

20th January – The ATM machine ate my cash card

19th January – The roofer gets the breather membrane and battening completed, the roof is now reasonably watertight

18th  Maple send a carpenter to adjust the door openings

15th January – The mortgage lender send the surveyor to check the house is there before the release the funds

14th Maple Timber Frame confirm an acceptable solution to the door opening issue

7th January – Maple Timber confirm that a brick upstand has been omitted from the constuction

6th January – I notice the error in the door openings

6th January – I apply for the next release of money

5th January – The timber frame is complete and NHCB issue the next stage certificate.

4th January – The erection team return to site and continue

22nd December – Completion delayed by heavy overnight snowfall

21st December – Shortest day of the year and the frame is delivered and erection begins

25 November – Valuer sent from mortgage company to check foundations are in place

19 November – Stage 02 of the funds are requested

19 November – The foundations are completed and its one year since I first saw the plot

18 November – NHBC issue the first certificate for completion of the foundations

18 November – The steel is complete and ready for the concrete

16 November – Balance of the money for the  foundations is paid

16 November – Abbey Pynford begin adding the steel reinforcement bars

09 November – Abbey Pynford begin the piling

03 November – Construction begins with the foundations

02 November – The council finally approve the reserved matters (after 4 months)

30 October – Met with the neighbour to agree the boundary line

30 October – Site loo is delivered along with the security fence

14 October – Progress is delayed by the neighbour and the party walls agreement.

10 October – A section of the old garage base is lifted

07th October – Applied & paid for connection to mains water

07th October – Applied & paid for the NHCB warranty

22nd September – Removal of the old crazy paving and concrete starts

20th September – I spend all day clearing shrubs and have a few visitors come to see the plot

14th September – The money for the foundations is in my bank account.

9th September – First stage release of £28,000 is requested from Buildstore

9th Septmeber – Building regulations conditional approval is received.

13th August – Second set of building regs docs are delivered to the council.

8th August  – The buildings are rejected

23rd July – Building regulations documents  are sent to the council

July 3rd – Foundation estimate and technical details are received.

June 29th – Approval of the sole plate plan supplied by Maple Timber frame

June 29th – Paperwork and fee sent to Richmond council to discharge the planning conditions

June 23rd – Site meeting with crane hire company and 3 council & highways representatives.

June 16th 2008 – The site investigation takes place.

05th June – The garage is removed from site.

03rd June – The garage is taken down by the ebay buyer

29th May – Sale is completed

29th May – The gargae is sold on e-bay for £460

17th April – Contracts are exchanged

07th April – Legal documents for signing are received

18th February – The offer is accepted, and the legal process begins

17th February – I revise my offer to £82,500

13th February – I make a revised offer of £80,000 but the vendor declines but would accept £85,000

12th February 209 – Valuation from the mortgage lender is received but its £25,ooo under the price I have offered.

28th January 2009 – A decision in principle is received from the mortgage lenders

26th January 2009 – Sale is agreed at £105,000

November – January – The downturn in the housing market makes selling my flat quickly very unlikley so I investigate other ways to arrange the finances, and it seems it can be done by eventually renting my flat when the new build is completed.

22nd Novemeber 2008 – I make a first offer of £100,000

22nd November 2008 – Viewing the land

19th Novemebr- I see the plot advertise in Move To Richmond for £150,000