Bank number. Like many, I was confused by the messages about the bank number we use to pay the special levy. None of us want our hardearned (or hard-saved) money to finish up in Manila or Mexico! Shane Browning of Munro Benge informs me that it is easy -- just use the same number that you use to pay your regular levy. If you do it online, that number is most probably there in your payees list, filed as HG levy or something similar. At Munro Benge they will sort out what money goes where, though it might be a good idea to write "special" in the reference column next to your apartment number.
Damien has a birthday on Saturday! Don't ask me which year, as I do not know his age. But I know we all wish him well. Bernadette has already given him a cake.
Carpets. Ken is working on a schedule of decant and resettlement of apartments vs the weather remediation timeline. Some coincide well, while other apartments will have to wait to have their weather tightness fixed, which means that it might not be a good idea to put in new carpet right away. Who wants stains on their lovely new flooring? But living on a bare concrete floor is not appealing, even if just for a short time. As I suggested before, mats or rugs could help cover the bare concrete floor.
Those who are keeping their carpets fulltime might want to cut away the stained portions (with a Stanley knife, not with scissors, and perhaps better done professionally). Then something could be laid in the gap after the edge has been trimmed and made secure with some kind of transition strip. Ceramic tiles are great. That is what we did with the stained portion of the hall carpet in our old house. It looked great, was easily wiped clean, but was expensive. There are also carpet tiles, which can be bought from Bunnings. The 50 x 50cm tiles, either brown or charcoal, cost about $7.50 each, are easy to lay, can be wiped clean, and are easily taken up and replaced if they get damaged.
If the carpet you are having replaced is still in reasonable condition, you might want to consider donating it to a charity. Sally Schoon will help you with this if you are interested. As she writes, it is also possible to give curtains to deserving people, via a group that mends and insulates them.
Curtains can often be re-usable when a shareholder is planning to replace them with state of the art window coverings. Charities especially one like the Sustainability Trust's Curtain Bank insulate donated curtains to give to low-income families towards a healthy home throughout the greater Wellington catchment.
Their website has extensive and excellent information:
www.sustaintrust.org.nz
The Sustainability Trust address together with a recycle depot for donation is 2 Forresters Lane, off Tory Street (opposite Bunnings).
Leaving your apartment to the construction team. A few tips for this. Empty your fridge and freezer completely. The power will be turned off.
Do not cover or try to protect precious surfaces such as an induction hob. If you do cover it, the builders will think it is okay to stand on it. If they can see what it is, they will take care of it themselves.
And remember that the removal company will not take away food. Put your dried herbs and spices in clipit boxes, and put those boxes in a carton, then seal it and label it "kitchen." Then it will be fine for the company to remove and store. Glass bottles of sauces, vinegars, oils etc. should be given away, or taken away with you. Use up your cereals, flour, sugar, condiments, or take them away, or give them to a neighbour or friend. And as for wine, beer and spirits, think!!
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