Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Anyone out there built with Great Living Homes ?? 22Nov 22, 2011 9:37 am Update on progress. Been very slow going with constant delays over the last 4-5 months. Our supervisor lost the plot and quit. There seemed to be a disconnect between what GLH thought had been done on there computer and what had actualy been done on site. It has taken over 9 months since slab down and we now only just have a fully covered roof. I estimate we are at least 4 months behind at this point. Considering we are over 9 months into what is meant to be a 12 month build, and only just have a roof give me grave concerns. We have a new supervisor who seems to be good and things are now progressing again. The bank has now contacted me twice expressing conerns about the slow pace of construction which makes me even more concerned if the bank is worried. The bank has told me they will contact the builders to express there concern as well. We did ask for some compensation and got a few small discounts but had to really ask and push for it. Considering the delays we are facing and errors in the build they should be showering us in compensation at this point. My partner has told me she does not even want to live in the house any more, she thinks it is now bad luck and a bad omen to live there. So what was meant to be a dream home has been soured greatly. I think the build quality has been good or better then alot of other homes in the area at a good price. We have had a few errors which some have been fixed and others to be fixed at a later date. GLH have done alot of changes for us with variations which was good but they do charge for them. Over all very disapointing so far simply due to errors and slow progress. There needs to be more oversight over supervisors as what our supervisor told us and im sure GLH was not correct to what was happening on site. He was either very lazy, incompetant or both. The only thing that could possibly fix the situation is if a huge effort was made and our house is complete as close to the contract peroid as possible with a high quality finish and some subatantial discounts offered. Then I could perhaps give a positive review, for now though it is mostly negative untill things greatly improve. Re: Anyone out there built with Great Living Homes ?? 23Nov 23, 2011 9:40 am I have been updated by GLH as to the progress of our home. I have been assured our house is on track to be completed with in the contract peroid which I under estimated, contract is till about May with our variations. Our new supervisors is ment to be a gun, and has been brought on from another company to help get things moving again. The progress over the last 6 weeks or so has been very good. If the current pace is continued I see no reason why the house would not be completed in time. I am sure my partner would be alot happier about the whole build if progress continues at a good pace, it would ease her concerns. I cannot fault GLH customer service or efforts to please us so far due to delays and errors, some of it there fault some of it not. They Did allow us to do alot of changes which im sure caused them some delays as well. So there staff is very helpful and you can get in contact with them via phone or email pretty quickly unlike some companies. I will keep updating as we make progress, hopefully no more big delays. Re: Anyone out there built with Great Living Homes ?? 24Nov 29, 2011 1:28 am Mike 8472, I'm glad you can get good customer service with GLH. Most likely because you're still in the construction stage. We had handover in Feb 2011 after 13 months and are still getting issues looked at 9 months later. When I call I'm told the person is unavailable, sick, left for the day, on the phone, in a meeting etc... and to leave a message for a return call and surprise, surprise no-one calls. When I email, a standard response of "I'll look into it" is given and once again, no further correspondence and I have to call GLH. Then the cycle begins all over again. Our dramas have been ongoing since handover, mainly with leaks starting to surface. After having sorted out roof leaks and mould/mildew, now I'm trying to get another leak evident from poor waterproofing in the upstairs ensuite shower fixed. Below the ensuite, we've got a 50cm brown stain on the theatre's ceiling and it's spreading. Our first home has been such a learning curve! We have been looking into building another house because all the creaking underfoot and endless issues is driving me nuts. Great Living Homes won't be considered at all when the time comes. Re: Anyone out there built with Great Living Homes ?? 25Dec 01, 2011 9:24 am Hi there, We are also building with GLH at the moment and it has been one of the most frustrating things ive ever done. Its the 3rd house build for us and the most we have ever spent, and im sad to say the worst experience and service by far. We were told by there very good salesman we were looking at about 15 months tops from starting the ball rolling to completion. We are 12 months in and dont even have our upper walls completed. We havent had a tradesman on site in a month. We have had 2 requests for extention of contract due to delays, which i feel is an absolute insult when you havent seen a tradesman on site in a month. I have noticed they are very good at sending extention requests and progress payment requests though. We are on to our 4th supervisor at the moment and you always hope he is going to do a better job than the last but sadly i am yet to see it. mike 8472 i really do understand your partner not wanting to live in the house anymore, as i have really lost the love too, its a real shame. Re: Anyone out there built with Great Living Homes ?? 26Dec 01, 2011 12:26 pm Hi Juz and Mike We had handover of our house after about 13 months build time from the slab going down. We were also told at point of sale that it would take 9 months to build but the contract had 14 months. So longer than what we were told but shorter than the time frame in our contract. We also got a contract extension to sign but it wasnt needed in the end. We also had 3 supervisors on our house and were frustrated to no end during the build process to the point that my wife and I considered selling the house on completion and at times became extremely disheartened. There were also issues with build quality during the build that concerned me greatly. All the things you describe we have been through. In the end though, the stress and the feelings of resentment left us shortly after moving in. All issues were rectified to a high degree prior to moving in and our maintenance period is about to expire and there are only very minor things to be dealt with. We are extemely happy with the finished house but yes the process to get there was singly the most frustrating experience I have ever been through. Im happy to send you our milestone dates via PM as some people sent me theirs during our build which seemed track quite simiarly to ours. Good luck. Re: Anyone out there built with Great Living Homes ?? 27Dec 03, 2011 9:44 am Thanks for the updates on your homes. We have alot going on at our house a present. All electrical looks to be done, alarm wiring, air conditioner ducting and now plumbing was going in yesterday. So alot of work all the infrastructure to the house. Our new supervisor has called me in a month then our last one did in 7 months to let me know what is going on and is about to happen. Its amazing how a 5 minute call can make customers feel alot better. I guess some supervisors need to learn good customer service. This is also our 3rd supervisor although one was temporary after the other left, but he was good to got alot happening fast. Between the 1st supervisors and the next to it was like night and day the difference. Many people I have talked to plus we have built before and a good supervisor makes all the difference. A good supervisor also makes shore work by tradesmen get fixed or noticed which might explain some of the problems above. I am hoping our supervisor will make sure the work is quality which by all accounts it seems to be. I am keeping a very close eye on the build now, checking everything. It all seems good and of good quality so far. Next is the ceilings to go in, plasterboard for all the walls and render to outside 1st storey, hopefully we get that all done by christmas break might be pushing it though. Just nice to see some consistent progress and it all comming together. I understand some of your emotional concerns. I guess what builders some times fail to see is the preasures and emotional damage that can be done to a relationship over issues like this. It places alot of stress on people. I dont expect a build to go perfect you always have issues, but some times with our build it was just to much. Mrs got very upset at times, I can tell you GLH is lucky they are dealing with me, if they spoke to the Mrs they might not have any hearing left. She would be alot happier if we had hand over in march some time as all our holiday leave is booked for then and its hard to change it now. So we could end up having the house complete and no time to move into it. I am hoping the build continues at its present pace and we get a faster handover then it currently looks, but I doubt it. The other thing I did tell GLH is when you tell a client about a major delay or error in the build. Dont leave the client on a negative. Give them some free upgrade. Some thing like we understand this can be frustrating and for your understanding and patience we will upgrade your basins for free. Or perhaps offer upgrades to mixers, handles, doors, maybe wood trim to alfresco or even a nice BBQ for when the house is done. Things like that wont cost them to much but leaves the client on a positive, ok we got problems but we got a freebie out of it. That would help keep people positive and makes it feel like the builder really cares. It would also help for great customer reviews in places like this. Some times a little money spent can go along way, im sure it would help them get more business from recomendations and on sites like this. We have had a few free upgrades, but really they should be offered, not have to be asked for. Re: Anyone out there built with Great Living Homes ?? 28Feb 14, 2012 12:26 pm Update. We have had very good progress over the last 3 months or so with our new supervisor doing a good job, getting our house back on track. All the electrical, plumbing, air conditioning, ceilings, windows are all in. Plasterboard has all been done. When I last checked almost a week ago half the cornicing and joining had been done. Once this is completed, doors go in then painting 1st coat, cubpoards, tiling and that is most of the major work out of the way. Then its just all the finishings, tapware, handles, showerscreens, basins, electrical items and such. So I am very happy with the progress at present. The difference a good supervisor can make are huge. I have not been keeping as close eye on the building project as I normaly do as I am distracted with news that we are expecting Twins. So been very busy with family, doctors and so on. Exciting times, lucky im building a 5 bedroom house im going to need the room soon. Re: Anyone out there built with Great Living Homes ?? 29Apr 21, 2012 7:26 pm Hi...I wish we had found this forum earlier!!! Building with GLH & what a nightmare. Pre start feb 10, slab down nov 10 & still waiting for completion. We have also had a change in building supervisor. We believe out completion date as 16 April, but "they assure me" the house will be completed by their date of August!! I wrote a reply to one email in detail explaining how we came up with the date & that 2 extensions were not approved due to it was an error by them! (1st one was they built the balcony 2 big do has to order a bar to fix it & wanted 7 day delay. Then the tiler put the wrong tiles in bathroom & ensure. So we had to pick new feature tiles or rip whole thing down. We did them a favour & chose new features, yet they still want to claim 7 day extension on both bathrooms {just to change 1 row of feature tiles}) I to an over my house, ready to sell before we even move in!! We have been waiting a long time for this. We bought our land 8 yrs ago!! To add more emotion to it the house we are renting has just been sold & we have to be out by mid-end may. The builder has been telling us all year that the house will be ready mid-end April!! Well it's now past mid April & we haven't even had pre handover. I will not be recommending GLH to my worst enemy. Re: Anyone out there built with Great Living Homes ?? 30Feb 08, 2013 8:41 am Hi Mike How did the rest of your build go? I have been looking at GLH as an option but like others war abit concerned with the mixed reviews? How has the house gone now that you are in(I hope anyway) . Thanks Sarah H1 Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=61557 I haven’t. But have a Lowe Design home. Not only did I find Matt Lowe patronising and a bully, but the home is NOT TO CODE. I have water coming through the bricks… 1 15029 Hi we are looking to talk to people who have built with them recently. We have signed mid range built contract but identified that a lot of things are not included.… 0 1101 I would be wary. Is you site demilished but nothing else done? Sounds like liquidity problems to me. Our builder did the same. Got hundreds of thousands of dollars of… 2 15648 |