We also built with NBG in rural Victoria. We started the process in August 2009 and moved in Xmas Eve 2010- 16 months.

We are currently building The Windsor with NBG (we did build in the Laurimar estate when it first began as owner builders - gosh how the area has expanded now!). We did the sea change thing some years back and are building on the Bellarine peninsula. This is our first build with nbg.
To date it has been a bit frustrating and l o n g. We signed our contract in Aug 2010. Our slab just went down last week but was supposed to be down before xmas. We never imagined we would get to April and only have a slab to show for it but hopefully it will be all systems go from here on end. We have had a complex site though which has caused a few problems and once all that was sorted bad weather held us up.
Some parts of the process have been great and all in all we found the customer service and willingness of our nbg consultant to help as excellent. I am a little critical of their lack of knowledge/expertise in some areas and I believe this has cost us time and money. I think we will be very happy with the end result though so are just trying to put the negatives behind us. Their inclusions are hard to beat and the way they customise plans is fabulous. We did heaps of changes to ours.

I started a thread, although it's pretty lame at the moment. I will add some new pics plus our upgrades, plan changes & colourworld selections soon.
viewtopic.php?f=31&t=45130&p=685050&hilit=nbg+windsor#p685050

We wanted to be in before Xmas as our daughter will be starting kinder next year, hopefully at Laurimar. This looks doubtful now. Hoping for Feb which would be 12 months from first deposit. Maybe we're dreaming looking at the other times.

It depends on the cause of the delays and also where you are building.

The steps involved with deposit, estimation, contract etc can take longer if you are building in a rural area (they give themselves more time).
It also depends on the cause of the delays.
In my case the initial deposit was paid at the end of April 10, Estimation acceptance July 10, Contract signing August 10, Colorworld November 10.

However, this really hasn't caused me any delays so far as the estate development was delayed and settlement on my block was only last week.
I am hoping that things will be finished and I will be in the house by Christmas.

Contract signed Waiting for final plans then developer approval and building permit. Just hope our builder is a good one! Anyone heard of Complete Construction?

Congratulations on getting the contract signed.
Hope things progress quickly for you.

Michelle

Well here we are almost one year to the day of contract being signed. Finally at fixing stage. May be in end of May. The ordeal continues as the island bench and upstand need to be changed, floor tiles are not the colour we chose, laundry cabinets too small. Overall the builder and ss have been very good, house will be amazing. NBG have dropped us totally. Called yesterday to ask for a picture of the island bench, told to talk to builder. Said as we are disagreeing with the builder we want their opinion on who's right. Told to talk to the builder. Had no contact since Colorworld in Aug, no inspections, no nothing. No wonder they were taken over, although customer service is still abysmal. That's enough ranting tho, as the place will be fab when finally done (16 months after first deposit).

Sbh-glad to hear that you will be happy once you are in the house.

I just need to remind you that NBG don't do inspections etc because your contract is with your builder. NBG are a "co-op" situation where the builder pays a percentage to them which allows the builder to be part of a group with greater buying power.

Once you have completed your selections and your contracts are signed then your contact etc is with your builder. If there are issues with sizes etc refer to your plans.

All the best.