Porter Davis homes

I walked into Electrical today with a downlight plan me and the salesman did together (which he quoted on) and was told I couldnt have downlights... and had to swap them out for LED ($47 extra each + More due to lack of lighting possible from LED) due to 6 star energy requirements.

I have learnt a lot today, PD house plans are 5 star, as such it appears the customer has to wear the cost to make them 6 star.

Hi J & C, we have signed our contracts with 2 zone control without having to upgrade the unit. We didn't however add extra ducts. I think it also depends on your house size/floor plan?

Hi puppyso

Are you sure you were not charged extra to upgrade your heating to include two zone controls.

I will write what is exactly written in my tender doc "Provide 2 zone controls to single storey ducted heating systems. Living areas and bedrooms both to be variable - $1067"

The size of our house (30 sq) is much smaller than the 44 squares you are building.

Can you please let me know the model of your heating unit.

We too were disappointed when we finished our electrical appointment, we ran out of time and the consultant tried to just run through the appointment at the end leaving a lot of unanswered questions.

We added a zone to our heating for $534. We were initially told we needed to upgrade the unit for $723, but that was eventually taken out.
Our unit is a Brivis ME30i.

Hi everyone,
We upgraded our heating to be Zoned upstairs & downstairs!
Around 700 upgrade the system & exactly 1067 to zone! Something like that!
Mel

The problem that I have with my heating can not be fixed and I have to put up with this for the rest of my life.

PD won't do anything about it because PD said that "if Specialised have been out and advised that everything is fine, then there is nothing else I can suggest. We are bound to follow the advice of the suppliers and installers of heating and cooling units as this is their area of expertise and not ours."

I am so mad about this. I can't sleep with my heating on. Paid a lot of money and get a crap stuff.. so not happy..

I am going to talk to the consumer affair.. will see what consumer affair can do for me...

[Whatever you guys do... DO NOT let PD to use the company call Specialised Heating and Cooling to install the heating and cooling at your place. The problem that I have with my heating can not be fixed and I have to put up with this for the rest of my life.

PD won't do anything about it because PD said that "if Specialised have been out and advised that everything is fine, then there is nothing else I can suggest. We are bound to follow the advice of the suppliers and installers of heating and cooling units as this is their area of expertise and not ours."

I am so mad about this. I can't sleep with my heating on. Paid a lot of money and get a crap stuff.. so not happy..

I am going to talk to the consumer affair.. will see what consumer affair can do for me...[/quote]


Is the heating unit making a loud noise? It the unit makes a loud noise then it’s a manufacturing flaw and really nothing to do with the installation.

I’ve upgraded my unit the HX35i (which is a huge 35kw unit) and the location will be in the roof cavity. I’m hoping that I don’t experience the same thing as the noise will drive me crazy.

What heating unit do you have? Was it a Vulcan?

We had contract yesterday. All went good. Have 5 day cooling off period and able to still make cosmetic changes up until Wednesday next week by COB.

Just a heads up for those who are not aware. We found out yesterday they no longer do 12 months maintenance checks. They only do 3 months now. You will still have the 7 year structural guarantee. I don't know when this came into effect but we assumed from day 1 they offered the 12 months as well as the 3 months maintenance checks. Makes you wonder if things will start breaking down after the 3 months maintenance period and PD won't be liable for it.

Wow really, this is what makes PD stand out from the rest.

Guys check your fixed price contract (or tender agreement) and at the last page under “standard notes” it should mention you maintenance period. Ours say 12 months.

Your statutory right is a 3 month maintenance period.

Personally I will not accept the house until all defects have been rectified. From what I have read, a lot of people get excited by receiving keys to their new house and accept a house with defect. Every house built will have defect, it’s only natural and it’s up to you to be on top of things and get them fixed. PD is a good company and their intentions are not to rip their customers off.

Thanks tstr1a. I will check the paperwork out. I'm hoping to find something to show that when we paid our deposit in March 2011 the 12 month maintenance was included somewhere. Not happy that we don't get it.

Hi J & C

I misunderstood your question, we were charged the same $1067 for the 2 zone controls to dlb storey ducted heating systems. down stairs and upstairs to be variable.
Our heating unit is Brivis MX35i, its standard.

We did however get charged extra for a Brivis network thermostat for heating and cooling systems for upstairs.

cheers

[/quote]

I hope that you continue to be pleasantly surprised Lunchtime and that they promptly and adequately deal with your issues. Unfortunately it has been our experience (many times over now) that, when things go wrong and you have to complain, everyone makes all the right noises and tells you how sorry they are and that they will see that it is rectified immediately.....and it never happens and you never hear from them again until you chase them repeatedly and the whole cycle starts again.

I really am truly sorry to be such a downer in this thread, but I'm beyond unhappy and disappointed. I'm completely resigned and defeated by this whole experience. Everyone keeps telling me that it will all have been worth it in the end, but to be honest this has left such a bad taste in our mouths I'm afraid I will never be able to live in that house and feel anything but the trouble and the angst that we bought. Not to mention that I honestly have serious concerns about the quality of the home that will finally be delivered because the attitude we are getting seems to be that we only paid a quarter of a million dollars and as such cannot expect really good quality, despite what was initially advertised and promised to us


Ebony, does PD have a specific person, or persons, whose job it is to inspect and approve display homes before they are opened? If so I would like that person to go and have a look at our house when it is finally deemed complete. If PD will stand by the quality of the home they are building us then they will have no issues with me inviting the people visiting the display homes next door to come on in and take a look at ours.[/quote]

Hi Jewelbaby,

Yes, the display homes have BSS Indepdent Quality Inspections carried out throughout the build process and again at settlement where the Inspection Certificate is provided. These inspections are carried out in exactly the same way for a client's home. Clients can also choose to get the home independently assessed seperately to the BSS Inspections at their own cost, but this is only if they really want extra piece of mind. I hope this helps. Regards, Ebony[/quote]

Hi Ebony,
I would like to check with you if PD will provide a copy of the BSS quality inspection reports of each stage to their clients?
I have read that most clients are not provided with a copy of the reports and only a number of clients are lucky enough to get a copy.

pls kindly advise
puppyso

I hope that you continue to be pleasantly surprised Lunchtime and that they promptly and adequately deal with your issues. Unfortunately it has been our experience (many times over now) that, when things go wrong and you have to complain, everyone makes all the right noises and tells you how sorry they are and that they will see that it is rectified immediately.....and it never happens and you never hear from them again until you chase them repeatedly and the whole cycle starts again.

I really am truly sorry to be such a downer in this thread, but I'm beyond unhappy and disappointed. I'm completely resigned and defeated by this whole experience. Everyone keeps telling me that it will all have been worth it in the end, but to be honest this has left such a bad taste in our mouths I'm afraid I will never be able to live in that house and feel anything but the trouble and the angst that we bought. Not to mention that I honestly have serious concerns about the quality of the home that will finally be delivered because the attitude we are getting seems to be that we only paid a quarter of a million dollars and as such cannot expect really good quality, despite what was initially advertised and promised to us


Ebony, does PD have a specific person, or persons, whose job it is to inspect and approve display homes before they are opened? If so I would like that person to go and have a look at our house when it is finally deemed complete. If PD will stand by the quality of the home they are building us then they will have no issues with me inviting the people visiting the display homes next door to come on in and take a look at ours.[/quote]

Hi Jewelbaby,

Yes, the display homes have BSS Indepdent Quality Inspections carried out throughout the build process and again at settlement where the Inspection Certificate is provided. These inspections are carried out in exactly the same way for a client's home. Clients can also choose to get the home independently assessed seperately to the BSS Inspections at their own cost, but this is only if they really want extra piece of mind. I hope this helps. Regards, Ebony[/quote]

Hi Ebony,
I would like to check with you if PD will provide a copy of the BSS quality inspection reports of each stage to their clients?
I have read that most clients are not provided with a copy of the reports and only a number of clients are lucky enough to get a copy.

pls kindly advise
puppyso[/quote]

Pups,
All you have to do is ask your CSC or SS for these. If you want a document at certain stages or all stages just arrange to receive this from your CSC or your SS. Rob discussed with our SS to get a copy of each inspection report and our SS has been able to provide no problems. Be vocal on what information you want filtered through to you and i'm sure your appointed SS or CSC will reciprocate. We follow up all the verbal discussions with an email so that we have something to refer to if something isn't provided as we asked (which came in handy with the electrical changes .

Cheers,

Mel

[/quote]

Hi Ebony,
I would like to check with you if PD will provide a copy of the BSS quality inspection reports of each stage to their clients?
I have read that most clients are not provided with a copy of the reports and only a number of clients are lucky enough to get a copy.

pls kindly advise
puppyso[/quote]

Pups,
All you have to do is ask your CSC or SS for these. If you want a document at certain stages or all stages just arrange to receive this from your CSC or your SS. Rob discussed with our SS to get a copy of each inspection report and our SS has been able to provide no problems. Be vocal on what information you want filtered through to you and i'm sure your appointed SS or CSC will reciprocate. We follow up all the verbal discussions with an email so that we have something to refer to if something isn't provided as we asked (which came in handy with the electrical changes .

Cheers,

Mel[/quote]

Hi Mel,
I did email to me CSC to request for a copy but she says she doesn't receive any of the report from BSS for the stages only the "certificate" at the end of the completion of the home. So I called my SS to request for it but he explained that the BSS reports are for internal use only and they don't give clients a copy. Also that BSS did not inspect the frame, they have BJM do the general inspections for the base and frame.
BSS does the quality checks for pre-plaster and so on.
He did say he can forward me a copy of the report from BJM so I'm waiting for that.

I am confused that you were able to get a copy of the BSS reports for your frame stage and BSS did not perform the inspection for us.

Ebony, would you be able to clarify this matter for all of us?
1. Does BSS do inspections for all stages? or just some stages?
2. Can PD provide us with a copy of the reports or only a certificate at the end of the build?
3. How can one PD office provide a copy of the report to their clients and another office do not?

hope we can get this clarified asap

Hi Humble,

I noticed you are online. Have you finished your contract meeting already.

We had contract today, considering the nightmare that was electrical, we had a nice chat about 6 Star Efficiency, seems I was right all along (Funny that!) and a nice little flame-o-gram was sent from my CSC to the Electrical Supervisor, we ended up getting what we wanted.

Apart from that the Contract was fine, no issues from my end.

That's great. We did ours yesterday. At least this part of the cycle is over for you and I and we can start to see our dream come to real life in the next few weeks.

We were told today, all things being equal, our scrape will happen about the 20th July. They expect us to be finished by XMAS. Which was a shock to us, I expected Feb.

I reckon you should be finished by xmas as well.

My mate built a 41 sq house and took 6.5 months to complete (thru another builder)