Sloping Block Builders

I've a block that has a 3m fall and so far I've found only a couple of builders in Melbourne that would entertain this.

Hoping for suggestions or experiences that anyone is willing to share.

I found this site googling Ashford homes and I'm still in shock as I was just speaking to their consultant today and he sounds really convincing.

Glad to you found you guys who are willing to share your experience.

Thanks.

Our block has 5m fall with 2.5m across the building envelope. Both Urbanedge and Porter Davis said that they would build on it. We ended up going with Urbanedge although the site costs were high.

http://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=11608


The only other alternative that I know of in Melbourne is to use LP Warren (http://www.lpwarrenhomes.com.au) or find a custom builder.

Sloping blocks do quite often cost a bit more to build on, but the views are almost always worth it.

FD2

Hi, our old block had a similar fall. We gave up on it in the end but not before we'd approached a number of builders. Henley refused to build the house we wanted but only after we'd gone unconditional on the land purchase hence we were stuck with the block. Porter Davis wanted us to level the block first at an approximate cost of $15k and then they would 'consider' it . We decided against this. Then we tried Paulding as they were a medium rather than large volume builder and more willing to work with us to find a solution eg. building on stumps, altering floorplans etc. This seemed promising until we started talking to head office rather than the saleswoman who had been excellent. We wasted months going down this route only to be told that it would be easier to go on a slab after all with $55k worth of site costs! We then contacted a local builder recommended by friends but after more wasted months talking to an architect and the builder we just couldn't make it work within budget. Our would have been neighbours though had more success. They are building with Carlisle although they must have approached a different salesperson to us because we were told not to even look at the display home when we walked in with a contour survey in hand! Their site costs were less than half that we had been quoted previously. Hope that helps. Jo

The builders I'm tossing up between are both sloping block specialists.

Creations by Greater Melbourne Homes (a few people on this site are using them - very reasonable prices (comparable to the upmarket volume builders and everything custom).

Rycon Constructions - small company, the guy who builds is the guy that owns the place, high quality but a tad more expensive.

I looked at about 5 or 6 sloping block specialists and these are the two I've narrowed down based upon my research. If you want any further info - just yell out.

Hi,

Our block has over a 3 metre fall on it and we are building with Carlisle. We got dispensation from the Council to build outside the building envelope and putting up a retaining wall right on boundary at one point due to the slope.

Dale.

Hi All,

Thank you all for your suggestions. I

have spoken to Rycon and I have found them to be professional and a bit on the expensive side.

I have also checked out LP Warren and didn't quite take onto them.

As with Greater Melbourne homes, I have mixed feelings.

I first saw them at their display home and they guy I spoke with seemed to know what he was talking about, 2 weeks later he was admitted to the hospital and I didn't quite get the same feeling after.

I was uncomfortable with the lack of communication as I was really keen to go. when they finally got someone to come back, there was internal disput as to who's deal this was going to be! Hence even more lack of communication as the new guy that I was dealing with was too afraid to call me and the other wanted to keep his commission but was still hospitalised. when he finally came around to calling back I was too put off by the process.

I thought to myself, I haven't even started to pay them yet and they seemed disorganised, what if I had??!

even that said, there were many aspects of Greater Melbourne Homes that Iiked; reasonable price and they were willing to custom design.

I also know of a group called CC&D? Confusing name, can't remember for sure.

I will check out the other builders as suggested, but meantime seems to me that Rycon is still the front runner.

At least I don't feel like I'm the only one struggling to build on a sloping block.

Any further suggestions is much appreciated.

Hi there i thought that I would add my two cents worth.

I have a block of land in Diamond Creek, 4 m fall and have spoken to everyone. mainstream builders won't touch it, because of the fall. For gods sake, a concrete slab is more expensive than stumps, it just requires more expertise to level the stumps. At the end of the day builders like Henley/ metricon don't bother with the effort of building on a sloping site cos they dont have to, they get so much business through all the mass production development sites that they don't care.

I have spoken to all three sloping block builders and here are my thoughts.

Lp warren, same as stated they seemed that they were not interested as we were not building a mansion with a budget.

Greater Melbourne Homes, sales person could talk under water, and basically guaged what we wanted to spend max then made this the price but then added that we would beed to do driveways/ decks etc,

Ryycon, spoke to a bloke named Leigh Shoebridge or similar. Absoulutely fantastic, showed him what we wanted and he was happy to compromise to meet our price. At the end of the day what we wanted we could not afford it, so we are owner building, that said we are going to get Rycon to cost the project after the drawings are done and if they are near abouts we will go with them. If anyone what some advice, ring this company and have a chat, they are happy to meet you at your block and will discuss everything with you no obligation. They ended up being cheaper than GMH by a fair bit.

Anyway just a thought, would love to have not to worry about building but at the end of the day you manage with hat you have got and for us we have to owner build!

I think you will find that Leigh Shoebridge works for LP Warren unless he has moved companies.........

JB

Well I knew he moved on from LP Warren as I was dealing with him at Englehart Homes in July

Maybe he's a consultant for many builders ?.

Leigh, was definately at LP Warren at some stage because i remember him saying it. He is at Rycon now, but am not sure if he works for other companies, his business card was Rycon.

Cheers

I am always surprised that people have trouble finding someone to build on a sloping site. Surely there are many builders who would at least be interested?

I believe Leigh is at Sloping Block Builders.

He most certainly is.

WARNING Beware of Leigh and Maria Shoebridge they pretend to be knowledgable but they lie to get your business and then burn you by ruining your build with slow and poor work. If you sign with them they will to continue to lie and never respond to your calls, never trust sloping block builders. Our build started 1 year ago with them and we still do not a house frame!!!! We are losing money big time. Trust what the members say in this forum about them, they are the scums of the earth. I am now paying the price for this for not listening to this forum and being one of their customers biggest mistake of my life.