Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Jun 21, 2010 1:32 pm Hi,
I am currently building with company X and have been informed by my CSO that I have completed "lock up stage". I visited my site the night after recieving the call and was really disappointed. My front door was not on, I had no brick work (my bricks have not even been delivered!) and no plaster had yet been delievered. I do not feel that this is lock up stage. To add to matters I have also had the following: - My temporary fencing is always down... I mean totally down on all the back and sides of the property. - The doors are constantly left open as too are the windows. As the fences are down you are able to enter the property from teh rear go through the opened door and walk around the entire place. (My bath and shower bases have both already been installed) - The plastic wrap around the house has become loose and is flapping around in the breeze. I sent an email expressing my disappointment at this and my CSO did not repsond (I also attached photos). When I finally got hold of her she pretty much said temporary fencing is just that - it falls down. What a pathetic response. This was not the first time I have complained about the fencing. I still have not met my site supervisor!!! I have asked for meetings but the CSO just does not get back to me on it - no response to phone messages nor emails. I dont have to pay for the lock up stage payment if the door is not on and I have no bricks do I? As it is not technically at lock up stage. I dont think the bank would approve it to allow the fund to be released. The customer service has been so... disappointing!!! TIA for any advice. Re: Building Stages and Progress Payments 2Jun 21, 2010 2:34 pm My understanding is that lock up stage is when the building can be locked up and prevent people from entering. Also i'm pretty sure the bank that you got the loan through would have a booklet that explains what each stage each and how the progress payments would be paid for each stage. **this is what i remember from st george when i built years ago** Re: Building Stages and Progress Payments 3Jun 21, 2010 2:40 pm The definition of Lock-up in my contract (the HIA standard one) is: "The stage when a home's external wall cladding and roof covering is fixed, the flooring is laid and external doors and eternal windows are fixed (even if those doors or windows are only temporary)." Of course, this might not be the same in your contract. At the moment, my house is at 'lock up' but because I have no garage door I can literally walk into my house through the wall between my garage and my kitchen. Having said that, you said you had no bricks... does that mean you only have the frame up?? To me, that wouldn't constituent lock up.... P. Re: Building Stages and Progress Payments 4Jun 21, 2010 2:55 pm Hi Miss Tes, I'm think I'm with the same builder and am sorry to hear you've had such problems as my build has been (relatively) trouble free up until now. Largely that's been thanks to my very helpful (and readily contactable) SS and CSO. If you have the same contract as me it doesn't actually stipulate what the definition is of the various "stages" which makes it difficult. But I wouldn't think that your house is at lock up if it doesn't even have completed walls (ie no bricks)! Have you actually received an invoice yet or is that just what the CSO has told you? (often CSO's don't fully know what's happening on site as they manage so many builds at the one time). To give you an indication of what probably constitutes lock up; I've just received my invoice for that stage and the bricking is 95% complete, all windows are in, plaster is done and there is a temporary front door (which you can't technically lock but that's the only point of entry into the house). As you no doubt know you are responsible for submitting invoices to your bank and in doing that you need to certify which the work they are paying for has been done. So what to do? Well firstly by now I can almost definitely say you should have an SS because someone has to be supervising the subcontractors that have done the work to date; so maybe make some enquiries with your builder as to who that person is- they are usually the one you deal with about actual on-site issues. Secondly (if you have received an invoice) get in touch with the payments section and tell them about your concerns. Just be polite and see how you go- there's no harm in asking questions. If you don't get any satisfaction with your CSO telephone the office and ask to speak to a manager. With regards to the temporary fencing I wouldn't be too worried because at the moment the site is largely your builder's responsibility, not yours. Thus if anything gets broken or damaged their insurance will have to cover it. Also in most new estates there are council officials that go around and check that builders are complying with requirements (including the need for proper temp fencing) and they will give the builder a fine if they aren't complying. I didn't have any fencing for about the first month and a half of my build! Good luck and remember to breathe Re: Building Stages and Progress Payments 5Jun 21, 2010 2:59 pm With all my progress payments to date the bank has not once inspected the property or questioned anything to my knowledge. My contract says the same thing Piper+1, I have the frame and roof tiles and all the internal insulation as well as the wrap that goes around the house (currently flapping around in the wind as I said). To me lock up stage is when the bricks and roof tiles are on and all doors are correctly in place - I understand that this can exclude the garage as long as the internal access door is on. But no bricks? And given the rain that Melbourne is having - I really dont want my plaster (whenever it gets delivered) or insulation getting wet - so therefore surely this is not lock up stage as its not watertight nor literally "locked up". Re: Building Stages and Progress Payments 6Jun 21, 2010 3:04 pm Thanks grom40. I know the name of my SS but my CSO will not arrange a meeting despite my numerous requests. At the moment the CSO is the one saying that my invoice has been sent but I wouldnt be surprised if I recieve it tonight (this is what has happened with the last few invoices). I am a lil worried about this because I have read other posts on this forum where the brickwork wasnt completed and it still hasnt been and the contract has now gone over the expected completion date.
Re: Building Stages and Progress Payments 7Jun 22, 2010 10:07 am So I have recieved my invoice for the stage 3 payment now and have been advised that my SS likes to "reverse build" i.e. do internal walls prior to external... regardless of this I dont have either internal or external walls not now and not at the date/time of invoicing. How can I be invoiced for something thats not yet completed? 5 6812 8 6138 You should be able to encase the sewer but you will need it designed and approved and access to lot 580 to do the work 2 17155 |