Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Apr 10, 2013 12:15 pm We are looking to build in Blackburn, up until this point we have been dealing with a builder but we are just not happy that they are able to complete the job on time or have the ability to complete a quality job We have all plans ready to go, block cleared, planning permits approved (just need building permits when we find a builder). The house is double storey, about 35 square and we need to be in by Christmas ... can anyone recommend a good builder???? Re: Custom Builder Recommendations - MELBOURNE 2Apr 11, 2013 7:59 pm Long island homes, Ashford and Nava are 3 you can investigate. I'm currently building with LIH (Long island homes) and would easly recommend them (2-3 weeks from completion ). Re: Custom Builder Recommendations - MELBOURNE 4Apr 21, 2013 11:14 am Hello, I'm currently at a similar stage. I've been in contact with several custom builders over the past year. I'm starting to lose confidence in them due to lack of communication and very slow follow up (amongst other things). Difficult to have faith in a company to build you a home when they have difficulty in responding to emails and phonecalls (at the early stages!)... I've checked out LIH and they seem to have some good customer reviews. If anybody else has any other recommendations, I'd love to hear them. Re: Custom Builder Recommendations - MELBOURNE 5Apr 21, 2013 11:18 pm Need Help in Layouting my room..do you have any floor plan for a room? -thanks Re: Custom Builder Recommendations - MELBOURNE 6Apr 22, 2013 6:57 am err what type of room ? or are you after a program to help it so here is a couple http://google-sketchup.en.softonic.com/ http://www.homestyler.com/designer. There are lots more out there just have to google search "home plan design freeware" or "home plan design online" Re: Custom Builder Recommendations - MELBOURNE 8May 01, 2013 8:16 am We're currently in initial dealings with Hotondo in Geelong and have found the service so far has been top notch: prompt replies, the salesman AND the builder at our meeting with the draftsman, etc, though of course it may vary between the different franchises. Their website would tell you if they have a builder in your area. ~ Anne I used to be indecisive but now I'm not quite sure. Eeek - We're embarking on a knockdown rebuild! Click here for our build thread Our blog: kdrhome.wordpress.com Re: Custom Builder Recommendations - MELBOURNE 9May 01, 2013 12:19 pm Hi All! I would like to throw my hat in the ring as a custom Melbourne builder. We build about 30-40 custom designed homes per year, including knockdown and rebuilds, renovations, multi unit dwellings and your standard "Home and Land" package type homes. I am quite happy to meet and discuss with anyone in relation to your thoughts about custom builders and how we can assist. We are a team of 4 and focus on the custom experience. My website is currently being rebuilt but you can find us at http://www.elegantprojects.com.au and http://www.facebook.com/elegantprojects Feel free to contact me at eddie@elegantprojects.com.au - If I can be any help at all, please don't hesitate to contact. Building in Melbourne? Looking for a boutique home builder? www.elegantprojects.com.au - 1300 003 235 Re: Custom Builder Recommendations - MELBOURNE 10Jul 07, 2013 10:53 am Bebe I've checked out ......... and they seem to have some good customer reviews. If anybody else has any other recommendations, I'd love to hear them. Make sure you drill down into any companies past by speaking to several of their past customers/projects. There are many of the volume builders that behave very badly online, fake testimonials etc. A friend of ours is currently in a world of hurt with the worst of the worst with one of these companies. Yet their website is full of glowing recommendations as are other review sites. We have complained to these review sites (not H1) and to the ACCC with limited success. Another must is to check the VCAT history of the company you are looking at going with. It can take a bit of work as these records are not always easy to find, make sure you are searching the companies trading name, not the one on the glossy brochure. Finally dont be swayed by great service at the signup stage, often this evaporates the day you sign up. You are hiring a builder, not buying a car. Promises of a salesman mean nothing to tradies. Re: Custom Builder Recommendations - MELBOURNE 11Jul 07, 2013 8:25 pm sceen7 Bebe I've checked out ......... and they seem to have some good customer reviews. If anybody else has any other recommendations, I'd love to hear them. Make sure you drill down into any companies past by speaking to several of their past customers/projects. There are many of the volume builders that behave very badly online, fake testimonials etc. A friend of ours is currently in a world of hurt with the worst of the worst with one of these companies. Yet their website is full of glowing recommendations as are other review sites. We have complained to these review sites (not H1) and to the ACCC with limited success. Another must is to check the VCAT history of the company you are looking at going with. It can take a bit of work as these records are not always easy to find, make sure you are searching the companies trading name, not the one on the glossy brochure. Finally dont be swayed by great service at the signup stage, often this evaporates the day you sign up. You are hiring a builder, not buying a car. Promises of a salesman mean nothing to tradies. Thanks for the advice. I am aware of this. We certainly have been taking our time in signing up with a builder. I've met up with some custom builders through recommendations on this site - time consuming but invaluable. Forums and review sites are great as assistance tools but I think it's really important for people to take the time to meet with builders they are considering. An encounter with a builder mentioned who also had glowing reviews (whether reviews were genuine or not, who knows) was disappointing. I won't go into details but at least we were able to come out of it and say "I went, I saw, I listened...there was a bit too much BS spun for my liking, so let's cross them off the list and move on to explore other options"... Re: Custom Builder Recommendations - MELBOURNE 12Oct 09, 2013 5:18 pm This is an interesting thread. Have you chosen a builder yet? Recent years have pushed me into a fair bit of familiarity with custom builders (husband, friends, personal endeavours, you name it). You hit on something very important, which is that a lot of testimonials are "creative writing." So in my experience, one of the absolutely crucial things to do in choosing a builder (and on the whole I do believe you are more likely to get a better outcome with a quality custom builder than a Volume Builder, especially if your block is in a hilly area or in any way out of the ordinary) is to ask to speak to their previous clients. The actual communication that you have with the builder (will they meet you on site? How are they with answering questions?) and the real life stories of previous clients, warts and all, will give you a fair indication of what your building journey will be like. There are excellent builders with integrity out there... and there are um well questionable ones... and the litmus test is their previous clients. Re: Custom Builder Recommendations - MELBOURNE 13Oct 18, 2013 12:30 pm I may be too late to this but I have a good builder - Canterbury Builders. I couldn't not post a response because I know what a big decision it is. He is very experienced and we're impressed with our custom build in Eltham. I'm very impressed with the solutions and ideas and generally the skill and speed with which the job is progressing. And he's easy to talk to. I'm not sure what the rules are regarding posting contact details but google him for the contact details. He is close to you I think. Re: Custom Builder Recommendations - MELBOURNE 14Oct 18, 2013 4:04 pm Home buyers should always check the ASIC registers to see how long the company has been registered or whether the company has had a recent name change. Don't get caught out by new companies that appear to be or claim to be 'big'. Look at what happened to the 'trusting' (many would say naive) people in the thread linked below. http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-re ... ?t=2087160 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Custom Builder Recommendations - MELBOURNE 15Dec 12, 2013 11:46 am granvue homes talk to Riz in melton south his building our home Re: Custom Builder Recommendations - MELBOURNE 16Dec 30, 2013 8:27 am I can recommend Highview Homes, been moved in for 3 weeks and it's truly our dream house. See my thread for details. FYI they build more of a classic look than the modern look that most of the volume builders do these days. My Hamptons build (completed): viewtopic.php?f=31&t=63370 Moved in Wednesday 11th Dec 2013 Front landscaping completed June 2016 Hello, we can help you please get in contact 0421019219 thank you 3 31838 Hi, can anyone recommend a custom home builder who can build in north east area? Looking to build a custom 4-br energy-efficient home with a max budget of 750k. If they… 0 22812 i did click it, still couldnt make it out rofl. in any case, doesnt look like too extreme a slope, you may be in luck. Just shoot out some emails to volume builders in… 3 18562 |