Very slow progress - Any ideas/advice on a new approach?

For the past year, we’ve been in contact with a number of custom builders in regards to building our home. We have found that our initial enquiries go well but things tend to go not so well when we send our floor plan.

One builder mentioned they were flat out and had enough work and generally, they tend to go for the smaller projects as they generated better cash flow for the company. Our house is quite a large one – double storey and a little over 50sq.

Another builder who although seemed interested takes an incredibly long time to respond. They mentioned earlier on in our meetings that work was picking up for them. Seems our project is not a priority and it’s been put on the back burner (possibly due to better “cash flow” projects) ready for them to pick up when work slows down for them(?). We have been in correspondence with this builder for a year now. We certainly don’t want to put all our eggs in 1 basket nor do we really want to delay the process any longer.

Owner build? Getting the finance could be a hurdle. Research more custom builders? Currently doing this. Stay in existing house, save ourselves a whole lot of money and headaches? Maybe but not ideal and very unexciting…

Wondering if anybody could offer some advice/builder recommendations…thanks in advance.

It always helps if you post your location.

We're in Melbourne

It sounds like you're not committed, so why should the builder be committed either?

From the builders point of view, you could have them do lots of work then switch over to a builder with a lower quote.

If you really want this house built, why not commit to that builder? Pay some money for them to draw up plans, do soil tests, obtain council approval etc. Or sign a contract with the builder. That will have a timeframe for the construction to start, followed by a timeframe for completion.

We have a plan & soil test and currently waiting on revised wording on some paperwork to more accurately reflect the extras to be included as we feel it's important to be happy with any paperwork first before signing it. Or am I just getting it wrong and should be signing away and turning a blind eye to any errors/inaccurate information?!

Trying to avoid the case of "what a stuff up, knew we should have gotten that in writing..." Fussy/cautious but shouldn't everybody be especially if it involves a project that will clean out their life savings and then some more?...

They've been fairly good so far, just progress is very slow leading us to question the situation we are in.

Correct. Get the paperwork right so you have a clear position to work from should litigation be required further down the track.


You are doing the right thing, but builders are used to people just blindly signing the contracts they offer. As soon as someone fussy comes along, and starts wanting to do things differently, they dont like the extra work it creates. Stick to your guns, why shouldnt you get exactly what you want? Find someone who wants to work with you. I suggest you approach a bunch all at once, instead of one by one, else you be at it for more years to come.


Yes absolutely.

It is absolutely essential that your paperwork be spot on or else you will risk cost blow outs and disappointments. Do not compromise on that. Appeasement does not work.
Every business is about giving service and obviously you are not getting any so you are talking to wrong builders. It's no excuse that the builders have other work on, what does that mean? that your home is not important and just a nuisance?
If you already have the plans and soil test(yes you are committed and ready to go) a custom builder should have no trouble running with that and quote you.
You have to do some research , find and target the right builder for you.

A builder must be competent with good references and above all interested in your business.

There must be one somewhere (things are really not all that busy)

It certainly feels like that. The salesman has taken us to see some of their work and on all occasions we have given positive feedback, expressing interest to progress further pending amendments to paperwork. We feel the salesperson is trying his best to keep the relationship going but at the end of the day it's the builder who is building the house, not the salesperson.

Thanks for the feedback so far. We're new to all this so it is much appreciated.

It's not "lots of work"...the changes requested are reasonable. One such example is the spotted gum staircase. Although the pricing reflects a spotted gum staircase, the wording states "oak". Quite a difference wouldn't you think? If you were paying for spotted gum, you'd expect the same.

Sounds like a poor quality saleperson = cant get the deal happening. NEXT!