Browse Forums General Discussion Re: I'm over it. 2Feb 19, 2014 11:07 am I know that feeling! We've had: To go to a second builder (cost reasons) after going all the way through design and selections with the first Extended trouble with council (6 months of arguing and amendments) Sold our house a lot earlier than expected (and before we knew about the upcoming issues with council), so I have been living in a shoebox sized room at my mother-in-law's house for almost a year The day we were due to have our slab poured was the largest day of rainfall in nearly 50 years and now they have to pull up amm the steel and re-dig... and they want to charge us a variation for that! All this and we're not even out of the ground yet! So... do you feel better now? My building thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=56583&start=120 Re: I'm over it. 3Feb 19, 2014 11:10 am CluelessOne I know that feeling! We've had: To go to a second builder (cost reasons) after going all the way through design and selections with the first Extended trouble with council (6 months of arguing and amendments) Sold our house a lot earlier than expected (and before we knew about the upcoming issues with council), so I have been living in a shoebox sized room at my mother-in-law's house for almost a year The day we were due to have our slab poured was the largest day of rainfall in nearly 50 years and now they have to pull up amm the steel and re-dig... and they want to charge us a variation for that! All this and we're not even out of the ground yet! So... do you feel better now? Wow. Thank you for putting things into perspective! However, because we can't even get to contract yet, I feel like if and when we do, there's still a chance all those things could happen to us! You try to be a good client, proactive, read stories so that you can avoid the same situations, but no matter how good a cop you play, you have to take out the big guns and stand up for yourself because it seems 100% of the building industry will fail you one way or another. Lesson learned - make them do the work. The worst is when they make you feel like you're the problem! Re: I'm over it. 4Feb 19, 2014 1:32 pm I can relate too! We're on our second builder and things are only just moving now, 6 months after signing contracts. So disappointing. And ours has gone beyond making me feel like I'm the problem,they've outright said it. But if they would do their job properly the first time then there wouldn't be any issues for me to hassle them about! It makes my blood boil, the lack of communication and customer service that is considered acceptable in the building industry is just ridiculous. I wish they had building brokers who deal with the builder the way a mortgage broker deals with a bank, then I could just pick colours and move in - no stress! Re: I'm over it. 5Feb 19, 2014 6:39 pm staceyd I can relate too! We're on our second builder and things are only just moving now, 6 months after signing contracts. So disappointing. And ours has gone beyond making me feel like I'm the problem,they've outright said it. But if they would do their job properly the first time then there wouldn't be any issues for me to hassle them about! It makes my blood boil, the lack of communication and customer service that is considered acceptable in the building industry is just ridiculous. I wish they had building brokers who deal with the builder the way a mortgage broker deals with a bank, then I could just pick colours and move in - no stress! That's a great idea! Maybe we should start up a company? I can't believe they outright said you were the issue???? I always thought Customer Service 101 was 'customer is right' (even though they may not be right customer service reps should know how to handle situations). Anyway I rant here because I'm still trying to hold my tongue - trying to stay as professional as possible with them, give them that facade, but really needed an outlet to vent. --- Re: I'm over it. 6Feb 19, 2014 7:18 pm Just use facts to rebut their arguments or accusations. It will show you are professional and have done your homework. I know jack all about building, standards and all but I've learnt the hard way and put in 6 mths of homework. I'm told by two private builders that I know what I'm on about, sometimes you need to play the bluff game too, but understanding what you want will give you the leg up. I've read these forums and my take is that often those who get in strife know very little and are in a rush. I'm not saying this about you guys but that's my experience. Lastly I believe if you pull the "The customer is always right line" you deserve what you get. Don't be arrogant it's a two way street. Re: I'm over it. 7Feb 20, 2014 9:08 am When there is a paper trail of their mistakes and delays and they outright blame the customer then I don't think its being arrogant to call them out on it. With another issue there was a paper trail as well and they were trying to hold our developer liable for a 5 week delay. They weren't aware I had all this information, so again, I called them on that too. I think their problem is that most customer just pay the money and accept whatever happens, we're on top of things, asking questions, picking up mistakes and they don't like being caught out. I don't expect them to do the whole customer is always right thing, but when I have to fix their mistakes with the council, chase up things almost every step of the way I think its a bit rich for them to start on me with attitude. A little bit of communication, attention to detail and respect would go a long way. Re: I'm over it. 8Feb 20, 2014 11:09 am Hey staceyd. Yes I can understand that frustration and I wouldn't accept that either. To me that's not arrogant. The unfortunate thing in it all is that often...if you want it done right you have to do it yourself. If people go into these types of projects thinking someone else will take care of it...good luck. Expect to put in the hours if you want a good job. Re: I'm over it. 9Feb 20, 2014 12:57 pm One thing that continues to amaze me in the building industry is the amount of people that will say things like "It'll DEFINITELY be done today" or "yes I WILL get back to you before close of business" and then it simply doesn't happen. And it's repeated again and again. After a few times it just becomes bald-faced l.ying (it's certainly not just one bad constractor). I work in the medical field and it just baddles me to think an entire industry seems to operate on such incredible inefficiency and slackness!! Phew, rant over. Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=65085 Re: I'm over it. 11Feb 20, 2014 3:15 pm Crazyk And it's that inefficiency which costs us money !!! yes and a con , Cluelessone wrote " and they want to charge us a variation for that!" Weather is builder's risk! Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: I'm over it. 12Feb 28, 2014 10:50 am We so hear you, after paying the deposit in mid 2013 we are not out of the ground yet. Instead we are in tribunal trying to sort out the builders massive deliberate blunder (so big council have stopped work) and now he has the gall to want to be paid for something we cannot be assured of council approval EVER!! It is so wrong. Our take home from this is....some people are just plain incompetent and hide it by being great con artists/talkers. They tell you what you want to hear and pretend to be nice. In reality, they have zero idea about what they are doing, they have no morals or regard for anyone else, and they blame anyone but themselves for their mistakes - basically are just lowlife scum. The day we can safely name and shame without recourse will be a great day. Don't worry admin it won't be on here We are so worried he will do it to someone else. At the moment we take heart that even though we can't say a word to indicate who it is (and won't) that we don't need too. The industry really is tight knit and they are a competitive (or nasty? lol) lot so his peers are talking about it! He shouldn't have done it in the first instance but then he should have just fixed it! It amazes us why you would run your business this way? As a builder to get willingly dragged into tribunal where you will be named publicly on the hearing lists and have your mistakes and dirty laundry aired for all to hear? Insanity... I WISH we had of been more insistent (or even arrogant) and stood up for what we thought was right as sadly it was proven to be right and all of this could have been avoided. If you are having grief or a bad feeling at the deposit or contract stage with constant errors, omissions or attitude then walk out and find another builder. We have since met some really nice genuine builders, tradies and building inspectors, fortunately they are not all like him. Not one has said it was ok. they get out of their vehicle and say 'wow, why?' we don't even have to say a thing Hi everyone, Looking for some advise. We are about to build an above ground pool in our backyard. There is a private sewer line running under the pool at 1.6m… 0 11759 Much a do about nothing. You can see the fall heading to the actual drains. Stormwater ingress will be minimal and it's far better to have the top sitting flush rather… 12 6245 Levelling compound Ardit is the best but buy a bag of sand and make sand dam to protect your wood floor 2 15253 |