!!!BUYER BEWARE!!!
We built our first home with SBG and so far have had nothing but issues with the quality of the build and the communication with them.
The sales phase was very pleasant. We were shown their displays in Cranbourne East and they looked fantastic. Their inclusion list was very exhaustive and good too. The fact that we could customise the layout of our house was the only one thing that drew us towards them as they came recommended through a friend.
We signed the contracts in August 2015 and thats exactly where the pleasantness ended.
We hired an independent building inspector throughout the build.
At frame stage, the building inspector pointed out a few issues and defects with the frame. The SS confirmed and agreed that they will be fixed. Nothing was done as these issues carried on to the post completion report as well. They stuffed up our door heights in several places and had to be reminded that we had signed off on higher door heights. They rectified that as we could see it.
We paid the invoice on time.
Then we had the lockup stage inspection. The independant inspector deemed the stage incomplete as there were old issues still unfixed and then there were new ones that he found. The report stated that the works were incomplete and substandard. The report was sent to them to fix the issues as the SS again confirmed that these issues will be fixed. Then came the fix up stage and we didnt have the inspector hired for this stage hence it was pretty much a shot in the dark. We asked the SS if everything on the reports was done and he promised it had been. We had paid extra for an externally ventilated chimney and we asked the SS if it was installed. He confirmed it was.
Then we came to PCI and the building inspector was fuming because all the issues and defects in the previous reports had been neglected even after promising and confirming they will be fixed. We had to take the handover as we had to vacate the rental. On the day of the handover, we had chipped tiles in the bathroom, a massive leaking patch on the ceiling in the kitchen and our door frame was cracked. The SS promised all of this will be fixed along with the defects that existed in the previous reports. Now after 3 months of moving into the house, we have had leaking sinks throughout the house, faulty plumbing, faulty slab as our slab overpour encroaches into the adjoining property. We have cracks and paint issues everywhere. Our bricks are dirty and smeared with mortar which is a defect from the get go and looks terrible. Our render is uneven around the doors and windows. They did not install the externally ventilated chimney that was promised and only installed it when we pointed out that there was none and proved it to them. That in my books is very dishonest. The SS said these things happened because he was working off the old plan/contract?????
At this stage we are living in a house which is not fit for occupation, substandard and terrible looking. We have had legal help and have been advised that we should pursue this in the courts as the defects pointed out in the report warrant the fact that an occupation certificate should never have been issued in the first place. They have taken 3 months to rectify the small issues that the reports pointed out but have left the major ones unaddressed. Our windows are not square and don't seal out air, our doors are crooked and let air in and they guarantee 6 star energy rating which is a joke in itself. They have given us plumbing certificates complying with the law but when we dug out our storm water to put a drain in for the concreting, all the pipe work underneath was done by someone who would qualify as an apprentice as all the plumbing joins for risers were cut out and stuck to the pipes rather than putting in elbows. This was checked by another licensed plumber.
We are giving them a months time now to rectify this failing which will be lodging a claim in the court of law as we have had enough. Our calls remain unanswered and emails remain unaddressed. There is no one in the company who wants to take ownership and rectify these once and for all.
We are stressed and exhausted and at breaking point as we never expected this to happemn to us when we have paid on time and never been aggressive or pushy throughout the build.
It has left a very bad taste in our mouths. Never building again with SBG and would never ever recommend them to anyone.
Hope this feedback helps.