Browse Forums General Discussion Re: Pre contract 2Mar 01, 2020 9:41 pm I strongly advise you to have a pre-contract signing consultation with a well credentialled building professiona . Don't yield to pressure to sign on the day. Accounting mistakes in the builder's favour are common. Look for hidden 'Performance Solutions'. Check that the liquidated damage payments are fair and equitable. Go over the plans, you would be surprised at the number of things that are never picked up until too late. Use the forum's search facility and use keywords like "pre contract consultation" to read about the experience of others. One of my posts is below. Just follow the links within. viewtopic.php?p=1832175#p1832175 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: Pre contract 4Mar 02, 2020 5:21 am @m12 consider that you are buying a contract, not a house. Take the time to study the features of the contract like you would for a new car, holiday, school or computer etc. Make sure you understand every standard clause and builders added special clauses and all the definitions in the contract. Understand their implications for you regarding quality, time, building costs, finance and rental costs etc and consider these given your own personal circumstances. The builder’s association ‘standard’ HiA contract is very one sided in their favour to minimise any risks to them and transfer these risks and the resulting costs to you, making you pay dearly for the eneviitable mistakes, poor workmanship and delays that the low cost volume builder process entails. The bigger the builder, the better they are at minimising their own risk, don’t get sucked in by the glossy marketing and sales process, including display homes. Once you have signed ‘puff’ and that’s all gone and all you will have is whats written in the contract to define your relationship with them. There is a big difference between builders’ slick sales departments and their planning and building operations which are not as well resourced. It is possible and advisable to negotiate with the builder to amend the 'standard' HIA contract to get them to accept some of these risks that they seek to legally avoid. If they want your business in the current very slow construction market they will be flexible. Don’t sign anything without fully understanding it. If you need a lawyer to explain things or ask even some dumb questions on this forum its worth it. Re: Pre contract 5Mar 02, 2020 6:36 pm The building contracts meet the Domestic Building Contract Act and most items are the same throughout them all. Some say the contract is 'based on the HIA' contract but is worded in a way that really favours the builder. The key area are the 'special conditions' whatever is written in here is locked away and some can be real doozies from some I've read. If your in VIC I'm happy to have a look over. MC Registered Building - Always happy to help where I can and simply loves the game. DM me if you need help in VIC. Re: Pre contract 6Mar 02, 2020 7:25 pm One should pay equal attention to both the standard conditions, and any of builder's added special conditions in the HIA contract to understand both. Understand all the cost, time & quality implications and risks for you before you sign. For example, You don’t want to be learning what these contract terms mean when you are paying both rent plus your new mortgage and the builder pressures you to accept defects, and pay up so you can move in. mclark what is the "Australian standard" document that the contracts meet that you refer to? Re: Pre contract 7Mar 02, 2020 8:31 pm Norfolk One should pay equal attention to both the standard conditions, and any of builder's added special conditions in the HIA contract to understand both. Understand all the cost, time & quality implications and risks for you before you sign. For example, You don’t want to be learning what these contract terms mean when you are paying both rent plus your new mortgage and the builder pressures you to accept defects, and pay up so you can move in. mclark what is the "Australian standard" document that the contracts meet that you refer to? Apologises not 'Australian Standard' I was mentioning the Domestic Building Contract Act that the contract much work within. Thanks for the pick up norfolk Registered Building - Always happy to help where I can and simply loves the game. DM me if you need help in VIC. The worst thing you can do is sign a building contract without a pre contract review. Over the years many people have come to me with disputes where they just signed… 0 8339 You talk about deletions, are they variations or PS and PC adjustments? pleas list them 1 16556 We've had the offer of a short term tenant whilst waiting for CDC/DA home approval and demolition for our knock down rebuild. It would achieve a pretty low rent as it's… 0 13752 |