JM1911A1
BLKYG
Even if they check(I'm not too sure whether they exist at all?), they'd be working for builders, not for us. I think they will just try to pass substandard works. So yes, I could have been screwed big time if I hadn't engaged NHI. The inspector reckons mine is not even 90% complete, but about 75%. It is really mind numbing when you imagine you'd have roof, lighting, plaster, cooling/heating units, ducts etc etc supported by incomplete frames.
Likely scenario is that on Wed tradies advise SS the works would be done by Sat, so SS tells the head office to issue a progress payment invoice immediately. Tradies don't finish the works by Sat for whatever reason and SS wouldn't know until they tell him or he visits the site. Inspector finds it's not ready yet on Monday.
Unfortunately it looks like a common event. So I'm a bit relieved - I'm not the only one lol. Today's lesson: DO NOT PAY until independent inspections have been done.
Likely scenario is that on Wed tradies advise SS the works would be done by Sat, so SS tells the head office to issue a progress payment invoice immediately. Tradies don't finish the works by Sat for whatever reason and SS wouldn't know until they tell him or he visits the site. Inspector finds it's not ready yet on Monday.
Unfortunately it looks like a common event. So I'm a bit relieved - I'm not the only one lol. Today's lesson: DO NOT PAY until independent inspections have been done.
Depending on your builder and type of build, elements required for payment may be completed but the actual requirements for the whole area being discussed may not be.
Example: Given our house being a two storey, elements of the lower roof area with no structure above couldn't be completed at the point of the frame section and had to wait until after the brick work and external upstairs had been completed to be finished. However as the minimum requirements to claim the frame stage were completed, this needed to be paid even though elements wouldn't be completed for a few months. Our private inspector noted these as the incomplete or incorrect elements in his report but gave an overall pass.
This may be the case in your area, or it may not. Or it may be the case at some point in your build. Try to ensure you and your SS have an open dialogue so you can bring your private inspectors findings to attention and put the SS response in writing so you know how and when it will be followed up.
We've also had our private inspector put back over a month on some elements by our SS as tradies weren't going as fast as expected. Better to us than paying for multiple checks!
Hi JM1911A1
Thank you for the post. I understand a 'practical' completion is what triggers the payment, but in my case, there were too many braces missing etc etc so it was actually not good enough to proceed with the inspection in the first place. Well, now I just hope that the framers are doing their best to finish up the work!