Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Porter Davis homes 10701Dec 13, 2014 1:01 pm Withlove - we have temp fencing up pre-build (KDR) which will be taken away when they are ready for the site.. they seemed uninterested in reimbursing us for fencing. They also asked us to remove some of the side fencing to make it easier for them to access the side of our house.. that said, they didn't offer to reimburse that. Re power pits.. with a KDR, eastern burbs Melbourne, pit install which I think was by powercor, was ~$2900 5m from the pole. They were a bit hopeless with timing - they said "20 days turn around" which was in effect 20 days from when they bothered to process our paperwork (a good 12 business days after it was sent) and then putting in the pit, 20 days from processing our payment, which once again, was a good 12 business days from when payment was provided. Pit (single phase) looks to have been hurriedly installed and both us and our neighbour have called to complain regarding the mess they left and that they didn't properly fill around the pit cover, leaving a massive tripping hazard (about 10-15cm deep) on the footpath. We're having fun trying to figure out what PD have applied for on our behalf and what we need to do. We don't seem to have storm water connected on our block, but it sounds like someone has applied to council to connect it.. so maybe we don't need to do it? Would be nice if PD could get back to us so we can contact our plumber who will be on site Monday. Their initial advice was call the water authority.. not very useful when I just need to know what PD themselves have done. Better get back to the landscape planning Build blog - http://hasslingthehoff.wordpress.com/ Re: Porter Davis homes 10702Dec 13, 2014 4:21 pm Pungentia Re power pits.. with a KDR, eastern burbs Melbourne, pit install which I think was by powercor, was ~$2900 5m from the pole. They were a bit hopeless with timing - they said "20 days turn around" which was in effect 20 days from when they bothered to process our paperwork (a good 12 business days after it was sent) and then putting in the pit, 20 days from processing our payment, which once again, was a good 12 business days from when payment was provided. Pit (single phase) looks to have been hurriedly installed and both us and our neighbour have called to complain regarding the mess they left and that they didn't properly fill around the pit cover, leaving a massive tripping hazard (about 10-15cm deep) on the footpath. Thanks for the heads up! Re: Porter Davis homes 10704Dec 16, 2014 6:20 pm Can someone please enlighten me on asset protection permits? I have obtained one from the council for the demolition but have noticed in the tender document that PD has a provision for it as well in the local government charges. Why do I need to pay for two permits? The permit that PD is charging is not something that I will not be able get back following the build. I had assumed that the builder would be responsible for any damage to the council's assets during the build. I am completely puzzled that I have to apply for two asset protection permits! Re: Porter Davis homes 10705Dec 16, 2014 6:29 pm newbiekenobi Can someone please enlighten me on asset protection permits? I have obtained one from the council for the demolition but have noticed in the tender document that PD has a provision for it as well in the local government charges. Why do I need to pay for two permits? The permit that PD is charging is not something that I will not be able get back following the build. I had assumed that the builder would be responsible for any damage to the council's assets during the build. I am completely puzzled that I have to apply for two asset protection permits! We are in the same boat, but have just done the demolition so had our own asset protection permit for that. In our instance, the demolition has destroyed half of the cross over and a few bits of paving.. We watched the demo guys at work and there was really no other way around accessing the property, so we aren't annoyed with them, it was bound to happen no matter who did the job. Council has advised that our asset protection funds won't be refunded until the work is done to rectify, which is fair enough, and there is no point doing that pre building work. I'm not sure if we can get PD to not get their permit, and what risks and liabilities that may leave us with that we may not have otherwise.. I'd be interested too if anyone else has any suggestion as to two permits and legal implications? Build blog - http://hasslingthehoff.wordpress.com/ Re: Porter Davis homes 10706Dec 16, 2014 6:36 pm Pungentia We are in the same boat, but have just done the demolition so had our own asset protection permit for that. In our instance, the demolition has destroyed half of the cross over and a few bits of paving.. We watched the demo guys at work and there was really no other way around accessing the property, so we aren't annoyed with them, it was bound to happen no matter who did the job. Council has advised that our asset protection funds won't be refunded until the work is done to rectify, which is fair enough, and there is no point doing that pre building work. I'm not sure if we can get PD to not get their permit, and what risks and liabilities that may leave us with that we may not have otherwise.. I'd be interested too if anyone else has any suggestion as to two permits and legal implications? Thanks for letting me know. What you are saying makes a lot of sense. In fact, council had recommended that the APP follow-on as it's pointless repairing something that will be damaged again. They said one permit is enough as long as it has the builders name (plus the demolition company) and it's the builders responsibility to repair any damage after the demolition. The problem I am having is that PD is not on the same page for obvious reasons. Re: Porter Davis homes 10707Dec 16, 2014 6:36 pm We are in the same boat. No point getting the paving repaired. Thinking of leaving the asset protection with the council in place until the build is compete. Then get it repaired once and then seek refund from council. Re: Porter Davis homes 10708Dec 16, 2014 8:12 pm We too had same problem last month. Council said there was a small section damaged on crossover from demo and won't give money back until repaired. But PD also applying for protection permit which I suppose covers other thing that might get damaged like the tree or further footpath crossover sections. Seems unfair though that we will end up with the bill essentially as our $2k bond may never be returned in full or part. Here's hoping it will return one day in the future. Building Porter Davis Sandringham 45 + alfresco + extra dining room Melbourne Inner East http://knockdownrebuildjourney.blogspot.com.au/ Re: Porter Davis homes 10709Dec 18, 2014 10:05 am Mali02 Does anyone know the email address for the new home care office? Thanks Hi Mali02 the email is newhomecare@porterdavis.com.au. Regards, Joanne Porter Davis Homes Questions? Call 1800PORTER Mon - Fri 9am-8pm Sat - Sun 10am-4pm info@porterdavis.com.au http://blog.porterdavis.com.au/ http://www.porterdavishomes.com.au Re: Porter Davis homes 10711Dec 18, 2014 4:58 pm Today we received the proposal from PD to fix the drainage issues that we have been 'flooded with' since site start. If you have the knowledge/qualifications to give me accurate advice please do because I really don't want to get this wrong. Please don't make uneducated comments. http://bendigowaldorf.blogspot.com.au/2 ... eived.html Christmas office and display open hours 10712Dec 19, 2014 9:23 am Hi all, Christmas is fast approaching so I thought I would let you know about our office and display hours over the Christmas break! Our offices will be closed from Tuesday 23 December 12pm and reopen on Monday 5 January 9am. For anyone already in your home, should you have an emergency where you need to contact us, you can call us on 1300 744 833, however please note this is for emergency situations only. Construction teams will be starting back on various dates through January with full teams expected back in the last week Jan/early Feb. For those of you still in the search of your new home, or still looking for design inspiration, our Armstrong, Aston, Williams Landing and Berwick Waters display centres will be open right through the break, closed only on the 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January. All of our other display centres will close at 5pm on Sunday 21 December and reopen on Saturday 3 January 11am. World of Style will also be open right through the break, excluding the 24, 25, 26 December and 1 January. From all at Porter Davis we wish you a very safe and happy Christmas and wonderful New Year. Regards Joanne Porter Davis Homes Questions? Call 1800PORTER Mon - Fri 9am-8pm Sat - Sun 10am-4pm info@porterdavis.com.au http://blog.porterdavis.com.au/ http://www.porterdavishomes.com.au Re: Porter Davis homes 10713Dec 20, 2014 7:40 am tlblhayward Today we received the proposal from PD to fix the drainage issues that we have been 'flooded with' since site start. If you have the knowledge/qualifications to give me accurate advice please do because I really don't want to get this wrong. Please don't make uneducated comments. http://bendigowaldorf.blogspot.com.au/2 ... eived.html TBL having had a look at your blog, it looks like they are at least presenting you with a solution which is hopefully workable. I'm not a plumber, so I won't, as you say, make an uneducated comment, but we have come from a home with substantial damp problems which was a leading factor in us wanting/needing to KDR. Our solution, in that instance was to ag drain the perimeter of the house. I'm particularly concerned we may end up with similar issues to you. Do you have a plumber or surveyor in your corner? Build blog - http://hasslingthehoff.wordpress.com/ Re: Porter Davis homes 10714Dec 23, 2014 6:58 pm Check out some photos of the other house that PD is building in Bendigo. It is a long, long way ahead of us even though it stated two months behind... http://bendigowaldorf.blogspot.com/2014 ... ndigo.html Re: Porter Davis homes 10715Dec 23, 2014 8:16 pm Hi all just wondering if anyone knows what bricks are in the category 1, I found this list online but it is dated back in 2013 so I am not sure how current it is Homestead Buff Homestead Red Gum Homestead Red Access Cream Access Ruby Settlers Parchment Re: Porter Davis homes 10716Dec 23, 2014 8:21 pm Hi all, I just thought I’d share my experience with Porter Davis for those considering building with them, or those unfortunate enough to already be locked in. Beyond the sales consultant stage, my experience has been frustrating, disappointing and upsetting. Firstly, my building co-ordinator has treated me with complete disrespect and contempt from day one. She picks and chooses which questions to answer – she either completely ignores my question or provides some generic answer that hardly relates to my question. On a number of occasions she has spoken to me very rudely and taken to blaming me for any delays in the process (read: the six month lead in from initial deposit to site start) when I have promptly addressed all requests. Secondly, I have not received a single correspondence from my site supervisor since my build commenced on 21 October. Despite receiving invoices for THREE stages, I have not been invited for a single inspection before being required to make my progress payments. Further, I have only received one phone call and one email from my building coordinator in relation to build progress since my build commenced, despite the promise for ‘weekly communication and updates’. Thirdly, of the minimal communication I have received from my building coordinator, I have been issued with two building variations. I have not been consulted in relation to these building variations in any shape or form. I simply receive an email saying ‘please sign and return at your earliest convenience’. Note that both of these building variations involved additional costs for me. That is, PD were making changes to my signed contract and increasing the price without informing me or consulting me and expecting that I would be okay with this... The first building variation was because in the four months PD had to develop my construction drawings, they were still unable to correctly site my house as required by the developer (and my BC constantly assured me that 'these people are experts, they know what they're doing'... when I questioned things that seemed slightly off)... The second building variation was because PD appears to operate as silos and lack the ability to communicate across departments. This meant a re-establishment survey was conducted (I have no evidence to support that this was actually done) when it was absolutely and completely unnecessary. In a phone conversation, my BC agreed that PD would wear the cost of the re-establishment survey. Then two months later, I receive the bill. Conveniently, I received this variation just a short time before PD closed up shop today for the Christmas period and there is no one available to contact and discuss. In addition to receiving this building variation today, I received my ‘lock-up stage’ invoice at 11am. According to PD, ‘as soon as the brickwork is complete and external doors are hung the home is at “lockup stage”'. On checking the build at 5.30pm today, the brickwork is NOT complete; there are several areas around the home that still need to be completed. Someone at PD must be a little bit confused. Or perhaps PD has conveniently sent out invoices to all customers whose homes were close to completing a stage today, so the money can sit in PD’s account over the Christmas period and they can earn some more interest! At this stage, I would not recommend PD to anyone. In fact, their complete lack of respect and regard for the customer is quite appalling and no customer paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars for their new home deserves to be treated in the manner which I have been. I think their apparent lack of ability to communicate both within PD and with the customer speaks miles about who they are as a company, and they stand for nothing more than making as much money as possible. Respecting the dream – perhaps PD could teach their staff a little bit of respect for the customer! Re: Porter Davis homes 10717Dec 24, 2014 4:53 pm Jackula Just had our PCI, 3 major outstanding issues we still disagree on (blogged). This is what I'm most worried about - Porter Davis said they don't have to comply with the Building Code of Australia, they only thing they care about is an approval from their building surveyor!! They actually used those words??? What was the position of the person who said it? I'd love to see if they'd put that in writing..... If they are using a building surveyor who doesn't apply the BCA and relevant Australian Standards then I'd be thinking very long and hard before I selected that builder. Obviously it's complete rubbish. Re: Porter Davis homes 10718Dec 24, 2014 6:54 pm RedHotMike Jackula Just had our PCI, 3 major outstanding issues we still disagree on (blogged). This is what I'm most worried about - Porter Davis said they don't have to comply with the Building Code of Australia, they only thing they care about is an approval from their building surveyor!! They actually used those words??? What was the position of the person who said it? I'd love to see if they'd put that in writing..... If they are using a building surveyor who doesn't apply the BCA and relevant Australian Standards then I'd be thinking very long and hard before I selected that builder. Obviously it's complete rubbish. It is, but it's all been sorted now (they quickly caved when I asked for them to quote that in writing). We've lived here for about two months now and so far so good! Build quality is superb and we have a very short list for the 3 month maintenance. Our biggest complaint post-handover are with their electrical contractors: ARGUS & L&O Technologies - same company, different name. There just seems to be endless amounts of electrical issues and they won't return calls. Re: Porter Davis homes 10719Dec 24, 2014 9:12 pm RedHotMike Jackula Just had our PCI, 3 major outstanding issues we still disagree on (blogged). This is what I'm most worried about - Porter Davis said they don't have to comply with the Building Code of Australia, they only thing they care about is an approval from their building surveyor!! They actually used those words??? What was the position of the person who said it? I'd love to see if they'd put that in writing..... If they are using a building surveyor who doesn't apply the BCA and relevant Australian Standards then I'd be thinking very long and hard before I selected that builder. Obviously it's complete rubbish. We had the same situation! When I asked them to repeat the statement, well, they changed their tune quick smart! Re: Porter Davis homes 10720Dec 24, 2014 11:35 pm emily14 In addition to receiving this building variation today, I received my ‘lock-up stage’ invoice at 11am. According to PD, ‘as soon as the brickwork is complete and external doors are hung the home is at “lockup stage”'. On checking the build at 5.30pm today, the brickwork is NOT complete; there are several areas around the home that still need to be completed. Someone at PD must be a little bit confused. Or perhaps PD has conveniently sent out invoices to all customers whose homes were close to completing a stage today, so the money can sit in PD’s account over the Christmas period and they can earn some more interest! Same thing happened to me with the fixing stage invoice, invoice sent at 11:15am... Office closed that day at 12pm... The fixing stage isnt even close to complete, heaps of doors, skirtings and arcitraves not installed. I reckon ur right, PD wanting to collect interest over the holiday period. Three options 1 Ask the liquidator 2 Find another PD customer and ask the source of their report 3 Pay for new report 3 14150 I would never build with Fowler homes. I built with them in 2021 and till date maintenance issues are pending. All their existing trades and businesses don't work with… 14 110963 Hi there! Putting the feelers out there for those who have (or almost) built with Arli homes! Interested in your experiences who've built from their stock home designs… 0 27162 |