Browse Forums Building A New House Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 41May 27, 2008 2:56 pm hi everyone,
we are building Beaumont with PD in western suburbs of melb. could anyone please pm the details of big kev? thanks Built PD Beaumont 35 - One year down in the new house.. still so much to do.. Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 42May 27, 2008 2:59 pm Just Sent - good luck. Cheers, Tim -------------------------------------------------------- Built 'Cremorne 41' with PD - Handover took place in Nov '08 http://homeforourcherubs.blogspot.com/ Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 43May 27, 2008 3:01 pm Built Porter Davis "Dromana" 2007. Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 44Jun 01, 2008 11:48 pm Hi all,
Is anyone having trouble contacting Kev? He hasn't answered any emails and I can't get through on the phone. Is he that busy perhaps? How much notice does he usually need? Izzy123 Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 45Jun 02, 2008 7:41 am Hi Izzy,
I met with Kev on Sat for our pre-plaster inspection and YES he is rather busy. I have at times found it hard to get a hold of him, but just keep trying, it eventually pays off. He shouldn't need too much notice, maybe a couple of weeks minimum. I have heard of less in some instances. Cheers, Tim -------------------------------------------------------- Built 'Cremorne 41' with PD - Handover took place in Nov '08 http://homeforourcherubs.blogspot.com/ Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 46Jun 02, 2008 9:30 am Izzys123 Hi all, Is anyone having trouble contacting Kev? He hasn't answered any emails and I can't get through on the phone. Is he that busy perhaps? How much notice does he usually need? Izzy123 Yeah, he did a pre-handover for us late last year and we wanted him to attend the final inspection for us recently. Tried calling, leaving voice mail messages, emails but he never got back to us, so we gave up and did the final without him and it left us in quite a difficult situation unfortunately, but that was our decision, we just had to go ahead as it was getting to the ridiculous stage of how long it was taking for our house to be finished.... Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 48Jun 02, 2008 5:00 pm try his mobile - keep trying till he actually answers....
Mention the homeone forum. He has promised Matt to make a special effort to help out the forum members! Built Porter Davis "Dromana" 2007. Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 49Jul 04, 2008 9:56 am guys does Kevin have a "clone" in Brisbane area? I'd like to somebody as compentant and respected as he is for our inspections.
thanks in advance. cheers Peter Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 50Jul 04, 2008 10:29 am I've used him a few times recently (pre-plaster inspection, then a re-inspection). I think he is really busy, and I gathered the impression he is keen to focus his efforts closer to where he is based (SE suburbs/Bayside, which is good for us!), rather than attempt to do everything everywhere.
Probably best to leave him a message on his phone, as he is out and about a fair bit, meaning that email isn't so good. I guess God didn't use subbies... Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 51Jul 04, 2008 10:52 am MrT I've used him a few times recently (pre-plaster inspection, then a re-inspection). I think he is really busy, and I gathered the impression he is keen to focus his efforts closer to where he is based (SE suburbs/Bayside, which is good for us!), rather than attempt to do everything everywhere. Probably best to leave him a message on his phone, as he is out and about a fair bit, meaning that email isn't so good. I was actually looking for somebody as good who is based in Brisbane area, don't think trying to get Kev up to Brissie is cost effective even if he would agree to it! cheers Peter PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev for inspections 52Jul 08, 2008 10:53 am There is no doubt that Big Kev is the best at what he does.
We have been building with PD since October last year and still the house is not finished. There has been big issues with workmanship with them. I will very soon be enlightening the forum on our journey. PD like many of the major builders don't like Kevin becuase he is sooo good at what he does. But as mentioned before you have the right to have independant inspections done. I will just give you one example with ours. We had an inspection done back on the 21st December last year that bought up several issues with front rendered feature wall. Which PD have only JUST started to address now almost seven months later. The contract period came to an end on 7th June then low and behold last Friday we looked on 24/7 to see they are now trying to claim the delays back on us due to our prehandover inspection with Kevin holding things up mind you there was still no carpet installed and many things not fixed from the previous inspections that Kevin had brought up with them. And still as of today the front rendered facade is not complete. They are claiming from the 2/6/08 to 14/6/08 for delays as our fault BUT they didn't even send a request for the C of O till the 13/6 as there was things that HAD to be fixed prior to them applying for same. PD may like to claim they are the most professional builder in Australia but for us it is absolutely the oppoiste and if we knew then what we know now we would never have started building with them in the first place. This is not to say other builders don't have issues that you have to overcome but really. They should have stayed small and more individual rather than getting greedy and getting too big too soon. They just can't handle it.!!!!! Be careful!!!!!!!!!!! I know the costs for inspections are hard but when you look at the total picture of what Kevin can and does find wrong with these houses it is well worth it. They can save thousands in problems later. Not to mention the heartache. It can be very difficult to get hold of Kevin because he is just so busy these days. I believe he has even had to employ someone to help him. But he will ring you back. Just keep trying both by email and phone. Building with Porter Davis since October 2007 - what a nightmare!!! Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspecto 54Jul 08, 2008 12:46 pm Actually, the question was this:
Izzys123 Finally we are about to start building with PD in South East Vic. To all the other Porter Davis customers, did you use Kev the building inspector & if so did he find many faults with PD workmanship? How did PD react to using Big Kev? Thnx in advance. Izzys123 Maybe you should start your own thread Peter_Oz for your question - maybe some people in Brisbane will be able to help you with an answer. Received keys to my new home on 16/5/08 Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 55Jul 08, 2008 2:24 pm bad day?
MY question was asking if there was somebody such as Kev in Brisbane. as the topic is about building inspectors in this case Kev it seems a very reasonable question to ask. If you dont know cool, no need for a narky response. chill out Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 56Jul 08, 2008 4:07 pm Not at all. Your responses (as I have read them) have actually seemed rude to the people answering the original question.
My suggestion that you make your own thread was made because you're asking about Brisbane inspectors in a thread about a Melbourne-based builder - it's possible that other Brisbane people aren't even reading this thread and so can't answer you. However, with your own thread, they now know that you are looking for a Big Kev there. Received keys to my new home on 16/5/08 Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev for inspections 57Jul 08, 2008 9:02 pm bubaloo There is no doubt that Big Kev is the best at what he does. We have been building with PD since October last year and still the house is not finished. There has been big issues with workmanship with them. I will very soon be enlightening the forum on our journey. PD like many of the major builders don't like Kevin becuase he is sooo good at what he does. But as mentioned before you have the right to have independant inspections done. I will just give you one example with ours. We had an inspection done back on the 21st December last year that bought up several issues with front rendered feature wall. Which PD have only JUST started to address now almost seven months later. The contract period came to an end on 7th June then low and behold last Friday we looked on 24/7 to see they are now trying to claim the delays back on us due to our prehandover inspection with Kevin holding things up mind you there was still no carpet installed and many things not fixed from the previous inspections that Kevin had brought up with them. And still as of today the front rendered facade is not complete. They are claiming from the 2/6/08 to 14/6/08 for delays as our fault BUT they didn't even send a request for the C of O till the 13/6 as there was things that HAD to be fixed prior to them applying for same. PD may like to claim they are the most professional builder in Australia but for us it is absolutely the oppoiste and if we knew then what we know now we would never have started building with them in the first place. This is not to say other builders don't have issues that you have to overcome but really. They should have stayed small and more individual rather than getting greedy and getting too big too soon. They just can't handle it.!!!!! Be careful!!!!!!!!!!! I know the costs for inspections are hard but when you look at the total picture of what Kevin can and does find wrong with these houses it is well worth it. They can save thousands in problems later. Not to mention the heartache. It can be very difficult to get hold of Kevin because he is just so busy these days. I believe he has even had to employ someone to help him. But he will ring you back. Just keep trying both by email and phone. Thnx Bubaloo, interesting response. We are building with PD Lifestyle. The tradies have been absolute butchers to date. Main water meter leaking, told it was fixed....still leaking (now fixed finally), window frames bowed/bent, door frames out of shape, torn sisalation, already had a defect notice from the building surveyor. So I will definately be using Kev. Are PD now asking you to pay a default payment for a late fee based on Kevs report? If so, what does Kev say about it? Or do you now have to get a solicitor? I have found Kev really hard to get hold of via email, so I will start calling the mobile. We are not yet up to lock up but they have started the plastering inside yet no bricks have been laid outside????? Hope it doesn't rain to hard....I must say though, although I never hear from the Site Supervisor he is always right on the items/faults I find & fixes them, however I shouldn't be finding them, he should. Are you building Lifestyle or Prestige? Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 58Jul 08, 2008 11:22 pm Phone is probably best for contacting him, but still tricky. One of his problems is that he can't really outsource or franchise what he's doing, as you're after HIS expertise, not someone working for him. And once you get in touch with him, then you need to co-ordinate a time with your SS - such fun!!
Good luck! We're lucky in that our builder at least seemed to be willing to take on board all his suggestions - which I assume will not always be the case... I guess God didn't use subbies... Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 59Jul 09, 2008 12:21 pm Colleen Not at all. Your responses (as I have read them) have actually seemed rude to the people answering the original question. My suggestion that you make your own thread was made because you're asking about Brisbane inspectors in a thread about a Melbourne-based builder - it's possible that other Brisbane people aren't even reading this thread and so can't answer you. However, with your own thread, they now know that you are looking for a Big Kev there. I would suggest you should look at your own responses as your tone and comments are most offensive. Again as the thread is about a building inspector, regardless of location it is appropriate and in line with the general theme of the thread. If you don't know the answer then kindly keep your nose out of it. The fact that my question does not sit well with you is unfortunate but not all are as disposed as you are. good day to you - smile, life is too short to be narky all the time Re: PD Customers - Did you use Big Kev the Building Inspector? 60Jul 09, 2008 12:25 pm We are building a prestige home. It is the Brigdeport 38 but we have extended the rumpus wall out by two metres side and rear. So the bedrooms at the back are much bigger. And added another two car garage to it. This is in no way where we have been having the issues.
The main reason in building such a large house was because my mother has moved in with us as she is no longer able to live alone and we needed to do the her space, kids space our space thing. As I say I will definately be doing my own link for you all. We have asked I don't know how many times for our ss to address the things like a broken meter box cover, badly patched/painted walls. Sorry there I go again!!! I am a bit tired and emotional about it all at present. Kevin is worth persuing. Trust Me!!!!!!!! Building with Porter Davis since October 2007 - what a nightmare!!! I would send it to the certifier who is technically your representative and working on your behalf not the builder's 1 2609 Plasterboard Gyprock is very popular as a reveal liner these days. You need to provide a way of supporting it, we use a modified timber reveal or bracket. You will be… 1 5092 Adam Baines Grad Cert Bldg Surv / Grad Dip Bldg Surv / MSAAPA Accredited Building Professional APB20210035 Builders Lic 183023 Pest Control Lic 84868 Ph 0412202336 PO… 3 47691 |