Browse Forums Building A New House Re: How often do you visit your site? 481Jan 16, 2015 9:11 am Our house finally started being built on 15th December and we have been driving past the block most days since (except for the almost 2 weeks they had off over xmas)....most days I have been left disappointed as nothing seems to be getting done other than dropping materials off....but then in 2 days it was boxed up and slab was layed yesterday...our block is only about 2 kms away from where we live now....so I think we will make daily drives to block....just not sure yet how we will go with speaking to tradies or getting access during day....as both of us are quite shy and don't like speaking to people we don't know...guess we will see how we go as build progresses Re: How often do you visit your site? 482Jan 18, 2015 2:16 am We live 2 minutes from our Build, so we have visited daily, taking photos daily, which has paid off amazingly for us. I would seriously encourage you to do it, and take photos. We also engaged a Building Inspector, and that has proven to be a lifesaver!! Keep a close eye on everything. Our neighbours, everywhere around us didn't, and some of the things we have seen on their builds are going to cost them dearly in future!! Not being alarmist, just being a realist!! Best Wishes, Bee Re: How often do you visit your site? 483Jan 18, 2015 4:43 pm BeeBee70 We also engaged a Building Inspector, and that has proven to be a lifesaver!! Best Wishes, Bee BeeBee can you provide some examples of the things you Building Inspector has picked up? Have you engaged them to do an inspection at every single stage, or just particular stages of the build? Re: How often do you visit your site? 484Feb 05, 2015 8:17 pm BeeBee70 We live 2 minutes from our Build, so we have visited daily, taking photos daily, which has paid off amazingly for us. I would seriously encourage you to do it, and take photos. We also engaged a Building Inspector, and that has proven to be a lifesaver!! Keep a close eye on everything. Our neighbours, everywhere around us didn't, and some of the things we have seen on their builds are going to cost them dearly in future!! Not being alarmist, just being a realist!! Best Wishes, Bee How did you find an inspector? What did you ask them when you asked for pricing and how did you pick who to go with? Did your home builder allow the inspector onsite often to check things? Re: How often do you visit your site? 485Feb 06, 2015 10:49 am Yes, I'd be interested to know the kind of things you saw that were picked up in daily visits, Beebee Paddington 29 @ Blue Horizon Estate (Lot 105, Wattleridge Crescent, North Kellyville) Our Build Progress Blog: http://light487.wordpress.com/ Re: How often do you visit your site? 487Feb 09, 2015 4:44 pm I visit once a day, every day. I have a habit of taking pictures everyday and taking notes on anything I notice. I work till 6.30, so by the time I reach home after checking site, it's usually 7.30-8.00 pm. I have been told off for sending the SS a text about a problem with a picture at 8:00pm. I thought he gets up before me and can get this organized before the people on site start working and snowball the problem. I have now decided to email him instead. Been also told off for noticing and reporting things to the SS. I don't go around, hey this is a problem, fix this. Rather, "hey, I noticed x,y,z, and a.". But am supposed to now wait till they give an 'ok' to go have a look and report. I don't really agree with that concept. For one, what if I notice a problem, which when they allow me to report, is too late to fix. How do you fix a frame issue after the plaster and wall has gone in? Also, being first time builders, I only point out things which look wrong to me, I might not understand if anything is critical or can be an easy fix. For example cracks, broken and heavily chipped slab. To me, that's a problem. to the SS, don't worry, moving heavy machinery can result in those chips and will be an easy fix. How am I supposed to know that? :\ Oh well... will I build again? Of course I will. But next time I know what to expect and look for. I will also take a set of ground rules and give it to the SS on first site meeting day next time. Just like I sign on a rules for what I can and can't do and what I should expect. I should also have similar expectations from them. I think the current process is perfect for people who don't get too much involved in the building process. I am not one of them. I want to be there every day to get an update on what's going on. End of the day, yes I am a visitor during the construction process, but it's my hard earned money being spent, and I would make sure that the premises constructed is worth the money I spent and will last me the years instead of falling apart in 10 years. /end rant. Re: How often do you visit your site? 488Feb 09, 2015 6:47 pm I am definitely considering employing a professional building inspector to do multiple inspections throughout the project. The ones I've looked at do "frame stage" inspections and "pre handover" inspections.. haven't inquired about the price yet.. but definitely considering it. Paddington 29 @ Blue Horizon Estate (Lot 105, Wattleridge Crescent, North Kellyville) Our Build Progress Blog: http://light487.wordpress.com/ Re: How often do you visit your site? 489Feb 10, 2015 9:44 pm Shadow warrior keep on their tails, the system volume builders have set up allows them maximum get out of jail cards, and once they have covered their mistakes; years can pass by , its standard line of occupational h, s is just an excuse. Watch your life work like a eagle or risk been taken for a ride. Re: How often do you visit your site? 490Feb 12, 2015 11:22 am Joker Shadow warrior keep on their tails, the system volume builders have set up allows them maximum get out of jail cards, and once they have covered their mistakes; years can pass by , its standard line of occupational h, s is just an excuse. Watch your life work like a eagle or risk been taken for a ride. Thanks for the supportive words Joker. Glad to know that am not the only one to feel this way. Re: How often do you visit your site? 491Feb 23, 2015 3:28 pm We visit every weekend, if my partner is working near by he will check during the week too. Our build thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70984 Re: How often do you visit your site? 492Feb 23, 2015 3:36 pm Joker Shadow warrior keep on their tails, the system volume builders have set up allows them maximum get out of jail cards, and once they have covered their mistakes; years can pass by , its standard line of occupational h, s is just an excuse. Watch your life work like a eagle or risk been taken for a ride. It's like any large scale operator really, they give you a believable answer to get you off their back and the majority of people would accept it and move on. If they really are in the wrong and you push a little harder, even if they're only marginally wrong, they'll likely get things fixed Re: How often do you visit your site? 494Mar 09, 2015 9:54 am Our site is just up the road, and due to delays in titles we are losing interest pretty quickly, hopefully they come through soon so we can actually get excited about it and then we will probably be there every day! My topic thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=76249&start=20#p1316378 Re: How often do you visit your site? 495Mar 10, 2015 2:19 pm As of this week I will be going daily most of the time. I don't want to show up while the tradies are there to often but once the build is well under way I might go through the day once in a while. Re: How often do you visit your site? 496Mar 11, 2015 7:53 pm shadowarrior I visit once a day, every day. I have a habit of taking pictures everyday and taking notes on anything I notice. I work till 6.30, so by the time I reach home after checking site, it's usually 7.30-8.00 pm. I have been told off for sending the SS a text about a problem with a picture at 8:00pm. I thought he gets up before me and can get this organized before the people on site start working and snowball the problem. I have now decided to email him instead. Been also told off for noticing and reporting things to the SS. I don't go around, hey this is a problem, fix this. Rather, "hey, I noticed x,y,z, and a.". But am supposed to now wait till they give an 'ok' to go have a look and report. I don't really agree with that concept. For one, what if I notice a problem, which when they allow me to report, is too late to fix. How do you fix a frame issue after the plaster and wall has gone in? Also, being first time builders, I only point out things which look wrong to me, I might not understand if anything is critical or can be an easy fix. For example cracks, broken and heavily chipped slab. To me, that's a problem. to the SS, don't worry, moving heavy machinery can result in those chips and will be an easy fix. How am I supposed to know that? :\ Oh well... will I build again? Of course I will. But next time I know what to expect and look for. I will also take a set of ground rules and give it to the SS on first site meeting day next time. Just like I sign on a rules for what I can and can't do and what I should expect. I should also have similar expectations from them. I think the current process is perfect for people who don't get too much involved in the building process. I am not one of them. I want to be there every day to get an update on what's going on. End of the day, yes I am a visitor during the construction process, but it's my hard earned money being spent, and I would make sure that the premises constructed is worth the money I spent and will last me the years instead of falling apart in 10 years. /end rant. Oh my - my sentiments exactly!! You have given me a great idea about my upcoming build of getting the SS to know my rules! - My hard earned money and my house - I need to make sure its done correctly and to decent standard (probably not my standard but as good as possible) Hope your build is coming along well Re: How often do you visit your site? 498Mar 13, 2015 11:03 am We go at least once a week we live 20 mins away while we are up there we water our tree out to front Building the Sheffield 25 + 2 sq Re: How often do you visit your site? 499Mar 13, 2015 8:51 pm Probably twice a week . We live 20 minutes away from our lot so it can be difficult sometimes! usually go Friday to see the weeks work and/or Wednesday! Mostly leave disappointed when nothings changed !! Still early times though, bricks up soon hopefully Re: How often do you visit your site? 500Mar 14, 2015 10:03 pm We lived 40 min away from our build.. (finished now, thank goodness) but we were visiting once sometimes twice a day there was something happening each day sometimes we were there for the big ticket items being done loved the process. 9 26108 In Victoria you cannot put a caveat on arising from a domestic building contract. 65 113529 Thanks mate. Yeah good points! Leaning towards Option 3 to get a bit extra space in the cabinets but not going too crazy high (and expensive). Would require a mini… 13 41674 |