Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Oct 26, 2008 4:07 pm Hey guys, just wanted some advice from whomever wants to give it...
We're currently building our first home in Brisbane, have gone with a specialised pole home builder (building on a sloping site), with a one off design. After spending a year going through the design and approvals process, we started on site in June (well, they were two weeks late and i ended up arranging for an excavator to do the earthworks myself), and so far we've had a total of 14 weeks with nothing done. We had 7 straight weeks with no progress after the footings and posts went up, and now we have the frame and roof trusses up and have been sitting around for another 4 straight weeks with absolutely nothing happening. What's worse is that we currently live no more than 500m away from the site. So frustrating, being able to see the lack of work every day! Contractually, we have a completion date of 20/12/08 plus delays for wet weather (of which we've had maybe 6 actual wet days when they should have been on site), so there's no way they can claim those. Where do we stand??!!?!?! What can we do? On top of this, I arranged a variation to have a deck extended (almost doubled in size), which i arranged verbally, in writing and even provided the design and sketch up for the builder. I asked four times for an official variation statement and estimate of costs prior to the work being done, and then lo and behold, two weeks later, they just went ahead and built the bloody thing. Am i obliged to pay for that? i still don't even know how much extra it's going to cost!! Help!! Re: Massive delays, no communication, threatening to jump! Help! 2Oct 26, 2008 4:44 pm oh my goodness, as if this process isn't stressful enough without that sort of nonsense. Did you get testimonials from any of his former clients?
I can't tell you what the right thing to do is, but if it were me, I'd be having a chat to my solicitor by now. Especially about the deck. Perhaps get some quotes from other builders for what they think the deck is worth and then don't pay anything beyond what seems to be a 'reasonable' price. Eeek. Good luck with getting it sorted out. Re: Massive delays, no communication, threatening to jump! Help! 3Oct 26, 2008 4:46 pm and another thing.... please don't jump!!! Re: Massive delays, no communication, threatening to jump! Help! 4Oct 26, 2008 4:59 pm asimpson,
Sad to hear about your predicament. All sorts of questions come to mind. Firstly, do you have a liquidated damages clause and how much is it? Secondly, do you think the amount of works already done exceed or equal your progress payments? I wouldn't have organised the earthworks myself. In your quest to speed things up, you may have put the builder off-side. With regard to the deck, be glad they build it the way you wanted. They could have just as easily have built it the original way. I wouldn't worry about the pricing. The builder needs to have a signed acceptance to a variation. So you have the upper hand. I'd pay them whatever you thought was a reasonable amount. And I'm expect them to charge you just this amount. From what I've read, the builder has progressed in bursts and there has been progress. I would keep in touch and give them every opportunity to finish your house in December. Keep the pressure on, but even if your house is three months late, if it's want you want then all will be good in the end. Cheers, Casa Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Massive delays, no communication, threatening to jump! Help! 5Oct 26, 2008 7:45 pm Thanks for the quick replies all.
I guess it's just a case of 'wait and see'. it would really be good if my builder actually returned my calls or let me know if something they promised would happen wouldn't be happening when it should... i think i'll be paying a visit to the BSA head office (conveniently located a short walk from my work), sometime in the next week to try and get some guidance. still not convinced about the variations... Just to makea point about this, an approach that some people have found sucessful in negotiating these rises down, Is to provide some workings to the builder, specifying… 4 81667 In fairness nobody gave a crap about the ACCC and the gag clauses continued in the pro forma templates of a few other builders after the ACCC took on Wisdom, and more… 19 73284 While i was across this behavior's pre appointing my (the builders) surveyor, I did tell the builder i was aware what they were doing and while i disagreed with it, they… 13 14552 |