On the one hand it's a good sign because it means we really are close to getting our house but on the other I'm a bit twitchy that once paid the imperative for our builder to put right our concerns is removed (as is the imperative to get us to handover on time).
Our ss is good and generally responsive and we raised our concerns at the last inspection, but these are mostly matters that originated before contract signing and the ss wasn't able to advise about them.
Briefly, the main concerns were that we explained ages ago that we'd be installing Karndean vinyl flooring in much of the house and that the slab had to be finished to a suitable standard for that product. We got a verbal assurance that it would. A few weeks ago, the flooring contractor visited the site and reported back to me that the slab requires preparing and slapped an extra $2,300 on the quote. Incidentally, our house is a double split (in other words three levels), and in some rooms on the edge of a split – the concrete floor doesn't extend all the way to the edge of the wall, but stops a few centimetres short of the skirting, leaving wooden beams with gaps between them to the level below (this is hard to explain so I'll try to dig out a photo if I get a chance). This doesn't look like a good finish and raises insulation/draught concerns. Our ss reckons this is fairly standard with split homes.
So, do we pay up quickly as per the other invoices while reminding the builder of these matters, or do we ask for clarification first? We don't want to delay handover, but equally, we don't want to lose the main bargaining chip we have i.e. paying the invoice.
Cheers all, Jim
Jim,
I dont know how your payments work but i would not be paying the final payment until you are 100%. It appears in your post that they haven't finished your house. If it was me i would be paying the final payment on handover day- not 1 day earlier. Like you said, once they have their money why would they come back ?
Just my 2 cents worth.
Katherine