Hi all,
Has anyone worked with or knows much about NSD homes. We found:
Pluses:
- higher quality homes than the usual
- Architecural designs
- Keen to make ammendments
Negatives:
- Very opaque (crappy web site, little brochureware)
- Not much is known about them
Any insights?
The Siatros
WatchingStarredHistory
MembersPros
Browse Forums Building A New House  10 Feb 2007 31 Melbourne Junior Member Re: NSD Homes 2Mar 11, 2007 12:15 pm I agree completely.....I actually emailed to them my land size details and specifield that I was after a double-storey home and asked them to send me the 'appropriate' homes that would best suit our size block.
Well, I had no idea that I was going to get 5 glossy A4 sheets of NOTHING. So, my next step was to actually ring up one of the display centres closest to us (like about 100 miles away.....) to ask them what double storey homes they had on display and what width and length they were. Based on the information (little) she gave us we went down there. The two double-storey houses we saw were very unimpressive in my opinion. They were extremely 'display' and very 'faddy'. But what I found so strange was how cagey they are about not supplying the public with floor-plans of their houses! When I asked if they had any floor-plans for us to take away, her reply was 'oh, we don't give out our floor-plans'. What??? Every other display building company that we visited does. I just saw that as an indication as to the type of building company they would be like to deal with. Evasive & arrogant came to mind. I have since spoken to someone who has a close friend building with NSD and they said that quote " it has been the biggest mistake of their lives". I suppose the point to take away from this exprience is that if a building company cannot be up front with you about something as simple as supplying a floor plan to the public who wish to view their homes, then make a mental note to stay as far away from them as possible. 10 Feb 2007 4 New Poster Re: NSD Homes 5Mar 12, 2007 10:54 pm I just peeked at the website - I love the facades - but without a floor plan I wouldn't bother going any further. Best thing about the internet is access to floorplans - you decide what you are interested in before wasting time walking through house after house. Different 6Mar 15, 2007 1:54 pm Hi everyone
Yes - they certainly look like they do unique homes and I'd agree some floorplans would be handy on their site. Had not heard of them before but added them to the BB list. Also - they might email you floorplans if you ask - worth a shot. Regards 10 Feb 2007 31 Melbourne Junior Member Re: NSD Homes 7Mar 15, 2007 7:28 pm Bestbuilder, I did ask them to email me floorplans - but their reply was that 'we don't email floorplans'.
NSD will not: mail, email, or hand-out any of their floor-plans. And they would not discuss floor-plans with me over the phone. I think ASIO would be less secretive, and certainly better to deal with. Sign before you like us 8Mar 19, 2007 10:28 pm Sounds like a display home would be out of the question.... 28 Mar 2007 3 New Poster NSD and plans 9Mar 28, 2007 7:42 pm Yes.. NSD were like this with us as well. They would not give out the floorplans. But they did end up spending alot of time with us discussing and drawing our ideas for customising their existing house to our requirements.
Once we paid the $700 or so to get started, we got quite a bit of detail from them. Their designs are pretty nice, maybe one of the reasons they dont just give them out.. but they are a bit overprotective. We are just about to start building with them and I will have alot to say shortly. In some ways they have been very good, and in other ways not so good. I will try and be objective. Building can be very emotional I find! The interesting thing is that our next door are having a similar house built by Carlisle. So I am keeping notes and comparing. 29 Apr 2007 1 New Poster Re: NSD Homes 11Apr 29, 2007 3:19 pm Very interesting reading this is about nsd, we recently purchased a block of land by the water . We went through the homes at nsd and were very impressed. Had them meet us at our block, said they would build us a home, we then faxed them the information and that was 6 weeks ago. I can not get in contact with them, they do not reply to my calls, so after reading the stories on this company, we will not be building with them 28 Mar 2007 3 New Poster Re: NSD Homes 13Aug 20, 2007 12:25 am We are building a modified Albers.
Our experience to date has been 7/10. The house is about half way through. We have had multiple issues, most of which we pointed out and have been fixed. All in all it is looking good, but so it should because we are paying top dollar. I want to wait until the job is complete before giving any opinion. I will be publishing a *detailed* comparison as to how NSD stacks up against Carlisle Homes who is building next door at the same time. This comparison will be very interesting for those deciding if the extra $ are worth it. However I will provide some suggestions at this point. 1) Get *ALL* items on your tender fully cost itemised. Especially earthworks. It will help when working out credits. 2) Request weekly status reports. We only get a status when we call them. 3) Get an independent inspection at multiple points during construction. Especially lockup. These have helped us. Inspections 14Aug 24, 2007 12:42 am Hi PatP
I'm curious as to the sort of items your building inpection picked up. Can you elaborate? Also - How many are you planning to undertake? This information may assist others. Best regards 28 Mar 2007 3 New Poster Re: Inspections 15Aug 29, 2007 12:32 am ok.
We got a "pre-plaster" inspection. We will get at least another on completion. The overall assessment was that the frame was "of good quality". The list below were some things needing attention. Alot of the brickwork was substandard. The feature bricks at the front and back of all places. They have been *removed* and *replaced* as a result. Broken bricks, levels out, gaps between bricks. All the brickwork has morter all over the face. Very messy. Far more messy than *all* of the other houses going up in the area. They say they "acid wash and pressure clean" them so I will reserve judgement. Much of the brickwork overhangs the slab by too much. I am yet to see that fixed. Some frame corners were not "blocked". This will cause cracking in future. Some foam and sisalation was not as complete as it should have been. I think this has been fixed. Sheet flooring not nailed enough. 2 of the walls were out of plumb. Minor issues with bracing. Ask for references and speak to them. If they are defensive or try to avoid the request, walk. 1 8921 Maybe. What if you choose a builder, spend months planning, pay deposit, get contracts and you don't like the clauses? I'd judges short listing some builders and… 13 11126 after what we have been through I wish we. pulled out at the first little warnign signs early on. Lots of people with our builder are out hundreds of thousands of… 37 11158 |
