Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Apr 08, 2009 10:14 am Hi all, We just had our Pre-handover inspection done yesterday and are very happy that no major issues were highlighted. We do still have somewhat of a dilemma. Our SS has told us that all the issues highlighted inside of the house will be fixed today and we can settle tomorrow. However the following issues will not be fixed by tomorrow, but the builder is willing to give us in writing that they will be fixed within a week after the settlement. 1. The brick sill to the front entry doorway is missing split bricks on the RHS. The mortar that has been used to replace the split bricks is 30m thick. The maximum exposed mortar on a dwelling is 20mm, as per AS 3700. 2. First downpipe RHS has been dinted in three locations and needs to be replaced. 3. All window rubbers that are short of the bricks on the sills require a UV rated black silicon to be applied to ensure that the windows are sealed, to maintain five star energy rating and to stop water ingress. 4. The following windows are scratched on this dwelling and need to be replaced: a) 2 Windows in the study. b) One window in the lounge. We really want to make good use of the easter weekend and want to settle tomorrow. Also, with our lease ending in a week, we might be pushing it too close if the settlement gets delayed. I would like to know what would you do in this situation. Would you wait for the builder to fix these issues and then settle? Or would you be happy if you have it in writing from them that they will fix it by x date and settle now? Thanks. Built PD Beaumont 35 - One year down in the new house.. still so much to do.. Re: Would you Settle?!?!?! 2Apr 08, 2009 10:19 am If there is still stuff to fix do not pay the full amount until it is done . Withhold some so that this is his true incentive to fix things quickly not just a letter promising to do so. If hes confident it will be done next week tell him fine we will pay you next week when its DONE Mike 2/3 of the way thru the build Re: Would you Settle?!?!?! 3Apr 08, 2009 11:51 am Personally I wouldn't settle. I would wait till all those items are fixed before signing and paying in full. If it's only going to be fixed in a week, I guess what's another week? That way you move in knowing everything is completed. Building our dream home - H3nley Ascot 384 Painting done - electrical, alarm and tiling being completed!! viewtopic.php?f=31&t=17939 Re: Would you Settle?!?!?! 4Apr 08, 2009 12:05 pm I will not settle. Mu builder has said the same thing. The reason is that after settlement, you will be chasing the head office and also the tradie and the sire supervisour si out of the loop. I have got an independent inspection report done after the final inspection and the inspector picked up over 160 items. So don't rush to settle as it will casue you money later. behw Re: Would you Settle?!?!?! 5Apr 08, 2009 12:14 pm Macca's home Personally I wouldn't settle. I would wait till all those items are fixed before signing and paying in full. If it's only going to be fixed in a week, I guess what's another week? That way you move in knowing everything is completed. Agree with Macca. Building Thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=13002 Site start: 8th July 2009 Handover: 11/12/2009! 5 months total build time. 40 sqs of luxuary...Bliss! Re: Would you Settle?!?!?! 6Apr 08, 2009 1:09 pm Thanks for your input everyone I was just hoping to hear a story where the builder actually did come back and fix all the issues post-handover atleast the ones that they have signed and agreed on, but i guess this is not the advisable way to go. Built PD Beaumont 35 - One year down in the new house.. still so much to do.. Re: Would you Settle?!?!?! 7Apr 08, 2009 1:22 pm Yes, I would. It's minor stuff. I would ask the supervisor for an agreement in writing that you would get half the liquidated damages after 7 days if they are not fixed. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Would you Settle?!?!?! 8Apr 08, 2009 2:35 pm I would like to say no, I wouldn't settle, but I would and I did. I didn't however get a signed list saying that things would get fixed. The things like scratched windows/baths etc, we came to a monetary value that was taken off the final payment amount. The other stuff in Kev's report (is Kev your inspector too?) Kev said could wait till after we settled, as it is all building code stuff that is wrong no matter when and the builder is still liable to fix it as we had furnished him with a copy of the report before settlement. So I have put all the things from Kev's report that weren't fixed before handover on our 3 month maintenance list. At least we are in our house now so I feel like we have the upper hand, and we can always threaten to go to the BCA (or whatever it's called) if they are not fixed. Sorry that was a bit long-winded hope it made sense, let me know if you have any queries about what we did... "Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions." — Elizabeth Gilbert Living in our new house. Currently scaping the land. Re: Would you Settle?!?!?! 9Apr 08, 2009 2:52 pm Your list is very small compared to some that I have seen and as mentioned it's all relatively minor stuff. Personally, I would settle. Make good use of the long Easter weekend and have a bit of leeway before your lease expires. The main thing is not to have too high expectations that the things will be fixed within a week and if you don't mind it dragging out a bit, then do the move now. So long as you have it all in writing it will get repaired eventually. In the meantime you will be able to enjoy your beautiful new home Blog: http://bluemistkids.blogspot.com "Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, and professionals built the Titanic." Re: Would you Settle?!?!?! 10Apr 08, 2009 5:08 pm We are considering settling tomorrow, provided we get it in writing from PD that they will fix the remaining defects by x date. Our SS has said that she will have 80% of the issues fixed today and tomorrow morn (most of which were paint touch-ups, hinges replacement, installation of deadlock etc.), if that is not the case then we will re-consider handing them the final cheque tomorrow. @donuts: Our inspector was Darren, and I have spoked to him regarding this situation as well. According to him, as long as PD gives us something in writing stating that they will fix the issues, we can accept the handover as they will have to honor it. @ed: thanks for your suggestion, we will try and get it in writing that if they cannot fix the issues by a certain date they will have to pay x amount in damages. @Hels: Hopefully we will be able to settle tomorrow so that we can make use of the long weekend and Will try to keep our expectations realistic in terms of the time frames Built PD Beaumont 35 - One year down in the new house.. still so much to do.. Re: Would you Settle?!?!?! 11Apr 08, 2009 5:32 pm I would be careful about settling, with outstanding defects. We have just rejected our house for the third settlement as the items raised by us and Kev have not been fixed. Our concern is that once the final cheque is handed over, you then become part of the maintenance program and it may be harded to have all your issues addressed. Whilst our SS has been great and actually quite understanding, the companies (window and plaster) seem to think if you ignore the problem it will eventually go away. If the builder cannot complete the house to your satisfaction, why should you give them the money It may be a case of giving an inch and being taken for a mile! I wonder how many people have accepted their house with defects, just because they were over the whole process. Good luck with tomorrow, which ever way you decide to go. PP Re: Would you Settle?!?!?! 12Apr 08, 2009 6:21 pm For me the issue is - how much have you got invested in your new home already, versus the small amount you will be holding over their heads while you can't get into your new home. Give them time to finish the job properly... many suppliers and service providers do that really well... I would move in... with acknowledgement in writing for the outstanding issues. Ed "ECOECO" At 'EcoEco', we design windows, we design the best windows, we do it for you, so that when you’re happy we are happy. Tel. 1800 326 326 Re: Would you Settle?!?!?! 13Apr 09, 2009 12:17 pm Thanks for your replies Purple Patch and Ed. We have thought over this quite a bit, and the deciding factor for us was the same thing that Ed has pointed out. The final cheque is only a fraction of what we have already paid the builder. Keeping in mind the interest we are paying currently and the extra rent we will have to pay over the next 2 weeks, we think it might be better to move in now and get the outstanding defects in writing from them. They are not major defects anyways, so we are hoping we should be fine. We have our inspection with the SS today at 3 and as long as all the other issues have been fixed (fingers crossed), we will be happy to settle. Built PD Beaumont 35 - One year down in the new house.. still so much to do.. Re: Would you Settle?!?!?! 14Apr 09, 2009 12:26 pm MKR Thanks for your replies Purple Patch and Ed. We have thought over this quite a bit, and the deciding factor for us was the same thing that Ed has pointed out. The final cheque is only a fraction of what we have already paid the builder. Keeping in mind the interest we are paying currently and the extra rent we will have to pay over the next 2 weeks, we think it might be better to move in now and get the outstanding defects in writing from them. They are not major defects anyways, so we are hoping we should be fine. We have our inspection with the SS today at 3 and as long as all the other issues have been fixed (fingers crossed), we will be happy to settle. I think that is an excellent decision. Good luck for today, please let us know how you go... how exciting!! Blog: http://bluemistkids.blogspot.com "Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, and professionals built the Titanic." Re: Would you Settle?!?!?! 15Apr 09, 2009 12:33 pm Hels MKR Thanks for your replies Purple Patch and Ed. We have thought over this quite a bit, and the deciding factor for us was the same thing that Ed has pointed out. The final cheque is only a fraction of what we have already paid the builder. Keeping in mind the interest we are paying currently and the extra rent we will have to pay over the next 2 weeks, we think it might be better to move in now and get the outstanding defects in writing from them. They are not major defects anyways, so we are hoping we should be fine. We have our inspection with the SS today at 3 and as long as all the other issues have been fixed (fingers crossed), we will be happy to settle. I think that is an excellent decision. Good luck for today, please let us know how you go... how exciting!! Thanks Hels. I am feeling a bit nervous now Built PD Beaumont 35 - One year down in the new house.. still so much to do.. I thought this would be a popular question but I haven't been able to find any similar posts. Perhaps I'm wording my searches wrong? When you have car insurance and the… 0 6552 Bought in Nov 21 at the height of the market (classic). Good area, atrocious floor plan. BUT has land out to the left-hand side that we can extend out on (see second… 0 8727 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 39262 |