Hey,
I'm a new member, but I've been reading here for a little while.
I'm building in Albury and would like to vent my frustrations over the process of home building.
In late January I placed a deposit with my builder and received a recepit stating a "late" april site start. In late Feb, I received a letter with an "april site start guarantee", signed by the sales rep and the sales manager.
In Late march, I received a phone call saying there were delays with the site surveys and my site start date was now pushed into May. I was pretty shocked and depressed by the news and I emailed my CSO for further clarification. She said that she'd pass my question to her supervisor and they'd contact me. Well, a week passed without hearing anything, so I visited their office.
They apologised and the CSO called the supervisor. She said that she tried to contact me (they have my contact information - three different phone numbers with voicemail and two email addresses), but she said the delays were due to XYZ acronym in the site survey and unfortunately it's resulted in a delay to my site start. So, I left barely any extra information, two vague apologies and added frustration.
Anyway, I've received the contract Easter Thursday morning, to be signed tomorrow evening - the first day after the holidays. My site start date is listed as the 22nd of may, so it's basically an entire months delay on their guarantee.
One of the diagrams in my contract is for a 25 sq home, but my plan is a 20. I expect some mistakes, but that's a bit careless.
Added to this, are my furstrations during the sales period. They've continually changed their mind about certain aspects of the process:
Solar hot water:
$700 upgrade in NSW.
Will have to check with sales . .
$2000 upgrade in NSW.
Front entry door:
The one I chose from their brochure wasn't in their computer system, so wasn't available and I chose an $800 upgrade instead.
At my colour appointment, I was told I can have my first door as a $380 option - sweet!
Now that I have the contract, both doors are on the quote - totaling almost $1200.
Location of upgrades.
Every drawing I receive has mistakes (carpet layout, door layout, electrical). I highlight these and am told to correct them at contract signing.
Facade.
Not available.
Will incure additional drawing fees.
Not available under promotion costs, now an $8000 option.
Anyway, just having a ramble and a rant. I hope I don't look back and wonder why I signed the contract.