When is fixed price not fixed price?

perryr · May 17, 2007 11:36 pm

Imagine digging a hole to a depth of, say, 1 metre and filling it with renforcing and concrete. There's your concrete pier, if your slab is poured directly on top of it. I'm not sure how deep they go with concrete piers, but you get the idea.

Now imagine you are screwing some long steel poles (with threads) into the ground - sort of being hammered in with a large machine. You now have
screw piles. Check the link below for what the screw piles look like, and you'll get the idea.

http://www.instant.com.au/

Cheers
Perry

perryr · May 18, 2007 5:42 pm

An update to this saga. Yesterday I sent an "I'm very ** off" email to the CSR, complaining about the way this has been handled, and the fact I've not heard anything substantial after two weeks.

I demanded that a person in a management position call me, and provide some answers.

The call came at about 3:45pm yesterday. It seems that the issue is regarding some mature Cyprus trees adjacent property. The problem is not so much that the soil requires screw piles, but that the concern is around the impact these trees have on the soil over coming years.

The delay has been caused by the builder trying to find alternatives to the use of screw piles - which would be overkill. Options are various tree root barriers, and the builder is still trying to get pricing on installing them.

Here's the thing - It's possible that the two trees which seem to be the main cause for concern could be removed. They are right on the boundary of the property belonging to the people selling us the land. I suspect that they would be happy to have the trees taken out.

Current situation is that I asked the building company representative to speak to the engineers - what I want to know is whether these are the only trees which are cause for concern. If so, problem solved (providing I can get them taken out).

Some decent communication in the early days may have avoided all this crap!

Have a great weekend folks!

Perry

vanderlay · May 18, 2007 5:46 pm

well....I suppose that's slightly more positive than where you were at.

as you said....would have been nice if someone had bothered to keep you informed....

Hennig · May 19, 2007 8:21 pm

How long has it taken to get this out of them?

Surely it doesn't take weeks to find an alternative.
Especially if they needed was to ask if you were going to keep the trees!

sneakersss · May 19, 2007 9:38 pm

Hennig

Surely it doesn't take weeks to find an alternative.

You would think.

Boggles my mind how long it has taken. And it's not even my problem.

perryr · May 19, 2007 10:56 pm

Well - as soon as I get a chance to update the blog, the full story will appear.

The long and the short of it, is that we are pulling the pin.

As I speak, my other half is in the lounge with pencil and paper designing our new home. We think we can get something which suits our block better, and will be cheaper for us to build in the long run.

Check the blog over the next day or so (or stick your email address in, and you'll get a mail when the blog is updated).

I appreciate everyone's support and input on this. More comments soon!

Perry

sneakersss · May 19, 2007 11:12 pm

perry, the journey is only half the story. The outcome is the other half. And what matters the most.

I (and the rest of the forum readers) am sure that whatever path you take it will work out for the best. And then you and your other half (and all of us) can read back on this thread and just laugh. :lol:

Oops! I accidentally laughed!

Ed Perry · May 20, 2007 9:03 am

Hi Perry

Sorry to read about your troubles...

PD don't as a norm build in the situation you have and I would expect have little experience - N/ridge refused to build similar for a friend (PD guys are ex-Henley too) .

Why not try a builder who normally builds on sloping land with trees around. e.g. Langford-Jones Homes... They do a lot of inner East and Phillip Island... but maybe they will do your area. They are a family business been around for decades. Good prices and will build their design or yours. There are plenty more builders with experience... look in areas with similar topography - Eltham etc...

Good luck!

Ed

grime · May 20, 2007 10:01 am

Seems to be some funny people around at PD as well as the many excellent "sure we can fix that'ones.So much money spent on advertising the 'professionalism' and 'value' of the product yet they are prepared to let enthusiastic clients walk away.
For the life of me I just don't understand that logic.
Maybe the punters are beating a path to their door at the moment, so as far as PD middle management is concerned, all is well...Still,there is no doubt that the old business message "one lost customer will tell seven potential customers their tale of woe,and so it snow balls.
Sure I'm not doubting there are pedantic and hard to manage clients who may want to change things relentlessly or maybe want everything for nothing,but as I said ,these clients need to be managed,not told directly or by inference to go elsewhere,because they don't fit in with PD's one model fits all.
In these days of the internet that model is a slippery road to follow.
ps Perry,that's at least two blogs that now need to be adjusted PD out competitor in.

Ed Perry · May 20, 2007 11:10 am

I think it's a case of cut your risks. PD is not used to this type of construction and probably priced it as "take it or leave it".
Ed

thirdtimebuilder · May 22, 2007 3:03 pm

Hi Perry

I've been reading your experience with your builder. Are you going ahead with them?

We also built with them ...

perryr · May 22, 2007 3:13 pm

We have pulled the pin. I need to follow up with them in writing.

We are already investigating the design of our own home. Something unique would be good - cost may be the issue!

The blog has just been updated with the latest in the story.

Thanks everyone!

Perry

vpande · May 25, 2007 8:47 am

I can understand your frustration with PD (who clain to be the most professional builders!!). A friend of ours went thru similar sitn with Henley and then approached M'kon head office directly (no salesmen with half baked knowledge). They were quite happy with their approach. Considering you have all the paperwork they might waive another soiltest fee etc. you could approach the builder of your chioce directly.
Hope it all will go well.
cheers,
VP

perryr · May 25, 2007 9:11 am

There are a few options we are thinking of.

Short list at the moment for project builders is Dennis Family Homes and National Builders.

Our preferred option is to build a house of our own design. Because of the cost, we are thinking about the owner / builder route.

Everything is up for grabs. The only firm decision is that we will not be going with our original choice of builders.

Perry

htarash · May 25, 2007 9:17 am

Hi Perry,

Have you had a look at JGKing also (if youhaven't done yet) , they seems to build a house with your desing and they give 50years structurer warantee. Unfortunatly, for my budget, they were a little more expensive, but they would have been my first choice.

They have an excellent sales Lady in Highland estate in Craigebourn.

Good Luck.
Houman

mattwalker · May 25, 2007 10:01 am

Dont forget Carlisle Homes. These guys (in my opinion) are the best builder in the world :lol:

perryr · May 25, 2007 10:40 am

Hi Matt - I looked at them, and I like their designs, however I'm very wary of going with any builder who hasn't got any representation in our area of Geelong.

PD wanted to charge me $3k extra for the privilege of building "out of area"!

Cheers
Perry

mattwalker · May 25, 2007 10:50 am

They possibly don't but it might be worth asking the question!

Matt

3timesbuilda · May 25, 2007 11:19 am

Hi Perry,

We originally asked PD if they would build in our area (Dandenong Ranges) and the sales staff said they didn't think the company would build there. we got them to check and it was confirmed, they refused to build in our area. We had no choice but to walk away. Maybe we were lucky?!?

We have lots of mature trees all around our land and have allowances for tree root barriers. I am not sure how much they will come to in the end, but from memory, the allowances were just a few thousand dollars. A LOT less than modifying the slab/piles.

Anyway, now you know what to look for and what to ask of your nextbuilder.

Finally, welcome to "thirdtimebuilder", something familiar about that name. :lol:

(and no it is not me in disguise)

3xb

vanderlay · May 25, 2007 11:24 am

Quote:

Finally, welcome to "thirdtimebuilder", something familiar about that name. (and no it is not me in disguise)

maybe you have a stalker..... :twisted: