What can we do with and incompetent builder?

WW2B · May 08, 2007 7:38 pm

We have been building our house with a builder who shall remain nameless at this point since May last year. The pad went down in May 06 and we signed our contract in October 05 so it has been a long time coming and we are still not in our house

Since Christmas we seemed to have made very little progress. We have had four supervisors since Christmas and each supervisor tells us our house is only a couple of weeks away from completion.

To cut a VERY LONG STORY very short we are still no closer to moving in.

Our biggest problem at the moment is our tiling. First tiler did a pathetic job and also put our kitchen tiles in our Ensuite! He started tiling straight after Christmas and this problem wasn't fixed until last weekend. We have been to the house today and the tiling in the kitchen and bathroom have been redone and look much better BUT the wrong tiles have been layed in our Bathroom!

Our gas stove was under our staircase for about 3 months before it was eventually stolen. It was replaced and fitted last week. Upon inspection by us we have discovered it is the WRONG hotplate!

The electrician did not read the plans correctly and has placed switches in the wrong spot. He came back yesterday (after six weeks of waiting) to fix these and had a fight with the cleaner and left site. He later returned cut into our brickwork and plaster and has left site again without finisihing...

I could go on all day!

Where do we stand legally for these and MANY more stuff ups? I mean they have charged us two pricess increases (totalling $18 000) before the slab was layed - but what about us at the other end?

Does anyone have any advice for us? We are building in Perth...

bmp · May 08, 2007 7:59 pm

Don't give up! The way you handle your complaints makes a huge difference. Contact me via PM if you want some tips - I managed to get quite a refund from our builder by using my patented "Im nice so you must be the problem" technique. Also contact the Building Services Authority in your state and have them assign someone to represent you regarding your difficulties.

ahuang · May 30, 2007 12:15 am

In case you need to go further, make sure you keep a record of all incidents, date, with whom, collect as many envidence as possible, photos, documents, emails, ...etc.

Good luck!

Allan
http://building-our-first-house.blogspot.com/

Rose72 · May 30, 2007 12:25 pm

i hear your pain - we had our final inspection 9.5 weeks ago and were told we'd be in within 4 weeks - surprise surprise we're still not in - getting sick & tired of the run around and blame being passed around. Trying to stay nice but it's starting to get difficult.

Michelle · May 30, 2007 1:08 pm

My blood is boiling……..it’s been a while since a post has got me P………!!!!

My question is why do you all keep going down this track????
I feel sooo sorry for all that is being continuously taken advantage of and treated badly!

Do you use projects builders because they are cheap?
Is it really worth it in the long run? I’m confused….. we all hear about the bad stories, there are so many of them on this forum. A few GOOD ones, which is great!

But on a whole there are a lot upset people out there.

Get into your home and rip off the wrong tiles in the bathroom yourself, place them at the back door in a neat little pile, with a note attached…….

1 week to get sorted or you’re all fired!!!
A letter is now being sent to the powers that be, so hang on to your builder’s licenses…..they may not last too much longer!

Lets see how long they take to get their act in a pile. :twisted:

stonecutter1309 · May 30, 2007 1:40 pm

Michelle

Do you use projects builders because they are cheap?
Is it really worth it in the long run? I’m confused….. we all hear about the bad stories, there are so many of them on this forum. A few GOOD ones, which is great!

Michelle - it's not just cheap project builders - I've heard some bad stories about some very exclusive & expensive custom builders! (I won't name them as technically it's hearsay)

Michelle · May 30, 2007 2:01 pm

stonecutter1309….yes I know this as well.
But for some reason action on the custom builders seems to be easier applied, and they know they have a lot to loose.

Generally…. They are easier to deal with in these situations, and the situations aren’t as often as with project builders.

You all have to agree?????

mattwalker · May 30, 2007 2:14 pm

Michelle (this is going to hurt!) I have to disagree with you.

On a daily basis we build with both custom and project builders and it is always easier to get things fixed with a project builder. The site manager (generally) takes the advice and provided it is within reason fixes the issue reasonably quickly.

Custom builders don't like the work critiqued and as such tend to take things too personally.

I.e.
(me) that walls not straight
(builder) yes it is
(me) no it's definately not, lets measure it together
(builder) What would you know, have you got a builder licence??

In my experience, it is this way 80% of the time. The site managers tend to be "on your side" if only in appearances.

I also chose to go with a project builder for my own home as I felt that the product offered for the money was excellent, the builder is more boutique than others (i.e. only building a few hundred homes each year) and the quality of finish in the display home.

Custom builders definatley have a place, but I am finding less and less need for them.

Matt

Michelle · May 30, 2007 2:50 pm

I hear you Matt……but for me it’s the other way around!

The project builders seem coming and go for the shotgun!
The custom builder sees me coming, sends his crew away, then gets down to business!

So I guess its just depends, in my years of designing, I have very little complaint from clients with a custom builder……BUT every client I have had with a project builder has defiantly had a lot to say!!

stonecutter1309 · May 30, 2007 2:50 pm

Custom builders definitely have their place - difficult sites (sloping, access, whatever).

I think there are different levels of project builders out there - some very cheap and nasty - others quite decent.

I suppose it's like buying a car - you need something to get around in regardless. So do you go with a Daewoo or similar that will just do the job? Or upgrade to something that is still mass produced but good quality (e.g. Subaru, Volvo etc). Or you can get a custom built car or something outrageously priced like a Koenigsegg or Bugatti Veyron.

All depends on your purpose

A builder for every season

mattwalker · May 30, 2007 2:54 pm

That didn't hurt nearly as much as i thought it would. :lol:

Michelle · May 30, 2007 3:03 pm

stonecutter1309….you are very correct!

I’m not here to bad mouth every project home, some of them in NSW are great!

But do your homework on your desired builder and his men….contactors.
Whenever I am called into do work with a builder…..if I don’t know him and have not worked with before, I find out about him……just so I know what I’m in for.

Likewise for the client, it make life easier.

Michelle · May 30, 2007 3:05 pm

Matt -

Sallyho · May 30, 2007 3:10 pm

WW2B if you are there let us all know what process has been made since your last post. I'm sure everyone would be most interested.

stonecutter1309 · May 30, 2007 3:43 pm

Michelle - what do you do to "get to know" a builder and his contractors?

We've done the usual check of the builder's licence for lodged complaints. None on record. And I looked back through the company directors to see if they were associated with any other building companies that might have failed/closed down.

Michelle · May 30, 2007 4:41 pm

stonecutter1309….what you have done is good.

It might also help to ask the builder can you have some other client’s names that he has done work for. Then give them a ring.

You will find people are more than willing to tell you GOOD and BAD about their projects.
This will help you to get a positive or negative feeling about the person you are thinking of trusting your grand plan to.

stonecutter1309 · May 30, 2007 6:49 pm

Excellent idea! The builder is about to start building a few other versions of our design and was going to run "open home" tours of the houses in various stages of construction for those who were interested. I look forward to sticky beaking

Michelle · May 30, 2007 6:53 pm

He sounds like a good builder, with nothing to hide!

Enjoy, it should be a good day.