Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 13, 2009 6:56 am Hi guys After many months of searching for the perfect floor plan I finally found it yesterday with Places, who I believe after searching this forum belong to Porter Davis. Has anyone here built or currently building with Places? Your help would be much appreciated. So happy to have found this forum!!!! Re: Places Homes 3Jul 13, 2009 12:46 pm I am so happy to finally find someone to chat to about them We are wanting to build the Glendale 28. We are just waiting on a land release. How have you found them to deal with so far? Did you make many changes to the plan? Re: Places Homes 4Jul 13, 2009 1:35 pm I am building the Deacon 23 (house and land package). How did the process go for you guys? Mine is terrible.. The broker recommended by them did not calculate the amount of deposit I needed accurately (same thing happend to a friend of mine) and my land's settlement was delayed by 2 months. The site start was supposed to be in April and we are now in July and I still haven't got my building permit. Apparently, the delay is due to townplanning as my area was a flood-prone area previously. I only found this out after land settlement. Now, the council is requiring extra documents and updated plans from Places and I've been told by the council that Places did not send the correct documents to them. Once they get the plans, the council needs to send them to the water authority for approval. This is taking ages!! Then to make matters worse, I just heard from my administrator that they are planning to go to site in September and there is no guarantee that I'm gona move in before Christmas.. I'm so upset with all these issues. Hope everything goes smoothly for you. Re: Places Homes 5Jul 13, 2009 2:10 pm Ah bugger about the stuff arounds you have had. Councils can be a giant PITA, the land I am waiting on has been delayed by Council. Where are you building? Re: Places Homes 6Jul 13, 2009 3:07 pm Mine is not a smooth journey either. They told us once we pay the deposit they will order soil tests for me. I paid the deposit in May 1st week and my soil test was not done yet. When I talk to the sales consultant he is telling me stories - that is due to the developer. Before paying the deposit I got prompt reply for every email. Now, don't ask me... Re: Places Homes 7Jul 13, 2009 3:33 pm gemmaandlilly: I am building in the Melington Estate in Lyndhurst.. The soil tests for my land were done promptly and I did not have any issues with them.. Fingers crossed for you misti.. I just found out that if I don't start building by the end of August, I might lose out on my FHOG as it will be passed 26 weeks since I signed the contract in March. A friend of mine is buliding the Winslow 19 in The Eve Cranbourne and apart from the incorrect deposit calculated by the broker, she has had no issues at all and they already started building her house although she signed her contract more than 1 month after me. So frustrating.. Before land settlement, I was dealing with Belinda who was great and followed up things promptly. Since she left they changed my administrator 3 times Re: Places Homes 8Jul 13, 2009 3:43 pm Honestly i don't think it matters who you build with, customer service is generally fairy ordinary. I have built before with AV Jennings and they were pretty hopeless too. Are you guys doing a house and land package? That is what I am looking to do as they have first dibs on the land in the estate I wish to build in. Re: Places Homes 9Jul 13, 2009 3:49 pm I already have half a page of upgrades and changes that I wish to make so I hope the costs of them are reasonable. Can you guys remember how much you had to pay for an initial deposit to get the ball rolling? Re: Places Homes 11Jul 13, 2009 5:37 pm Cool thanks for that. We are off to Fiji in a few weeks which is also around the time we will be putting the deposit down so wanted to know what to budget for. TA Re: Places Homes 12Jul 13, 2009 5:57 pm I also paid $1K then another $3K when I signed the contract. I got a reduction on the deposit coz I went with their broker. I have to agree that their plan is great and different from more renowned builders. The quality looks good too. Re: Places Homes 13Jul 13, 2009 6:05 pm We were going to build with Urban Edge but the plan of the Glendale 28 is perfect for us, much better price too Re: Places Homes 14Jul 17, 2009 6:17 pm gemmaandlilly We were going to build with Urban Edge but the plan of the Glendale 28 is perfect for us, much better price too We are also building the Places Homes Glendale 28, site start august, we were also going to build with Urban Edge before we found the perfect house for us, we must have very similar tastes?? Re: Places Homes 15Jul 17, 2009 9:19 pm Wow that's funny we must have very similar taste! Where are you building?Did you spend much on upgrades on the Glendale? We haven't got to that stage yet and I am a little affraid! lol Re: Places Homes 16Jul 18, 2009 9:02 am urple
gemmaandlilly Wow that's funny we must have very similar taste! Where are you building?Did you spend much on upgrades on the Glendale? We haven't got to that stage yet and I am a little affraid! lol We are building in melton west, we didn't spend too much on upgrades, air con, added sliding doors in ensuite and wardrobe, added a door to the family room, extra double sliding door on the side, no alfrescos - too expensive! Upgraded the carpet and underlay, feature tiles, cupboard handles, stone bench to cat 2, added some downlights, changed the window shapes in the minor bedrooms, shower niches to both bathrooms, upgrades front door and added tri lock handle to door, added tiles to the galley and dining room instead of carpet and a few other items. We were actually pretty happy with the upgrade costs, I read all the horror stories on the forum and I was terrified but it worked out pretty good. Re: Places Homes 17Jul 18, 2009 8:46 pm That's good to know. I am thinking about doing the flooring after handover as I am going to go with the extra 2 squares rather than the carpet and tiles. Re: Places Homes 18Jul 18, 2009 8:48 pm Oh how much was the air con? We want evap cooling and if we can get it done while building for a good price we may as well add it on as part of the mortgage rather than paying for it later. Re: Places Homes 19Jul 19, 2009 12:16 am I am building with them too. But I have some doubts and want to know if anyone has as well. When I put my deposit, the sales let us know that I have to pay extra $1000 to lock the price because our site start date will be Nov (if our land is titled on Sep or Oct). If our land is settled after Oct, we have to pay further $2000 to keep the price. Anyone encouter the same problem? Does it make sense? The other hand, when our soil test was done, I requested to know if the result could lead to no extra charges on my site cost. My admin told me she could not tell me until my contract appointment. Is there anyone in this forum who has signed contract with them and knows if it is really nothing to pay for the site cost like their promotion says. Re: Places Homes 20Jul 20, 2009 9:50 am We have signed our contract and we didn't have to pay any extra for site costs, It really depends on the area, I know that around point cook there will be extra site costs around $10,000 due to the sand and sloping blocks will also attract higher site costs, this is what a places consultant told me. I too was a little worried about the nothing to pay site costs but it is true for us. I am pretty happy with the way everything is going, due to start next month! flb2046 I am building with them too. But I have some doubts and want to know if anyone has as well. When I put my deposit, the sales let us know that I have to pay extra $1000 to lock the price because our site start date will be Nov (if our land is titled on Sep or Oct). If our land is settled after Oct, we have to pay further $2000 to keep the price. Anyone encouter the same problem? Does it make sense? The other hand, when our soil test was done, I requested to know if the result could lead to no extra charges on my site cost. My admin told me she could not tell me until my contract appointment. Is there anyone in this forum who has signed contract with them and knows if it is really nothing to pay for the site cost like their promotion says. Ask for references and speak to them. If they are defensive or try to avoid the request, walk. 1 74219 I would never build with Fowler homes. I built with them in 2021 and till date maintenance issues are pending. All their existing trades and businesses don't work with… 14 105129 Hi there! Putting the feelers out there for those who have (or almost) built with Arli homes! Interested in your experiences who've built from their stock home designs… 0 23198 |