Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 30, 2009 8:12 pm hello everyone we have received letters re PCI and handover dates. today i went over and had a look at the external of the house (can't get inside) to prepare my PCI list and found out lots of faults: - thing like huge gaps in almost every window edge, big gaps (wider that 10mm) in every walls, cracked slabs, window top plates not covering the bricks and not painted (just undercoat), internally i have raised a couple of issues re cabinets not right etc, but CSC bluntly said they are definitely not going to change (some of them)........ these issues are giving me agony and stress. i know some of them are written on paper. but thing like gaps, dirt cleaning are not in written. i don't think they will get fixed before the date that they set for settlement. should i be prepared not to hand over my last cheque until they fix things to a reasonable standard? what do normally builders do when i don;t hand over the cheque? would like to hear your adcice and experience. nh Re: will you hand over your last cheque? 2Jul 30, 2009 8:27 pm My experience was that quite a few minor things were not right, not as large or as many as you describe, and builder acknowledged them - but we have only just now had them all fixed (except one which I think we are going to let go - not a big deal), took 9 months after handover for everything to be fixed !! If we had been able to withhold final payment until they were fixed, I bet they would of been fixed much more quickly Unfortunately we did not have that option though as our old house had been sold and settlement date was only fortnight after handover - we had to accept handover and move in or be homeless Its a tricky one as of course you will have to keep makeing repayments on the amount already paid (I assume you have a loan ) and rent etc for where you are currently liveing - costs add up while you are waiting I dont know the answer but Good luck with getting it all sorted Re: will you hand over your last cheque? 3Jul 30, 2009 8:51 pm thanks, Helyn!! actually the main concern for me is the kitchen cabinets, 2 pullout storage that are not what i asked for, they said they are not going to redo it, and pot drawers are not quite right, as i asked for cutlery drawers to be on top and they didn't put it. other issues are quite obvious but goodness, the gaps on the windows are big, some of them are HUGE, and renders are not through to cover the bricks.... i guess gaps, overhangs of plastic, window infill etc, they wil have to be fixed, don't they? anyway, if we can, we'll try to withhold the payment and ask them to fix it. thanks again, finally you get your things fixed, but 9 months, it's just too long, not good service at all. nh Re: will you hand over your last cheque? 4Jul 30, 2009 8:55 pm nh, I would get a building inspector to check the place out. not only will they identify al the faults, but they probably know the best way to proceed. Cheers, Casa Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: will you hand over your last cheque? 6Jul 30, 2009 10:02 pm nh actually the main concern for me is the kitchen cabinets, 2 pullout storage that are not what i asked for, they said they are not going to redo it, and pot drawers are not quite right, as i asked for cutlery drawers to be on top and they didn't put it. nh Can I ask, nh, if what your builder has given you is different to what is in your drawings and contract that you signed? I know with my pot drawers I have the skinnier cutlery drawer on top, which is stipulated TWICE in my signed drawings, yet I had 3 equal sized drawers installed. After showing the kitchen drawings to my SS and what is in my contract, they are being replaced as per plans. If what you 'wanted' wasn't in your final contracts and drawings, then the builder doesn't have to fix because it's not in the contract, but if it is stipulated in your documents then they have to supply and fix. Henley - Wilshire Mk 3 ... I love my house!! Site start: 4th Feb 09 Handover: 10th Sep 09 Blog: http://stormygirlscastle.blogspot.com/ Build Thread: viewtopic.php?t=7166 Re: will you hand over your last cheque? 8Jul 30, 2009 10:24 pm nh we have received letters re PCI and handover dates. today i went over and had a look at the external of the house (can't get inside) to prepare my PCI list and found out lots of faults: - thing like huge gaps in almost every window edge, big gaps (wider that 10mm) in every walls, cracked slabs, window top plates not covering the bricks and not painted (just undercoat), internally i have raised a couple of issues re cabinets not right etc, but CSC bluntly said they are definitely not going to change (some of them)........ these issues are giving me agony and stress. i know some of them are written on paper. but thing like gaps, dirt cleaning are not in written. i don't think they will get fixed before the date that they set for settlement. should i be prepared not to hand over my last cheque until they fix things to a reasonable standard? what do normally builders do when i don;t hand over the cheque? There is a quality/standard of build that a builder must adhere to. Gaps in walls is very alarming - but even things like paint not completed is just as bad. If there are actual structural issues, or things you think may affect the home down the track - I would get another opinion. If the build is not to plan specifics - what was signed off on - I would not accept the build until it was rectified. The builder MUST follow to the plan as that is what is being paid for. If the builder refuses I would seek additional advice (engineers or building inspectors) and contact your local building authority. PS. Personally I would not hand over more money until I had someone else take a look at it. Re: will you hand over your last cheque? 9Jul 30, 2009 10:40 pm thanks everyone for your opinion! stormy, i have my drawrings that's stipulated the cutlery drawers, so i will talk to SS tomorrow - he is not answering phons today. good point! jasper89, i am building with PD. jeraldo, thanks for reassuring me, i will see how SS say and if necessary, go further. i am prepared for some minor dissatisfaction, but some gaps are just too big to be minor, and most windows sealed but when you lift the black seal, you see big gaps immediately, so... thanks again nh Re: will you hand over your last cheque? 10Jul 30, 2009 10:44 pm DO NOT pay until EVERYTHING on the PCi list is complete. Its all in the contract.. read it! Built the Atlantique 37 Mk2 with Carlisle Homes - WE'RE IN!! Building thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=14413 ATLANTIQUE 37 MK2 PHOTOS THREAD - updated 22nd August '09 viewtopic.php?f=31&t=22399 Re: will you hand over your last cheque? 12Jul 31, 2009 10:27 am A couple of good points raised here. Agree with the need to have a second independent inspection done also for peace of mind. Before handing over the last payment, even if certain elements are not complete, I would be at the very least asking the builder for a written detailing their acceptance of the faults. This will provide you with a leverage point should you hand over payment and the issue is never resolved. Some cases you will have no choice but to pay the money, i.e. need to move in due to rent over etc Unfortunately in many cases once the final payment has been issued, the customer is not so high on the radar and fixing items can take a while. It's amazing what how much power the coin can have. Ozz Built 36sq Plantation "Retreat" on 4460m2 at Spring Mountain, Qld In Living and landscaping.. >>> ... http://retreatspring.blogspot.com Re: will you hand over your last cheque? 13Jul 31, 2009 12:48 pm nh, have you put any of this in writing, or have you just been discussing things over the phone? If you haven't already, I would write a list of every defect or item that isn't as specified in your paperwork, and email it to your CSC, with a cc to your construction manager. Request that all items be rectified, and ask for a written response, advising the expected timeframe to complete everything, and make it clear that you won't be paying your final payment until the house is completed as per the contract and related documents. They have no choice but to comply with your contract and other paperwork and you have every right to withhold payment if they have not provided what you've contracted for. An independent inspection is a good idea too.... We had numerous defects at PCI, but they were all rectified by handover (or in the case of a couple of minor ones, shortly after). And there was never any argument about most of it - definitely not about anything that was clearly set out in our contract and plans. Some SSs can just be pains in the butt.... Re: will you hand over your last cheque? 14Jul 31, 2009 12:51 pm I even made them repaint the skirtings inside our wardrobes and linen cupboards in gloss (they were originally done in the flat wall paint), not because I cared, but because the specifications stated that that's what we should get. Yes, I was being bloody-minded, but it was well-deserved by that stage, after all the dramas they put us through. Re: will you hand over your last cheque? 15Jul 31, 2009 2:01 pm Casa2 nh, I would get a building inspector to check the place out. not only will they identify al the faults, but they probably know the best way to proceed. Cheers, Casa That's exactly what I would do. I am so happy that I got an inspector. He picked up gaps in my windows too among a lot of other things. He advises on the best way to go about it with your builder. I can honestly say I do not regret spending the money on this. I think it's vital especially since you have already detected things and you don't specialize in that area. This is who I used and I had the report by 5pm the day of the inspection. His name is Darren from Darbecca and he has also been recommended by others on this forum. Tell him you found him on the forum. Do a search for it. Good luck http://qaireporting.com.au/ Re: will you hand over your last cheque? 16Jul 31, 2009 4:56 pm Hi, kek, you know what, i have been thinking of you - knowig what you have been through with PD, and really appreciate your advice danielle, thank you so much for providing the reference, will see. i talked to the SS today, he agreed the kitchen cabinet (cutlery drawers) will be fixed, but the other pull out storage is not going to (as it did not specify 2 tire wired pull out storage specifically, - please note i did ask the CSC to put in at time of fixed tender, when she didn't put the correct name, she just put in "pull out drawer", i pointed out it's not drawer that i want...., she told me i will be able to talk to cabinet maker to let him know what i want during building, i didn't insist on the EXACT WORDING because i didn't know better at the time, so now this is what happened, they will not do it, they say cabinet asked for more to be paid and PD is not goign to pay....... lesson leart tooo late now. anyway, regarding gaps under the window, how big is acceptable? is there a standard? another issue with lintel plate on top of each window to cover bricks, all of mine seem to be narrower that they don't cover the bricks fully - exposing the holes in the bricks, the SS said it's the standard size and engineer ordered them, they follow what engineer said. what should i do? exposing the brick holes are not looking good at all, pls advise thanks in advance nh Re: will you hand over your last cheque? 18Aug 12, 2009 3:56 pm Hi nh nope.....I will not hand over my last cheque until everything has been addressed or at least acknowledged in writing. If you really are not confident with what your SS says is acceptable in terms of the finish or if you are still worried about gaps, then get an independant inspector to put your mind at ease. Yes, it's a few hundred dollars, but it's very little to ensure that you get peace of mind for your new home. You know who I would recommend. Our building journey has begun: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=23138 Brookvale 45 by Porter Davis ************** Lead me not into temptation.....I can find the way myself. Re: will you hand over your last cheque? 19Aug 12, 2009 5:32 pm Never hand over the final cheque untill the house is finished to your satisfaction. If the builders want to be paid then the faster they finish the work the faster they will get paid. We held the last major payment for 12 weeks while we waited for work to be done. If the builders were that slow when they wanted the money imagine how long it would have taken if we had paid them ! If there have been changes, variations, during construction then the drawings should be revised, the building permit amended and the current, as built drawings given to… 2 4444 Hi team, Im looking for a second hand sd4b monitor preferably white. 0 8900 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 39275 |