Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 20, 2009 12:53 pm Just curious ... does your supervisor keep you informed of the progess of your build, or do you have to contact them or the office for updates? Do they give you an idea of what is scheduled? Do you get updated on the expected finish dates? (We are building a 2 storey project home in WA). I have just asked for an estimated completion date as we are renting at the moment and I need to have an indication of timeframe for landlady. I was told 20 weeks. They have been on site since last October. It's dragging on incredibly slow. We aren't even at lock-up. When we said how disappointed we were with 20 more weeks (this would be next January and nearly 2 years since PPA signing) they said could be sooner, but don't like to give exact dates ... I am not after exact date, just an indication!! Our ground floor roof has just gone on. (PPA signed Feb 2008, Contracts/final plans/building license complete & ready August 2008) Feeing very frustrated. Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 2Aug 20, 2009 1:01 pm It's unfortunate, but most builders are not very good at keeping customers informed. The best way to check progress is to visit the site The best way to work out how long it will take is ask others how long it took them from various stages That is, it you want to know, sure ask your builder, but your own observations and guesstimates are more likely to be forthcoming. Demolition August 2009, Construction Started September 2009, Completed December 2010 Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 3Aug 20, 2009 1:04 pm We have not heard from our SS since he pegged out our block and needed to borrow our shovel, that was 48 days ago. Building Thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=13002 Site start: 8th July 2009 Handover: 11/12/2009! 5 months total build time. 40 sqs of luxuary...Bliss! Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 4Aug 20, 2009 1:09 pm Our SS has been good (only a few week in though)..calls us once a week and tells us what's on the schedule for next week. Built Liberty 42 - Handover 26th Feb 2010 forum thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=17243 Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 5Aug 20, 2009 1:10 pm Thanks for your reply. I actually visit the site daily as we are only 2 minutes away. It can be days on end, when nothing is being done and no-one on site. I know now we have rain .. but even when it was summer ... days and weeks would go by with nothing being done. But that's not really my point. I am just curious as to what type of communication and information on end dates and/or schedule of events for their build other fellow forumer receive. Thanks again. Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 6Aug 20, 2009 1:30 pm My CSC said the SS would call once a week we started yesterday but haven't got a call yet so I will see how that pans out. Forum thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=22300 Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 7Aug 20, 2009 3:19 pm i dont have access to my site supervisor, everything has to go through the office girls. they dont tell me a thing, and when i asked about build time they just quoted that it may take 147 days to do the build as per the contract. so if i wasnt visiting site id really have no idea whats doing. but in saying that my builder is going nuts on the build so a long build wont be an issue for me doesnt really help you, but my builder is a shocker in the comm's department Blog - http://snakedr.blogspot.com/ Build Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=12084&p=307406#p307406 Status - PCI 15/10. Things nearly done. Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 8Aug 20, 2009 4:21 pm Interesting to hear about everyone's experiences. I have to book time to see the building supervisor on-site (I choose to do this about every 2 weeks so far). But he says to call him anytime and to go on-site any time. So I'm reasonably happy with that approach. There has been at least one issue so far where he had to call me and get me on site to explain - so that was good. Generally, when I randomly turn up on-site the building supervisor is not there - so that is a bit pointless and the chippie is not the most articulate bloke It would be nice to have at least some rough schedule with dates (maybe just week granularity)... as I'm feeling a little in the dark about what's happening on a week to week basis. Amazing that building companies haven't got the whole business of customer communication down to a fine art. They certainly have the sales and marketing process sorted out. Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 10Aug 20, 2009 4:34 pm My build finished in June and the procedure I had to follow was waiting on a call every fortnight. I didn't have direct access to the SS, you had to go through the office. The girl assigned would call every two weeks but the information she was giving out wasn't correct as I was going to the site about twice a week to keep a check on everything. The company also had a progress list on the internet where you had to log into but that also was not kept up to date so was pretty unreliable as well. My contract had no itemised dates just an overall period of 230 days (from the time the slab is done) and that is all they would quote if you questioned timeframes. How long does it state in your contract? Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 11Aug 20, 2009 4:51 pm Our contract states 365 WORKING days. We were verbally given a lot shorter time frame than that when we signed .. but nothing in writing. So have to live and learn with that part.
JilaMint I couldn't agree with you more in your quote; "Amazing that building companies haven't got the whole business of customer communication down to a fine art. They certainly have the sales and marketing process sorted out." Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 12Aug 20, 2009 4:51 pm Our SS is very approachable and reachable. We have his mobile number which we can call and leave voicemail. I think he's only answered the phone once and I was really shocked. But he doesn't take long to call me back. Wednesday is the only day that he is unreachable because that's his meeting day at the PD office. We get an update from him generally once a week..no set day. And he will tell me what's been done that week, what he has booked for next week and he answers our questions. He knows that we visit the site once a week and he gave us the carpenter's details to put in extra noggins. I think we've been really lucky with him. We had an issue with our staircase treads...and our CSC would not budge on the issue....but our SS has been really good about it and was happy to come to a compromise and get the painter to do that we want. He's by no means a pushover or agreeable man...he will argue his point....but I'm thankful that he's communicative and reachable. 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: Do you get updated on your build progess? 13Aug 20, 2009 8:09 pm we dont get communication either, its probably the only part of the build we havent been happy with a simple phone call saying this is where we are up to, in the next week we expect to work on this and are on target to finish x date youd think by spending $250 000 youd get this but it seems most builders dont... not good p.r really! i left a msg for our ss today to ask about progress and completion date Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 14Aug 20, 2009 8:18 pm Our builder and SS are both in constant communication with us and inform us of absolutely everything. If our SS doesn't ring, he will text us (our request, we are busy too!) every time something is being done. Eg - yesterday he texted to tell us that the slab had been marked for rooms so we should go up and have a look as we could actually see the room sizes!! We have had a lot of communication with the Directors regarding our site works, they assisted and advised us through a lot of rock and helped us source and contract a landscaper to build retaining walls. Our SS even came and had a beer with us to celebrate our slab pour!! They are brilliant. JL Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 15Aug 20, 2009 9:25 pm our construction administrator is woeful. We're SUPPOSED to get weekly updates.We're lucky if we hear from her once a month. I have the site foreman's number - he's a lot better. He won't call me, but at least I can get answers out of him! Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 16Aug 20, 2009 10:34 pm Is there anything in your contract about compensation if they go over the 365 days? If there is, perhaps you could put it in writing asking them to explain why they are now quoting 20 more weeks and letting them know that you will be claiming this compensation as you expected to be out of your rental property at the most at the 365 days mark. Whatever you do, please make sure you correspond in writing so that you have documentation to prove your case if necessary. Good luck and keep us informed. Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 17Aug 21, 2009 8:52 am We get a phone call weekly on a Thurs usually although we didn't get one yesterday! Its usually just our admin girl saying this is whats been done and this is what will be done this week. If we want to speak to our SS we have to ring the office and get them to get him to call us and he usually rings back within the day! All in all our communication has been pretty good! 2nd build here we come in Whittlesea! https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=92617 1st Build - Henley - Cooper in Doreen! (2009) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=17354 Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 19Aug 21, 2009 9:29 am jcjuice CiNnY All in all our communication has been pretty good! almost seems like we're dealing with entirely different builders! Yes it does.... I have always said its not the builder so much its who you deal with and what tradies you get! 2nd build here we come in Whittlesea! https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=92617 1st Build - Henley - Cooper in Doreen! (2009) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=17354 Re: Do you get updated on your build progess? 20Aug 21, 2009 10:32 pm My builder has a strict "don't speak to the customer unless they speak to you first and directly as you a question that you HAVE to answer" rule. If I didn't contact my builder to ask questions then I would have had no contact since.. well.. since forever?? I called them to confirm that they had our final contracts and everything was ok. They said they had received them and seemed confused that I was calling to check. A few days after that we had a slab (they started clearing before the final contracts were signed but that is ok with me!). The online tracker they have doesn't work - but they insist it is supposed to work by staying at plate height for the entire build.. who am I to argue!! First and only physical contact was at plate height after we demanded a meeting. The senior site supervisor met us onsite and was really nice and told us an avergae house was being built in 24-26 weeks by the compnay so excluding any unforseen events or long periods of bad weather that is what we could expect. He was right. It is just under 12 weeks to lock up. And they estimate Lock up to handover at 10-12 weeks again. All contact since has been according to the rule. If we email and ask a question they reply. The office girls are never available when we call but I'm happy with emailing. I actually don't even mind the lack of contact. My house is being built to a high standard, emails are answered within a day and I visit the house every few days to make sure I like what I see. *Built with Gemmill Homes in WA* Slab - 1st June 2009 Plate Height - 17th June 2009 Lock Up - 18th August 2009 PCI - 5th October 2009 Hand Over - 15th Oct 2009 https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=20844 9 24793 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 39716 Hey everyone Not for me or anyone I know, just generally interested. For a single allotment house, are you allowed to take the fence on both sides of your house and… 0 20889 |