Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Sep 04, 2009 8:20 am I have been lurking - putting my two cents worth in for way too long! I have decided whilst I am waiting for PD to finish their administration that I would keep myself occupied. Here goes our story! We decided we would build a single storey with Henley (ages ago) however they were not very helpful once we discovered we had 6metres of fall over 1/4 acre. We got our block cut ourselves then found PD a much better option of the Marina with the main bedroom downstairs, as we have 3 children and in this day and age they will probably stay with us for a long time we wanted a plan that would suit us for a long time. We were supposed to have site start in Sep but when we got to Tender it had Oct we argued and the tender presenter said that they would push it forward (don't ever trust that line) on 24/7 it states Sep but it will of course be Oct. Everything is done Council have the permit but somehow my CSC is saying we need developer approval which we don't - and they don't do things quickly as it has OCT site date on Tender -grrr. Any comments on how to deal with delays with PD welcome! Have to try to put some photos in but to start here are our colour selections - comments welcome! External[b] Brickes Boral Sandal Wood Tiles Ebony Windows Paperbark Garage Paperbark Gutter Monument Downpipes Manor Red Water tank Heritage Red [/b] inetnals kitchen Bench Pebble cove Cabinet Espresso Butlers pantry bench Lunar Stone Splashbsack Mocha Magic Tiles Urban Earth PD Marina 42 Mariposa Contract signed 20 July 2009 Permits in 2 Oct 2009 Construction start 22 Oct 2009 www.broquemansion.blogspot.com Re: Time to dip my feet in! PD Marina Build Colours 2Sep 04, 2009 9:52 am I love that house!! If only it had been available at the time we were building, it would have been my choice... Site starts are always rubbery, so I wouldn't worry about one month. Things could be much, much worse. PD are generally pretty good with their build times though, especially the Lifestyle range, so hopefully it'll all run smoothly for you. My only tip is to never rely on phone conversations, even for the tiniest little detail. Get everything in writing. I'd have conversations with our CSR or SS and I'd immediately email, setting out what had been agreed to, and requesting confirmation via return email. It's always safer that way, especially if you have a change of staff....we had three CSRs and three SSs, and of course they never write down half of what they say, so the person who takes over from them has no idea... The fact that I had everything in writing made the whole process a lot smoother. Good luck! Re: Time to dip my feet in! PD Marina Build Colours 3Sep 04, 2009 2:55 pm Thanks Kek! I will remember to have everything in writing next time - we did not think about it but am glad I came across first CSR stating Sep start date. I figure to push now we might have a look in before end of Oct! We have been ready to build now for over 6 mths but PD would not build on our block due to slope until we did our own site works so we have been waiting a loong time! Hopefully don't have to wait much longer! Oh well I can always keep myself busy lurking on this site it is sooo good! PD Marina 42 Mariposa Contract signed 20 July 2009 Permits in 2 Oct 2009 Construction start 22 Oct 2009 www.broquemansion.blogspot.com Re: Time to dip my feet in! PD Marins Customer service hiccups 4Sep 08, 2009 11:11 am Grrr... Had a phone call yesterday re site start - we were supposed to start in Sep - the Sales Guy said Sept - 24/7 says Sept but when we signed our tender it was OCT! we complained that everything was Sep and they showed us a form that said OCT and assured us they could start before then and it states "or earlier" on Tender so foolishly we signed. Now I am getting the "but the contract states OCT so we are not obligated to start before OCT" we are not sending or scheduled to send your file to construction before the first week in OCT and you won't get any movement on the block at least two weeks later. You should not have signed for OCT! Well sorry but we wanted the house and believed the previous staff! What a start! even though the papertrail is obvious what has happened she won't even make calls to ensure that things are happening according to plan! She told me that the drawings should be in next week - I was the one who said considering the circumstances could you make a call and ensure this is the case? It is not her fault as our previous CSC left - but a) she could have called and let us know she was now on our file and when I got into contact with her over a month ago I had told her of the situation and she said she would discuss with "management" I asked her what "management" had said and she said she would have to ask again. Seriously when a builder starts stating "but its in the contract", when something goes wrong as it invariably does my first response will be but its in the contract! I may then get my cool back but on something so minor it does not bode well! Stepping down from my rant nw. I keep telling me we are saving money the longer it takes but our rental is so small with three small children we want it now!!!! PD Marina 42 Mariposa Contract signed 20 July 2009 Permits in 2 Oct 2009 Construction start 22 Oct 2009 www.broquemansion.blogspot.com Re: PD Marina Grr ****** CSC's! 5Oct 02, 2009 4:20 pm Thanks so much Kek for your advice - I now keep everything in emails. Got a call from my CSC on Wednesday saying she was putting my file through to construction and they had got my permits - yey! Then today I double checked and permits came in today on 24/7 and nothing to say it had gone to construction GROAN - I emailed asking straight up if it had - she phoned me and said no... that now they have to do a site resurvey - she has been sitting on my file with an Oct 2 construction date and has done nothing! when I said I had told her about the survey two weeks ago and she indicated if we needed one it would not delay going to construction she said nooooo I didn't say that. THANKYOU KEK I just emailed her her email from two weeks ago. I have asked to speak to her manager, this after she * about putting my file to drafting! Has anyone else had this where their CSC ****** about everything? this girl is new and I have given her leniency but hey if this is going on before the build what can I expect when it starts???????? PD Marina 42 Mariposa Contract signed 20 July 2009 Permits in 2 Oct 2009 Construction start 22 Oct 2009 www.broquemansion.blogspot.com Re: PD Marina Grr ****** CSC's! 6Oct 02, 2009 5:27 pm I don't think they actually lie - not deliberately anyway. I think that a lot of these people are inexperienced - there's a very high turnover of staff, and they can't possibly get replacements who are always experts. As well, I suspect that they have a pretty big workload - basically too many files to really know what's going on. But honestly, if they don't know something, they should say so and find out for you. I suspect though that sometimes they make up any old thing just to get you off the phone... This is exactly why we began getting every little thing in writing. I'm sure they thought we were neurotic pains in the butt, but as you've discovered, having an email in your possession confirming what you're saying trumps the old "I said/she said" argument hands down. On the bright side, you're now very close to your site start, and hopefully everything will go smoothly for you from now on. Re: PD Marina Grr ****** CSC's! 7Oct 02, 2009 6:40 pm I am hoping so! (I am also happy that I am not the only one to go through this) I was thinking the same about me being a pain in the ... But it is very clear in the email two weeks ago! I hope we don't lose our construction manager as we were told he is very good (however that may have been porkies too!) Will have to wait and see - getting my blog ready though so that wll keep me busy fo another couple of days! PD Marina 42 Mariposa Contract signed 20 July 2009 Permits in 2 Oct 2009 Construction start 22 Oct 2009 www.broquemansion.blogspot.com Re: PD Marina Due to construction 2 Oct still waiting... 8Oct 06, 2009 8:00 am Hi all, Still waiting - promised call on Friday - waiting (somewhat impatiently without the call over the weekend all day yesterday) called CSC as requested yesterday to discuss final draftings - was in an appointment ,again no return call. You have to wonder about their customer service - did not want to return a call that she asked me to make. Did not even bother to call to say its going to take longer than we anticipated -nothing! am so unimpressed at this time. Have worked in the complaints industry for many years and nothing peeves people off more than not returning calls or keeping them informed. For all those PD customers this is the North Office - if anyone else is having these issues it would be great to get a pm! PD Marina 42 Mariposa Contract signed 20 July 2009 Permits in 2 Oct 2009 Construction start 22 Oct 2009 www.broquemansion.blogspot.com Re: PD Marina Due to construction 2 Oct still waiting... 9Oct 06, 2009 8:44 am Hi Lisa! Sorry to hear you are having some problems... hope they get resolved soon. Must be so frustrating!.... our plans are in at council now and just waiting to see if we get any objections to the planning permit. Waiting is not my strong point! Re: PD Marina Due to construction 2 Oct still waiting... 10Oct 06, 2009 8:57 am Hi Lisa, I'm with the North office (Prestige) and I've had a relatively easy run with them. We've had our issues, but generally it's been pretty smooth. My CSC is actually pretty good, I've never waited more than 24 hours for a response, but I only ever email her. I've learnt from experience (with other builders) that calls tend to get forgotten about, but emails will generally be replied to. My CSC said the same thing, so we generally just correspond by emails. If it's any consolation, the builds tend to move quickly. We started on June 18th and we are being painted at the moment, only a few weeks to go. Also, we started a week before 24/7 said we would. I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Pics of my piece of land 11Oct 06, 2009 9:10 am Had a little time! Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Building in Greensborough - can't believe how impatient to start I am! PD Marina 42 Mariposa Contract signed 20 July 2009 Permits in 2 Oct 2009 Construction start 22 Oct 2009 www.broquemansion.blogspot.com Re: PD Marina Due to construction 2 Oct still waiting... 12Oct 06, 2009 9:25 am Hi Joles - thx for the reply! the problem is we had a change in CSC the first was wonderful -well to us anyway but she left the company - we were promised though by her a Sep start date and this is on the website - the new CSC is new to PD and I suspect she is overrun and is not handling anything very well. Thanks to Keks advice I do put everything in writing its just that she is not responding or doing anything with anything which is really frustrating whic does not help our frustrations unfortunately. I guess I get a bit emotional with my new baby and the fact that I will have to drive my son to his first school next year when we could walk from the new house. When I get some update will pick your brains -There are no details on 24/7 as she does not update that either! PD Marina 42 Mariposa Contract signed 20 July 2009 Permits in 2 Oct 2009 Construction start 22 Oct 2009 www.broquemansion.blogspot.com Re: PD Marina Due to construction 2 Oct still waiting... 13Oct 06, 2009 9:29 am Hey Igglepiggle, Thx for that - I hope Council don't take too long will keep my fingers crossed for you! - at this rate you will be in before us! PD Marina 42 Mariposa Contract signed 20 July 2009 Permits in 2 Oct 2009 Construction start 22 Oct 2009 www.broquemansion.blogspot.com Re: PD Marina Due to construction Yey we have a tap!!!! 14Oct 19, 2009 8:05 am Good news - we now have a construction supervisor, changed admin person and we have a tap! hope to start this week (on the website it says 22 Oct - this Wednesday)! so hopefully all going well we should get a few things in before they stop for Christmas! PD Marina 42 Mariposa Contract signed 20 July 2009 Permits in 2 Oct 2009 Construction start 22 Oct 2009 www.broquemansion.blogspot.com Re: PD Marina Due to construction Yey we have a tap!!!! 16Oct 19, 2009 11:00 am Thanks Joles (secretly praying!) then I have all Christmas to look at what to do in terms of landscaping! getting excited now! when I get down to the block tommorow I am taking my camera to take a photo of the tap - I haven't seen it yet, and cannot believe how excited you can get by seeing a tap - gosh how excited will I be when the toilet is delivered????? PD Marina 42 Mariposa Contract signed 20 July 2009 Permits in 2 Oct 2009 Construction start 22 Oct 2009 www.broquemansion.blogspot.com Re: PD Marina Due to construction Yey we have a tap!!!! 17Oct 19, 2009 12:54 pm Wooooo Hoooooo!!!! You have a tap! And all we have is a planning permit sign (in its correct location)! There will be no stopping you now! You'll have to let the kids christen the portaloo Very, very, very, very jealous of your tap. Not sure I can talk to you anymore Re: PD Marina Due to construction Yey we have a tap!!!! 18Oct 20, 2009 8:07 am Hey Igglepiggle, Please talk to me Besides I bet we will be neck and neck - I bet you will be in before us! Depends on how stinking the Portaloo is! I am heading over there this afternoon to take a photo of the tap - hopefully more will be there by then. Lisa PD Marina 42 Mariposa Contract signed 20 July 2009 Permits in 2 Oct 2009 Construction start 22 Oct 2009 www.broquemansion.blogspot.com Re: PD Marina Due to construction 2 Oct still waiting... 19Oct 20, 2009 8:17 am lisahello I guess I get a bit emotional with my new baby and the fact that I will have to drive my son to his first school next year when we could walk from the new house. The building process is a total PITA in more ways than one. We had transitional stuff to deal with while renting, and the school transport thing was a nightmare. Just expect to be inconvenienced in a major way, and you should be well equipped to handle whatever happens. It'll all be worth it once you're in your beautiful new home. Yay for an imminent site start! Re: PD Marina Due to construction Yey we have a tap!!!! 20Oct 20, 2009 1:31 pm How's the tap looking? I just can't wait to see a tap... or a loo... or a tree protection zone (or three)... Any advice on a builder in NSW who is demanding an extra 22000k after the house is completed and contract paid in full .Standard HIA contract. Never received a variation.… 0 20523 0 4986 Hey guys, what’s everyone opinion on James Hardie linea direct fix to frame? Would this be the most common method and anybody ever had any problems down the track? 0 5159 |