Is it wrong.....

monkeyupatree · Sep 09, 2007 6:33 pm

Is it wrong to walk around houses that are at lock-up stage or walk through houses that are not at lock-up? I ask this, as someone in the same estate is building the same house as us and I wanted to have a look through the windows/walk around the external and check out the kitchen for size, quality of work etc, but as I know it isn't ours I feel would like I was doing something wrong--there are no temp. fences. Does anyone do this?
When we were driving through the estate today s-l-o-w-l-y, looking at some of the houses: roof/render/brick colours (trying to work out what we like), we saw people watching us drive by as if we were casing out the place. I felt like a criminal. :lol:

And an a brighter note... the road is slowly getting done, they are about a street away from our block...YAY... at the moment the road is just dirt. We drove down the dirt road and could see where our block of land is going to be, it is piled high with pipes and dirt and other things.

rellie · Sep 09, 2007 7:08 pm

It wouldn't bother me if people were looking through our house before lock-up, in fact, they quite possibly have. It would be a bit strange though if we turned up for a vist and there were already people in there :lol:

I think it is a given in most new estates people will be cruising around checking out external colours, facades etc.....

Law18 · Sep 09, 2007 7:21 pm

We have looked in other peoples houses before to see different stages or look at something we are trying to figure out on our house design ect. Our house is currently framed with tiles on and I think the whole neighbourhood has walked through it, I am always amased when we meet someone walking past who stops and has a chat how much they know about our house and how far away they live. our direct neighbours have definately walked through our house on many occasions. I dont think it is a problem though I would be cautious of the fact if anything goes missing you could be questioned.

monkeyupatree · Sep 09, 2007 7:36 pm

Well thats a relief. I will try not to feel like a criminal, next time we go out there,--both with looking at/in houses and driving by. If we go out and see the owners of "the house" I think hubby wants to stop and talk. Ask them about the builders etc. I may even get out the car and have a sticky beak next time. :lol:

It wouldnt bother me either if people go through our house-when we get to that stage - or to stop and chat about it either. I just hope we can say something great about the builders and not to "steer clear" of them. So far we haven't heard anything bad yet so thats good.

ewan · Sep 09, 2007 7:46 pm

I remember one person who was building exactly the same house as me, and they practically used my house pretty much like a display home, he actually brought in family members and said "when i finish my house this is what it will look like".

Because it was 95% complete at the time, he even went round the back and all.

A little annoyed, but he was nice.

Yak_Chat · Sep 09, 2007 8:32 pm

Technically it is trepassing - to walk onto anyones land - be it vacant or being built on.

But hey we all do it to check things out - and so long as you are good about it - no issues - but be aware there are legal implications both ways - and lets just not get into that sort of stuff.

And re the drive bys - hey hop out of the car - ask them to tell you about their house - most people love to :.

I just spent the day taking 100 people through a sustainable house and the owners just loved the fact that people liked to learn about what they were doing in their house and why.
Steve

PhoenixStar · Sep 09, 2007 9:46 pm

Yeh, we enjoy looking at houses that are similar to ours. We have been driving around new estates on both sides of the city checking out houses. (Usually from the outside) I feel bad sometimes, and try to keep a low profile. Some people don't like it but i dont think that we would mind if people checked out our place, when it starts that is.... We make sure that we don't touch or move anything. I am not scared to chat to new owners regarding their colours or ideas when driving past.

We find that it gives us ideas for designs, decorating, exterior colour schemes, gardening ideas etc. I also love looking through display homes for the exact same reason. I can spend all day in a display village.....
From doing this, we have changed our exterior colour scheme twice already, decided on the type of driveway we want to compliment the house and the style of garden we want. It helps me to visualise the look of the house beforehand.

We still have not found a version of our house that has all the options/upgrades that we have selected. Each house has a different option selected, but not all of them. So that makes us think that we have a fairly unique house being built, which is great.

Hennig · Sep 09, 2007 10:57 pm

I don't know!
I didn't really like it when people walked through ours whilst under construct (only because I was there at the time). I can understand why they do, but I find it a little off-putting.
We have friends that do it habitually on weekends and they love it. Which confuses me as they have no interest in building again???
We live in a new estate and would see a great deal of slow moving traffic driving around looking at the new houses. We did it, but we were more interested in the colours and the landscaping of finished houses than those being built.
Each to their own.

perryr · Sep 10, 2007 9:46 am

Some people have a real problem with other people wandering though their property.

I've done it, and I think as long as you are sensible - then most people should be ok. If I'm looking at a house and the owner is present - I'll introduce myself. As was said, most people are happy to have a chat about their home, especially if there's something in common with your own.

Don't use the toilet, leave it in a mess, and then run away (as was documented in a previous topic a couple of months back!).

muzzman · Sep 10, 2007 10:01 am

I think (like others have said) if you bump into the owners while you're there introduce yourself and be up front and honest about it. Some people will still be put off but most will be okay with it, and will be excited that others are taking an interest in their lives/hopes/dreams!

But, like any exhibition, don't take anything, and leave only footprints! I wouldn't like it if I found anything broken in my house....

epiphany · Sep 17, 2007 1:47 am

Hmmm...maybe I'm the odd one out.

Driving by doesn't worry me but I hated the idea people were walking through our house...mainly because we had a huuuuge problem with vandalism & theft while our house was being built. And remember, you're not supposed to be on the property at any stage during the construction - if something happens to you while you're on the building site, the building company is liable.

Having said that, I fully realise people are probably going to look while it's being built. But after lock up? That's a no no in my book.

off2theburbs · Sep 17, 2007 7:13 pm

epiphany

And remember, you're not supposed to be on the property at any stage during the construction - if something happens to you while you're on the building site, the building company is liable.

When we signed with our builder their was and appendix that we signed stating that we would take resonable care if we went onto the building site and that they or their contractors were in no way liable for any harm that may be caused to us.

Michelle · Sep 17, 2007 7:25 pm

ewan

:D

I remember one person who was building exactly the same house as me, and they practically used my house pretty much like a display home, he actually brought in family members and said "when i finish my house this is what it will look like".

Because it was 95% complete at the time, he even went round the back and all.

A little annoyed, but he was nice.

Sorry but that would really annoy me!

I supplied an external colour scheme for a client, next thing my client had someone knocking on her door asking her what the colours were. This person was building around the corner!!!

My client said she didn’t particularly want her colour reproduced so close to her and said NO, she wouldn’t give her the colours.

As it turned out, this lady got in another colour consultant to reproduce MY colour scheme for her house.

My client was furious!!!

Cooper · Sep 29, 2007 10:45 pm

Is it wrong to take photos of houses you like as you drive around? As in, you like particular colours or the garden layout etc...

rerob1 · Sep 29, 2007 11:46 pm

We drive around looking at houses ALL the time...(great for when bubs is sleeping!) we have taken a couple of pictures of particular bricks we like but only with the owners permission...we have not trespassed onto someone else's property, instead take the name of the builder down and their number if we are really keen and ring and ask to do an inspection if possible.

If the owners or builders are on site, sometimes we hop out of the car and say hello - you can generally gage someones interest in talking to you and if they give you the time of day - great, stay and chat - but if they are offstandish or seem uncomfortable, walk away politely and leave them alone....I guess I wouldn't mind talking to people who take an interest in my place - hence being on this forum, having a blog and sharing ideas etc!!

rerob1 · Sep 29, 2007 11:47 pm

We drive around looking at houses ALL the time...(great for when bubs is sleeping!) we have taken a couple of pictures of particular bricks we like but only with the owners permission...we have not trespassed onto someone else's property, instead take the name of the builder down and their number if we are really keen and ring and ask to do an inspection if possible.

If the owners or builders are on site, sometimes we hop out of the car and say hello - you can generally gage someones interest in talking to you and if they give you the time of day - great, stay and chat - but if they are offstandish or seem uncomfortable, walk away politely and leave them alone....I guess I wouldn't mind talking to people who take an interest in my place - hence being on this forum, having a blog and sharing ideas etc!!