Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 27, 2010 9:50 pm Hello all....joined the forum hoping that someone out there can help me resolve an issue we currently have whilst building with Burbank. I have read some of the related info on threads, so hope someone can answer my dilema! Finally they have started after the slowest most incompetant contracts administrator passed on our file (only after the bank threatened to pull the plug on our mortgage offer). Because we felt she was so slow, we dare not ask her to make an amendment and now that they have started the soil works, have discussed the variation (which is only to upgrade the bathroom/laundry worktops to stone) and they are refusing! Aarrgghh! So, my questions are these; 1, has anyone actually succeeded in getting a variation agreed to? 2, why does it say on the drawings that any variation will incur a $500 charge, if they have no intent on letting you do it? 3, is it worth going to the building commission to complain? Be grateful of any help....we are new to the country, having built 3 times in the uk, feel the process here is a massive can of worms that mutiplies daily!!! Regards Emma Re: Building with Burbank 2Jul 28, 2010 8:52 am G'day Emma and Steve, i am not a fan of the bigger building companies for many reasons so please take my advice as biased. I would let them finish the job and fit new benchtops when they are finished and gone. Immediatley you are saving $500. You could perhaps make direct contact with the cabinet maker to: get benchtop measurements so you can arrange to have these made in your prefered product, ask if he is able to arrange the bench tops for you. Or get the measurements and make some telephone enquiries yourself with stone companies. If he is unable then i would get in contact with the plumber and ask that he doesn't "fit off" the basins and laundry component which will affect the changing of your benchtops to stone when the job is finished. Its your money, its your house, you are the one ultimately paying for every trade onsite, you should be able to get what you want, when you wnat it if you are prepared to pay for the cost of change. anyway, i wont get started. I cant imagine your cabinet maker has already made the cabinets or the benchtops so it should be a simple process to adjust in my opinion. generally speaking smaller coffee shops make better coffee. Re: Building with Burbank 3Jul 28, 2010 11:50 am Hi Emma, 12.4 in the contract. I would take Richard advice and do it after handover. http://burbankascent2500.blogspot.com/ https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=28503 [url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/] HOUSE COMPLETED IN 119 DAYS PCI Complete Handover 24th August Re: Building with Burbank 4Jul 28, 2010 5:46 pm Hi Guys, strongly suggest you don't makes changes after signing the contract. Seems to vary whether you can or can't but it will cost you TIME and $500 for each change etc. We have been going thru this for 6 months and still have a empty block of land and I have not instigated a change. Re: Building with Burbank 5Jul 29, 2010 6:09 pm Hi all and thanks for the advice! Love the smaller coffee shops make better coffee phrase! Ok so the long and the short of it after 3 days of being persistent (in a nice way!) they have agreed to make the change. The building commission agreed it wasn't an unreasonable request and that we could in fact take the matter to a tribunal. The very sad thing is that these people in their suits at head office only see bricks and mortar and not the love, passion and heart that we put into building our homes, i have been a manager for many years and will always think out of the box and try to go above and beyond where possible. In a country who employs more people in the retail and customer service industry than any other industry, we also have the worst record in the world of customer service....this will never change if we all keep accepting it. So with that behind, we look forward to the build !!! Emma Re: Building with Burbank 6Jul 29, 2010 7:53 pm Quote: In a country who employs more people in the retail and customer service industry than any other industry, we also have the worst record in the world of customer service http://burbankascent2500.blogspot.com/ https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=28503 [url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/] HOUSE COMPLETED IN 119 DAYS PCI Complete Handover 24th August Re: Building with Burbank 7Jul 29, 2010 8:56 pm Sorry, so not my intent to offend There is lots of research to this, i haven't just made it up i promise!! Having worked my whole workng life in the industry it's something i am very passionate about...lifes to short to make it difficult for others Your house is looking lovely by the way Re: Building with Burbank 8Jul 30, 2010 10:16 am Hi there. We asked B****k if we could have our bifold door tracking in flush with the floor so we dont trip over the traking but nnnooooo, 'no we wont do that' they said. Having a hubby in the construction industry we couldnt figure out why. Its just a matter of putting a rebate in the concrete instead of having it sit ontop. So I asked again and was told that its because our house is from the future designs. MY ***! Getting pretty angry! Its our house, our money! We should get what we want! (within limits... I could go pretty crazy!lol) Forrester 43sq We have our keys (3/6/11) Now it's time to decorate (that's the fun part.lol) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37598 Re: Building with Burbank 9Jul 30, 2010 10:32 am Rudolf1980 Hi there. We asked B****k if we could have our bifold door tracking in flush with the floor so we dont trip over the traking but nnnooooo, 'no we wont do that' they said. Having a hubby in the construction industry we couldnt figure out why. Its just a matter of putting a rebate in the concrete instead of having it sit ontop. So I asked again and was told that its because our house is from the future designs. MY ***! Getting pretty angry! Its our house, our money! We should get what we want! (within limits... I could go pretty crazy!lol) Yeah I have had the same response when we asked to add a recess on the bath wall so that we can keep stuff like shampoo bottles etc but NO was the answer - Reason because our house is from the Future series.... Don't understand what is the big deal......I will ask again during our colur appointment to see if we get better answer from another person within BB 26/2 - Sales 23/3 - Colours 31/3 - Tender 14/4 - Contract 7/5 - Taps 12/6 - Site start 15/6 - Slab 27/6 - Frame 1/8 - Lockup/Fixing 29/9 - PCI 25/10 - Handover Re: Building with Burbank 10Jul 30, 2010 10:44 am Thats just stupid excuse! I say its our house, we should get what we want! Lets strike!lmfao Forrester 43sq We have our keys (3/6/11) Now it's time to decorate (that's the fun part.lol) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37598 Hi All, Recently we have signed a contract with Burbank and we are not aware that they have just DORSET, SURREY, HAMPSHIRE, KENT, PILBARA and REDGUM bricks from PGH are… 0 3504 I do enjoy the drama:-D In his latest two videos he has started bringing security guards to site, I am waiting for the punch on to begin lol 6 46115 |