Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Iris 4 with Henley - CEILING DRAMA, NOT HAPPY! 41Sep 09, 2010 11:35 am Hi Alex88. I would definitely question this extra cost. We purchased land at the "Waterside Estate" and made sure we were very familiar with all of the estate requirements. Our builder advertised a "Waterside estate house price", for which we had a tender drawn up. Upon having a meeting to present the tender, we were surprised to find that despite the fact that the price was advertised as specifically pertaining to our estate, it did not include ANY of the estate requirements. We refused to accept the tender until they included each and everyone of the requirements in the tender (in writing!) at no extra cost. It took a fair bit of negotiating, but they obliged in the end (which saved us mega amounts of cash). Dig your heels in...if they advertised it as all inclusive, then that's what it should be! Re: Iris 4 with Henley - CEILING DRAMA, NOT HAPPY! 42Sep 09, 2010 11:34 pm No, ours wasn't a house and land package... That must be the key difference then? Makes sense- if they sell that on the proviso that that particular house is to fit that particular block, then you really shouldn't wear that Re: Alex's Iris 4 - CEILING DRAMA, NOT HAPPY! 43Sep 10, 2010 5:12 pm It wasn't a house and land package. We bought the land 6 months prior to finding a builder. But the builder advertised the house we wanted as a fixed "Waterside estate" purchase price. Re: Alex's Iris 4 - CEILING DRAMA, NOT HAPPY! 44Sep 11, 2010 12:38 pm Working shift work is so frustrating! I emailed our admin in response to the tender saying if there were any changes we will let her know in a couple of days, and also asking a couple of questions - one was that they wanted a further deposit prior to the contract signing deposit (haven't heard of this, but it's not any more, so not fussed really), and the other was our "confusion" about the estate requirements and what was included and if she could kindly clarify that'd be lovely! Of course, me working until 11pm means I am unable to answer my phone (she knows I do shift work!) so instead of an answer, I just got a voicemail asking to call her back. Grrr, and she's going away next week too. Why is it so hard for people to just reply to my email!? viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37229 - our Iris 4! Re: Alex's Iris 4 - CEILING DRAMA, NOT HAPPY! 45Sep 13, 2010 12:14 am My parents went out to have a look at the estate today (Dad hasn't seen it yet) and went up to the land sales centre, apparently they think settlement will be delayed for a month Due to all the rains etc making it harder for them to get the land ready. But the sales rep thinks we should express how unimpressed we are with the change... have been trying, if only they'll reply to my damn email!!! But anyway - my land exists! Not that I doubted it but it was great that my parents got to see the actual block - my mum is walking the dog who had a ball exploring: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37229 - our Iris 4! Re: Alex's Iris 4 - CEILING DRAMA, NOT HAPPY! 46Sep 15, 2010 5:05 pm Well, after sending my initial email querying on Friday and being unable to return the call due to work, I sent another email on Monday responding to the tender which had questions I wanted answered before we signed (especially as I don't want to get hit with ANOTHER $2500 fee!) I explained due to work I would be unable to take calls but could the admin please email me back, it is now 5pm on Wednesday and I haven't heard a single thing from them, about anything! I know my admin is going away but I don't have the contact details of whoever is taking over, how long she is going away for, and whether my email has been passed on, is it so hard to send a courtesy email out!? To put it bluntly I am Not Impressed at the moment with the head office - the lady at the sales centre was fantastic as was the colour consultants, it's just the admin side of thing that's driving me mental! Hoping that the build goes better, fingers crossed. Won't be for a while, we just got a letter from our solicitor saying that we're now looking at mid-late October settlement viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37229 - our Iris 4! Re: Alex's Iris 4 - CEILING DRAMA, NOT HAPPY! 47Sep 19, 2010 11:46 pm Okay, H1ers, how long is acceptable before I send an email asking them to PLEASE respond to me? I *still* haven't had a response, I get that my admin is on holidays but FFS I don't even know how long for and she didn't pass my file on to anyone else it seems!! Unfortunately I can't call tomorrow, am thinking of just forwarding my original email asking for a response, I want to forward it to the H head office if I don't get a response but can't find an email address. You'd think they'd want my money, I'm asking questions about the tender and they want anotehr $1600 when we sign that, which Im fine with... but Im not signing until I get an answer!! Still don't have an ansewr about WHY I have to pay for the raised ceilings either viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37229 - our Iris 4! Re: Alex's Iris 4 - CEILING DRAMA, NOT HAPPY! 48Sep 20, 2010 10:26 am I feel your pain!! During the pre construction phase, we had a wonderful customer service officer who kept us in the loop with everything. However when she became ill and was off work for an extended period of time, it was as if we didn't exist People refused to help us as we "weren't their clients" and I had to get tough in order to get things moving. It seems to me that you have been accomodating enough, and I would be contacting the head office without delay. Just remember- you are a client of the building company NOT the admin officer...it's not your problem that they are on holidays. Be polite but firm in your dealings with them, explaining what your frustrations and expectations are. If you do not get the resolution you are after, go a step further and send an email to someone higher in the ranks. As for the shift work- I'm with you on that front too. I am a nurse so I work ******* hours and have no access to my mobile or email from work. It can make communication difficult Good luck with it all. I hope to hear some more positive feedback from you soon Re: Alex's Iris 4 - CEILING DRAMA, NOT HAPPY! 49Sep 20, 2010 11:32 am Hey Alex, Sorry to hear all the crap you are going through!! Can you speak to your Sales rep... the person who originally sold you the house??? They may be able to help if no one else is doing anything. Otherwise, ask for contact details of upper management... Good luck lovely... Re: Alex's Iris 4 - CEILING DRAMA, NOT HAPPY! 50Sep 20, 2010 2:13 pm Far out!!!!! Admin didn't respond so I sent an email again. Got an out of office with someone else, no email address though. Guessed the email address, and forwarded it on, and SHE has an out of office up too!!!!!! Anyone got a contact email address for their head office? Seriously, I'm giving them $180k would it kill them to stay in contact? Will try the sales rep next if I can't get through. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37229 - our Iris 4! Re: Alex's Iris 4 - CEILING DRAMA, NOT HAPPY! 51Sep 20, 2010 2:27 pm I'd contact the sales rep and see if he can give you contact details for someone that can help. contract signed: Nov 09 Released to Construction: 23 Jul 10 Slab poured: 9 Aug 10 Frame completed: 30 Aug 10 Windows & Gutters: 7 Sep 10 Bricks: 15 - 23 Sep 10 Roof: 24 Sep 10 Gyprock: 20 Oct 10 Lockup: 25 Oct 10 Kitchen: 27 Oct 10 Tiling: 6 - 9 Nov 10 Painting: 17 Nov 10 Carpet: 30 Nov 10 PCI: 15 Dec 10 Handover: 17 Dec 10 https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=35943 Re: Alex's Iris 4 - CEILING DRAMA, NOT HAPPY! 52Sep 20, 2010 10:07 pm carlswil I'd contact the sales rep and see if he can give you contact details for someone that can help. Might try that if I haven't heard anything in the next couple of days, as I know she has Tues/Wed off. The admin fill in should be back according to her out of office, let's see how I go with that. Can someone building with H tell me the difference between tender stage and contract stage? I mean, I get the basics, but they want us to sign the tender and pay them $2600, then the balance of the 3% deposit at contract signing - which is scheduled for next week. Given I don't have a response yet about the tender......... Oh and for those playing along at home- I still don't have a straight answer (okay, ANY answer) about the extra cost for the raised ceilings. It's very hard to fight it (which we're going to try and do) if they won't talk to us viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37229 - our Iris 4! Re: Alex's Iris 4 - CEILING DRAMA, NOT HAPPY! 53Sep 21, 2010 12:58 pm Anyone want to start a betting pool for when they'll get in contact with me?? I'm beginning to miss the inconvenient voicemails (yep, still no email.) viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37229 - our Iris 4! Re: Alex's Iris 4 - ceiling success! 54Sep 23, 2010 5:31 pm SUCCESS!! After numerous emails and no response (apparently the admin's fill in was off sick... ) I got passed onto someone else to answer my tender questions. Went back and forth a few times of "why do I have to pay for the ceilings?" "its included in the tender amount" "yes, but this is a different amount than we were first quoted" "you were advised that was an error" "why was it an error?!?!?!?!" and what my fiance described as a "Massive F*** You" email to them - I was polite, but made it VERY clear that I was upset, felt as thouhg they were misleading, and that the only explanation given was that there was an error due to no fault on our part yet we were being liable for the cost. So.... the admin said she'd look into it yesterday afternoon, this morning I got an email saying they would NOT charge us extra and it should've been included! To this admin's credit she has been fabulous replying to my emails promptly, looking into stuff for me - poor thing got blasted by me and it wasn't even her file, haha. But I am extremely happy with the response - at the beginning I was going to try and argue a bit but leave it but then they were jsut being so infuriating with not giving me an answer I decided to fight it. Very glad I did viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37229 - our Iris 4! Re: Alex's Iris 4 - ceiling success! 55Sep 24, 2010 8:12 am Great news about the ceilings Alex How frustrating though! Lucky you did argue the matter- more money in your pocket now! Re: Alex's Iris 4 - ceiling success! 56Sep 24, 2010 5:10 pm Congrats darling great to hear how it's gone!! Re: Alex's Iris 4 - ceiling success! 57Sep 28, 2010 6:35 pm Well, we've signed our contracts!!! Now it's just the waiting game for our land to be released, and for the 3 month genuine savings period with our bank to be up for the unconditional approval (should be late next month). After that it sounds like it's full speed ahead viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37229 - our Iris 4! Re: Alex's Iris 4 - now playing the waiting game... 58Oct 07, 2010 5:21 pm Sigh, I really hate this part of building! Just received a call from Henley today who advised they've just received info from Stockland that it's more likely titles won't be until November, which is 2 months after what we were originally told. Our admin sounds just as annoyed about this as us, because she's waiting for titles so she can order the soil test On one hand it's good, allows us to save more money before the loan is drawn down and we're paying $2000+ a month.. on the other hand, I want them to start building! It's looking less likely wtih every update that they won't start construction until the new year viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37229 - our Iris 4! Re: Alex's Iris 4 - now playing the waiting game... 59Oct 07, 2010 6:16 pm Alex88 Sigh, I really hate this part of building! Just received a call from Henley today who advised they've just received info from Stockland that it's more likely titles won't be until November, which is 2 months after what we were originally told. Our admin sounds just as annoyed about this as us, because she's waiting for titles so she can order the soil test On one hand it's good, allows us to save more money before the loan is drawn down and we're paying $2000+ a month.. on the other hand, I want them to start building! It's looking less likely wtih every update that they won't start construction until the new year Save like a mad woman!! But also start buying things you need.... 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