Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 11, 2010 10:43 pm Hi, Had a look at these forums a few months ago to see if anyone else was building with Switch in WA and just thought I would come back on and post on our house. We signed up with them in October last year and after 4 weeks we got our draft plans which we were stoked with and then waited until February to get working drawings. We got a custom design as we wanted a big house and our own touches. Our Sales Rep was awesome and couldn't do enough for us but has since left company and we lost his special touch in getting things moving. We were rushed into prestart so we could meet finance dates and then waited 8 weeks for the costing which was just ridiculous and not sure whether it took that long for everyone else. We have had to sign 7 variations since the formal plans for constant errors in the plans and addenda. Our slab went down in June and the brickwork commenced in July and was finished at the end of the month. Our first brickie team was fired and the second lot were very fast... which showed and we were so unhappy with the workmanship. Our SS seemed not worried and said the plaster would fix everything. Then that SS left the company and another started and he also wasn't worried. Roof timbers went up and after our building inspector came out I wanted to cry. There was so many things on both the brickwork and timbers that were wrong and at this stage the new SS had also left so we called a meeting with CM after writing a formal letter to GM. They agreed to fix everything on our list which was a relief. We have not been told who the new SS is and have been dealing with the CM since above. The house has just been plodding along and we are now waiting on lockup which the new CLO has told us will be next week. The plaster is done, ceilings and cornices in (although wish I had upgraded them) and apart from a bit of external render to be finished where they extended an opening, everything is now looking good. Would love to know how long from lockup to pci they are taking. Can't wait to see my pivot door go in! http://img574.imageshack.us/img574/9832/planu.jpg We said we'd never build again.... Re: Custom Switch 2Nov 12, 2010 1:21 am Hi dreamhan, my gosh you have certainly had some issues as well, we were locked up in august and pci around wednesday next week, very slow due to not having ss moving things along. What was the initial of your ss. Your plan looks great another huge house from them, was C your sales consultant in ellenbrook display, if it was I agree he was a great bloke and worked really hard to satisfy his clients. I had a friend who started her build at the end of january with another builder and had handover in july to compare our builds and ours began late feb. It sounds like you need feggles ss on your build he seems to be getting there build moving along. Best of luck. Re: Custom Switch 3Nov 12, 2010 10:00 am Hi dreamhan Welcome (back) to H1. We are building a custom design with Sw1tch as well and it sounds like you are telling our story there! Like you, our working drawings took 10 weeks, our initial prestart costings took 7 weeks and then it took another 3 to get them right. We have probably had a similar number of variations as well. We have also had 3 SS's and 3 CLO's! We are up to the part where we've had the building inspector out and are waiting for a response on when/how they are going to fix the issues with the bricks and roof timbers. Our brickies 'forgot' to put the damp course in, so I don't know how they're going to fix that. Hopefully we have the same outcome as you. What issues did you have? Cheers. Built with Sw1tch H0mes >Build thread< House status 15/12: Gates and A/C finally installed! Sep 09 Bought block, Dec 09 Engaged builder, Jul '11 Moved in Re: Custom Switch 4Nov 12, 2010 10:22 am Great plan there! SOrry to hear you've had issues, we're building with switch too, just done prestart, waiting on costings atm. my new build thread- Ben Trager https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=89826 my switch build thread (2011) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36569 Re: Custom Switch 6Nov 12, 2010 12:33 pm Yes Kazzbah61, we had CL - top bloke but I think he knew the systems were not up to standard in the office somehow Brickwork problems we had were wonky walls, walls put in wrong spot, cracked bricks over door frames, windows not level, perp end not bonded, wall ties missing, door frames warped, nib wall not secured and just rough as guts work overall. Roof timbers, no supporting on strutting beams, no valley board, batten line out of plumb.. you name it we got our monies worth from the building inspector. I am sure if we didnt write a formal complaint and use the term BRB nothing would have been fixed. Our rear garage opening was always drawn at a certain size on the draft and working drawings and first signed lot (wanted it large enough for a trailer access if needed) and wasnt until the bricks had finished that we thought it looked too small and it was 40cm shorter.. looked at final plans and it was the shorter size on those but we never signed any VO or requested it.. complained very loudly about that and the fact we are not structual engineers and why would we look at that when we didn't expect a change. The GM agreed to order new lintel and have it widened and order a "custom" sized roller door. Other VO's included them changing our sinks and taps without asking and then putting kitchen sink mixers in my bathrooms.. then also making our benchtops so high that the freestanding oven would have to go on blocks and to cover that put the kicker in front of the legs... ho hum. Glad I am not the only one that has pulled their hair out over and over again, just hope things are on track now. WEsty, can't believe they didn't put the damp course in.. have they given any indication to you about how and if anything can be done? Thanks Liana-, we love our design and as I had to do prestart without the DH am hoping that the colours I picked do the house justice. One question - in regards to the bulk email that went out about the CLO (most proactive I thought) is that a new role or replacement for LH? We said we'd never build again.... Re: Custom Switch 7Nov 12, 2010 1:41 pm Wow, it sounds like you had similar issues to us, except your brickwork sounds worse. We had our garage width reduced by 40cm without being asked as well! And we had specifically requested and paid extra to have it widened! I didn't pick it up til it was built like you, so I just asked for our money back on the variation cost. No, they haven't said what they are going to do about the damp course. In fact we haven't heard anything about the report as yet. It was sent to the CM and new CLO. I think I need to take it to the GM if I hear nothing by early next week. The new CLO has replaced L, who from what we can work out quit last Friday. Built with Sw1tch H0mes >Build thread< House status 15/12: Gates and A/C finally installed! Sep 09 Bought block, Dec 09 Engaged builder, Jul '11 Moved in Re: Custom Switch 8Nov 12, 2010 2:34 pm Oh my goodness - are you sure we aren't building the same house? We refused to back down on their error and even though the roof timbers were up told them we wanted it fixed. Ahh I thought so, L rubbed me up the wrong way. I wonder whether these changes are anything to do with all the surveys that went out? Fingers crossed you get a response back from CM before having to take it further. It is a huge stuff up though and assume they are shaking their heads and trying to decide a course of action. We said we'd never build again.... Re: Custom Switch 10Nov 12, 2010 5:49 pm What an awesomely huge house! Your about same stage as us, our slab went down start of Aug. It would be rather upsetting that you took so long revising plans many times and they still couldn't get it right. Hope all the trades from now on do a perfect job. Re: Custom Switch 11Nov 12, 2010 6:10 pm The front of the house looks gorgeous! my new build thread- Ben Trager https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=89826 my switch build thread (2011) https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=36569 Re: Custom Switch 13Nov 12, 2010 10:16 pm Hi dreamhan your house looks fabulous from the outside so individual good old C L would have been right in the thick of your home whatever outcomes at least yours is a custom and different look. Just love it! Well we have PCI next Wed hopefully all goes well, a bit concerned about some roof issues some of you guys out there had have would love it if you could pm me the inspector you had asap would be appreciated. Cheers for now Re: Custom Switch 15Nov 14, 2010 10:30 am howdy - i can't believe we've all gone thru the same issues. on a nice note love the house it's huge and quirky lets hope they can pull it together for all of us Follow Feggle viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34992 Follow lilfeggle viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37149 Asbestosis Sux! Don't breath in Asbestos Re: Custom Switch 17Nov 17, 2010 9:04 pm the pivot doors look amazing when they are in really makes a statement with elegance Follow Feggle viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34992 Follow lilfeggle viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37149 Asbestosis Sux! Don't breath in Asbestos Re: Custom Switch 18Nov 17, 2010 10:18 pm My hubby is back today and had a wander through and is not happy with a few little things so have asked for a meeting with the SS before he goes back to work. As we had no idea who was looking after us anymore, spoke with CLO who advised us that it was a G and she would ask him to call us to book in a time. Has anyone else got this guy? lilfeggle, how long after your bath was delivered before the door went on? Went past today and no door yet We said we'd never build again.... Re: Custom Switch 19Nov 17, 2010 10:42 pm our spa was delivered with the motor and all - door frame was in - the following day door was hung, however during this time the bath had been installed but we still had no glazing in the sidelights next to the pivot door - luckily the supervisor grabbed the spa motor thingy, but then we had tiles delivered, cabinet work installed, still house was accessable thru the sidelights from front door - but thankfully the ss got on top of it and with in 4 days ( i think) glazing had been done and locked up phewww Follow Feggle viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34992 Follow lilfeggle viewtopic.php?f=31&t=37149 Asbestosis Sux! Don't breath in Asbestos Re: Custom Switch 20Nov 22, 2010 2:54 pm The pivot door was delivered this morning while we were having our meeting with GA the new SS. Looks awesome and hope that it looks just as nice painted. We are officially at lockup now so thats a good thing. The bath and spa have been put into place and cemented in and the plumbers have been in to do all the flooor wastes and unblock the pipes. SS was great this morning and picked up on a few things that we hadn't and was onto everything he said. Seemed to be pretty positive that things will get fixed and the standards higher and it would prob be late Feb early March before PCI. Apparently the cabinetwork has not been ordered so won't happen before Xmas but might be able to get the cabinets for the bathrooms and some tiling done with luck but not kitchen. We just want the quality to be there and can handle the extra wait to get things right. We said we'd never build again.... Any electricians here please help. 1) Will the Fan need separate switch to ON/OFF/Speed eventhough it comes with Remote 2) how about… 0 1246 Joe, it depends on your certifier but we are noticing the ones we deal with are really cracking down. So i would recommend you follow your approved landscaping plans to… 4 11059 Hi Simeon, Thank you for laying it down for us. Makes sense. Appreciate it very much. Have a nice day. Cheers 2 9114 |