Porter Davis homes

sogg · Oct 17, 2014 8:37 am

tlblhayward

When my valuation came back I almost failed. The reason that was given in my valuation was that the cost of the items added to the base price of the house was very high. When I rang up our bank to get further clarification about what they meant they told me that basically the cost charged by the builder for upgrades are almost three times more than what the banks value them at.

My Valuation came back spot on, and we put a heap of extras ontop of the "From" Price. Im also building in a new estate, maybe i just got lucky with my valuation? I wonder if the LVR you are applying for effects how tough they are with the valuation?

joea · Oct 17, 2014 8:46 am

Jasdan

We also had issues with low valuation and are still annoyed about it.

If an established home is up for sale, and it was built by PD, the real estate advertisement and agent will make a very big deal out of this in order to increase the asking price. Not as common to see other builders mentioned in the ads. (When we were looking for an established home, we'd sometimes see a mention of Metricon. In the older areas, it was all about AV Jennings.) But PD, definitely ... it's a selling point for quality. Clearly it makes the home worth more in the eyes of the real estate industry. And still the banks don't seem to value PD homes as high as they should??? Very frustrating. Wish they had more insight. Would be great if they took more into account rather than telling you you went overboard with upgrades. (Really don't think we did!)

Hope all of you going through this at the moment can find an outcome that works. :-(

Agreed, it's a very frustrating process as there seems to be no consistency. I think the bank looks at it this way. If you default and they need to sell the house urgently they need to make sure they get back the amount it was valued at or more. So you might be able to advertise it at a PD built home and get the price it deserves but for them they will be looking for the quickest turn around (sale), meaning they will need to accept a lower price.

Mali02 · Oct 17, 2014 9:55 am

We have our PCI next Thursday! :z:

Currently going through the forums making a list of things to test etc. Feeling excited yet also a bit overwhelmed by it all, it is finally happening!

In terms of valuation, I was concerned about our valuation as we upgraded a fair bit... but our valuation came back spot on. We are building in a new estate but in an established suburb.

joea · Oct 18, 2014 6:04 pm

Hi all,

Thought I would share this great tool I have been using to compare our old and new drawings. This comes in handy when doing Post Contract Variations (PCVs) and when receiving updated electrical layout or house drawings.

It's called 'Bluebeam Revu'. I have shared the link on my blog.

Cheers

http://www.dunedin29.blogspot.com.au/20 ... erlay.html

tlblhayward · Oct 18, 2014 10:13 pm

Mali02

We have our PCI next Thursday! :z:

Currently going through the forums making a list of things to test etc. Feeling excited yet also a bit overwhelmed by it all, it is finally happening!

In terms of valuation, I was concerned about our valuation as we upgraded a fair bit... but our valuation came back spot on. We are building in a new estate but in an established suburb.

Have you considered purchasing the A New House PCI Checklist?... I have and I would highly recommend it.

http://www.anewhouse.com.au/?page_id=97

mirz · Oct 18, 2014 10:18 pm

tlblhayward

Have you considered purchasing the A New House PCI Checklist?... I have and I would highly recommend it.

http://www.anewhouse.com.au/?page_id=97

thanks tlblhayward

, just bought this book. it looks very useful.

MontagueBuilders · Oct 20, 2014 9:15 am

Hello everyone!

First of all a quick intro, my partner an I are about to build a Montague 21(25) in Point Cook. I'll post more details soon, including a link to my blog that I am currently in the process of creating. Also thanks for the heaps of helpful information by everyone in this blog, I wish I would have read through it all much earlier, would have saved me some last minute headaches that I have now.

Anyway, I have a quick question regarding NBN and comms: our block is currently not in an NBN-ready area, but I haven't given up hope yet that at some point NBN will also come to us. Now in preparation for this I opted for the NBN pack. So what I have in my tender and contract is the NBN pack for $1,432 as part of the Argus quote, and then "Provide telco infrastracture connection to home" for $462, which I think is the conduit from street pit to the house.

Is this all I need to ensure I get phone connection to the house now, and also can get NBN whenever it is available, without digging up the driveway? Any advise would be appreciated.

13Jack · Oct 20, 2014 2:51 pm

hello everyone!
I am also building with PD and few days away for my final inspection. I just wondering how is their 3 months maintenance inspection ?
Do they fix minor issues on 3 months maintenance inspection ? (like chipped tiles, missing grouts , paint touch ups)
Do you guys have any ideas to include to my final inspection list?
What things we should check on final inspection that they will not fix on 3 months maintenance inspection?

13Jack · Oct 20, 2014 2:53 pm

I have seen some post about red dot stickers to bring with us on our final inspections. Does anyone know where I can find them? ::smile::

hash_nanay · Oct 20, 2014 7:04 pm

13Jack

I have seen some post about red dot stickers to bring with us on our final inspections. Does anyone know where I can find them? ::smile::

Officworks

Mali02 · Oct 22, 2014 12:05 pm

tlblhayward

Mali02

We have our PCI next Thursday! :z:

Currently going through the forums making a list of things to test etc. Feeling excited yet also a bit overwhelmed by it all, it is finally happening!

In terms of valuation, I was concerned about our valuation as we upgraded a fair bit... but our valuation came back spot on. We are building in a new estate but in an established suburb.

Have you considered purchasing the A New House PCI Checklist?... I have and I would highly recommend it.

http://www.anewhouse.com.au/?page_id=97

Hi TLBL

I actually purchased it last Friday after Googling 'PCI checklist' and noticed that there were a lot of reviews on his website, including one from you! Very handy indeed, I have it all ready for tomorrow.

Wateman · Oct 22, 2014 12:43 pm

13Jack

hello everyone!
I am also building with PD and few days away for my final inspection. I just wondering how is their 3 months maintenance inspection ?
Do they fix minor issues on 3 months maintenance inspection ? (like chipped tiles, missing grouts , paint touch ups)
Do you guys have any ideas to include to my final inspection list?
What things we should check on final inspection that they will not fix on 3 months maintenance inspection?

Hi 13Jack,
Don't rely on them to fix anything at the 3-month inspection. They will just tell you that they can't prove that you didn't cause the problem since handover and won't do a thing. Even if you take photos at the start and have emailed them to your site supervisor and building coordinator.
When you have your final inspection they will probably tell you anything not fixed before handover will be done after. DO NOT believe them, they will say anything to get you signed off while fixing at little as possible.

The amount of things my SS told me he would arrange to be done that never happened is crazy. Then the 3-month inspection guy didn't even look around, he asked me to point things out then told me they couldn't fix them.

In comparison, my friend in the same estate, going with a different volume builder (cheaper) just had his 3 month inspection and they are fixing everything, including re-painting some walls (something my SS said he would organize but didn't at my handover date when he admitted that mine wasn't great).

mushrae · Oct 23, 2014 2:31 pm

Hi everyone
I just wanted to ask someone who may know this issue...

This is the picture I have taken from the house that next to mine.

They are on top of the roof, outside the house.

I just need to know are these metal pipe thing (like a vent for the house), are they optional? Like you have to ask the builder to add them to your house?

Because no one asked me if I wanted to add or not

, and now seems house next mine all have it but mine is not... :shock:

And are they essential to the house?

Thanks for help!(hoping the picture works)
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅

also today I went to the final inspection, there are a few small mistakes (a hole on the flyscreen/missing private lock and so on..)
and the garden is incomplete, but my building supervisor said they will get it done in couple of days, so I signed of the papers, but right now I feel very uncomfortable :`(

sliick · Oct 23, 2014 4:10 pm

mushrae

Hi everyone
I just wanted to ask someone who may know this issue...

This is the picture I have taken from the house that next to mine.

They are on top of the roof, outside the house.

I just need to know are these metal pipe thing (like a vent for the house), are they optional? Like you have to ask the builder to add them to your house?

Because no one asked me if I wanted to add or not

, and now seems house next mine all have it but mine is not... :shock:

And are they essential to the house?

Thanks for help!(hoping the picture works)
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅

also today I went to the final inspection, there are a few small mistakes (a hole on the flyscreen/missing private lock and so on..)
and the garden is incomplete, but my building supervisor said they will get it done in couple of days, so I signed of the papers, but right now I feel very uncomfortable :`(

Sorry to say this but u hv to ask for them. They are not essential tho as it will get vented to the roof cavity instead

MummaDJ · Oct 23, 2014 4:51 pm

sliick

mushrae

Hi everyone
I just wanted to ask someone who may know this issue...

This is the picture I have taken from the house that next to mine.

They are on top of the roof, outside the house.

I just need to know are these metal pipe thing (like a vent for the house), are they optional? Like you have to ask the builder to add them to your house?

Because no one asked me if I wanted to add or not

, and now seems house next mine all have it but mine is not... :shock:

And are they essential to the house?

Thanks for help!(hoping the picture works)
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅

also today I went to the final inspection, there are a few small mistakes (a hole on the flyscreen/missing private lock and so on..)
and the garden is incomplete, but my building supervisor said they will get it done in couple of days, so I signed of the papers, but right now I feel very uncomfortable :`(

Sorry to say this but u hv to ask for them. They are not essential tho as it will get vented to the roof cavity instead

We didn't specifically ask for them and we got one anyway. It isn't listed on the plans. It is placed very close to our whirly bird. So it was just done.

mushrae · Oct 23, 2014 5:13 pm

MummaDJ

sliick

mushrae

Hi everyone
I just wanted to ask someone who may know this issue...

This is the picture I have taken from the house that next to mine.

They are on top of the roof, outside the house.

I just need to know are these metal pipe thing (like a vent for the house), are they optional? Like you have to ask the builder to add them to your house?

Because no one asked me if I wanted to add or not

, and now seems house next mine all have it but mine is not... :shock:

And are they essential to the house?

Thanks for help!(hoping the picture works)
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅

also today I went to the final inspection, there are a few small mistakes (a hole on the flyscreen/missing private lock and so on..)
and the garden is incomplete, but my building supervisor said they will get it done in couple of days, so I signed of the papers, but right now I feel very uncomfortable :`(

Sorry to say this but u hv to ask for them. They are not essential tho as it will get vented to the roof cavity instead

We didn't specifically ask for them and we got one anyway. It isn't listed on the plans. It is placed very close to our whirly bird. So it was just done.

when I ask them (PD building coordinator & supervisor),they said that pipe thing is "optional, and it is not important"...so yea,, they are not going to build one for me

I don't know why am I so unlucky.

aloha · Oct 24, 2014 11:16 am

Hi all, we are thinking of building a house but our main concern is the site cost as it's variable. We have consulted a few builders and based on our soil reports, Porter Davis has come back with a reasonable cost compared to other builders. Just wondering if anyone has experienced an increase in their site cost after locking in the contract (and if that's possible)?

aloha · Oct 24, 2014 11:17 am

Has anyone built or is anyone building from the Advantage range (Charlton to be specific)?

katemorley91 · Oct 24, 2014 11:28 am

Hi aloha, I would like to know about the site costs too because PD have told me out site costs are fixed and we wont get any further surprises when the build begins. I am building the Bermuda which is in the advantage range

dojrude · Oct 24, 2014 11:37 am

New valuation came back today and is spot on.
Can't quite believe that 2 different banks can value a property $47,000 apart, but there you go.

Happy days and no additional LMI to pay.

Hi Aloha, we also have fixed site costs with PD. They were initially variable (they gave a rough indicated price) until the soil tests had been done and they could establish exactly what was required. We didn't get the fixed site costs until either our tender or contract meeting.