Porter Davis homes

We also went with Darbecca and opted for all the inspections except one. Like you, we didn't look elsewhere because of the comments on HomeOne. Two things to note though:

1. since 2017 (2016 was fine), their bookings are getting tighter and it is being felt by the inspectors. One inspector complained to me about his schedule at one of my inspections and even showed me his iPad calendar and complained that the 'girls in the office' don't care and book all the appointments all over melb with insufficient travel time and not enough buffer time to inspect more complicated jobs. I had to console him even...

2. all inspections where I've been on site, from the get go when meeting the inspector, you will be offered a long lecture of why building with volume builders is not wise and that you should pay an extra few hundred grand to get a proper house. He even gave my Site Supervisor the same lecture at a separate meeting and that he shouldn't work for volume builders!! He was outrightly offending him as well. He is so passionate about being an inspector that he fails to understand the client/business relationship. Offending ppl left right and centre. I asked him to explain what one of the blue markers was for and he replies with "if I have to explain every single defect to you we would be here all day and I wouldn't finish". I had to remind him that Darbecca offer clients to be present so assumed we could ask a question or two, not walk through the entire defect list. (He was happy to use 10min of my inspection time to complain to me about his schedule and how the 'girls' aren't doing a good job though!) He then explained the blue marked defect but continued to explain all the defects in the rooms downstairs but I wasn't interested in those. I had to stop him and remind him to get back to it or he'll be really late to his next appointment. I always walk away feeling like total $hit. I no longer chose to be present for our inspections. In 2016 they were not stressed and the meetings were nicer.

So yes, they do offer great inspection REPORTS and my site supervisor always addresses every item, (even though it's caused significant delays/cost) but beware the inspectors are so under the pump that it's impacting their relations with clients and who knows if they have to cut short an inspection because they need to rush off to the next one.

The other recommended inspection company is NewHomes Inspection but I never looked them up. My site supervisor said in his experience, Darbecca and New Homes were the most thorough inspectors.

Just something to think about for those looking for inspectors.

Thanks Momiji...great post. It highlights the need to keep an eye on independent inspectors as well!!! In my view, they get a lot of referrals from this forum, but "With great referrals, comes great responsibility"...time to Inspect the inspector!"

I already have Darbecca booked in for a pre-slab inspection but so is almost anyone on this forum building in Melbourne. I'm wondering if there is a way to ensure we are all getting a quality inspection done, and not succumbing to work pressures that Darbecca's & other building inspectors have?

Whilst everyone's site may be different, I'm wondering if there is value in everyone sharing their inspection reports on this forum, so at least we can collectively benefit from other inspectors....I'll start a new thread and see if it gains traction...

We are using me home inspections too and they have been good so far

Few more pics as promised. Will keep posting as i go if people are still interested 😊

Still have our pendants to come too!

Few more pics as promised. Will keep posting as i go if people are still interested

Still have our pendants to come too!

Few more pics as promised. Will keep posting as i go if people are still interested 😊

Still have our pendants to come too!

Hi guys, who did you choose for your building surveyor? PD is recommending the following options:
Checkpoint Building Surveyors, DJM Building Consultants, Advance Building Strategies

I don't trust any building surveyor engaged by Porter Davis. I would recommend regardless of which one you pick you also engage an independent inspector to look at each stage of the build.

I think the surveyor is different to the building inspector, pretty sure they mark out where the slab etc goes and check your house is on your land etc rather than inspecting the quality of the build. We went with DJM but only for the sake of choosing one out of the three and apparently they do more work where we are building than the other two.

Liz what are the dimensions of your island bench?
Your house is looking amazing!

I think the surveyor is different to the building inspector, pretty sure they mark out where the slab etc goes and check your house is on your land etc rather than inspecting the quality of the build. We went with DJM but only for the sake of choosing one out of the three and apparently they do more work where we are building than the other two.

The surveyor also checks over each stage of the build and prepares a report (which is very limited in detail) and they give the tick of approval to go to the next stage of build.

Our site supervisor made the concreters come back and fix a range of things with our slab after the PD appointed surveyor had already signed off on it so it doesn't give me much confidence in their quality control.