Porter Davis homes

CBPH · Aug 16, 2011 8:14 pm

Seriously PD, I can deal with hidden pricing and zero transparency, what I cannot deal with is refusal to allow us due time to review a contract before signing. This policy needs to be changed ASAP. It has cost you my business.

Team PD · Aug 17, 2011 11:46 am

lowcocustomz

Hi There everyone,

I just have some quick questions regarding the building time frame that pd offer when i signed my contract. As stated you get the normal build days of 20 weeks. Then they said they get an extra 37 build days in regards to major changes and whether.

Our house the regatta 23 started the first week in April. We have only been told now that they are using these days. We are unsure why they should be allowed to due to the fact that we did no major changes to the house, the customer service rep said that changing the height of the ceilings,promotional items, alfresco, eaves, windows, render and evaporative cooling can effect the build date. Im pretty sure that these are all normal things that people add to there house!! Im very disapointed that it has taken pretty much up to the second last week in our build to tell us that they are using those days, as far as im concerned if they think thats those changes stated above are going to effect the build date we should be told from day one. And not to mention that we have only now been told that our storm water pipes from the street are higher than the house..... funny enough storm water cant go up hill!! So that is effecting the final time frame as well, not to mention that this should have all been noticed when the engineer was planning the house!!

Other than that our house is looking amazing a few lil issues have arrised, that we mentioned right back at the start that still havnt been fixed, but the house looks great... ::wornout::

I am looking for some feedback & if this has happened to anyone else and what are you thoughts.
Thanks

Hi lowcocustomz,

It's good to hear that you've been in contact with your Building Coordinator regarding the progress of your build.

Tstr1a is quite right in saying that adding inclusions to your house ultimately effects the building timeframe. Changing the standard plan, such as changing ceiling height, adding promotional items, evaporative cooling, etc, will most likely effect the build date. In June this year, PD made a change to all build timeframes across all home ranges to include all variations. This should have been communicated to you, and if it hasn’t I suggest bringing this up with your BC so that they can properly explain how your inclusions have affected your build timeframe in detail.

Your BC is still the best person to help advise you as they are know you and your build personally.

For now I recommend submitting in writing the issues you mentioned that you want fixed so that they can attend to them as best they can. If you ever need an update on your build, don't ever hesitate to give them a call or contact them via 24Seven. They are there to help you out and answer your questions. Let us know how you go ::lol::

Cheers, Ebony.

Team PD · Aug 17, 2011 11:55 am

CBPH

Seriously PD, I can deal with hidden pricing and zero transparency, what I cannot deal with is refusal to allow us due time to review a contract before signing. This policy needs to be changed ASAP. It has cost you my business.

Hi CBPH

I am sorry to hear that you feel this way. PD does offer a 5 day cooling off period once you sign the contract, this is pretty standard across the industry.

If you wanted to chat more about it feel free to contact me directly through private message. I am also more than happy to put you in contact with someone at PD who can go through the contract signing process in detail if any part of it is unclear.

Regards, Ebony.

Wateman · Aug 17, 2011 12:58 pm

Hey everyone,

Just a quick question for you all - While you were at the selections/planning stage, how did/do you contact your building co-ordinator? Did you call mostly or did you email? If you emailed, how long is fair to wait for a reply?

tstr1a · Aug 17, 2011 1:01 pm

I was easier for me to email and she responds within minutes. If she needed to get a price I could take up to a day as she would need to liaise with the estimators.

I’m really happy with my BC. She is brilliant.

Rups · Aug 17, 2011 1:45 pm

Wateman

Hey everyone,

Just a quick question for you all - While you were at the selections/planning stage, how did/do you contact your building co-ordinator? Did you call mostly or did you email? If you emailed, how long is fair to wait for a reply?

Mainly email so everything was documented.

An issue we have though, is her time to respond. Sometimes we get an answer immediately, sometimes (more often the case) we got nothing and I would have to follow up a week later, and would then get an answer straight away!

I accept that they can't respond immediately all the time, but an ackowledgement that they received my email and would need a few days to reply with the details (and then making sure they do that!) is far better than get nothing at all and having to chase...

customer service 101 really...

eli-kay123 · Aug 17, 2011 3:23 pm

mel_mox

Hi everyone,
Update on my build the cremorne!
Wk 25 & we are plastered ;-)

check out my blog for pics!

Awesome job too, can't wait for fixing to be complete.
Mel :-)

Congratulations mel_mox. It's looking good. I'm glad the process is going good for you!!!!

Wateman · Aug 17, 2011 3:29 pm

Thanks Tstr1a and Rups. Email is much easier for me (I can only call during my lunch break, and everybody else seems to be on lunch breaks at the same time). I just don't want to be one of those annoying customers that is constantly harping on to get an answer, but I only have 3 weeks until my contract signing, and if it's going to take a week to answer 1 email, then I better make sure I have all my questions sorted well in advance!
My BC didn't even give me their email, I had to ask another staff member when I rang and my BC was off sick.. I hope I haven't ended up with one of the crappy BS's that you see mentioned every so often =/

eli-kay123 · Aug 17, 2011 3:30 pm

Wateman

Hey everyone,

Just a quick question for you all - While you were at the selections/planning stage, how did/do you contact your building co-ordinator? Did you call mostly or did you email? If you emailed, how long is fair to wait for a reply?

Email is the best way. Everything is documented and I always know I can go back to an email to clarify what I wrote or PD wrote. Most of the time I got a response back quickly, but understand they have other clients to attend to also.

eli-kay123 · Aug 17, 2011 3:36 pm

We have a loo on our block and land has been scraped. YIPEEE!!! ::cheerleader::

tstr1a · Aug 17, 2011 3:40 pm

Congrats, this is great news. If your build is anything like mine, you will have a slab and the frame completed within a month. Our build is 45 sq so I’m thinking within 3 weeks you should have completed frame stage (someone please do a rain dance to the rain away.. or maybe a Sun dance!)

Rups · Aug 17, 2011 4:10 pm

eli-kay123

We have a loo on our block and land has been scraped. YIPEEE!!! ::cheerleader::

Fantastic news!

Friends of ours were scraped and loo'd about 2 weeks ago... they had their slab poured yesterday!

It'll go quickly now I reckon. Best of luck!

eli-kay123 · Aug 17, 2011 5:09 pm

Thanks tstr1a and Rups,

Site supervisor just called me and he said the slab should be done by end of next week and the frame will follow a few days after.

joles · Aug 17, 2011 5:12 pm

Yay!!! Awesome eli-kay!!! I know it never seems it when you're the one waiting, but the start does seem to have come around quickly.
Here's to a speedy and happy build!

eli-kay123 · Aug 17, 2011 5:20 pm

joles

Yay!!! Awesome eli-kay!!! I know it never seems it when you're the one waiting, but the start does seem to have come around quickly.
Here's to a speedy and happy build!

Thanks joles.

JLD · Aug 18, 2011 10:44 am

Hi All,

New to the forums but have been reading for a few weeks trying to get as much info as I can! We've found a block that we like (700m2) and have put the deposit down with contracts subject to soil test and contour survey, fingers crossed it all comes back as not too ridiculous so we can go unconditional. Went past the block on my way back from school drop off and the holes for the test had been done which means we're getting somewhere.

We decided to look at Porter Davis based on a mainly positive reputation and I was convinced we were going to build the Waldorf but in the end the 5th Bedroom and design of the upstairs living area swung us to the Cayman. We've moved to a coastal town so the extra space for guests is a necessary evil and I love the idea of them being able to have their own room with ensuite rather than bunking in on the floor etc. I'm watching the Waldorf thread with jealousy but still excited about our choice!

So we put our $1,000 down the other day so that tests could be done and we've been given a site start of November, land should settle mid Sept and then we'll play it by ear how long it will take to build. I've been madly investigating all things Porter Davis and hope to get to Hopetoun soon to have a good look around.

This is our second build, last one was 12/13 years ago so I have a fair idea what we're in for.

Look forward to reading more about your builds and picking your brains!

JLD

Team PD · Aug 18, 2011 11:52 am

eli-kay123

We have a loo on our block and land has been scraped. YIPEEE!!! ::cheerleader::

Hi eli-kay123,

This is great news, I’m sure you’re very excited to see the slab put in and the build started! Remember if you have any questions along the way feel free to ask! Keep us in the loop ::lol::

Cheers, Ebony.

puppyso · Aug 18, 2011 12:12 pm

JLD

Hi All,

New to the forums but have been reading for a few weeks trying to get as much info as I can! We've found a block that we like (700m2) and have put the deposit down with contracts subject to soil test and contour survey, fingers crossed it all comes back as not too ridiculous so we can go unconditional. Went past the block on my way back from school drop off and the holes for the test had been done which means we're getting somewhere.

We decided to look at Porter Davis based on a mainly positive reputation and I was convinced we were going to build the Waldorf but in the end the 5th Bedroom and design of the upstairs living area swung us to the Cayman. We've moved to a coastal town so the extra space for guests is a necessary evil and I love the idea of them being able to have their own room with ensuite rather than bunking in on the floor etc. I'm watching the Waldorf thread with jealousy but still excited about our choice!

So we put our $1,000 down the other day so that tests could be done and we've been given a site start of November, land should settle mid Sept and then we'll play it by ear how long it will take to build. I've been madly investigating all things Porter Davis and hope to get to Hopetoun soon to have a good look around.

This is our second build, last one was 12/13 years ago so I have a fair idea what we're in for.

Look forward to reading more about your builds and picking your brains!

JLD

Congrats JLD on your 2nd build!

I love the cayman's kitchen layout, especially how the display has extended it to the alfresco area.
Will you be choosing the grand entertainer option?

Have fun at hopetoun, we had visited hopetoun so many times I lost count.

cheers
pup

Team PD · Aug 18, 2011 12:12 pm

JLD

Hi All,

New to the forums but have been reading for a few weeks trying to get as much info as I can! We've found a block that we like (700m2) and have put the deposit down with contracts subject to soil test and contour survey, fingers crossed it all comes back as not too ridiculous so we can go unconditional. Went past the block on my way back from school drop off and the holes for the test had been done which means we're getting somewhere.

We decided to look at Porter Davis based on a mainly positive reputation and I was convinced we were going to build the Waldorf but in the end the 5th Bedroom and design of the upstairs living area swung us to the Cayman. We've moved to a coastal town so the extra space for guests is a necessary evil and I love the idea of them being able to have their own room with ensuite rather than bunking in on the floor etc. I'm watching the Waldorf thread with jealousy but still excited about our choice!

So we put our $1,000 down the other day so that tests could be done and we've been given a site start of November, land should settle mid Sept and then we'll play it by ear how long it will take to build. I've been madly investigating all things Porter Davis and hope to get to Hopetoun soon to have a good look around.

This is our second build, last one was 12/13 years ago so I have a fair idea what we're in for.

Look forward to reading more about your builds and picking your brains!

JLD

Hi JLD,

All the best with the build process! I'm sure you're quite familiar with the build process since this is your second build. But, if you ever need help or have any questions remember you can always contact your Building Coordinator or ask on the forum! Looking forward to hearing how it all goes ::lol::

Regards, Ebony.

puppyso · Aug 18, 2011 12:14 pm

eli-kay123

We have a loo on our block and land has been scraped. YIPEEE!!! ::cheerleader::

congrats eli-kay123!
can't wait to see those photo's.