Hi SB. Sorry I havent had a chance to read all of your thread but I got a pretty good gist of your reason for withdrawing from the RBC- because our decision to pull out was exactly the same. I actually remember the precise moment I saw the figure for site costs (just over $100,000 including tank and septics). I swore I nearly fell ff the chair at uni and kept going over it because I knew I couldnt have read it right. It was a no brainer for us and the house we dreamed of went from love to hate overnight. I was so disappointed but we werent about to have the P*** (or money) taken out of us. In the end we found a different plan from a different builder (ta for that K-A and JACEM! Changed a few things around and its way better than the plan we fell in love with at the RBC and with the changes we made to it we have a far better and bigger plan at a very similar price to the standard RBC plan. Plus the new builder had no issue whatsoever with our decision to go with our own siteowrks guy and he came in at $58,000 which includes a water tank which is double the RBC one.
One thing I do remember when dealing with the RBC was the amount they ask for as a deposit . In fact Im pretty sure I asked on a forum or site somewhere what was 'normal' for a deposit because it seemed wrong in my eyes and it didnt sit well with the fact we could lose the lot if we didnt like how the final costings went. From peoples responses to my thread nobody paid that sort of deposit. It made me seriously question that perhaps the motive was that you put so much money into it that if you pull out you lose too much $ so you just accept whatever costings are given so to not feel like youve thrown money down the toilet- which is why we thought they were tanking the P***. From memory we paid RBC for the PPP agreement then they wanted 5% as a deposit (?I think- been a nearly a year ago now).To date have paid $2000 with our new builder for the PPP and soil testing and that is it and we are up to the point of getting our final plans and costings any day now. Our sales guy is fantastic (seriosly cannot give him enough credit!!!) and he was even kind enough to organise a the refund of the PPP and soil testing fee as we had already paid $ to RBC for the PPP and soli feasibility -which they couldnt use. We havent paid a cent nor will we pay them another cent until the first progress payment is due, which is after the slab has gone down. The deposit with the RBC was one thing that raised my eyebrow for the exact reasons you unfortunately are going through.
Anyway, all in all it was horrible to imagine ourselves in a home and then realise that dream is well and truly over, but I can honestly say we love our new plan so much more. Originally I had seen this plan and not gone for it but after knowing that the RBC plan was never going to happen we had be open to other plans and so had a good look at plans we had passed at before and worked out how we could tweek it to how we wanted it. Now I look at the old RBC plan and think I am so glad we didnt build that one. While the house is lovely, our new one suits our needs so much better and it is so much better value for money. While its fresh for you, I think in the end you might find it is a blessing in disguise and you will end up with a house you love so much more, and not have that little bit of hate due to feeling ripped off for the cost of having your dream.
I really am sorry for what you have gone through- the time, effort and money invested- its just not right. i wish you good luck Soaked blonde and I look forward to seeing what you decide to go with after having this sort of drama to deal with.