If 1+1=2, why am i still confused?

dinduboy14 · Mar 03, 2008 9:03 pm

Hi there, i am new to this forum and have found it very very informative!
The guidance here has been extremely useful & thanks again to all contributors.

Anyway back to my issue, i have recently purchased a block of land in Point Cook and am in the midst of choosing a builder.

i have narrowed it down to 2 builders, Metricon and Potter Davis. If i am trying to do a comparison between the both and if all things were equal. i.e. price and house design, i would;

1) Choose Potter Davis if i wanted my house to be build in a time frame since in the contract, it is mentioned 20weeks to build the house or else i will be paid reimbursement.

2) Choose Metricon if i didn't really you care how long they took to build it (i.e. as long as it within the contractual period of 1year) BUT i did care about the quality of the build because unlike potter davis, Metricon guarantees 25 years on structural.

Hence is this a good comparison or am I missing something here?!!

Much thanks!

Yak_Chat · Mar 03, 2008 11:08 pm

Buy the house that you know you will be happy with in the long term.
Steve

smeagol · Mar 05, 2008 12:19 pm

I agree with Steve,

What you find is if they used the HIA or Master builder contracts it always includes a penalty clause if they don't pay on time. The problem is that the penalty clause doesn't even covers your rent so double check that.

Most builders will build up to 80% of the contract in 4-5 months so they get 80% of the money and take their time for the last 20%. IE, if they contract for 10 months with you they would probably build 80% in 4 months ..work somewhere else for another 4 months get another 80% and have 2 months to comeback to do yours...and even if they are late and pay you the small penalty in the long run they will be better off anyway.

I'm trying to think up of a clause in my contract to get around this...any lawyers out there?

smeags

ahuang · Mar 06, 2008 12:48 pm

That reimbursement is nothing, about $16 or $20 a day or something? can't remember the exact figure now...

Also ,don't forget if it rains for X days, they are entitled to extend it to X+X days as they need to wait another day for the land to dry...

vpande · Mar 09, 2008 8:20 am

We had the same confusion. PD's crem@rne vs M's N@lan.
M is quite flexible with removing/adding walls etc. M agreed to add a shower to powder rm whereas PD refused. we also had them extend the garage till boundary and Alfresco too. We were also put off by PD's pushy salespeople(Berwick 'the chase' team) bragging about how 'professional' they can be.
Getting the design that u really like is the most important deciding factor IMHO.
good luck

VJ · Mar 09, 2008 7:30 pm

Quote:

M is quite flexible with removing/adding walls etc.

I agree on this. And if you're just going to move walls, you won't be charged for it. Other builders charge you for just moving walls.

For me, build the house that you really like...

If you see yourself and your family living in it..
and the builder is willing to adjust the plans to suit your needs...
you like the quality of their homes...

then choose that house/builder.

Before we finally signed with M, we went from PD, to M, AVJ, then back to M.... because we realised that one of their houses would fit beautifully on our block, and it addresses all our requirements as a family.

Good luck!