Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Boutique Homes 125Dec 17, 2013 11:04 am Well after how ever many weeks its been and speaking to the head sales manager and his assistant. I finaly get a copy of my house plans on my new block( I refer to it as my new block, because finance fell through in the first one due to lmi for the post code) and in update. Which is all I have really wanted is a proper update. Not just telling me my files in drafting. Anyway turns out they have to go re survey the block due to the fact the block next door now has a house at lock up stage on it. They say this is just procedure to make sure it all still meets standards and complies. Which is fare enough. Am happy with that anyway. Least I will know the house next door hasn't built where it shouldn't Re: Boutique Homes 128Dec 18, 2013 12:03 pm Well just another curve ball in the wounderful world of building. Our estate has just come back saying we can't have tilled roof. Even though there design guidelines are very vague. I do like tin roofs but now have to find another lazy 6 g's. :-s Re: Boutique Homes 131Dec 18, 2013 3:56 pm And $6k is quite a bit more expensive too... News over here is that I just got a call from our site supervisor telling us our house is now at lock-up stage. This after I asked him a couple of weeks ago if we'd get to lock-up before Christmas because I have to organise an inspection and he said it wasn't likely. So now I'm hoping our inspector can get out there this week sometime... Re: Boutique Homes 132Dec 18, 2013 4:12 pm Hey guys, We're currently considering building with Boutique and are pricing things up.. We've been through this process with Carlisle and with PD as well.. Is it just me expecting too much or are Boutique not up there with their customer service? I lodged 3 requests for info over their website (no response, looks like their website was broken). Then 2 weeks later I called them, phone rang out. Called back, someone took a message. 2 days later, call back from someone who was happy to talk to me until I mentioned knock down rebuild, then he said, oh, that's someone else's job, I'll get them to call (no call). Called back again a few days later, phone rings out, called back again got someone very nice and very helpful, she sent some emails - I tried to follow up - no response to my email, phones ringing out again, left a message in the office to call a few days back but no response.. I was asking for a quote on specific items (which I would assume would take 30-40 minutes) and to confirm whether the sales person was available for a face to face meeting this weekend (or when they were available in the new year). It's making me really hesitant to deal with these people - if this is pre sale customer service, and things often go downhill from there, I worry! Is this normal for Boutique or am I expecting too much? Or is it just the time of the year? Thoughts? Build blog - http://hasslingthehoff.wordpress.com/ Re: Boutique Homes 133Dec 18, 2013 4:18 pm Hi Pungentia, I can only speak from my experience but I've been pretty happy with Boutique thus far. I agree their communication is pretty sloppy (and others on the forum can vouch for that too), but from what I've heard about other builders, it's a similar story everywhere. It could also be the time of year - Boutique closes from this Friday until the 6th so I imagine they're inundated. As for getting quotes on things - I thought it would only take 30-40 minutes too, but often I waited days and sometimes weeks... I'll send you a PM with more details which might help. Re: Boutique Homes 135Dec 18, 2013 8:22 pm Thanks, your advice is much appreciated I'll try again in the new year I guess, but will also try the mobile number I have too I talked to a mate tonight who is a fastidious bricky who has done fix up work for them in the past.. He is, well, totally fastidious, he may take a long time but your bricks would be perfect! I've heard him speak badly of most of the volume builders but he had nothing bad to say about boutique.. That in itself goes a long way too.. Build blog - http://hasslingthehoff.wordpress.com/ Re: Boutique Homes 138Dec 20, 2013 3:19 pm Congrats on the settlement and developer approval! Won't be long into Jan that your build will start. We're at lock-up. Waiting for the independent inspection report to come through. The scary thing is that the plasterer is booked for Monday so hopefully the report won't reveal too many internal defects... Re: Boutique Homes 139Dec 20, 2013 7:44 pm As much as their customer service has sucked in the process up to this point for us, I have heard that one of their main salesmen in the Geelong area has had unfortunate news with illness which is never nice. Just thought I'd mention this as it might be worth cutting them some slack as the flow on effect might be contributing to the lack of service at the moment. Sounds like you're having fun Waz. Just what you'd want around Christmas time. We have seen movement on our block which is nice after waiting so long. No slab though before Christmas in the end but not to worry. We've actually got ourselves a short term rental basically on the beach during the build stage so probably wont want to move out of that when it's finally built 10 15745 Ask for references and speak to them. If they are defensive or try to avoid the request, walk. 1 74701 |