After replying to a PM,I thought I would post some tips pre contract signing for those about to embark on the journey. Here goes.
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Get as many people as possible to look a them, including your bank manager, and someone who has a legalish background.
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Look at what you said you didnt want, go back to the display centre, and double check. Saves a lot of mucking around later. We changed our minds twice, god it was painful.
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Keep going to the display house you looked at, take the contract, and check every thing, especially the plans. Take people with you as well, this helps see things you dont see anymore, and may take for granted (light switch locations).
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Get another 100 people to check your electrical plan. Check where light switches are going to go.
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Make sure you have a phone point near the a powerpoint, and visa versa. This is so if you use cordless, the base station needs power. Just realised I forgot about that one, will need to cross the palm of the sparkie wioth somemagic folding paper.
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Bricks, here is a good one. Ring the supplier (Boral, Austral whoever) explain you are building with(insert name of builder), and ask them for a couple of locations where they have recently delivered the bricks you have chosen. Do a driveby and make sure you are happy with what it looks like on a house, rather than a couple of bricks on a piece of card. We found the color we wanted by doing this. Just to make sure you are happy with your choice.
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If you are not happy with the contract, do not sign it.
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If you see issues and they say, thats ok, we'll fix that later, do not sign it, because they will come back and say "Well the contract says this".
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Think about your telephone points carefully.
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The bigest dog I have with volume builders, is that you need to keep chasing them up. I have the luxury of living near our builder's head office, so if they do not answer my call, I go down there and *** them off as much as they do to me. I do it nicely, but I make sure I make the point.
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Do not be afraid to hold back funds. They say "oh,. but you are signing a contract etc etc. The minute you hand over cash, you start to lose control. Tell them that there are outstanding issues that need to be resolved prior to payment, and that they should resolve them quickly. Be careful though, and do choose tyour battles.
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If you are wall mounting the Dryer, get an extra noggin put in for the bracket.
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Arrange acces with your builder prior to plaster, so you can take photos of all of your walls with the electricals in. Handy reference later.
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Keep a copy of all of your correspondence, and log phone calls. Just in case they pull the "well I never saw that" or we didnt get your message card, not that I have needed it yet.
As soon as you get passed the contracts point, the exceitement gets going when your permits are issued. We went from clear block to frame and bricks in 2 months.
Hope these help.
BTW, alot, but not all builders are like this, but I chose mine because of their design, and quality. I would rather rant and rave and get a great house, than have great customer service, and a crap one...
Adrian B
Homeboy
