Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Mar 15, 2013 9:06 pm We're only 3 weeks or so into our build, but I am already concerned with our SS' communication, or lack thereof really. He called us once before the build had even started, to introduce himself, etc, but ever since then, he hasn't been in touch once, and if we wanted to talk to him about updates, we had to call him. I know it's not common practice for SS' to give out their phone numbers, so at first we were really impressed because he gave it to us and told us we could call him if we wanted to or had questions (mainly if we wanted to schedule to come on site and get a run through). All well and good; however, the last couple of times when we've tried to call, he hasn't answered, and never called back. We wouldn't normally call him because we know it's probably really annoying for him if all his clients call him willy nilly. But he told us he would call us when our slab was being laid - which he didn't - and he also said he would call us with updates once a week, every Friday - which he hasn't for two weeks straight now. It was only because I went out to our block and had a look for myself that I saw that the slab AND the frames were up, and while that's great, it concerns me that we haven't been told anything for the last two weeks. We also have a construction administrator whose phone number and e-mail we have, but I think she's more on the paperwork end of things and won't really know much about the actual work on site; however, she has told us she will call us every fortnight with updates as well. This communication with her only started this week because I called her regarding progress payments that we hadn't received invoices for (again, only because I went out and saw that things had been done and freaked out because I thought 'oh crap, we must owe them 2 lots of progress payments now!' ) Anyway, I just want to know what we should realistically expect from our SS? Will he get better at updating us as more is being done on our build? Also, when, and from whom, should we get an estimated finish date (based on the start date and their guaranteed build time)? Settlement: 10.02.13 Slab: 06.03.13 Frame: 08.03.13 Lock-up: 05.04.13 Handover: 03.06.13 Build thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59555 Brisbane Photography Re: Site supervisors 2Mar 16, 2013 4:14 am our SS must be among the rare. he communicates with us a least once or if not more a week we meet with him about a month or so before construction even started (he did not have the plans even). he keeps us informed gives us ideas and is a pleasure to work with . he has given us estimated times of finish as well. i would ring your SS touch bases with him they can get very busy but as the house nears lock up they should be getting a good idea of when the house will be ready for handover. with the progress payments looks as though the builder does not care about getting paid as you should not have to chase them to pay the payments. how often can you go out to you house. we go out once or more a day to check progress Re: Site supervisors 3Mar 16, 2013 5:01 am The service you are getting is not good enough. You are spending lots of money and you need to be given the opportunity to check up on what is happening as it happens. If you don't get any response from your next phone call contact the manager. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Site supervisors 4Mar 16, 2013 7:33 am Our SS' mobile number was provided to us in a letter from our builder. He has phoned us every Monday since the build started to update us. Our Client Liaison person has also phoned us every week. I'd be making my expectations clear with your builder. You are the client after all. Building the Ascot 35 with Carlisle Homes in Pasadena Estate, Clyde VIC My build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59776 Re: Site supervisors 5Mar 16, 2013 7:35 am As for SS giving out their numbers, around here the builders have a sign at the site that lists the SS and their mobile number so even if our builder hadn't given it to us we'd have it. Building the Ascot 35 with Carlisle Homes in Pasadena Estate, Clyde VIC My build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59776 Re: Site supervisors 6Mar 16, 2013 9:13 am You're doing better than us, we haven't even got the introduction call, and we're 3 weeks into the build. The only reason I know our SS's name and number is from the sign on the fence. My Hamptons build (completed): viewtopic.php?f=31&t=63370 Moved in Wednesday 11th Dec 2013 Front landscaping completed June 2016 Re: Site supervisors 7Mar 16, 2013 10:11 am Wow, sounds like it really just comes down to the luck of the draw. Thanks for everyone's responses! We are about 50 mins away, which means we can't go out more than once a week maximum (we haven't been able to go even that often, but we will start going every week from next Monday). That's why we rely on updates from the SS, and it's really frustrating. The fact that we had to chase up our invoices is really annoying too, I don't know how that even happens. I'm worried now that if we're not 100% on the ball and go out to see the progress every week, we'll miss an important stage finish and therefore an invoice, and the build will be delayed as a result. Anyway, we'll definitely give him another call and make it clear that we'd like updates every week. Is the SS generally on site every day? We told him we'd like to start coming on Mondays in the future, and he said to give him a call beforehand, which suggests that he might not be there. Settlement: 10.02.13 Slab: 06.03.13 Frame: 08.03.13 Lock-up: 05.04.13 Handover: 03.06.13 Build thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59555 Brisbane Photography Re: Site supervisors 8Mar 16, 2013 10:18 am We don't really get a call from the SS every week, but we do have a 'customer website' that gets updated at least once a week with photos and what's happening. Our SS definitely isn't onsite all day every day, we are just building with a small local builder, and he is the owner so he has a lot of houses to oversee! We've not had many problems though, and anything we have picked up on has been dealt with straight away (or before we even knew about it). Do you have a website or anything you get updates on that you can check? 1st build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59376 *New*-2nd build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=70324&p=1154282#p1154282 Re: Site supervisors 9Mar 16, 2013 10:38 am With most builders in WA the SS has 10-15 homes on the go at any one time. Given they generally spend one day in the office a week this leaves 4 days to split between a minimum of 10 houses. If you get an hour of their time a week you'll be doing well.
Re: Site supervisors 10Mar 16, 2013 10:59 am Stelle, if we got photo updates, that would be FANTASTIC, I would have loved that. Definitely no website or photos for us though. Althom, fair enough, I wouldn't expect them to be on site every day with that much going on. But that's another reason we need updates and photos, so we can make sure everything is going how it's supposed to when the SS is not there to oversee. I might be paranoid, but I've read so many people find problems like windows being the wrong size or position, rooms being smaller than supposed to, wrong wall colours, etc, and if we have no idea what's going on it's impossible to pick up any of that. I'm looking forward to when we can start going out once a week, I think I'll feel more in control then. Settlement: 10.02.13 Slab: 06.03.13 Frame: 08.03.13 Lock-up: 05.04.13 Handover: 03.06.13 Build thread: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=59555 Brisbane Photography Re: Site supervisors 11Mar 16, 2013 12:48 pm Our SS usually called us weekly, but some weeks fortnightly. He also manages approx 22 houses at one time, so depending on what stages the houses are at, the SS maybe at the house weekly, or less if not required at Some stages of the build. But we live close to our block so we can check regularly. If you don't live nearby, it really is important to you to get regular updates. At least now you have told him you will be at the house each Monday so he knows now you will be checking the work done and can be there at that time if required. We built the Wisdom Majestic 40 - moved in! Our blog - http://ourwisdommajestic40.blogspot.com.au/ Our H1 thread - viewtopic.php?t=54156 Re: Site supervisors 12Mar 16, 2013 12:52 pm No matter which way you look at it supervisor is the wrong term. An hour or less a week means he/she is not supervising at all but merely popping in for a looksee every now and then. Most of the tradies on our build didn't even know what our SS looked like. Re: Site supervisors 13Mar 16, 2013 1:05 pm And when you do contact them, the construction manager calls you a pain in the arse!!! In all fairness our SS never rang however if we text him a question he would always text straight back the answer. PPA 30/6/12, Land 28/06/12, Contract 7/9/12, Valuation 11/9/12, Prestart 13/9/12, Settlement 18/10/12, Building Permit Issued 18/10/12, Footings 30/10/11, Slab 31/10/11 I am not sure whether Perth has its own way of doing things in regards to this. Most of Perth has class A (sandy soil), except for some areas near rivers or hills. 2 13106 We were lucky in that our old house was so small (86 square metres) compared to the new house, they were able to take enough readings around the old backyard house before… 8 37157 |