Building the AllCastle Grandworth 42.5+

terraryzer · Jun 04, 2014 5:07 am

If there is one thing I hate about AllCastle Homes, it's their lack of communication. Apart from that things look pretty cool. We passed the stage of bricks and roof tiles. I think what's next is the electrical wiring and wall plaster boards.

To those who built the GW 42.5 (completed), do you know roughly how long it took/takes? I know it's not the same with everyone but still. Does it take the full weeks allocated for construction according to the contract or does it take longer?

Marmalade · Jun 04, 2014 9:15 am

It's a common complaint on this forum about the general lack of communication from builders once the home actually starts.

From talking to other homeowners around us I believe AC isn't too bad, and at least in our experience so far emails have been dealt with within a day or two. It really depends on what you are asking for, some things simply need to go up & down the chain of command.

As far as the build time goes, I imagine most would stretch it out to the full contract (unless you have negotiated a large final payment). It's not in their own interest to rush things along.

And getting to lockup seems to be a priority, mainly because they will have most of the progress payments in their bank account accruing interest. Ours was at lockup in far less than 50% of the build time, quite amazing how fast everything was done. It's slowed a bit since then but things are being done inside every week.

terraryzer · Jun 05, 2014 1:12 am

I guess you're right. I wouldn't want them to rush things and make a costly mistake. I also failed to take into consideration other factors like the weather which could delay construction.

So you're at lock-up stage? So not too long to go, eh?

I sort of worked out the completion period. I believe mine will be completed in November if everything runs smoothly but then again, I could be way off.

shopgirl · Jun 23, 2014 8:10 am

We are building with Allcastle at the moment and even if you don't rush things, they make loads of mistakes. Every copy of building plans/drawing you get back, make sure you triple check because there are lots of mistakes. Every copy has different mistakes. There is absolutely no attention to detail even during the build stage and they are very slow! It will soon be 1 year (short of 2.5 months) since they started building.

BLM · Oct 11, 2014 8:05 am

This is my first post. We are building with AH too. We have 4 pegs where each has 3 o/s. What does this mean? We are unsure when 20 days building commences. Can you share with me what should happen now. We have paid our 5% deposit. Would we have to have the next payment before slab or after slab. Given there is a 5 week Xmas shut down I don't really want the build to be that much ahead coz we will have to pay more on our mortgage especially since there may not be any work done over the shutdown period. When the slab is done we will have to put up a retaining wall too. AH have been good so far especially since we had such bad luck with a previous builder.

shopgirl · Oct 13, 2014 4:14 pm

The first payment is after pouring of slab.

BLM · Oct 13, 2014 6:13 pm

shopgirl

The first payment is after pouring of slab.

Thank you Shopgirl, this is good to know.

Since the vegetation has to be removed prior to construction. We have killed the vegetation on our block and cut the vegetation as low as possible. I'm hoping we don't get charged for the complete removal of the dried vegetation. I'm thinking that perhaps we are meant to have just dirt ie no vegetation. Can you please advise what is required or should we pay to have a bobcat scrape and remove the vegetation which of course comes at a cost which I'm trying to avoid. Perhaps you can suggest of another low cost way of removing the died up vegetation.

shopgirl · Oct 13, 2014 10:13 pm

Was there an existing house which you demolished or an empty land? If you demolished the house, the Demolisher would have removed the vegetation for you and flatten the land ready for build.

BLM · Oct 14, 2014 4:57 am

I should have mentioned this, sorry. It's a vacant block of land

shopgirl · Oct 14, 2014 6:09 am

Then I am not sure about the process. They should have sent you a pack on the process. If it is not stated in your contract that the vegetation will be removed then you may have to do it yourself. Maybe others on the forum can help.
Which house are you building? So far from my experience the quality is terrible. I am finally moving in this weekend and still they have not finished what was asked of them.

BLM · Oct 14, 2014 6:27 pm

shopgirl

Then I am not sure about the process. They should have sent you a pack on the process. If it is not stated in your contract that the vegetation will be removed then you may have to do it yourself. Maybe others on the forum can help.
Which house are you building? So far from my experience the quality is terrible. I am finally moving in this weekend and still they have not finished what was asked of them.

Thank you Shopgirl. I sent an email to AH today to see when we should receive further information about the state date. We are building a modified GW 42.5. We extended the lounge/formal dining by 1m to the side and the garage is being extended by 1.5 to the side too. We removed the small alfresco but added a 8x4m alfresco to the back behind the dining/family along with upgrades to the interior. Changed the facade to one that was about $17k.

So sorry to hear your journey hasnt been so great. Hope things settle when you move. What AH home are you building? What were your upgrades?

About 2 years ago,we first designed our house through an architect. We didnt go ahead with this architectually designed home, as the builder increased price by $112k after receiving council DA. This house was 37squares. Fair Trading didnt want to get involved, passed us onto Fair Trading, we ended up losing about $6k with that builder, $6k with the designer and $3k on other associated cost ie: surveys, council fees etc and lost about 18 months.

Anyway our AH journey has been pleasant. We paid our first deposit with AH early Apr14 and should be building late Oct/Nov so 7 months by the time we start building. Our build with AH is $60k less (or $178k if we add the $112k other builders increase) than the 37 squared house that we got DA for with that other builder.

We had to go through council with our AH home which took 6 weeks which is included in the 7 months mentioned. AH are very transparent compared to this other builder. Although things have been slower (ie: going back & forward with AH to get things right) than I would have liked with AH but it has been far better service than our previous builder. Unfortunately I can't mention the name of this other builder as I don't want that builder to put any further stress on me as I need to focus on our AH Build first. I have already been under so much stress with that other builder, I have to now give all my focus on our AH home.

I will keep you updated on our AH journey but so far it has been good.

shopgirl · Oct 14, 2014 10:02 pm

Good to hear that thAt it is all going well for you now. We built the Palace Regent 12. No modification or anything. Started the tender process in Jan 2013 and we are only moving in now. So you can see how long they took and it has been frustrating for us. The actual build stared in September 2013. The paint job in my house is terrible and the brickwork is terrible. So unlike the quality shown in the display house.

BLM · Oct 24, 2014 2:30 pm

Hi Shopgirl, how did your move go? Hope you have settled in. The downstairs layout of the Palace Regent 12 is similar to the Grandworth but upstairs is very different. I think the Palace Regent 12 is more Grand than our house. You must be busy having to arrange all the other things such as driveway, paths, landscaping etc. What colour is your paint and bricks. I'm scared now because our bricks are dark and inside is all white.

So since my last post, AH have put their fence up and portaloo delivered but other than that, nothing else is happening. Just so eager to start. Did you use AH for the flooring? We are but I'm sure I won't like the builders range of floor tiles so really concerned how much it is to upgrade. Any help from anyone on this is appreciated.

BLM · Oct 29, 2014 3:27 pm

As an update, nothing has happened since my last update. According to our contract, 'the builder is to commence the building works within 20 working days', anyway the 20 days ends tomorrow and so far nothing absolutely no work whatsoever. Given that we have not received or heard from AH I called them yesterday to see if we should see some work take place on that 20th day which is tomorrow. Our CS person said it aint going to happen. I asked why and she advised they havent engaged the excavator. I quietly hung up thinking mmmm but the contract says otherwise. Just trying to be as patient as possible. :roll:

as I don't want to crack it especially since we havent even started building yet! Not sure my long my patience will last. I thought if it's in the contract that is gospel but obviously not.

Has anyone else building with AH discovered the same delay?

onetonnesam · Nov 13, 2016 12:30 pm

Hi, sorry to hear of the delays, from reading your post the explanation of the delay doesn't sound good enough. Once we had demolished and AH came to inspect they requested a couple of things be done (plastic cover on colourbond fence and a small retaining wall). but they started in the 20 period.

CYNNAV · Jan 22, 2020 11:50 pm

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