Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Nov 09, 2013 11:20 pm Hi everyone, I can see one thread about Elderton Homes in this site. But looks like the posts are a bit dated. If anyone has more recent experience with Elderton Homes, please share it with us (prospective Elderton Customers). I have just received my tender. I can't say I am overly happy with their service. At times, their service seems lacking professionalism. I mean I got my tender and I asked for a paper folder or something to put it in. But they could not find anything to put my tender in (I know it's minor and silly, but I found it a bit amatuerish). I had to take half a day off to get the tender and the tender presentation time was changed 2 times. They said they changed their process regarding tender presentation (no longer in the sales centres/display homes, now done in their head office in Bella Vista) and it would speed up the process, specially getting prices/requotes etc. However, I am told that I would have to wait at least a week to get the prices of a few additional doors/windows. The interesting thing is all these information was coming very promptly until I paid the initial $1000. As soon as I paid the $1000, I get a new contact person. Now this guy is pushing me to pay $4000 and get the ball rolling. But he mentioned that once I pay the $4000, I would be dealing with 'another' person from Elderton as this is their practice. So all these small things are slowly adding up. Plus I read about some recent bad experience. Hence thought a new thread could be helpful for the new/prospective Elderton customers. Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 2Nov 10, 2013 2:12 pm I am a little further along in the process of building with Elderton Homes. I have just signed the final contract. These initial steps do cause a lot of anxiety as you make such a big commitment when choosing a builder. My dentist said I had been doing a lot of teeth grinding at this stage. However, we have made our choice, and from now on all the worries are in the hands of Elderton Homes. We will start the actual building process next month. I think I can guess who you have been talking to previously and at your tender. That person was the reason we decided to build with Elderton Homes. I dropped out of building with Wisdom Homes as I felt we had lost contact with them personally, even though we had put $4,500 into the initial process. The Elderton salesperson was very helpful to us and we made a huge number of changes to the original plan. The quotations for the changes were all done promptly, but I cannot say if that will be so in the future for other clients. I have made a number of changes since we signed the initial contract and the quotes for the variations have been just as prompt as before we paid the $4000. I was told last week that their estimator was on holidays, but I received my final variation price in 2 or 3 days nevertheless. I was surprised when, like you, I was told we would be handed over to someone else. However we have had the same good service from this person. If I was you I would have no misgivings about the handover. My experience with the Elderton Homes staff has been very positive so far. What I liked initially about Elderton Homes was that the display houses did not have very expensive additions, you saw what you were actually getting. What was on show was what was in the plans, and anything in addition was posted on the walls of the display homes. Some project homes on display have many expensive additions which add huge amounts to the set price. I also liked the the help I received in making large changes to the plans. I have met the owner of the business at a display home from time to time. You can't do that with a larger builder. I am prepared for some nasty shocks as the building proceeds. I have had a few already in the extra costs we are incurring because of our particular location. But that is not Elderton's fault. The contract lays out clearly what they will pay for and what is extra. Whether the tender comes in a folder is of little importance. Now I feel I can relax for the first time in months, stop the teeth grinding, and hope all goes well in the building process. Best wishes on your choice of builder in the future. Keep in touch. Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 3Nov 13, 2013 12:51 pm Yeah there's not a lot of info out there, but since we are going to build with Elderton, I've started a new build thread! Build Threadhttps://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=68156 Lendlease/Elderton Cntract:31-01-13 Settled:1-10-13 DA: 10-10-13 CC: 28-11-13 SC: 3-4-14 Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 4Dec 06, 2013 4:59 pm Hi All, I'd love to hear more about experiences with Elderton, and could I please ask which homes you were building with them, I'm current looking at their double storey homes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Building with Eden Brae, Cremorne 35 in Kellyville Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 5Dec 06, 2013 7:00 pm Hi Pepperoni We are building a modified Mitcham house whose basic two storey house house you can see at Mulgoa Rise. We chose that design as it could be altered to fit a narrow block. In order to do so we had to cut off about 2/3rds of a garage space. We really wanted a "downsizing" house, suitable for us to stay until we are carted off to wherever our children will put us. We cut the two back bedrooms off the top floor and pasted them onto the ground floor plan. It is now a 1 garage house with three bedrooms downstairs (including the guest room) and two bedrooms, a modified bathroom and a rumpus room upstairs. I liked Elderton as they were willing to make this changes for us (at a price). I think the Mitcham design has been removed from Elderton's latest brochure. Now we travel to look at our block every day to see what is happening. We accidentally met the site supervisor on Wednesday when we went to admire the markers which had been put in to show the area to be scraped. His name is Alan and he seems like a very nice person and looks as if he knows what he is doing. He is a very long term employee of the Elderton families. That seems reassuring. Today we discovered that the site had been scraped. Maybe, after the piers are in place and some of the services in place, we might get the slab laid before Xmas. Next week we have to choose our tiles and I am told we will then pay the extra if we decide to upgrade the basic tiles. Newbuilderbill Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 6Dec 07, 2013 9:53 am Thanks Newbuilderbill, Sounds like you did quite a few changes to the original design, was it alot more extra, as we are looking to make some changes to one or 2 of the designs they have. Its always good to hear what interactions people have with the builders. My previous experience with a site manager years ago wasn't very pleasant. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Building with Eden Brae, Cremorne 35 in Kellyville Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 7Dec 07, 2013 1:02 pm Our final cost will be over $500,000. First, building where we are in an older area on a small block will cost quite a bit more in construction costs. The site supervisor descried our job as a sardine house, As well the overall house will be larger than the Mitcham house, including a larger living area and a reasonable size Al Fresco. We have made many changes in order to adapt the house to our requirements for the future. That includes removing the 2 bedrooms and bathroom from the first floor and putting them on the ground floor. This makes the ground floor similar to a 3 bedroom house and this is where we will live most of the time. Our site is in a possible flood zone ( most unlikely) and we have to raise it as high as we can afford above the kerb to allow extra storm water to flow down the sides of the house. The cheapest way to build is to have the original design built as it is, and that is what I would do if I only envisaged living there for a few years. I think Elderton even gives a sizeable discount if you do that. It would probably still be better than buying a pre-existing house even if it was not exactly what you want. Newbuilderbill Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 8Dec 14, 2013 5:47 pm On Friday 13th December I went to look at the block (as I do most days just in case something is happening) and I found that the pier holes were being drilled. That drill seemed to be going down a long way and I could feel the dollars disappearing down those holes. Later in the afternoon I went back again and found that the concrete in piers was almost poured. There seemed to be endless piers and 2 full loads of concrete were used. That is, 16 cubic metres of concrete. I went back later and counted over 90 piers. I hope Elderton has mercy on us when they give us the news of the extra cost of the piers. The contract only allows 60 lineal metres of piers, and the rest is extra. However if I had the choice, I would rather pay more for adequate piers than have a slab problem later. I am glad we did not go overboard on the tile upgrades! Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 9Dec 20, 2013 8:06 pm Today we discovered that the slab had been poured. It is just two weeks since the site was scraped. This means that the slab will have a few weeks to cure before the frame is installed. It also means we will have to pay our first big progress payment. Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 10Jan 30, 2014 12:26 am Thanks a lot for your updates newbuilderbill hows the house coming along so far? Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 11Jan 31, 2014 6:23 pm Thanks for your interest. Are you building with Elderton, or considering doing so? On 21st January we called drove past the land and found the SS sitting on the kerb chasing away anyone who wanted to park in front of the site. The previous day a truck with all our frames had been unable to park there and took the load back to Campbelltown. There is no room on the front of the block to allow a truck to enter the site as the front yard will all be used to store the timber. Since then I have visited the site a few time, but nothing had happened. So I left it for 3 days and today we found the ground floor frame is mostly in position and the yellow tongue particle board was in place for the first floor. I hope we don't have weeks of rain now. This happened to a house we once built and the particle board was in the rain for weeks. We had to have it sanded as the edges all curled. The steel beams used to support the floor above the garage and to support the back of the first floor have been erected. Our first floor is shorter than the standard Mitcham house and our ground floor is longer. hence the need for a steel beam. A power pole is now present, together with some electrical wiring at the front boundary and next to the garage where the meter box will be. As the site is fenced and has a couple of locks on the gate opening) we can't go in for a really good look. I would really like to go in and photograph the position of the studs so we can attach things to the walls if we need to later. Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 12Feb 03, 2014 1:23 am Newbie here. Going to follow progress for review on elderton. We're looking to secure land in jordan springs hopefully in the next release and pretty set on a watermark 26. Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 13Feb 04, 2014 9:15 pm oh nice how long until they finished with your build? I am building a extended version of the lifestyle 21.. How have elderton been to deal with? Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 14Feb 05, 2014 8:04 am To Blackenator You asked what Elderton was like to deal with. So far I have no complaints. Everything is straight down the line. They give you a price for a standard home and that is what you get. I have looked wistfully at the other project home builders who seem to throw in a few sweeteners, but Elderton plays it pretty straight. If you want something extra, you can generally have it, but you have to pay for it. The amount that they charge for these extras seems to reflect the cost to them, they don't jack up the prices unreasonably. Communication has always been very good. First the salesperson was A1 (thank you John) and if he had not been so obliging in changing the plans etc, I would not have built with Elderton. After I was passed over to head office, I have had swift and friendly replies. No problem there (Thanks Lisa). Now the building has started, I wish they worked on the site everyday. But I don't know what is going on exactly. The site supervisor gives me confidence. A building company must have preferred teams of tradespeople, and if I have to wait for a week or so here and there for those teams to work on my building I would prefer that than using any unknown or even inferior team. I am now locked out of the site, so I cannot comment on the workmanship. It is too early for that. If I drive to the site daily nothing seems to be happening, but if I miss visiting the site for a day or two, work progresses fast. There must be a moral in this. I originally decided to build with Wisdom Homes, but the salesperson went on holidays, and that display home was closed. The salesperson was then assigned to a different job with Wisdom and later left the firm. I was left floating. I felt I had no one to communicate with. When you are making up your mind about a purchase that is so important and costs so much money, you need to feel there is a line of communication between you and the building company. So I abandoned the $4,500 I had paid Wisdom Homes and went with Elderton where I can talk to someone every day I I have any questions. That is the benefit of dealing with a small company. I feel I am a person, not a job number. Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 15Feb 06, 2014 10:40 am Newbuilderbill To Blackenator You asked what Elderton was like to deal with. So far I have no complaints. Everything is straight down the line. They give you a price for a standard home and that is what you get. I have looked wistfully at the other project home builders who seem to throw in a few sweeteners, but Elderton plays it pretty straight. If you want something extra, you can generally have it, but you have to pay for it. The amount that they charge for these extras seems to reflect the cost to them, they don't jack up the prices unreasonably. Communication has always been very good. First the salesperson was A1 (thank you John) and if he had not been so obliging in changing the plans etc, I would not have built with Elderton. After I was passed over to head office, I have had swift and friendly replies. No problem there (Thanks Lisa). Now the building has started, I wish they worked on the site everyday. But I don't know what is going on exactly. The site supervisor gives me confidence. A building company must have preferred teams of tradespeople, and if I have to wait for a week or so here and there for those teams to work on my building I would prefer that than using any unknown or even inferior team. I am now locked out of the site, so I cannot comment on the workmanship. It is too early for that. If I drive to the site daily nothing seems to be happening, but if I miss visiting the site for a day or two, work progresses fast. There must be a moral in this. I originally decided to build with Wisdom Homes, but the salesperson went on holidays, and that display home was closed. The salesperson was then assigned to a different job with Wisdom and later left the firm. I was left floating. I felt I had no one to communicate with. When you are making up your mind about a purchase that is so important and costs so much money, you need to feel there is a line of communication between you and the building company. So I abandoned the $4,500 I had paid Wisdom Homes and went with Elderton where I can talk to someone every day I I have any questions. That is the benefit of dealing with a small company. I feel I am a person, not a job number. Thanks alot for the information. I just finished paying the $1000 tender fee to elderton. Now I wait for 4 weeks. Glad to hear the communication has been good thats a good company trait to have Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 16Feb 14, 2014 6:49 pm Hi guys, We are also building with Elderton in Caddens. We had great customer service with the salesman (Jason) at Mulgoa Rise who spent about 2.5 hours assisting us with altering house designs. We have pretty much ended up with a custom design. We have our tender appt in a few weeks so I guess we will see what the real damage is regarding cost $$$$$. So far we have no complaints but we are only very early on in the process. Good luck everyone Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 17Feb 14, 2014 7:16 pm Hi Angebaz Now is the time for you to do a LOT of thinking about what you exactly want. At the stage you are at, the house design is the most important thing. But later on you will think of so many more things you want. Somewhere on homeone I found a very long list of things to consider before you sign the contract. However Elderton have been very good about allowing us to make variations after the contract as been signed. As the build continues, we keep thinking of more things. We are currently mentally moving our furniture in and making sure that the power points are where we want them (ie everywhere). We have been seriously looking at lighting, even though we will get the light fittings installed after handover. This week we decided to get matching LED pendant lights over the island bench and over the kitchen table in the meals area. But will the position of the ceiling light we are given be where we want it? So we have been measuring furniture to work out exactly where we want to put it and make sure the light fittings are where we want them. Soon you should consider which windows should have translucent glass, you wouldn't want clear glass in the staircase, and we all have neighbours close by. You have a lot to do before that tender meeting. Have you considered how much insulation you want? Before your tender meeting, get quotes on anything you think you might want and see what you can afford. Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 18Mar 01, 2014 3:09 am Hi everyone, I started the thread and then disappeared for a while. can't really say that I am very happy with the customer service of Elderton in the post tender acceptance period. Client Relations Manager can never be reached via phone. I had to leave message and then follow up with 2-3 e-mails. Then she would reply 3-4 days later with a short e-mail with incomplete information. No matter how urgent the matter is, I just could not speak to her once. I would rather deal with John, however that's not possible or fruitful due to their operational arrangement. We are stuck at the contract signing stage. They are taking ages to answer simple questions/ information request (not even any variation or pricing info). My bank asked for a copy of current builder's license. It took them 3 days to supply that and that also after several phone calls and e-mail. I am not building an expensive house (Modified smaller Carrington Grange 28 sq), may be that's why my project is not important for them. At times I feel so humiliated. I am paying them money to build my house (that also no less than anyone else). Yet I have to beg to get simple information like a copy of builder's license. Funny thing is they are holding off the progress and reminding that there is a 90 day fixed tender period and afterwards, they reserve the right to change the price. I heard really good things about Elderton. A friend of mine dealt with the owner of the company directly back in 2012 and was extremely happy with their service. Apparently the owner himself used to present sales pitches back then. I suppose they have grown bigger in the last 2 years and the bureaucratic nightmares have caught up with their growth. I am now seriously considering pulling out of the project. Anyway good luck to all with your builds. Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 19Mar 01, 2014 3:17 am BTW my contract mentions 34 weeks to build a 2 storey 28 sq house. The contract specifically mentions that Elderton would only provide explanation for any delay (bad weather, industry shut down) after the practical completion. It overrides the clause 9.2 of the standard HIA contract. Is this what everyone else has in their contracts?? Or is it just me? Re: Elderton Homes - experiences & reviews 20Mar 01, 2014 4:54 am Good morning Newbie at Caddens What are you doing up at this time of the morning? Thinking about problems with building with Ekderton as I am currently doing? I have not had any problems with communications at head office. But have run into a problem in the building process. Big to me, maybe that is why most people say they will not be building again for as long time. I hope to solve my building problem in the next couple of days. Keep in touc. 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