Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jan 31, 2014 11:37 am This couple have built about 16 years ago and never looked in ceiling space. If they did this is what they would have seen Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Their insulation was still in the bags. Never mind, they saved few hundred dollars on skipping inspections. Now sixteen years later and thousands lost in excessive heating and cooling costs they are selling and the purchaser is not impressed, it does not look good for the offer. But there is more This was a beautiful traditional home fully optioned with expensive fittings and fixtures, wide skirtings but look at this: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Of course they also saved few hundred dollars on skipping pre plaster inspection QUALITY IS NOT AN OPTION You figure it out Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: When was the last time you looked into your ceiling spac 2Jan 31, 2014 12:38 pm I think your post and the point you are trying to make are very valid. But why is it that you can pay a builder to build a house and then you have to also pay to check they do their job properly. A lot of people simply cannot push their budget to include an inspector and great forums like this help consumers be more aware. Maybe the HIA contract needs to include a clause - if defects are found with a building inspector that do not fulfil Australian standards and tolerances the builder will rectify said defects and reimburse consumer the cost of hiring the building inspector. More consumers would use them and more builders would be careful.... Re: When was the last time you looked into your ceiling spac 3Jan 31, 2014 1:50 pm Good questions bluesteel, I will try to answer best I can at least some of it At the most primary level it's about the fact that building is a business and the profit is the difference between contract price less the costs. Once the deal is struck there is temptation to go too far to minimise costs. Building companies are required to have at least one director as registered building practitioner but all too often the real control is with lawyers and accountants. Company accountants don't like costs and will slash everything they can including quality control systems (except their fat wages). It's all about the money. This is why many developers once sold of the plan will substitute whatever they can with cheaper product, slash costs (including supervision) and leave out whatever they can.(then lavishly spend whatever they short changed you) Then there is "feigned" incompetence but I never met a contractor who was incompetent enough not to ask to be paid. Many fake dumbness but always over claim. Who is dumb? Then there is our building control system (with control AWOL) and many builders know and take advantage of it I have to say that there are many competent and professional builders(probably great majority) who do their job very well and do the right thing but you have to be lucky because even a reputable builder is capable of a blunder or a bad job. In my job I deal with disreputable things done by reputable builders every week.. So in reality you are on your own and yes you can afford quality control, not affording it will be much more expensive or ruinous. It's a bit like Russian roulette. Care to play? Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: When was the last time you looked into your ceiling spac 4Jan 31, 2014 1:52 pm How would you go about getting the builder to fix the bowed walls? Could be within tolerances outlined in the BCA.. To me they are a toothless lion that would aggrevate the builder/owner relationship. Building with Jandson Homes - Eclipse 18. http://adgnetworks.blogspot.com/ Re: When was the last time you looked into your ceiling spac 5Jan 31, 2014 1:55 pm Even if I wasn't getting an inspector (which I most certainly am doing), I would definately have gone around checking everything was square, level and plumb, and checked on the insulation in the ceiling etc. It astonishes me how people can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on their most expensive and important asset and not make sure it is built properly. Not even checking the obvious and easy to see things yourself, is just rediculous! Even if you don't get an inspection at every stage of the build, at least have someone qualified check to make sure the builder isn't giving you a complete lemon before you hand over the final payment. Re: When was the last time you looked into your ceiling spac 6Jan 31, 2014 2:11 pm building-expert I have to say that there are many competent and professional builders(probably great majority) who do their job very well and do the right thing but you have to be lucky because even a reputable builder is capable of a blunder or a bad job. In my job I deal with disreputable things done by reputable builders every week.. I must say I was always worried when we started building that our builder might cut corners because you hear horror stories. But we were pleasantly surprised when we visited the site one evening and found a copy of the builder's initial QA inspection report, it was a nice big checklist, and it had several minor problems that we would never have noticed ourselves, in fact even when we found the pencil marks on the wall where they had highlighted where one problem was, we just couldn't see it with the naked eye at all. It makes us more confident that the builder is interested in giving us a quality home. Still getting an inspector though Re: When was the last time you looked into your ceiling spac 7Feb 02, 2014 10:17 am adgn How would you go about getting the builder to fix the bowed walls? Could be within tolerances outlined in the BCA.. To me they are a toothless lion that would aggrevate the builder/owner relationship. The only way to fix bowed walls is to remove plaster lining, straighten wall and re plaster and make good all finishes. You can imagine if the defects are discovered at your PCI it will be messy and will delay your handover. Builder will be unenthusiastic and will try everything to avoid the fix, including attempt to hide behind standards and tolerances. If you want to know what I think about the standards and tolerances you will find it on my blog. The whole point of independent inspections is check at critical points to make sure defects are not built in and if they are found they are at a stage where they can easily be fixed. Aggrevate owner/builder relationship? what does that mean? To avoid it you accept sub standard workmanship? I believe that if you are in control of your build you will get respect you deserve and a better job. Ever tried negotiating from a position of weakness? So you have people who will option out their home with expensive appliances and fittings (ceiling roses , colonial cornices etc etc) but don't have money to spend on inspections?. Stage check on their most important investment IS NOT AN OPTION? Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog This is the current bathroom with a european laundry. 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