Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16463Oct 15, 2022 6:29 am Hi Everyone, Wisdom respects the right for people to share their views and opinions on this forum (or any other), and to seek answers to their questions. However, online reviews can often be one-sided and commonly omit key and essential information. Where information is shared that is incorrect or false, then we will intervene with the relevant facts. Building a home is not a perfect science and there will inevitably be some challenges. However, these typical issues are generally factored into our assumed timeframes. Unfortunately, additional delays are being experienced in 2022. This is regrettable for our customers, but equally for Wisdom. To suggest that delays are as a consequence of our current volume of work or prioritisation is completely false, as is the suggestion that we are not financially incentivised to complete builds on time. Speed and completion of builds are critical to our cash flow. Below is a summary of the key causes of delays in 2022: 1. Pre-Construction: Post-COVID, Council DA approval times across Greater Sydney have increased by almost 2 months (on average) vs 2021. For this reason, CDC approval is encouraged wherever possible. In addition, loan approvals are taking longer with many banks now revising their pre-approvals. We expect these external delays to continue into 2023; hence, we have process improvements underway which we are confident will offset these delays in the future. 2. Construction: as at end September 2022, 44.6% of all available working days year to date have been rain affected. This has increased build times by an average of 33.3% vs 2021. Sydney has already set an annual record for rainfall and unfortunately, forecasters are predicting that the current La Nina event (the third this year) will peak in November, meaning that the remainder of 2022 will remain very wet, which again will affect build times. Hopefully, 2023 will bring more โnormalโ weather conditions and that will see a return to more typical construction timeframes. Individual circumstances will vary but the above averages are facts and are the key reasons for additional delays in 2022. We are not being delayed by prioritisation, by trade shortages (so far this year), by resources or our own processes. In fact, our teams are working harder than ever in the face of these external challenges that 2022 has brought. This year has delivered many challenges to the residential construction industry, which have been well documented in the media. You can be assured in Wisdom that we are a builder with longevity and significant backing. The above doesn't excuse the fact that timeframes are being affected this year, and that is regrettable. However, an understanding of the facts is important so that we can work together to achieve the best outcomes possible. As always, if anyone ever has a specific issue that you need assistance with, you can contact your Wisdom representative via phone, email or the Customer Portal. Alternatively, you can escalate by emailing customerexperience@wisdomhomes.com.au or sending a PM here. Regards, Wisdom Homes Live Your Way Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16464Oct 15, 2022 7:00 am Hi Wisdom, Great to see a comment from you in this thread. I can't speak for others in here, but I am overall still happy with your company, and have a positive outlook for our house. Your comments about preconstruction timeline increases are one of my main concerns, and I hope your CSRs are no longer suggesting its a 9 month process,considering at least from my point of view, even 12 months seems questionable. 1. I think a lot of angst and anxiety could be alieviated in this forum and other places, by Wisdom committing to freezing the tender/contract prices for customers who signed in 2021/the first half of 2022 who have run into these time over runs. I know you company has maintained that price increases are only employed on a case by case basis, but at least in my experience, it has been like pulling hens teeth getting a firm answer from Wisdom on if my costs will be increased in the next few weeks. 2. Have your CSRs be transparent with the time lines. Being told we will be on site 'in 2 months or so' (as an example) isn't helpful and can add pressure and cost when realistically that timeline won't be met. Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16465Oct 15, 2022 7:28 am diepiggy Hi Wisdom, Great to see a comment from you in this thread. I can't speak for others in here, but I am overall still happy with your company, and have a positive outlook for our house. Your comments about preconstruction timeline increases are one of my main concerns, and I hope your CSRs are no longer suggesting its a 9 month process,considering at least from my point of view, even 12 months seems questionable. I think a lot of angst and anxiety could be alieviated in this forum and other places, by Wisdom committing to freezing the tender/contract prices for customers who signed in 2021/the first half of 2022 who have run into these time over runs. I know you company has maintained that price increases are only employed on a case by case basis, but at least in my experience, it has been like pulling hens teeth getting a firm answer from Wisdom on if my costs will be increased in the next few weeks. Hi DiePiggy, I am pleased to hear about your overall perception. I didn't touch on supply chain costs above as the main message was about delays. In 2022, the average cost per job has increased by almost 10%. When compared to our normal annual cost per job increase, the 2022 increase has been 12 times the annual average. These costs impact our current jobs immediately; however, we are committed to and honouring the 12 month fixed price period that exists within our contracts, thus any customers that signed within 2022 still operate under this fixed price period. Again, any suggestion that jobs are deliberately delayed is absolutely false. There is no financial incentive to do this given the negative impact on inventory levels and cash flow. Any price review discussions with customers outside of their fixed price period are considered on a case by case basis. Can you please PM me your job number and I will have someone investigate to see if we can provide more clarity for you about your specific timeframes and pricing? Regards, Wisdom Homes Live Your Way Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16467Oct 15, 2022 7:41 am diepiggy Thanks, I have a call booked with Craig Sheens next week to go over exactly that ๐ Excellent Live Your Way Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16468Oct 15, 2022 4:33 pm wisdomhomes its refreshing to see Wisdom Homes engaging in this forum and now promoting customers' reviews. Please keep up the good work. I expect any extensions to your customers' construction times due to rain, or other things genuinely out of Wisdom's control, would be of no surprise to them. After alll, in Wisdom's HiA contract there is a requirement for Wisdom to notify customers in writing of the delay and the specific reasons for it within 20 days. If this is not done at the time then Wisdom is not entitled to claim extensions of time later, and the negotiated contract liquidated damages per late days are payable (HIA clause 34 I think) Has Wisdom Homes complied with this obligation to its customers? Any reasonsble person would have no problems accepting construction delays due to weather or any other unavoidable circumstances if these are communicated openly at the time, as per their contract terms. Whilst the rainfall data is factual it is irrelevant, and not an acceptable excuse for Wisdom Homes construction delays. Am I missing something here? Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16469Oct 17, 2022 9:18 am WisdomHomes diepiggy Hi Wisdom, Great to see a comment from you in this thread. I can't speak for others in here, but I am overall still happy with your company, and have a positive outlook for our house. Your comments about preconstruction timeline increases are one of my main concerns, and I hope your CSRs are no longer suggesting its a 9 month process,considering at least from my point of view, even 12 months seems questionable. I think a lot of angst and anxiety could be alieviated in this forum and other places, by Wisdom committing to freezing the tender/contract prices for customers who signed in 2021/the first half of 2022 who have run into these time over runs. I know you company has maintained that price increases are only employed on a case by case basis, but at least in my experience, it has been like pulling hens teeth getting a firm answer from Wisdom on if my costs will be increased in the next few weeks. Hi DiePiggy, I am pleased to hear about your overall perception. I didn't touch on supply chain costs above as the main message was about delays. In 2022, the average cost per job has increased by almost 10%. When compared to our normal annual cost per job increase, the 2022 increase has been 12 times the annual average. These costs impact our current jobs immediately; however, we are committed to and honouring the 12 month fixed price period that exists within our contracts, thus any customers that signed within 2022 still operate under this fixed price period. Again, any suggestion that jobs are deliberately delayed is absolutely false. There is no financial incentive to do this given the negative impact on inventory levels and cash flow. Any price review discussions with customers outside of their fixed price period are considered on a case by case basis. Can you please PM me your job number and I will have someone investigate to see if we can provide more clarity for you about your specific timeframes and pricing? Regards, Wisdom Homes Well said by DiePiggy, I extended my tender by additional 6 months with total of 18 months, and I am still in preconstruction phase and facing a big price increase. with WisdomHomes Admin process I doubt if most of their customers can start build within the fixed tender price period. this is my biggest concern too. Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16470Oct 17, 2022 10:11 am The NSW government currently advises straightforward CDC approvals are provided within 20 days of application. Councils' DAs, if this route is taken, can vary widely. What guidance was provided, and what representations were made by Wisdom Homes about the duration of their pre construction process before you signed the contract? Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16471Oct 18, 2022 8:44 am saintsir Just considering your earlier comments. Wisdom Homes currently has 63 properties for sale on Domain (off the plan, townhouses, H&L packages etc) at various stages of pre-constuction, construction or completed.This is significant given Wisdom builds about 80 homes per year in total. At typical asking prices of $1 million, for each week these properties' construction is delayed and unsold, these properties would cost Wisdom Homes about $1,000 for each per week - at current finance rates. A critical concern for their cash flow. As prices decline and interest rates rise in the current market this cost will escalate. This is compared with their typical contract liquidated damages obligation of about $160 per overdue week for their private build customers.
Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16472Oct 18, 2022 10:02 am Those Fake rendered green washed Real estate images on most websites are there to give the green movement some hope (humour) and then get your attention The reality is Council will tell you the only requirement for DA is 1 Deep rooted tree...LOL, not a House surrounded by a fake forest. Once they get your attention, they have your contact details, and the expert salesman pressures you for a decision. 30 Years on, the technologies changed but Glengarry Ross is still a classic and relevant today. Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16473Oct 20, 2022 9:54 am Thank you for all your feedback everyone. So far its been smooth sailing but mostly complications on my end with sudden changes. Curious if these issues are limited to KDR or impacts greenfield sites as well? I don't think I will be able to go down the CDC path due to setbacks I want. I do have to ask the question of what my day rate is for the liquidated damages i think from memory it was $20 but ill have to double check. Also how come on product review its mainly positive and on Facebook and this forum its mostly negative - that's a bit confusing also. Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16474Oct 20, 2022 10:34 am Bazinga Also how come on product review its mainly positive and on Facebook and this forum its mostly negative - that's a bit confusing also. Welcome to the real universe LOL, Product review...you aren't buying a toaster you can return for full credit. A house purchase involves your life savings.. were you properly prepared..? Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16475Oct 20, 2022 12:20 pm Honestly, people come to Facebook and here to voice their frustrations. For every positive opinion here there would be 30 negatives, just the nature of the beast. Have a read of all 824 pages of this thread, there are plenty of positive messages. Including this one! I am up to paying the balance of the 10% deposit and Craig Sheens says I am on the books to have them on site within the next 2-3 weeks... Meaning that with being organised and actively chasing the CSRs we will be on site 2 weeks less then 12 months ๐๐๐ Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16477Oct 20, 2022 1:02 pm diepiggy Honestly, people come to Facebook and here to voice their frustrations. For every positive opinion here there would be 30 negatives, just the nature of the beast. Have a read of all 824 pages of this thread, there are plenty of positive messages. Including this one! I am up to paying the balance of the 10% deposit and Craig Sheens says I am on the books to have them on site within the next 2-3 weeks... Meaning that with being organised and actively chasing the CSRs we will be on site 2 weeks less then 12 months ๐๐๐ This is great, it does make difference to have the management involved. no more stress for you as everything will start prior tender expiry, good luck. I have to say, Wisdom Homes are professionals and good customer service. despite the delays, at least every staff member I talked so far, they are patient, professional. A lot of time, it's out of the CSR's control too. Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16478Oct 20, 2022 2:56 pm StructuralBIMGuy Bazinga Also how come on product review its mainly positive and on Facebook and this forum its mostly negative - that's a bit confusing also. Welcome to the real universe LOL, Product review...you aren't buying a toaster you can return for full credit. A house purchase involves your life savings.. were you properly prepared..? Product review verifies claims/feedback that is posted compared to FB or this forum. Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 16480Oct 20, 2022 6:56 pm Bazinga StructuralBIMGuy Bazinga Also how come on product review its mainly positive and on Facebook and this forum its mostly negative - that's a bit confusing also. Welcome to the real universe LOL, Product review...you aren't buying a toaster you can return for full credit. A house purchase involves your life savings.. were you properly prepared..? Product review verifies claims/feedback that is posted compared to FB or this forum. You can always put photos up of you returning a toaster with the docket here. Then on the next post you can complain about your undies (humour) Nobody here is going to be contacting CK ... get it Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Can someone please offer some advice? Im DESPERATE. Because I'm completely and utterly exhausted. How long are variations taking with other companies at the moment? We… 0 19115 In fairness nobody gave a crap about the ACCC and the gag clauses continued in the pro forma templates of a few other builders after the ACCC took on Wisdom, and more… 19 74370 Hi Everyone, I am exploring builder in NSW and received a very tempting quote from Wisdom home for their momentum series. I just want to know experience of building… 0 9560 |