Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jul 07, 2014 6:50 pm we just bought a old house in balwyn north melbourne and planing to demolish it and build our new home as soon as possible as we are staying in a rent home now. we are now working to select the suitable builders. but after reading many reviews and comments regarding the home builders, we are getting more and more worried and worried. we know that we should input into the contracts as many details as possible. but we think the best way is to hire a solicitator and an independent supervisor to supervise the site for us. so could anyone pls introduce a good independent suppervisor ? tks Re: finding an independent supervisor for my new home build 2Jul 08, 2014 8:51 am Hi rubberman0404, Why don't you have a talk to BuildingExpert on this forum: http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/ He would be able to help you with all stages including the contract. He is pretty passionate about protecting homeowners. I'll just correct that - he is pretty passionate about protecting his clients!! Re: finding an independent supervisor for my new home build 3Jul 25, 2014 9:49 pm Sorry for late reply, thanks a lot, I will talk to the guy.Hope to get good guidance to start. Re: finding an independent supervisor for my new home build 5Sep 19, 2014 2:27 am I don't recommend anyone because I see so many fail to find defects, so I suggest you ask if the building consultant (who I assume is to carry out stage construction inspection reports each time you have to pay an instalment), climbs on the roof and inside the roof so that he/she sees all the accessible but difficult-to-reach defects. I always advise that if there are a lot of disclaimers used by the consultant then the consultant won't be looking at everything. So ask the pertinent questions and what disclaimers are used before hiring, because if you can't see something then you can't find out if it was built incorrectly. Many firms who employ others need to insure their workers and I say they probably add many disclaimers to avoid hefty insurance premiums. They could otherwise franchise out their work, but that cost more too. And another piece of advice. Because they are looking for defects, ask for their definition of defect, and if it is a one sentence affair I say avoid that person. It needs to contain all implied warranties and account for failure to comply with manufacturer specifications plus the contract documents of course. Not easy but worth the effort in my opinion Leonardo_23 Leonard0_23 Re: finding an independent supervisor for my new home build 6Sep 19, 2014 7:53 am I recommended Building Expert based on my personal experience of his expertise. But I completely agree that not all building inspectors are equal to the task; our first inspector missed the key defects in our build. As this inspection happened prior to handover it would have been the time to have discovered them and, if we had used BE then, they would have been. After practically crying on my shoulder to try and dissuade me from getting in an inspector, the builder was pretty gleeful at the result of the handover inspection, as you can imagine. Re: finding an independent supervisor for my new home build 7Sep 19, 2014 10:44 am Liliana I recommended Building Expert based on my personal experience of his expertise. But I completely agree that not all building inspectors are equal to the task; our first inspector missed the key defects in our build. As this inspection happened prior to handover it would have been the time to have discovered them and, if we had used BE then, they would have been. After practically crying on my shoulder to try and dissuade me from getting in an inspector, the builder was pretty gleeful at the result of the handover inspection, as you can imagine. Liliana, Who was your first building inspector? Maybe you can share via PM if you don't want to post. Thanks Re: finding an independent supervisor for my new home build 8Sep 19, 2014 1:59 pm Hi joea, Thanks for your post because it jogged my memory that I had actually posted their name in the dim, distant past and I've gone back and edited it out. If you are worried that it is your inspector I can say that the person has since sold their business, so whoever is running it now is somebody else. To be fair to this inspector I must add that he visited the site in the company of the builder who can talk the rear end off a Pilbara haul truck and I have little doubt that his attention was carefully directed to where the builder wanted it to go. The inspector did pick up that the land near the garage sloped towards the house but this was quickly dismissed by our building designer who was acting as the contract administrator. Still, knowing what I know now, it is astonishing to me that both the building surveyor and the inspector missed the elevated land levels - something that would have saved us a lot of distress, trouble and money in the last two years. Re: finding an independent supervisor for my new home build 9Sep 19, 2014 2:07 pm Liliana Hi joea, Thanks for your post because it jogged my memory that I had actually posted their name in the dim, distant past and I've gone back and edited it out. If you are worried that it is your inspector I can say that the person has since sold their business, so whoever is running it now is somebody else. To be fair to this inspector I must add that he visited the site in the company of the builder who can talk the rear end off a Pilbara haul truck and I have little doubt that his attention was carefully directed to where the builder wanted it to go. The inspector did pick up that the land near the garage sloped towards the house but this was quickly dismissed by our building designer who was acting as the contract administrator. Still, knowing what I know now, it is astonishing to me that both the building surveyor and the inspector missed the elevated land levels - something that would have saved us a lot of distress, trouble and money in the last two years. Hi Liliana, No worries at all. Yes I have to be careful with posting things online too, especially house plans or documents with our details on it. OK, good to hear. Well it definitely doesn't sound like any of the inspectors we are looking at as they are the primary owners from what I have heard. I'm sorry to hear you had all those troubles and appreciate you sharing your experience for other to be cautious about such things. It's scary to think that even after getting an Independent Inspector because you don't trust the builder/tradesmen you have to worry about trusting him too! Cheers. Re: finding an independent supervisor for my new home build 10Sep 19, 2014 2:17 pm Maybe before hiring an inspector you should put together a folio of photos (easily compiled from Homeone disaster stories) and get the inspector to play "Spot the Fault". If they fail, move on.. Re: finding an independent supervisor for my new home build 11Sep 19, 2014 2:51 pm Liliana Maybe before hiring an inspector you should put together a folio of photos (easily compiled from Homeone disaster stories) and get the inspector to play "Spot the Fault". If they fail, move on.. Like a mini test... I like it. Doubt anyone would accept that though. Re: finding an independent supervisor for my new home build 12Sep 25, 2014 10:15 pm Has anyone had any experience with Darbecca inspections? Re: finding an independent supervisor for my new home build 13Sep 26, 2014 10:55 am Not a very hard thing to do there are many companies that provide this service. However if you feel you are going to have a problem with your builder before you start I would suggest you find another builder that you are more comfortable with. Hi Kateo, Are you able to spare any of the tiles? Thanks Tony 10 11406 in the stormwater pit or the drain? Those dont look like theyd fit in the drain. Separately, the pits do get stuff in them during the course of the build. For the most… 1 7942 That is a really good attitude Akin to you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I do enjoy watching that tik tok inspector from Victoria but he does go a little… 12 81896 |