Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Jan 21, 2015 11:03 am Hi, I tried searching some of the pages and couldn't find any pre-existing threads about our builder, so I hope it's ok to post this We are still currently building our home, I say still because we started in April of last year. It's a double story custom design, well we technically started everything, plans etc in 2013! We had a handover date set for the 20th of December last year, however we didn't end up handing over due to the garage door being made in the wrong size, 4 days before handover, amongst many things that weren't completed, or half completed, yet we were being invoiced to pay for the work not done. So basically at the moment, there are tiling issues, tiles have been laid, but have not been grouted at the wall. The tiles themselves have also been cut half a mm too thin so there are larger than normal gaps between the tiles and wall. In some places, the tiles are cut at different widths. The tiling around the laundry tub has been grouted, however the grout has flaked away in parts, (I could pick on the tiling to no end, daughter of a tiler lol), and the laundry tub doesn't sit flush to wall - it's actually slightly bent. We have no splash back in the kitchen. We wanted a glass splash back, however it was not ordered in time. I know benches should be put in first before splash back, (cabinets and bench came 3 weeks after we were told they'd arrive, and splash back wasn't ordered at all until they were put in), however I'd seen my dad do a splash back without benches and cupboards in. I still don't really understand why a) things were so late and b) why on earth they couldn't use measurements to order the splash back? Seeing as it is a glass, not tiled one, I can let that slide! We also have a servery window from kitchen to alfresco, with the sink placed at the window. The window fames on either side have been cut too short so there is a large gap between timber and bench, seeing as the sink is there, that's a huge moisture issue. Also in the kitchen the cupboard doors have all been put on, except one. I'm being overly picky on this, but it's just kind of left on the floor where it could be damaged and scratched. Really annoying, that one. Under the stairs and the downstairs linen cupboard flooring hasn't been done - it's still slab. The tender doesn't specify what type of floor covering goes in there; tiles or carpet. What annoys me with this is that we'd already paid for the floor coverings, because when we checked, (looked through the windows) the floor looked complete and those cupboard doors were closed. Mind you the flooring was completed somewhere between December 20 and December 26 with the invoice due January 2nd. So due to the shut down period, we were unable to get access to inside and check. Speaking of the stair cupboard, someone closed the door to that before the handle went on, then someone pried it open without the handle on and not only chipped the paint, but took a chunk of wood from the door. Another annoying thing. We also have ducted air-conditioning, and downstairs there is a vent in the kitchen that is about 1 metre where it should be as per the plans. I had ideas for that ceiling space, but now can't do anything because the vent is there. I get it, my dad was a tiler, my pop a builder, I know that things can't always go to the plans due to a number of reasons, there was just no communication whatsoever, which seems to be the theme with KH. Emails are ignored, phone calls not returned, you call numerous times in 1 day and then need to call again the next day. Customer service = really poor. Yesterday I finally got in contact with them to ask about our garage door. The client relations officer told me the supervisor was calling the company as we spoke and she would call me back with a time for the garage door. It was meant to go on Monday, but didn't. This was at 9:30am. 4:45pm, 15 minutes before closing, my husband then had to ring to chase that up. There is also an issue with the power supply. Hubby works for Ausgrid, and was adamant about having the house run from 3 phases. We paid for the extra pause, however when he checked the metre box, the 3 service fuses are in, however only 1 phase is hooked up with EVERYTHING running from one service fuse, with everything being run from 1, there's no load bearing and we've been ripped off, the other 2 fuses have been sealed and no wires are running through them, so they are nothing more than ornaments. Seriously picked the wrong house to stuff that one up on! Hopefully that is resolved. After a promise that if it doesn't get fixed, he will get engineers and the whole Spanish Cavalry out to rain hell and bring about the apocalypse! We had what was meant to be a prehandover inspection done last year, this turned into a prelim inspection, while structurally, the house is satisfactory, the inspector picked up on all what I was concerned about and a leaking pipe under the sink which has left a stain on the cupboard shelf. There is more I could say, but I'm trying to not make this an essay. My advice to anyone who's building or thinking of building with Kurrajong Homes, get a independent inspector. And be ready to chase KH's up at everything. Don't let them pressure you into moving in before work is complete. I felt like they were pushy prior to Christmas with final payment, even though work was nowhere near finished and we didn't have an Occupancy certificate or Interim Certificate - illegal. Our lender and broker wouldn't even entertain the idea of releasing payments. Be prepared for blame shifting. I received a less than professional reply to an email outlining my concerns from our supervisor. Basically he was "only trying to be nice to me", and won't be nice in the future. And that if we'd have gone to the plan, we could have been in our house. Not to sound rude, but I'm sorry, I'm your client. Not your psychologist, I don't care if your feelings are hurt. I'm forking out a lot of money on this house. Friends who had built with other companies got weekly updates from their builders. We get nothing unless we call and work for answers. I had concerns, and instead of addressing them, he basically had a tantrum like my 3 year old does at times! We still don't have a handover date. Apparently supervisor is calling to arrange tradespeople to come out and fix things/complete things this week. Why this was not organised prior to the break when it was fairly obvious back then what the issues were, I'll never know. If I go on leave at work, I am expected to make sure that anything that needs doing within the week or two I come back is organised before I go on leave. Is it not logic? So my question is, we've gone over our 26 week construction timeframe. What now happens? Our contract isn't specific and it's hard to get an answer from the company. Any advice is much appreciated. Re: Building With Kurrajong Homes - Need Advice 2Feb 02, 2015 9:45 am I am also building with Kurrajong homes, nothing has begun yet as our land is not registered yet. All of this sounds very worrying! Did you end up sorting everything out? Follow Our Build Here: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=75667 Building with Kurrajong Homes in Alumuna Walk Village. Re: Building With Kurrajong Homes - Need Advice 3Sep 18, 2015 7:20 pm Oh dear this sounds all too familiar. My in-laws are building with Kurrajong Homes and have had a terrible experience. It's now been two years and they are still not in. They ended up resorting to Dept of Fair Trading. Such a shame when building your home should be an exciting time. Re: Building With Kurrajong Homes - Need Advice 4Sep 18, 2015 8:44 pm okelly Oh dear this sounds all too familiar. My in-laws are building with Kurrajong Homes and have had a terrible experience. It's now been two years and they are still not in. They ended up resorting to Dept of Fair Trading. Such a shame when building your home should be an exciting time. We started building in June I think it was and now up to brick stage. I don't have any complaints so far! Everything seems to be moving at a decent pace. What is the reason for it taking two years? Follow Our Build Here: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=75667 Building with Kurrajong Homes in Alumuna Walk Village. Thank you so much for the effort. We will use it to talk with builder. We also had idea of building duplex instead and seeking suggest ions. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=106744 11 13817 Levelling compound Ardit is the best but buy a bag of sand and make sand dam to protect your wood floor 2 15244 XCEM Alpha flooring seems to relatively new and I could not found any reviews. Have you or someone you know have used it and would recommend over other subfloor options?… 2 7578 |