Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Aug 29, 2008 5:26 pm I feel compelled to ask fellow PD customers how long it is taking / has taken to build their house. Call it frustration or impatience but there seems to be alot of inconsistancy here.
For a single story prestige home I was told a maximum of 20 weeks but to be prepared for the keys in only 16 weeks. Well besides not starting until a month after my start date I have found that it has taken 21 weeks so far with at the very least 4 to go. Thats not 16 weeks as I was told or 18 weeks as their written schedule claims or even 20 weeks as was their sales pitch, but 25 weeks (and maybe more). I'm aware of quite a few other people that are miles past their alleged finish time, some in much worse shape than me. Yet 12 months ago they were easily making good on their claims. Now to be fair the contract for me says 157 days which I guess you could argue is what I should be looking at and ignoring the sales pitch. This is why I'm not jumping up and down and calling their office because I know they will just say 'look at your contract'. But if thats how long it takes why tell your customers a bunch of porky pies? It seems to me that PD never had any intention of honoring their claims. In fact even at 21 weeks I'm finding it's 'slow as you go' - its like they are intentionally dragging it out with weeks of inaction and minimal progress. All I can say is that it sticks. So vent your frustrations... Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 2Aug 29, 2008 5:37 pm I'll be coming back to this thread, Mozzie - we have to go out soon!
But....let's start with :They made us pay a $3K penalty for not starting by Dec 31 last year, so we demolished ASAP - which was mid Jan, so we were ready to go the. They gave us 3 different start dates, before we actually started.....on 14th March!!!! By then, we were already on to our 2nd CSC, and our third SS!!!! Did they pay US for THEIR delay??????????NO!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our Contrct date is 20 Nov, but I think we'll be pushing to be finished by then.....like I said I'll be ba-ack!!!!! Solidarity, not solidity.......The Lexicon of Life Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 3Sep 30, 2008 9:51 pm I feel the need for an update...
I know this thread was a flop but I feel that a bit of knowledge or exposure is a wonderfull thing. I'm now at week 24 with no handover date, no PCI and no work being done at all. As time goes on the work is actually slowing down even more, if thats possible. I know of at least one other PD Prestige customer that has been waiting over 28 weeks and maybe more - this is a single story home also. Another with a two story that has been waiting a smiliar amount of time to me and has still not even finished fixing stage. In fact I don't know of a single PD Prestige customer that has started building since March that has finished. PD still promise that new prestige homes are finished in 23 weeks garranteed (single story). When I first signed up it was 20 weeks. Anyone else sense that something is not quite right? Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 4Sep 30, 2008 11:19 pm Hi Mozzies
How many days does your contract mention. Sorry not an answer to your question, but just wanted to know how far behind are they. Did they give any reason for this delay? Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 5Oct 01, 2008 8:20 am what else would you expect from PD prestige.
i nearly signed up with them before reading about the issues on this forum. lifestyle seems to be a lot more organised with their construction as my friend had their house completed in 17 weeks with no issues. stay away from prestige, there is nothing but bad news about them on here. Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 6Oct 01, 2008 8:27 am mattydals stay away from prestige, there is nothing but bad news about them on here. Thats not entierly true. We are a prestige customer and while its early days yet we are miles ahead of schedule. On top of that we had NO delay to our construction even tho there were muck ups they were resolved within the timeframe we specified and I cant say I've had a negative experiance yet *touch wood*. I do feel for the guys that are hurting, but blanket statements like that do little but spread ******, perhaps think a little more carefully before posting something so obviously incorrect. Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 7Oct 01, 2008 10:41 am I think Matty makes a good point though, it seems that the lifestyles homes go up quicker and with less issues on a regular basis. It makes me suspect the branches are run completely independently.
To answer your question homeishome, my contract runs out in 1 week. The problem I have with this is that when I signed up I was told that the build would take around 16 weeks with a maximum of 20 weeks. The contract period was explained as a 'buffer in case there were problems'. Even the schedule which was given to me shows an 18 weeks build time. Instead of this they have used every last day of the contract period and probably then some. In fact it seems quite intentional as there are still weeks where nothing happens. The other issue is that there is never any explanation given for this - not even a 'we're having problems getting trades available'. Instead it's just a business as usual attitude. The last reason I was given was that 'there was a problem with the tiling'. This is complete tripe as the tiling was fixed in under a week. Even my start date was a month late. So in actually fact if everything whent according to what they said in the pre construction phase I should have been in during July . Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 8Oct 01, 2008 11:45 am Mozzie I think Matty makes a good point though, it seems that the lifestyles homes go up quicker and with less issues on a regular basis. It makes me suspect the branches are run completely independently. Oh yeah I think Matty's first 3 lines make sence, after that is where he lost me . I agree theres good reason to believe that they are run very seperatly. I wonder is anyone has the inside track and could confirm to how large a degree they are seperated. Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 9Oct 01, 2008 3:35 pm I think they are run independently.
From speaking to the sales team when I was looking at both houses, they dont deal with eachother - for example i wanted a quote for the lifestyle range, but the prestige said I had to go to them as they are separate from them. i also found this out when I looked at the access range. maybe i went a bit over the top, but from my knowledge, the lifestyle range doesnt seem to have many issues at all compared with the prestige. not sure about access. cheers Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 10Oct 01, 2008 10:09 pm We are building with Lifestyle and all three (Access, Lifestyle & Prestige) are seperate entities under the PD banner. I have heard a lot more horror stories about Prestige but considering our Lifestyle home just had it's mortar fail a BCA lab test and our entire house has to be pulled down and re-bricked, I suppose I'm one of the Lifestyle horror stories now.
Anyway, back to the post....our contract build date was for 207 days in total. They would have finished 2 months ahead of schedule but now due to the mortar issue they'll go well over time. Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 11Oct 01, 2008 10:26 pm Another not very happy Prestige customer!!! We started in March, and are still waiting on cupboards and cornice to be finished , fixing just started last week, but they work half a day...then disappear!!!! There's no way we'll be finished by contract date (even our SS said so today... )
It's not just that , tho - delayed start after demo , 2 CSCs, 4 SSs, underslab plumbing in the wrong spot, roof not finished for 3 months, insulation put in with no roof - - innumerous days of nothing happening, etc, etc........very,very, very disappointing esp on a very expensive house!!!!!!!!! Solidarity, not solidity.......The Lexicon of Life Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 12Oct 01, 2008 10:31 pm eekkk the prestige office aren't doing too well atm are they....
we're building a lifestyle, and are still building, so i cant tell u how long it will take (very quickly i hope!) hehehe...but we started in Aug and its been about 8 weeks and we're up to roof tiles and bricks...duno if that is much indication fro you... i hope u finish ur build soon mozzie, and all problems work themselves out Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 13Oct 01, 2008 10:33 pm petal Another not very happy Prestige customer!!! We started in March, and are still waiting on cupboards and cornice to be finished , fixing just started last week, but they work half a day...then disappear!!!! There's no way we'll be finished by contract date (even our SS said so today... ) It's not just that , tho - delayed start after demo , 2 CSCs, 4 SSs, underslab plumbing in the wrong spot, roof not finished for 3 months, insulation put in with no roof - - innumerous days of nothing happening, etc, etc........very,very, very disappointing esp on a very expensive house!!!!!!!!! Friends of ours are building with Prestige. They are having the same problems as Petal. They discovered a leaking pipe in the wall and told the SS (phone & emails) numerous times about the leak and guess what........they didn't fix the leak, instead they plastered & bricked over it!!! It's still LEAKING!! Bloody idiots.....anyway my mate is getting Big Kev to inspect it and force the issue of getting it fixed. Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 14Oct 01, 2008 10:43 pm That's awful, izzy!!! Thankfully, everything we've pointed out they've been happy to fix (and luckily DH knows what he's on about - I certainly don't!!!) SS has even spotted things we haven't had a chance to, so that's at least good!
Newbies, you'll probably be finished before us I seriously know of at least 2 Lifestyle houses that started 4 months after us, and are big houses, that I reckon will beat us.....they just seem to be able to have people working consistently and get them done quickly. We are up to week 30 - their "guaranteed build time" for a 2 storey house...and they haven't even finished the cornice!!!!!!!! Solidarity, not solidity.......The Lexicon of Life Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 15Oct 01, 2008 10:54 pm ohh petals...i hope they pick up their act soon, and start working the butt's off! will they start paying u rent now that u've past ur 30week guarantee?
Our contract says it will take approx 6 months (i cant remember how many weeks this equate too) which means it's due to finish in FEb09, but our SS says it shoudl be done by Jan...i dont really care if its early, as long as its not late, cos we're getting married in feb!!! we need a place to live! hehehe Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 16Oct 01, 2008 10:58 pm Yep they have to start paying us post contract period - $250 per week.....doesn't even cover the rent. I don't want their money, anyway - I want MY HOUSE!!!!!!!! I'm getting a bit sick of all 6 of us living in this lil' rental - especially in school holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope yours is done before the wedding! Solidarity, not solidity.......The Lexicon of Life Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 17Oct 01, 2008 11:47 pm Three cheers for PD Prestige...NOT!! We have signed up with them, and seeing as we had to make out our tender chq to PD prestige, I'd say they are definately separate to the other PD ranges. Their guarantee of 20 weeks was a major contributing factor as to why we picked them...but hearing a lot of horror stories around here...maybe we won't get to contract! What a nightmare. Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 18Oct 02, 2008 10:09 am Well Grace, I really hope you don't encounter the probs that some of us have experienced. It really does seem to depend a little on where you build.
We're in an established area, just scrapes in to their "build zone" and they just can't seem to handle that!! Those building in new Estates seem to have fewer problems. Here's hoping your build goes well....I'm off soon to check if there's anyone at my place...as we've been promised (once again!) that there will be someone there evry day from now on........... Solidarity, not solidity.......The Lexicon of Life Re: How long did your PD home take to build? 19Oct 02, 2008 10:28 am If the 20 weeks is really important to you Grace I'd go ahead but when you go to sign the H.I.A. contract be carefull to pay close attention to the number of days shown. They allow days including weekends and public holidays - mine was 184 including 10 days of inclement wheather which they are supposed to tell you if they use. So thats basically 26 weeks not 20. If they truely intend on building in 23 weeks (which is their current garrantee) then the number of days would be 161 - but I bet thats not what they put in the contract. In the end what they tell you means nothing it's whats in the contract.
I think when it's all said and done most of us will be happy with the finished product - you just have to forget about how it got there.. Hi Mofflepop, I would recommend finding a building designer to prepare plans, they should design to your specified budget. The benefit is you can tender the project out… 9 20426 No the fireplace doesn’t work. It’s been enclosed. I’m not sure what was removed, as it was done quite some time ago - well before what I can see with photos online… 2 11589 Congratulations! Nice to put that to bed before christmas, now you can relax 3 7184 |