Browse Forums Building A New House 1 Dec 26, 2021 5:49 pm We're at our 3rd go at our completion inspection, with our first inspection being at the end of October. There was a 56 page report produced by our private inspector (not including cosmetic defects). Plus, I don't think there was a wall we didn't mark up. I never, ever seen paintwork or carpenter of such appalling standards. We have tried to finish up our completion inspection 3 times now, each time with a new list of defects. The fact that the site manager is happy to even present these to a client is absolutely beyond me, how embarassing. To top this off, he's now resigned, so we're up to our 3rd? Or 4th site manager... They all burn out and resign. We have agreed that 10 doors needed to be replaced, painters would move them around, smashing the corners on the concrete slab. Then the site manager would go and say "these aren't damaged". They ordered 4 replacement doors, deliverer last week, left outside, in the rain, already damaged. Sent an email, tried calling, no one to escalate to, everyone's on leave until the 17th. I don't understand how Metricon can get away with this behaviour. It's been a constant nightmare, no regard for quality. https://imgur.com/a/vaPdlqZ I've screamed, kicked, and carried on (diplomatically) No one willing to help, or put the time in. Re: Take 3 at completion inspection with Big M 2Dec 27, 2021 8:28 am There's a Facebook group "Metricon disappointed home owners", quite a few examples of poor workmanship and site supervisors not doing their jobs, then doing half-arsed fixups or coverups until the customer gives up or can't afford to wait any longer. Re: Take 3 at completion inspection with Big M 3Dec 27, 2021 8:44 am Yep! Just have signed up. Extremely disappointing, we don't care, we've got cheap rent fully flexible luckily for us. Unluckily for them. So we'll drag it out until our contract period is up. I understand the market is tough, but Metricon should really be pushing these builds. We've also found out we got overcharged for our retaining wall, on the contract it's 1800, plans is 1000, and it was built to about 800.... That'll be another fun one. Re: Take 3 at completion inspection with Big M 4Dec 27, 2021 11:43 am boris594 There's a Facebook group "Metricon disappointed home owners", quite a few examples of poor workmanship and site supervisors not doing their jobs, then doing half-arsed fixups or coverups until the customer gives up or can't afford to wait any longer. Once you sign the standard bulders contract you are on a "hiding to nothing" Setting up a FB meta lynching page isn't a solution as it doesn't help anyone OT, Best you can hope for is 1.Own your design copyright, engineering, data and estimates. Armed with this 2.Use your data to check 3 builders quotes 3.Make sure you have cross checked data with current sources over the internet 4.Dont be afraid to question/query what salesman tells you in writing ...they are allowed to make mistakes ... you will pay dearly for his mistakes and BS 6.Be prepared to walk out, if the salesman builder is milking you like a cash cow for additional costs 5.Once you have agreed on a price and specifications, get to site -> Slab Down ASAP, as delays are costly and may incur variations thereafter. 7.Unfortunatley it's getting worse, insolvency is increasing, as builder are running out of cash flow Goodluck Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Take 3 at completion inspection with Big M 5Dec 27, 2021 11:51 am StructuralBIMGuy boris594 There's a Facebook group "Metricon disappointed home owners", quite a few examples of poor workmanship and site supervisors not doing their jobs, then doing half-arsed fixups or coverups until the customer gives up or can't afford to wait any longer. Once you sign the standard bulders contract you are on a "hiding to nothing" Setting up a FB meta lynching page isn't a solution OT, Best you can hope for is 1.Own your design copyright, engineering, data and estimates. Armed with this 2.Use your data to check 3 builders quotes 3.Make sure you have cross checked data with current sources over the internet 4.Dont be afraid to question/query what salesman tells you in writing ...they are allowed to make mistakes ... you will pay dearly for his mistakes and BS 6.Be prepared to walk out, if the salesman builder is milking you like a cash cow for additional costs 5.Once you have agreed on a price and specifications, get to site -> Slab Down ASAP, as delays are costly and may incur variations thereafter. 7.Unfortunatley it's getting worse, insolvency is increasing, as builder are running out of cash flow Goodluck Yep, couldn't agree more. As first home builders/buyers, extremely unfamiliar with the process and easily taken advantage of in hindsight. The assumption (now understanding this is absolutely wrong), was someone as large as Metricon would have the entire process all thought out, easy to follow, kind of chose what you want, sign here move on. How wrong was I. Never again will I build with a builder like this, I will own the process as project manage the whole thing from start to finish, and work closely with the SS to achieve what we are after. The silver lining is, we've built a house that's significantly cheaper than current market due to when we signed our contract, and are already a crapload ahead. I'm happy to take a hit on the time and won't give in. I honestly cannot believe the incompetency of the contractors (especially the painters and finishing carpenter), then the lack of care from the SS. Just asounds me that they have 0 pride in their work. Re: Take 3 at completion inspection with Big M 6Dec 27, 2021 11:57 am samtk I understand the market is tough, but Metricon should really be pushing these builds. LOL ...With an office full of pen pushes... pushing excuses? Mate, if we can't find trades at reasonable rates we're on site doing the work ourselves... hook up the trailers OT and its always been this way when the market goes to $h!t. Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Take 3 at completion inspection with Big M 7Dec 27, 2021 12:04 pm StructuralBIMGuy samtk I understand the market is tough, but Metricon should really be pushing these builds. LOL ...With an office full of pen pushes... pushing excuses? Mate, if we can't find trades at reasonable rates we're on site doing the work ourselves... hook up the trailers OT and its always been this way when the market goes to $h!t. I mean, I get it... But from a customer's perspective, we've gone we're buying "this house" for X price. "This house" has to be built to a certain standard, as we saw in the display homes, outlined in the contract and in the standards/regs. They're a big enough company, they can do what they need to do. Whether it's increase your guys budget, or whatever. It's no excuse for terrible trades coming in and doing poor work, let alone a SS happily presenting to a client. The big one for me, telling the SS in September (before paint), that the carpentry was shocking and needed to be resolved. The bogged it up, painted over it. Already cracking before we've even moved into. Excusable? No. Handing over doors that have been damaged? Excusable? No. If he can't do it, he's got the backing of a huge company, sort it out. Re: Take 3 at completion inspection with Big M 8Dec 27, 2021 12:09 pm StructuralBIMGuy samtk I understand the market is tough, but Metricon should really be pushing these builds. LOL ...With an office full of pen pushes... pushing excuses? Mate, if we can't find trades at reasonable rates we're on site doing the work ourselves... hook up the trailers OT and its always been this way when the market goes to $h!t. I also don't fundementally agree with SS's doing work, they're already stretched as it is. If you're working for a huge building company, there's process, it's not fair on you guys to be pushing yourselves. I spoke to one of the QA guys, every single SS gets burnt out. They get pushed beyond their limits, that's why we're on our 4th SS... All resigned due to burn out. Re: Take 3 at completion inspection with Big M 9Dec 27, 2021 12:14 pm For project builders (PB) its "swings and roundabouts" -> Sausage factory Make more profit$ on some jobs, loss on others, but when every just is potentially turning into a loss? Then that's a big problem with huge consequences for home owners and banks. They also have preferable fix trade rates that they price jobs to cover their huge overheads? Alternatively, they employ rubbish trades starting out in the business. Even though you have signed a contract you aren't safe.... look for the delaying start tactic signs. GET the slab down asap.... Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Take 3 at completion inspection with Big M 10Dec 27, 2021 12:37 pm StructuralBIMGuy For project builders (PB) its "swings and roundabouts" -> Sausage factory Make more profit$ on some jobs, loss on others, but when every just is potentially turning into a loss? Then that's a big problem with huge consequences for home owners and banks. They also have preferable fix trade rates that they price jobs to cover their huge overheads? Alternatively, they employ rubbish trades starting out in the business. Even though you have signed a contract you aren't safe.... look for the delaying start tactic signs. GET the slab down asap.... I get that the trades are to a price, doesn't excuse poor quality finishings, and laziness. Majority of the house is quite good, they can't just seem to finish. Below is our timeline: - Settled in Mid March, and titles recieved - Developer approval Mid Apri - Late April, pre site asked for final deposit, I said once we have received council approval I will finalise deposit - Final plans Early May - Late may, Checkpoint? Advised we needed protection forms from Neighbours - Recieved signed protection forms, Early June - Building permit issues week later, asked for finance (already uncon approved) - Finance checks completed mid June by Metricon - Lodged with Construction 18 June - Site Start Early July - Slab Early August - Frame Mid September (the was more late August, invoice was late) - Lockup Mid September - Fixing End of October (invoice also late) - First completion inspection, end of October 21sq house, with upgraded flooring (carpet and hybrid), tapeware throughout, strone benchtops throughout and waterfall edges in kitchen (except laundry), double glazing, reverse split cycle ducted, upgraded bricks / roof tiles, electric garage door, driveway, 2.55m ceilings with blinds, 900mm appliances. 50k in site costs, sloped block. House totalted 284k, after a number of discounts and promos. Re: Take 3 at completion inspection with Big M 11Dec 27, 2021 12:39 pm StructuralBIMGuy For project builders (PB) its "swings and roundabouts" -> Sausage factory Make more profit$ on some jobs, loss on others, but when every just is potentially turning into a loss? Then that's a big problem with huge consequences for home owners and banks. They also have preferable fix trade rates that they price jobs to cover their huge overheads? Alternatively, they employ rubbish trades starting out in the business. Even though you have signed a contract you aren't safe.... look for the delaying start tactic signs. GET the slab down asap.... The paper pushers were the worst for us, pre site was a nightmares as they'd forgetten things went around in circles a bit. The site managers were really good, when they were good. Once they were burnt, that's when it went downhill. I honestly don't blame them for being burnt, they have a lot to manager. No reflection on them, just the process. Re: Take 3 at completion inspection with Big M 12Dec 27, 2021 2:55 pm Builders here in perth are complaining as thousands of Home owners are walking out of contracts, after being slugged with price increases.... More building cancellations tipped for 2022 Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Like I said the Occupancy Certificate is not the tollgate that marks the completion of the house. The contract defines… 7 10720 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 20410 |