Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Building with Burbank... 16Mar 02, 2009 5:08 pm Hi all, I am with Burbank and roof tiling is currently being done and then only brickwork until lockup. I just called them to see if I could have the kitchen sink changed to one without the drainboard (bowls to remain in the same position - checked and this style is available). To my surprise they flatly refuse to consider any variations once you are on site regardless of how minor the change. I have experience doing office fit outs on a large scale ($1m minimum) so are aware that it might be too late to make certain changes but do not believe that the kitchen cupboards are already made and the hole cut out!! There is no mention in their contract that there are no variations allowed once you are on site. It took 13 weeks to get to contract stage which was way above what I had been told when I signed up. It then got held up with the Xmas break and didn't get started until late August). If I take off my rose coloured glasses then I can fault them with a lot of other issues, some administrative and some building wise. The only reason I decided to go with them was that I had seen one of their homes that would suit my lifestyle and a relative had built with them and it was the devil you know versus the devil you don't. If the issue with the kitchen sink hadn't come up I probably would have recommended them to others believing that no company would be a dream run. Now I am totally disgusted with their service and wouldn't recommend them at all. Anybody who hasn't already done their colours/selections make sure you give it a lot of thought and get other people to give you as much input as possible because virtually you only get one shot at it and then it is bad luck the contract is signed. The other beef I have is that they advertise the 'Dream Home Visualiser' but it certainly wasn't up and running back in October when I went in to Edge. I had to ask at the end of the consultation about it and the consultant said "oh we can do it if you want to". My house style didn't have the facade I had chosen loaded on the system nor half of the colour choice (bricks etc.) so it was a waste of time. I didn't bother asking if we could do the interior. My advice is to triple check everything the whole way through until you get the keys in your hand. Re: Building with Burbank... 17Mar 03, 2009 6:16 am I know what you mean about the visualiser. It wasn't working properly when we went, and didn't have our house anyway.
As for the variaions after contract though, they did make that abundanly celar to us before signing - that NO variations would be accepted under any circumstances once contract is signed. I think i;t even in the contract too? Their reasoning is that once the contract is signed the house build passes on to the next department for ordering materials and construction program, so they don't want the hassle of going back to look at changes. It;s a little surprising, as they have been so accomodaing with other things - but, it's their perogative I suppose. So far we can't fault the build - both speed and quality-wise. Bricks are done, windows in, facia and gutters on. I really look forward to my weekly visits to see the changes. Re: Building with Burbank... 18Mar 03, 2009 12:27 pm The only variations I have had after signing the contract are things that they want to change. For example they changed a tap in the bathroom because the one I had chosen didn't fit once I had altered some cabinetry.
I made a number of changes between tender presentation and contract signing which slowed the process quite a bit but there was never any problems with variations before contract signing. I'm also happy with the speed of the build; I lost almost 2 weeks due to my selected bricks not being available but I will still reach lock-up stage this week. Re: Building with Burbank... 19Mar 07, 2009 4:14 pm Hi all,
I'm currently in the building process with Burbank, we are building the Sapphire. We are in the bricking process. I too, have approached and asked for some Post contract variations (I am wanting to add some additional overhead cupboards to the kitchen). They very bluntly refused. That is correct, no where in the contract is it specified: no variations upon construction commencement. I have escalated the issue to managment. We'll see what happens. Re: Building with Burbank... 20Mar 23, 2009 7:01 pm Just got back from our colour appointment today. It takes 6 hours! We are building a Forrester 4300, with a few modifications (study into 5th bedroom, flooring both the voids, laundry chute etc). The visualiser was pretty handy. Our first choice of bricks was fine (there are options for two contrasting types in the different areas of the facade) but when we saw them next to the first colour we had chosen for the garage surround, it suddenly didn't look so good. You have to keep your budget in mind every step of the way: the range of options in the basic Category 1 things is a little limited, and it costs extra to change up. But overall, we had fun. The lady taking us through the choices has the patience of a saint- with about forty different types of brick to choose from, it can be daunting making up your mind, and that's just the front of the place! We haven't had any problems so far, things seem to be moving along nicely. Getting the survey and soil testing was the slowest: the surveyors shut down over Christmas, and then we had the heatwave that kept them away. We're demolishing our old place, so I expect the hardest yards are yet to be done; but no complaints at all so far, Burbank have been really helpful. Hi All, Recently we have signed a contract with Burbank and we are not aware that they have just DORSET, SURREY, HAMPSHIRE, KENT, PILBARA and REDGUM bricks from PGH are… 0 3642 Hey guys building a new place through a volume builder and just wondering if i should complain to the site supervisor as we just had plasterboard installed. Looks like… 0 11606 |