Hi Guys,
Please read this before you make a decision to build with Metricon. I would like share my experiences and thoughts with you.
1. Lack of Transparency.
The pricing from Metricon varies a lot, they never have base price on their website.
Different people will get different discounts, I have seen people getting 1% off, 5k off, 2.5k off, 6k or even no discounts. They are all building on the same series of a house. Why everyone is getting different discount? We all know they could always charge you more in other areas such as site cost, custom change, etc.
2. Lack of due care, fairness and responsibility to the client.
Be very careful with the 9 months base price locked terms, I paid my deposit in May 2017, it took them 16 weeks to get the Preliminary contract. I lodged a complaint and I could only get 4 weeks extension in return.
When I reviewed my drawings, I found out they have put two downpipes on the facade which the Metricon website does not have any downpipes in that area at all. I raised my concern, they initially said this is due to the new plumbing regulations. Then I questioned why your website does not reflect this change? This is a misleading information to your customer. Finally, my sales consultant told me, he could remove the down pipes for me by changing the facade and he has done this for one of his clients. I said fine let's do it. Guess what guys? It took Metricon 2 months to get this facade change approval and an additional month just to get the pricing for this change without any proper drawings of this facade change. Hence, make sure you double and triple check your drawings.
Now my CSC told me, I have to pay 2k+ penalties as Metricon can not go start construction in early March due to this facade change. Metricon told me they have already give me 50% off discount on the penalties. I told my CSC, it was Metricon holding up this process, I should not be paying any penalty. No body from Metricon has ever told me, this facade change will take more than 3 months just to get the pricing and it will cause penalties due to the 9 month price lock. If I knew, I would have reconsidered my options.
Is this fair to keep your customer waiting this long and then issue them penalties ?
This house is going to be 700k+ already, it is not about extra 2k in penalties, it is about being reasonable, understandable and fair to your customer. If there is a legit reason for a penalty, I'm more than happy to pay.
3. Be very careful with any custom/structural change
As I mentioned from previous point, be very very careful with custom/structural change, Metricon will cause a huge delay and charge you ridiculous amount of monies. For example, expect 3k+ just to a toilet with a vanity. My sales consultant told me Metricon can do whatever changes I want, but he never told me how long and expensive it will be.
4. Don't be fooled by the 50k promotions
Do not believe the 50k promotions, all pricing are already adjusted for this promotion. People from different promotion will get different pricing during colour and electrical promotion. For the promotion I'm on, I was forced to take Metricon's timber flooring and carpet, otherwise, I will be losing more than 7k of credit. This is purely because the promotion does not allow any credit if I do not choose Metricon's flooring or carpet.
I'm not trying to win everything, I'm only looking for a fair go. When Metricon is going to issue me penalties, I have decided to disclose all the unfairness and how they treated their customers.
Now, I have to go and look for another builder. I have wasted 8 months with Metricon and I hope you guys will never repeat my mistake.
Do not judge a book by its cover. Same theory applies to Metricon too.
Updates: 30th Jan 2018, Metricon has waived the penalty for me. I will ask them to prepare the final contract. Will keep you guys posted. Wish me luck guys.