Same with plumbing which is self certfying, the building surveyor only needs to sight the certificate as 'proof' of compliance.
Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Arden Homes Inspectors 21Dec 08, 2018 7:45 am 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Arden Homes Inspectors 23Dec 08, 2018 7:17 pm Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Arden Homes Inspectors 25Dec 09, 2018 7:20 am A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Arden Homes Inspectors 26Dec 09, 2018 7:58 am Yes I have noticed that engineering has been lessened and dumb down as a result of the building boom that accommodates 1.Trade & Skill shortages 2.Building professionals that can't read plans 3.Lack of on site supervision,etc,etc 4. Battlers and Punters are told to accept lower building standards which results in disposable homes that won't last 30 years 5.Manufacturing Industries Adopting "Couldnt Give a Sh!t with what builders do with our products in housing" By the time their house is paid off they'll require a dilapidation report and they won't be able to afford to start the cycle again Sadly, "The Australian Dream of owning your own house?" won't come to those that fall asleep during the build Cheers Chris Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: Arden Homes Inspectors 27Dec 09, 2018 8:13 am As a builder who has lived through change from council building inspectors to privatised building surveying and inspections I can tell you of a catastrophic fall in inspection standards and attitudes. Before the change if you were the builder and you requested slab inspection and it wasn't fully ready, council inspector would walk away and tell you to rebook again.(which is what should happen) not so now. After the change, anything goes, the flood of "blind Freddies" was amazing" I remember one time when building a factory we braced wrong bays of the roof and wasn't picked up and was passed. I woke up to it later and fixed it but there are countless similar examples. I was amazed at what was missed and now continue to be on my inspections for others. That is not to say there were not inspectors that maintained their standards but they became minority and are a diminishing breed. I do not believe moving a way from council inspectors was good for inspection standards. Foremost Building Expert in Australia,assisting with building problems/disputes, building stage inspections,pre-contract review advice for peace of mind 200 blogs http://www.buildingexpert.net.au/blog Re: Arden Homes Inspectors 28Apr 12, 2019 12:36 pm building-expert As a builder who has lived through change from council building inspectors to privatised building surveying and inspections I can tell you of a catastrophic fall in inspection standards and attitudes. Before the change if you were the builder and you requested slab inspection and it wasn't fully ready, council inspector would walk away and tell you to rebook again.(which is what should happen) not so now. After the change, anything goes, the flood of "blind Freddies" was amazing" I remember one time when building a factory we braced wrong bays of the roof and wasn't picked up and was passed. I woke up to it later and fixed it but there are countless similar examples. I was amazed at what was missed and now continue to be on my inspections for others. That is not to say there were not inspectors that maintained their standards but they became minority and are a diminishing breed. I do not believe moving a way from council inspectors was good for inspection standards. I agree. Under the laws of Australia, the home owner is 100% responsible for the house being built in a compliant manner. Not the builder. Not the Surveyor. You the Home owner. No matter what happens on site, if there is a defect, the home owner is responsible under the Australian Legislation. The home owner contracted the builder. The home owner contracts the surveyor. Sometimes builders don’t like being told that they are wrong and that they need to fix something. With the increase in Private Inspectors, builders seek ways to keep them off site. Builders will use all manner of behind the scene processes to cut cost of place special conditions in a contract to try and restrict the home owners’ rights. Before you fall in love with the design, ask for a standard copy of the contract and a standard copy of the specifications. Don’t accept a brochure. You want what you are going to sign. If they don’t give it to you, then alarm bells should be ringing. Watch out for smooth talkers. They are great and diverting you away from what you want. One of the biggest issues is builders placing terms into the contract to stop you from using who you want as a private inspector. The law states that you can use anybody as per the Building Acts. The builder cannot in most cases restrict you. The Private inspector works for you. Not the Builder. Hence the builder has no control over them. Another is to put specifications out that are not equal to the Australian Standards. Once you commit to the design and go through the colour selections and all of the other processes, you are emotionally and time committed. At this point, generally 3 to 6 months into the process, the builder presents the contract and specifications that have all of these hidden clauses. Pressure is applied at that time to sign on the day or you will lose such and such a bonus. Do not sign anything that has not been checked by a lawyer of your choosing. The second a builder starts talking about special conditions or you have a large amount of specifications that have building diagrams and clauses, seek the services of a professional construction lawyer immediately. If you sign the documents, you may have given away your rights to have the home built in a manner that is compliant with the Australian Standards. Remember it is your obligation to have the home built to the requirements of the National Construction Code. Not the builders or the Surveyors. As an example, some builders will seek to restrict your rights to use a private inspector. Others will insert what they call Performance Solutions. Or they may call them special building processes. This warning is given to all as a way of assisting you. Deal with a quality builder that has the runs on the board. Stay away from those that seek to hide behind clauses and conditions. Research the internet and see who is doing what in the contracts. Listen to them as they have had the heart break. Remember, just because it looks good does not make a house complaint. If it comes with conditions that are outside of the normal, then you are more than likely being suckered in. Re: Arden Homes Inspectors 29Apr 29, 2019 10:13 am Small Minds building-expert As a builder who has lived through change from council building inspectors to privatised building surveying and inspections I can tell you of a catastrophic fall in inspection standards and attitudes. Before the change if you were the builder and you requested slab inspection and it wasn't fully ready, council inspector would walk away and tell you to rebook again.(which is what should happen) not so now. After the change, anything goes, the flood of "blind Freddies" was amazing" I remember one time when building a factory we braced wrong bays of the roof and wasn't picked up and was passed. I woke up to it later and fixed it but there are countless similar examples. I was amazed at what was missed and now continue to be on my inspections for others. That is not to say there were not inspectors that maintained their standards but they became minority and are a diminishing breed. I do not believe moving a way from council inspectors was good for inspection standards. I agree. Under the laws of Australia, the home owner is 100% responsible for the house being built in a compliant manner. Not the builder. Not the Surveyor. You the Home owner. No matter what happens on site, if there is a defect, the home owner is responsible under the Australian Legislation. The home owner contracted the builder. The home owner contracts the surveyor. Sometimes builders don’t like being told that they are wrong and that they need to fix something. With the increase in Private Inspectors, builders seek ways to keep them off site. Builders will use all manner of behind the scene processes to cut cost of place special conditions in a contract to try and restrict the home owners’ rights. Before you fall in love with the design, ask for a standard copy of the contract and a standard copy of the specifications. Don’t accept a brochure. You want what you are going to sign. If they don’t give it to you, then alarm bells should be ringing. Watch out for smooth talkers. They are great and diverting you away from what you want. One of the biggest issues is builders placing terms into the contract to stop you from using who you want as a private inspector. The law states that you can use anybody as per the Building Acts. The builder cannot in most cases restrict you. The Private inspector works for you. Not the Builder. Hence the builder has no control over them. Another is to put specifications out that are not equal to the Australian Standards. Once you commit to the design and go through the colour selections and all of the other processes, you are emotionally and time committed. At this point, generally 3 to 6 months into the process, the builder presents the contract and specifications that have all of these hidden clauses. Pressure is applied at that time to sign on the day or you will lose such and such a bonus. Do not sign anything that has not been checked by a lawyer of your choosing. The second a builder starts talking about special conditions or you have a large amount of specifications that have building diagrams and clauses, seek the services of a professional construction lawyer immediately. If you sign the documents, you may have given away your rights to have the home built in a manner that is compliant with the Australian Standards. Remember it is your obligation to have the home built to the requirements of the National Construction Code. Not the builders or the Surveyors. As an example, some builders will seek to restrict your rights to use a private inspector. Others will insert what they call Performance Solutions. Or they may call them special building processes. This warning is given to all as a way of assisting you. Deal with a quality builder that has the runs on the board. Stay away from those that seek to hide behind clauses and conditions. Research the internet and see who is doing what in the contracts. Listen to them as they have had the heart break. Remember, just because it looks good does not make a house complaint. If it comes with conditions that are outside of the normal, then you are more than likely being suckered in. Very valuable advice, highly appreciated ! _________________________________________ Regards Manj https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=88256 Re: Arden Homes Inspectors 30Apr 29, 2019 10:13 am @gwj ... tagging you since I think its good you have a read _________________________________________ Regards Manj https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=88256 Re: Arden Homes Inspectors 31Apr 29, 2019 7:50 pm Manj @gwj ... tagging you since I think its good you have a read Good one. Definitely agree but it really is a task getting them to fix the issues. I just don't get how they invoice without completing a job and the contract just lets them do it. Something wrong with the building act i think! Mostly on the side of the builders! How are you holding off the final payment? Re: Arden Homes Inspectors 32Apr 29, 2019 7:58 pm Gwij Manj @gwj ... tagging you since I think its good you have a read Good one. Definitely agree but it really is a task getting them to fix the issues. I just don't get how they invoice without completing a job and the contract just lets them do it. Something wrong with the building act i think! Mostly on the side of the builders! How are you holding off the final payment? I didn’t hold off any payments @gwj .. they always issued invoices way before work was finished .. our SS was good so I trusted him. The final invoice got issued last week .. it’s dated 30/4 but I think was issued last Tuesday .. the bank told me not to send it unless it’s occupied with certificate of occupancy which we are waiting for ... DJM inspected last week but it didn’t get approved due to some outstanding things ... _________________________________________ Regards Manj https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=88256 Re: Arden Homes Inspectors 33Apr 29, 2019 10:13 pm Manj Gwij Manj @gwj ... tagging you since I think its good you have a read Good one. Definitely agree but it really is a task getting them to fix the issues. I just don't get how they invoice without completing a job and the contract just lets them do it. Something wrong with the building act i think! Mostly on the side of the builders! How are you holding off the final payment? I didn’t hold off any payments @gwj .. they always issued invoices way before work was finished .. our SS was good so I trusted him. The final invoice got issued last week .. it’s dated 30/4 but I think was issued last Tuesday .. the bank told me not to send it unless it’s occupied with certificate of occupancy which we are waiting for ... DJM inspected last week but it didn’t get approved due to some outstanding things ... Yeah i told them about the bank's process just now that we can't issue the final payment till we get all the required documentation and after the bank inspection is done Manj. I trust our SS too which is why i'm not too fussed but they have to fix the defects our inspector reports on. I feel like these are the toughest stages to get through. Re: Arden Homes Inspectors 34Apr 30, 2019 8:42 am Gwij Yeah i told them about the bank's process just now that we can't issue the final payment till we get all the required documentation and after the bank inspection is done Manj. I trust our SS too which is why i'm not too fussed but they have to fix the defects our inspector reports on. I feel like these are the toughest stages to get through. My Admin girl just didn't take my word on the bank process so I emailed the bank and got them to send me in writing the process and then forwarded to the admin ...no response to that email....whilst we seem to trust them it doesn't seem to be the case when it comes to them having trust in us...@gwj _________________________________________ Regards Manj https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=88256 Re: Arden Homes Inspectors 35Apr 30, 2019 8:53 am Manj Gwij Yeah i told them about the bank's process just now that we can't issue the final payment till we get all the required documentation and after the bank inspection is done Manj. I trust our SS too which is why i'm not too fussed but they have to fix the defects our inspector reports on. I feel like these are the toughest stages to get through. My Admin girl just didn't take my work on the bank process so I emailed the bank and got them to send me in writing the process and then forwarded to the admin ...no response to that email....whilst we seem to trust them it doesn't seem to be the case when it comes to them having trust in us...@gwj Same Manj There was a slight delay on our fixing invoice because it was during the easter break and she just calls and says we will have to stop work even though 7 working days hadn't passed for the bank. The bank paid it within 7 working days. And mind you this was an invoice where the work wasn't even completed. After tender it goes pretty downhill admin wise. I'm quite nervous about final if this is how they play it. How can they invoice you when DJM hasn't even given the ok. They're really breaking the law here i think. My SS so far hasn't said work is completed without DJM approval. Re: Arden Homes Inspectors 36Apr 30, 2019 9:02 am Gwij Manj Gwij Yeah i told them about the bank's process just now that we can't issue the final payment till we get all the required documentation and after the bank inspection is done Manj. I trust our SS too which is why i'm not too fussed but they have to fix the defects our inspector reports on. I feel like these are the toughest stages to get through. My Admin girl just didn't take my work on the bank process so I emailed the bank and got them to send me in writing the process and then forwarded to the admin ...no response to that email....whilst we seem to trust them it doesn't seem to be the case when it comes to them having trust in us...@gwj Same Manj There was a slight delay on our fixing invoice because it was during the easter break and she just calls and says we will have to stop work even though 7 working days hadn't passed for the bank. The bank paid it within 7 working days. And mind you this was an invoice where the work wasn't even completed. After tender it goes pretty downhill admin wise. I'm quite nervous about final if this is how they play it. How can they invoice you when DJM hasn't even given the ok. They're really breaking the law here i think. My SS so far hasn't said work is completed without DJM approval. @gwj... Its just sad to be honest... very poor customer service and care factor seems 0 _________________________________________ Regards Manj https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=88256 That is a really good attitude Akin to you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I do enjoy watching that tik tok inspector from Victoria but he does go a little… 12 82824 If you are in Victoria you have a statutory right to your own building inspector regardless of builder's consent. No negotiations are required. However the builder will… 1 3514 I would never build with Fowler homes. I built with them in 2021 and till date maintenance issues are pending. All their existing trades and businesses don't work with… 14 110993 |