Browse Forums Building A New House Re: How often do you visit your site? 670Jan 06, 2020 8:56 am Designer,Engineer (Civil,Const & Envir),Builder,Concrete & Masonry Contract.Struct Repairs Re: How often do you visit your site? 676Jan 10, 2020 8:51 pm Gaudi I built in SE Melbourne Custom build started in late 2015 so the builder appointed the registered building surveyor, who acted for the builder . Maintenance was completed in 2018. I would prefer not to mention the builder’s name as I have had an OK outcome although the process was ridiculous and lengthy. I contributed a lot more time and effort than I expected, and I read many many Australian Standards. I made some compromises that would not have been required if I had known before the build that the SS likely was a tradie with no formal building qualifications, and not to assume that meeting building standards was a priority in the home building industry. Internal Quality assurance processes were limited. I really think that it is luck of draw with trades and SS/building managers. Many builds do go smoothly. But prepare for the worst, use a private consultant and my advice is to have builder show you that defects have been rectified before the next stage progresses too far along- don’t take SS word for it. Some of the most useful advice from homeone I received was - take photos of everything even when you don’t know what you are taking photos of. Appreciate you sharing your experiences in details with us all. Any private consultants (independent building inspectors) you would recommend or have heard good things about that service the Melbourne area? Re: How often do you visit your site? 677Jan 10, 2020 8:56 pm Gaudi Exactly my experience with Metricon in Sydney. 6 site supervisors and finally one building manager supervising the build over an 85 week build, including legal action. Contract build time was 42 weeks. In the end the quality was reasonable, but I had to work hard for it (and pay extra rent etc. over the additional 43 weeks), dealing with a lot of BS and learning a lot about the industry in the process.
Re: How often do you visit your site? 679Jan 10, 2020 9:51 pm Norfolk @Gaudi Exactly my experience with Metricon in Sydney. 6 site supervisors and finally one building manager supervising the build over an 85 week build, including legal action. Contract build time was 42 weeks. In the end the quality was reasonable, but I had to work hard for it (and pay extra rent etc. over the additional 43 weeks), dealing with a lot of BS and learning a lot about the industry in the process. There were 6 different (separate) SS during the 85 weeks (600 days) or you had multiple SS overlapping at the same time? Who did you use for your legal action - your conveyancer lawyer or you had to hire a totally different new lawyer? What type of lawyer was it if so, and how many weeks were they hired for and how much did that cost (including GST)? Gaudi and Norfolk as Jo0853 asked did your lawyer while inspecting the building contract at the beginning have a clause added in to the original for a 'penalty payment' incase it turns out like it did for you both? Re: How often do you visit your site? 680Jan 11, 2020 9:51 am Hi TeslaCyberTruck and Jo0853 There were 6 different SS one after the other, then Metricon's building supervisor finally took over personally to address the defects once they realised they could no longer bluff, bully and BS me. I used a suburban solicitor with building dispute experience for strategic and tactical advice plus checking my dispute letter drafts before I sent them to Metricon. Twice he had to send legal letters directly to Metricon, however. The legal action resulted in a time bound rectification order made be the NSW Department of Fair Trading, which Metricon breached anyway, taking an additional 5 months to complete most rectifications beyond the deadline they had agreed to following mediation. Metricon inadvertently sent me some of their internal emails about this issue which provided interesting reading about their attitudes and behaviours. Some defects i just had to ultimately accept, unfortunately. The solicitor's engagement was on an as required basis over a period of about 9 months, billing for about 10 hours at $550 (inc. gst) per hour. My investment of time and stress was also significant. Regarding a 'penalty payment' clause: When I checked the contract I was naive about the liquidated damages clause in the HIA contract, overlooking specifically how unfair Metricon's damages amount was at $30 per working day after the contract build time of 42 weeks (less rain days) compared with my rent and storage etc costs of about $1,500 per week. This low provision meant Metricon's costs of deliberate delaying tactic are minimal, which they can leverage as required to pressure customers to accept defects because they need to move in. Unfair builders contract terms and such unconscionable behaviours can be challenged in court, however I had neither the finances or the remaining energy to pursue this. Better for the ACCC or a building commission to do this. 9 24814 In Victoria you cannot put a caveat on arising from a domestic building contract. 65 112438 Thanks mate. Yeah good points! Leaning towards Option 3 to get a bit extra space in the cabinets but not going too crazy high (and expensive). Would require a mini… 13 39742 |