Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 15736Apr 25, 2020 5:51 am M4bath Your Wisdom Homes site supervisor’s job is primarily as an contract administrator to schedule materials and contractors via their workflow software for about 20 houses at a time, about 12O contracts per house build. He does not have the time to check the quality of the contractors work. Unfortunately that’s your responsibility during the build and warranty phases. Given his focus and time constraints, any customer service provided will be limited to basic updates regarding progress and if there are quality issues telling you whatever you want to hear to keep the project moving and progress payments coming in. The volume builders’ mass production business model operated by Wisdom Homes in the construction phase cannot financially support a bespoke service like what is provided in the sales and pre contract phases. Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 15737May 03, 2020 9:14 pm Hello guys This is my first time building and have no experience whatsoever in building. After inspecting too many places. I paid for the tender with wisdom homes. Tender presentation is booked for next month however I just decided to change the facade because I didn’t liked the facade what were originally opted for We have chosen Monte Carlo 40 and would like to go with designer facade. Just a couple of question 1. Do you think WH will be able to redo the facade and update the contract since I have been to presentation yet 2 we have selected signature upgrade, hoping that will cover everything however after reading the comments it looks like I will be spending more on upgrades as signature won’t cover good tiles 3. If so what would be estimate figure, ideally I am looking for 60x60 porcelain tiles on ground floor and laminate on first floor 4. They have advise upgrade will include 40 mm bench tops in kitchen and bathrooms however will those be category 1 ? Or I need to pay more again if I am looking good caeserstone Base price for house is around $485 signature is costing us 50 k plus site cost .. and facade .. do you think $550 - $560 will be realistic figure or I am looking at lot more Please help First timer Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 15738May 04, 2020 12:14 am All depends on your taste and how much you upgrade. 1. Yes they will. Decide all the changes and let them know together asap. We made few changes and now getting revised tender 2. Signature package doesn’t really cover much. I found prestige package more useful and adding on things from signature package was more cost effective. all you are paying here is for a few clipsal switches in your hallway worth 6k!!! It doesn’t even cover first floor height increase! Tiles are similar from prestige range. 3. All depends on your taste. We’ve been quoted 6k for first floor laminate with their basic range (They don't have any laminate included). Im sure you’d want waterproof or engineered oak laminate etc which will probably be 15k for first floor only on a 40sq house. Probably will cost half or 2/3rd if you do it after handover. Porcelain tiles no idea but this I think will be a 4-5k upgrade at most, unless you have very expensive taste 4. Check caesar-stone website. They include standard range only. Which does not have many options. I want to go for organic white which will be one grade upgrade. You can even go for Calcutta range which will be 15k -20k upgrades (depends on the length of kitchen cooktop and length and width and waterfall ends if any for island bench). I think i will choose a standard white stone for cooktop and bathrooms, a ungraded one for island bench-top only. chokyulate Hello guys This is my first time building and have no experience whatsoever in building. After inspecting too many places. I paid for the tender with wisdom homes. Tender presentation is booked for next month however I just decided to change the facade because I didn’t liked the facade what were originally opted for We have chosen Monte Carlo 40 and would like to go with designer facade. Just a couple of question 1. Do you think WH will be able to redo the facade and update the contract since I have been to presentation yet 2 we have selected signature upgrade, hoping that will cover everything however after reading the comments it looks like I will be spending more on upgrades as signature won’t cover good tiles 3. If so what would be estimate figure, ideally I am looking for 60x60 porcelain tiles on ground floor and laminate on first floor 4. They have advise upgrade will include 40 mm bench tops in kitchen and bathrooms however will those be category 1 ? Or I need to pay more again if I am looking good caeserstone Base price for house is around $485 signature is costing us 50 k plus site cost .. and facade .. do you think $550 - $560 will be realistic figure or I am looking at lot more Please help First timer Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 15739May 04, 2020 12:31 am Other potential upgrades you probably already factored into your tender, which does not get covered from prestige or signature package -facade render if you fancy, we’ll get it done afterwards -increasing garage door height -timber look garage door -increase Ground floor height and external and internal doors and window heights (included in prestige and signature) -increase first floor height, external and internal doors and window heights -kitchen ceiling drop 150mm -wider windows and stacker doors - niches to bathtub -under-mount rangehood to kitchen and cabinetry to cover rangehood (cant remember if this was included in signature) -kitchen cabinets handle free if you want, add more pot drawers, wood grain finish to cabinets, butlers setting etc -splash-back around kitchen splash back window: tiled or glass or mirror or stone - laundry upgrades: Do you want more cabinetry done by them or do them afterwards? -home theatre: do you have one? Do you want prewiring for sound system etc -wet area recessed for a flush flooring? -any media alcove, wall recess, feature wall -any staircase upgarde? They range from 6k-12k-18k-25k -Electrical upgrade: do you want basic 20 downlights or want to wrap your house with 50/60 downlights? do you want them to do it you can do the first floor electrical after handover. Everything in GF needs to be done now. -any aircon upgrade? Extra zone? -external walls lighting? Prewire or get them do it? -alfresco kitchen fit out? Or get prewire for electricity/ plumbing and gas line yo alfresco -cctv/ security alarm system/ intercom -pendants/ ceiling fan prewiring -want a pool later on? Line for pool power and plumbing Other things: Blinds Flyscreens Security door for alfresco Driveway Landscape Provisional allowance: for kitchen/ bathroom/ electrical/ BASIX I am sure I missed out some of the important ungrades chokyulate Hello guys This is my first time building and have no experience whatsoever in building. After inspecting too many places. I paid for the tender with wisdom homes. Tender presentation is booked for next month however I just decided to change the facade because I didn’t liked the facade what were originally opted for We have chosen Monte Carlo 40 and would like to go with designer facade. Just a couple of question 1. Do you think WH will be able to redo the facade and update the contract since I have been to presentation yet 2 we have selected signature upgrade, hoping that will cover everything however after reading the comments it looks like I will be spending more on upgrades as signature won’t cover good tiles 3. If so what would be estimate figure, ideally I am looking for 60x60 porcelain tiles on ground floor and laminate on first floor 4. They have advise upgrade will include 40 mm bench tops in kitchen and bathrooms however will those be category 1 ? Or I need to pay more again if I am looking good caeserstone Base price for house is around $485 signature is costing us 50 k plus site cost .. and facade .. do you think $550 - $560 will be realistic figure or I am looking at lot more Please help First timer Re: Building with Wisdom Homes 15740May 04, 2020 8:37 am chokyulate Basically Wisdom Homes is selling you a house design and a contract for other companies to build your home. Once you have signed it, Wisdom Homes then splits this 'master' contract up into about 125 smaller sub-contracts, adding their approx. 35% mark up as 'builders margin' onto each. Wisdom's admin will finalise your variations to their standard design then they will issue a series of purchase orders and call ups to suppliers and available sub contractors with minimal hands on checking of their workmanship. This is the normal volume builder business model. The quality delivered will vary and will be dependent upon the capability, motivation and ethics of these sub contractors and, unfortunately, it will be up to you and your building inspector to check their work. Site supervisors don't have time for this. For a reasonable level of engagement and quality checking you would need a custom builder who will be much more expensive. Volume builders are focussed on low cost quick 'production line' builds therefore they will issue the sub contracts to a pool of low priced contractors with variable quality work. This business model is risky for you because its highly dependent upon the capability, motivation and ethics of the trades involved. You may want to consider requesting some typical no cost 'upgrades' (variations) to the contract to reduce your risk of future financial expense and personal stress. In the current very slow new home building sales environment I expect Wisdom Homes, along with most other builders, will be very flexible to vary and upgrade their contracts at no cost to secure your signature and get your business. This can be a win / win for everyone. Wisdom Homes uses a standard HIA contract template. Ask their sales rep to send you a preliminary 'generic' version which includes their normal variations. Most builders will do this prior to contract presentation to assist their customers. If they don't provide this then you should seriously question why not? These documents are quite straightforward, although they are heavily weighted by the HIA (a builders' association that rightly looks after their own members' interests, not consumers' interests) towards minimising any financial risks to their member builders such as Wisdom Homes, not to you. Consider that Wisdom's contract can easily be amended by them to also offer some reasonable protection for you if things go wrong. For all builders, very few builds are without issues and defects, and what you read on various social media review platforms is really just the 'tip of the iceberg' because many customers are afraid to post anything negative, fearing legal action or other more covert repercussions like delays from their builder. I suggest, initially, you read Wisdom Homes HIA contract template carefully and ensure you understand every clause and definition and what the personal, timing and financial implications of these are for you if anything goes wrong. For example if your build is delayed by 3 months can you afford to pay (or forgo) an extra $12,000 or so in rent in addition to your new mortgage repayments? Such delays are common. Or, does Wisdom have the right to send you their progress payment invoices (with payment strictly due in 5 days) before they have fixed any significant defects identified by you, or your inspector? ... If there is anything of concern or risky for you then you can ask Wisdom to change it and detail this as a 'variation' to their 'standard' HIA contract. Many customers do this. There are many online resources and experts available in this forum to help explain the contract clauses that, as a first time buyer, you may not fully understand. You can also ask your sales rep to assist in explaining any of the details in their own contract as that is really what they are selling you, the contract! For formal advice and assistance with the negotiations you can consult a lawyer, a good precaution, as many first timers and experienced buyers do. In addition, I suggest you ask your Wisdom Homes sales rep to download their specifications and pricing for your new home, including all upgrades etc. onto an excel file so you can quickly and easily check things and track any changes as well as minimising pricing 'mistakes' in the specs later. This will save everyone's time in administration as well. You can get this process agreed and documented in the contract for later. In the current slow new home sales environment I would expect all builders will be flexible to upgrade their contract terms to reduce buyer risk. Please let forum members know how you go. Can someone please offer some advice? Im DESPERATE. Because I'm completely and utterly exhausted. How long are variations taking with other companies at the moment? We… 0 19720 In fairness nobody gave a crap about the ACCC and the gag clauses continued in the pro forma templates of a few other builders after the ACCC took on Wisdom, and more… 19 75482 Hi Everyone, I am exploring builder in NSW and received a very tempting quote from Wisdom home for their momentum series. I just want to know experience of building… 0 9960 |