Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Anybody built with True Value Homes in Melbourne 72May 19, 2020 1:04 pm mandm86 Thanks, I guess your online checks included platforms such as product review, facebook, google etc. Correct? Any others? The couple Michael and Melissa on product review, who also didn't see the need to use a building consultant for inspections, must just be a coincidence. Thanks for explaining. I am just over thinking this I think! As you didn't use an (un-registered) private building consultant for stage inspections, how did you asses the quality of True Value Homes' workmanship at the various progress stages of your build (before the final inspection)? What things did you focus on during your many walk throughs? Did you use any reference materials or tools? How did you manage recording any issues identified and negotiating these with True Value Homes? Looking forward to your advice... Re: Anybody built with True Value Homes in Melbourne 74May 20, 2020 6:22 am mandm86 and @ Norfolk, Thank you for all your inputs. This really helps, unfortunately I already have delayed the contract signing too much that me and my partner just have to go merely by trust, review of inclusions with other builders (as I have to be also fair to them because they offer more compared to 3 big and small builders we considered) and online review. I think that it is impossible to assess the contract without comparing it with other builder contracts. And, only a consultant with years of experience would know confidently how to do this. It is worthwhile to do DIY though it would take heaps of time to learn it. About the building surveyor, I found the form that we signed. You are both correct that it is for the recommended building surveyor. We plan to hire a building consultant/ inspector (thank you Norfolk on your input) to check the quality of build at each stage. I will keep posting here about the progress, but for now, it is too early for me to tell if they are good, best or worse builder. So far, the sales team are meeting my expectation. I hope even after the contract signing. I also have to mention that when we asked them if we can change the design, they were very accomodating and even gave a drawing change proposal for the old design to attend to our concern... free of charge. At the moment, I am trying to be positive on this and just hoping for the best. Technically doesn't work tho. Cheers. Re: Anybody built with True Value Homes in Melbourne 75May 20, 2020 7:38 am roi Do not under an circumstances consider or rely on the 5 star reviews of True Value Homes in productreview to make your decision. I believe almost none of the 95 * 5 star reviews of True Value Homes posted there are real.
Anyone can create a new productreview account and post a fabricated 'proof of purchase' document for a meaningless ‘verification’. This is pretty much the same for most volume builders because, unfortunately, without at least an aggregate 4.7 star rating no potential customers will even consider them. Also be cautious with anonymous people posting on any social media. Including anonymous avatars on this forum. Consider their comments and messaging carefully as they may be secretly representing a builder or some other business trying to sell you something. For trust identification is critical. Product Review still has some value, particularly for other less expensive product categories like phones, TV's, kettles and toasters etc. but for all volume builders it's safest just to ignore all the 4 and 5 star reviews (and their aggregated ratings) and go straight the 1,2,3 star reviews and Q&A section which are more likely to be balanced and real. If fabricated reviews are commissioned by any builders or their associate these people are breaking the Australian Consumer Law, however at moment it is difficult for the authorities here to monitor and enforce the ACL. This is a major problem in Australia and Globally. Other countries have enforced their laws regarding this quite strongly though. If you carefully read True Value's online reviews you may see some things of concern; they are all from people who only post just once, they are all about the same length, the content is always generic and consistent, and comments could apply to any new build, there are no unique stories, or unique background contexts, no individual problems are mentioned or solved, True Value staff are all named (against product review's privacy policy) and always lavishly praised. Everything is sunny and perfect! To me it all looks just fluff, really, and not even good fiction! There are many online guides to help you identify suspect 5 star reviews. Some companies are better at it than others! No builder, contractor, or home buyer is perfect . We are human, and on every complex project like the process of planning and building a new home problems and mis-understandings etc will always arise which need to be resolved fairly between the parties. Just as in normal day to day life. Building inspectors, consultants, lawyers etc. make their livings out of helping people resolve these issues! Any genuine review of a builder will be balanced with good and things, and it will include some details of real issues and challenges encountered and the problem solving for good or bad outcomes. I suggest reading all 95 of True Value Homes 5 star reviews carefully and making up your own mind. Ask some friends to help with more eyes. I recommend before you consider signing any $300k building contract asking True Value Homes, or any other builder your are considering to connect you with a minimum of 5 of their satisfied customers that you may speak with personally about their experience, particularly focussing on any issues that arose during the planning and build, how these were satisfactorily resolved and how were True Value's behaviors. throughout this process. True Value Homes has built about 120 $300K priced houses over the last 3 years, mostly in the Wyndham area. They have 95 perfect 5 star reviews on productreview therefore it should be no problem for them to provide you with the contact details of some of their delighted customers that are prepared to speak with you. With their permission of course. Don’t accept any ‘privacy act’ or 'company policy' excuses. Genuine personal references are a key part of marketing a family business, particularly for builders. Do not trust what any builder's salesperson says to you unless its in the contract or in official writing. Most good people like 'mandm86' who built recently in Woodlea Estate Aintree and Amit75 that have been through the building experience recently really like to help and advise building newbies, whatever their background. Perhaps Michael and Clare can meet you at Woodlea? or you can meet 'Amit' at Point Cook. Some other members who can help you here may be vickieee Nash86 lightrei ... If True Value homes will not provide some satisfied customer details quickly out of 240 people then seriously question them why not? What have they got to hide? Alternatively you could just drive around the streets of the new areas in Point Cook, Truganina, Tarneit etc ideally on a weekend and identify some of the 120 new True Value built homes, smile, introduce yourself, and ask the owners about their homes. They will likely be at home due to restrictions and most will be happy to help you - immediately and probably later too. The exact addresses of True Value's recent builds may be publicly available via council or state government records etc which could save you some time. Not sure here? You can also send personal messages to some of True Value's 95 * 5 star reviewers on product review inviting them to chat with you by phone (mobile for security) or meet in person and buy them a coffee at a convenient neutral location. New home owners would most likely be still active on productr eview researching new furniture and outdoor products etc. and reviewing these occasionally i would expect. Take care. Relying on un-substantiated online ‘research’ is very risky. Don't rush. Re: Anybody built with True Value Homes in Melbourne 76May 20, 2020 10:00 am Hi Roi, I believe you should always go with your gut and experience so far and that is not just with purchasing a home but with everything in life. I can only give you my experience with them and as stated by Norfolk nobody is perfect however its how the problems that arise are fixed and in the case of True Value Homes they were rectified very quickly. I always like to look at a glass half full and not half empty but in the case of Norfolk he may see it as half empty which in my opinion is a negative way to look at life. Norfolk is very interesting to me as he has a lot of stats but has stated previously never built or had any experience with True Value Homes. Is there something i am missing? Not sure True Value Homes would be allowed to pass out there clients details as surely that would be a privacy breach? I know if they do that to me i will not be happy and will seek advise on them. That being said i did private message some of there reviews and got a response so that is an avenue you could go down. Ask to meet them through product review if there happy to do so? I do know you need to put your permit number and other documents to leave a review. I know this as on handover day True Value Homes asked me if i would be happy to leave a review based on my experience and i responded i will once i have lived in the home for at least 12 month.to see if any issues arise and how there handled after hand over. Hope i have been helpful to you mate and i wish you the best with whatever decision you make with your building journey. Re: Anybody built with True Value Homes in Melbourne 77May 20, 2020 10:43 am mandm86 I admire your positive approach to everything in life! I am the same. I am definitely a glass half full person. I feel there is nothing negative about researching a home builder carefully to guide your decision. This should be an interesting and enjoyable experience. After all, its your new family home! Get the real facts first, then you can decide to make your decision confidently based on these facts or your gut, or a combination of these. Everyone has a different person decision making style and risk profile to consider. I am probably a bit more conservative than you. As I have mentioned before, I have no experience with True Value Homes. I initially found them very interesting however because they are rated as Australia's ABSOLUTE BEST builder out of all 1179 builders on a popular product review website, setting a great example for all other volume builders to follow. I wa impressed and wanted to see how they were different. Perhaps they could teach some lessons to other less competent or ethical volume builders, I thought. Digging deeper recently after I read all 96 of True Value's reviews on product review however has raised some concerns for me as i explained to roi in an earlier post. I was also concerned that another initially keen and active forum member with good insights; Amit75 who is also building with True Value Homes in Woodlea Estate and seems to have just disappeared? Very strange! I hope things are ok for Amit. Amit did a lot of research into True Value Homes, comparing them with other volume builders. He was quite negative about these builders. Naming them and reporting that some of his friends had bad experiences with them. He posted here that he consulted a brother in law who was a lawyer for advice about some aspects of the contract before he signed. Other forum members like dga and yymao also advised him. I would really recommend roi speaks with directly Amit75. If his build is in progress it should not be very hard to locate the True Value Homes construction site in the Woodlea Estate. Assuming that he is genuine, I am sure Amit would provide Roi with some great insights. I was also quite concerned when in January (4/01/2020) another forum member vickieee mentioned a "bad experience" but could not say too much because of a legal issue. This member recommended to people building with True Value Homes that they should get a building inspector, strongly recommending Darbecca I built with Metricon a few years ago. I was naive about the the building industry when I started, but from this experience I learnt lots about building and now continue to enjoy learning more from members on this forum as well as other resources. I hope my combination of experience and knowledge can help both customers and builders and other stakeholders alike here. I am particularly interested in the research home buyers do prior to selecting Builders. I really did not do my due diligence when I chose Metricon. I regret that I trusted Metricon based on their online 5 star reviews, beautiful display homes, glossy brochures and representations from slick 'warm and caring sales' consultants plus free coffees etc. When things went bad later I wished I had taken more time, looked deeper and done some better research. In the end Metricon delivered a reasonable quality house but this required pushing from me, a 43 week delay, stress, and cost me $85K in rent and other costs. I am over it now and happy with the house. My experience is very common, particularly with inexperienced 1st time home buyers and typical low priced 1st home builders like True Value Homes, I understand. A few years on after my Metricon build I am hoping my experience can guide others in the market with their research for such a big decision. Hence my engagement here. I guess you probably had a similar experience to me with your earlier build? Statistics on builders are published regularly by the HIA, MBA and many other media sources. I don't have the exact details however I am sure Lisa07 at True Value Homes could confirm or correct my rough approximations if more accurate data is of interest, or important for yourself, or anyone else. According to the Australian Privacy Act 1988 https://www.legislation.gov.au/details/c2014c00076 True Value Homes has no problems providing customers' contact details to roi as long as they get consent from these customers first. A family business such as True Value homes should have excellent relationships with their 240 recent customers who, surely, would be delighted to help True Value and potential new members of the True Value client 'family' like roi. True Value Homes can ask me for assistance if they would like more details about the Privacy Act. Nothing beats genuine customer word of mouth for effective marketing. Personally, I would be very careful interpreting any information from private messages of anonymous online forum avatars. Best to identify them first with their mobile phone number (never trust an email address), or better still in person in a safe or neutral environment. Particularly given you are considering an approx. $300K investment. My personal approach based on experience is don't trust the comments of anyone online that you cannot identify, and don't trust builders' sales consultants hungry for your signature on their contract. Both can tell you anything! Product review does not require or check any building permit numbers. To register with productreview them and post a review they only request you upload a document that indicates you have a relationship with the builder. This could be an enquiry email, appointment confirmation email, a quote, any email correspondence etc. Therefore anyone can submit a review of a builder on productreview before even paying a deposit! Product review does not check these document details, and takes states openly no responsibility for their accuracy so its easy for anyone to create and submit their own 'proof' documents. The 'Verified Customer' tag on the builders reviews is misleading.It does not confirm that customer or review is genuine - it just means product review have received an uploaded document with True Value Homes written on it, according to productreview themselves. Many builders are very good at 'gaming' the product review system. All that is required is another gmail account and a company document template. Neither product review, or the builder takes any responsibility for the authenticity of any reviews. This is very clearly stated in their terms and conditions and builders cannot identify the anonymous posters unless specific identifying information is posted. If you question product review about authenticity they will say they post anything as long as it meets their posting guidelines - respectful, not defamatory or rude etc... Iand its an 'open' forum. If you question a builder about any posts they will say they have no control over what is posted on productreview, which is correct. Interestingly, productreview says they prohibit naming people in reviews and you often see this '[name removed]' in them. Many of True Value's 95 * 5 star reviews mention the staffs names, however. The the false reviews of True Value Homes and some other builders found here attests to this sad situation, unfortunately. Its good that you plan to live in your home for at least 12 months before reviewing True Value Homes. This will allow you to post a considered, balanced and realistic review. I guess your experience building before has prompted this wise approach? You will experience the special product review submission process to review builders that I describe above then. Obviously you have already registered, what is your avatar on product review? I would be very cautious about any responses to your private messages to avatars via product review. As above, if you cannot identify review posters how do you know they are genuine? If a builder or associated party set up their product review accounts they could just respond to these PM's, I reckon. Safer to chat by mobile phone or in person so you know they are genuine! I am still looking forward to your advice on inspecting True Value's workmanship yourself, without a private building inspector. Sharing your insights here, and maybe the contrast with your previous building experience would be very valuable to members. Your intentions to help new home buyers are good. I share this desire. Why don't you quickly contact Roi and chat with him or her on the phone, or possibly make a time at (or outside) your great new True Value home in the the Woodlea Estate in Aintree, or some other appropriate location locally. I suggest Roi might really appreciate your further support and advice, and would at least buy you and Clare coffee. Collectively we can all share our experiences and advice to help each other. I am sure True Value Homes would appreciate your helpful engagement here to assist them to secure roi 's business too. Really appreciate your engagement and sharing our comments and personal opinions here mate! I hope we are educating and helping roi and other forum members; prospective home buyers, builders, and other stakeholders alike. Re: Anybody built with True Value Homes in Melbourne 78May 21, 2020 4:30 pm What a very interesting read it was to see your thoughts on True Value Homes Norfolk considering you have had no dealings with True Value Homes as a client. Please be aware True Value Homes is not a volume builder, we are a family owned and operated business who has a team around them to support the company and clients throughout their journey building their True Value home. I am not a family member but am proud to say that I am apart of the TVH team that helps create the homes that our TVH clients are so happy to call their own. True Value Homes limit our build to approximately 100 homes a year which sets us apart from major volume builders in the industry. We chose to limit our builds to ensure we maintain the high quality and care TVH are known for and deliver as you can see by our genuine 5 star review clients who have actually built with True Value Homes. In regards to Product Reviews I can hand on heart vouch that each and every one of those reviews are real and are not falsified in any way shape or form! The names listed in the reviews are of the team members that assist our client’s all the way from the initial colour selection and contract signing appointments right through to the day we hand over the home. The reason these names are not removed is because Product Review allow names to be published when there is positive feedback. Only when slander and defamation may occur are names removed from the review and this is done by the Product Review panel when the review is submitted. Please I would encourage anyone who is in the market of building their dream home, 1st home, 2nd home etc or investment property to come and meet our great TVH team. This team is made up of people who work hard to ensure our clients get the care and expertise that they deserve when building their homes. We all take pride in our roles within the business. True Value Homes thanks our loyal and amazing clients for the successful name that True Value Homes as become. We will continue to grow as accompany and will maintain the high standard we have created not only for ourselves but for the building industry. Cannot wait to build the beautiful homes for any members on the forum who have signed up with True Value Homes and hope that anyone else on the forum who is looking for a quality builder looks into True Value Homes and becomes a TVH family member. All the best to all 😊 Re: Anybody built with True Value Homes in Melbourne 79May 22, 2020 3:13 am Before you sign a contract with any builder you should carefully check their references. The only way to protect yourself and properly assess the actual building performance and behaviour history of any builder is to ask real people who have built with them about their recent experience. There are so many fake positive reviews of builders on the internet and unfortunately productreview has become an unreliable and very risky source of information. Builders’ Sales consultants are cunning sly foxes who will tell you anything to lure you in and get the sale. Display homes are beautiful and you get free tea or coffees, lots of warmth and follow up service, however the perception this marketing creates is often not representative of the home buyers true experience after you have signed the contract. Therefore, It’s important that you speak with a real person customer, either on a checkable mobile number or better you should meet them at (or outside) their True Value Home. Socially distancing of course. I suggest speaking this way with a minimum of 5 True Value Homes customers is appropriate due diligence before signing a $300,000 contract. If there really are at least 600 very satisfied recent (built over last 3 years) True Value Homes customers then your sales consultant should have no problems providing the contact details of some 5 of these who would be pleased to speak with you about their great building experience (with their permissions of course). If True Value Homes cannot provide these customer details to you within a few days then I would suggest don’t waste any more of their time or yours, politely thank them, and go find a more transparent and straightforward builder that can. I’m sure True Value homes, or any reputable builder, would fully agree with this suggestion. Re: Anybody built with True Value Homes in Melbourne 80May 23, 2020 11:20 am Lisa07 What a very interesting read it was to see your thoughts on True Value Homes Norfolk considering you have had no dealings with True Value Homes as a client. Please be aware True Value Homes is not a volume builder, we are a family owned and operated business who has a team around them to support the company and clients throughout their journey building their True Value home. I am not a family member but am proud to say that I am apart of the TVH team that helps create the homes that our TVH clients are so happy to call their own. True Value Homes limit our build to approximately 100 homes a year which sets us apart from major volume builders in the industry. We chose to limit our builds to ensure we maintain the high quality and care TVH are known for and deliver as you can see by our genuine 5 star review clients who have actually built with True Value Homes. In regards to Product Reviews I can hand on heart vouch that each and every one of those reviews are real and are not falsified in any way shape or form! The names listed in the reviews are of the team members that assist our client’s all the way from the initial colour selection and contract signing appointments right through to the day we hand over the home. The reason these names are not removed is because Product Review allow names to be published when there is positive feedback. Only when slander and defamation may occur are names removed from the review and this is done by the Product Review panel when the review is submitted. Please I would encourage anyone who is in the market of building their dream home, 1st home, 2nd home etc or investment property to come and meet our great TVH team. This team is made up of people who work hard to ensure our clients get the care and expertise that they deserve when building their homes. We all take pride in our roles within the business. True Value Homes thanks our loyal and amazing clients for the successful name that True Value Homes as become. We will continue to grow as accompany and will maintain the high standard we have created not only for ourselves but for the building industry. Cannot wait to build the beautiful homes for any members on the forum who have signed up with True Value Homes and hope that anyone else on the forum who is looking for a quality builder looks into True Value Homes and becomes a TVH family member. All the best to all 😊 Lisa07 Welcome to the forum! We appreciate your engagement here representing True Value Homes. I like your sales spiel and that True Value Homes, building only about 100 homes per year in Wyndham City mostly, is a small boutique family owned and run builder that warmly considers clients members of the family. That's awesome! Your "hand on heart" confirmation that True Value Homes has checked all 95 of the five star reviews on product review are from genuine True Value Homes clients is a really powerful company marketing representation. As you have personally validated these anonymous reviews, you must therefore have their direct contact details - specifically their phone numbers and their email addresses as well as their street addresses, of course. I have an idea. To promote your sales consultants' conversions of enquiries to deposits and contract signings, and strengthen your company's excellent overall reputation as 'Australia's highest rated builder' in the current un-precedented competitive environment why not give these 'family members' a friendly call to ask them how they are going in their new homes, and ask if there is anything you can help them with? These 95 * 5 star reviewers are one-time posters on PR and probably not still active, therefore mobile phone contact with your family members would be the quickest, warmest, and most genuine method. You also could also ask your family member clients if they would help your prospective clients like roi and all others by providing a friendly contact to discuss relevant new home build issues, as well as review your performance as Australia's highest rated builder on PR. Researching builders for new homes is challenging experience, as you being a True Value Homes manager would certainly empathise. I'm confident, given their great reviews and the warm accolades for True Value Homes, all of these 'family members' would be delighted to help if they could. Everyone helps each other. A real win/win for all! What do you think? wondering anyone built with omaxe homes and care to share their experiences. thanks 0 13821 As a tradesmen get a private inspector although I don't think there worth it in their profession themselves the reminder they serve to the tradesmen doing the work is… 3 27345 They make the room much easier to clean for one, reflect more light (if light colour tiles are used), and you dont end up with dust on the top edge of tiles (cause most… 3 9578 |