Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Is Masterton Homes worth going for? 16Jul 09, 2020 12:33 pm Keyboard warrior or not, no one can argue that reviews are important feedback engine between consumer and the manufacturer and although GrahamB (as a building manager and direct representative for Kastel and Designer Homes, from I can get) is not looking into them, it is still remains an important instrument and deciding factor for the majority of the consumers. One or two complaints is generally not an issue, but dozens of them with similar problem backed up by responses from the manufacturer rep in the light of "scratches are just property of the material" is quite noticeable red flag. If you, as a builder, is not interested in "this whining", then how I can be confident that you are doing due diligence on your structural material suppliers and listening to the complaints from your own customers? May be you are simply telling them that "other builders' customers also had bad experience and this is the world we live in"? Custom home is custom home no matter who is really designed it - an architect or just a house designer. I have seen house designers who design on an architect level and vice versa. I understand the reality of Australian markets where builders are mainly competing with each other in the set of inclusions while the customers are using set of inclusions for a head to head comparison (instead of let's say house few plans you have designed and proud of, published set of 3rd party inspection reports including pictures during the building stages of your homes available online for everyone's review). But if you are in custom homes business (and therefore charge extra on top of standard project home costs), it probably makes a lot of sense to provide custom set of the inclusions too. You are not in the same game as project builders, after all! How specifically do you guys stand out when it gets to the build and design quality rather than set of standard inclusions? Will you be able to provide full list your existing customers and provide new potential customer an ability to interview ALL of them or at least some of them randomly? I am not even asking for the reports as none of the builders will be providing those, however, for a lot of people this kind of openness could become a deciding factor. Anyway, I am just a keyboard warrior, so please do not take anything I write seriously. Probably, Oliveri is not that bad at all. At least their pricing looks upmarket and their designs look good (this is what most customers purchase based upon?). Re: Is Masterton Homes worth going for? 17Jul 09, 2020 1:27 pm GrahamB Heard good things about these guys, only new small builder though, this could be a negative, inclusions look good. http://www.kastelandesignerhomes.com.au What good things did you hear about them? Re: Is Masterton Homes worth going for? 18Jul 09, 2020 4:38 pm alexp79 Keyboard warrior or not, no one can argue that reviews are important feedback engine between consumer and the manufacturer and although GrahamB (as a building manager and direct representative for Kastel and Designer Homes, from I can get) is not looking into them, it is still remains an important instrument and deciding factor for the majority of the consumers. One or two complaints is generally not an issue, but dozens of them with similar problem backed up by responses from the manufacturer rep in the light of "scratches are just property of the material" is quite noticeable red flag. If you, as a builder, is not interested in "this whining", then how I can be confident that you are doing due diligence on your structural material suppliers and listening to the complaints from your own customers? May be you are simply telling them that "other builders' customers also had bad experience and this is the world we live in"? Custom home is custom home no matter who is really designed it - an architect or just a house designer. I have seen house designers who design on an architect level and vice versa. I understand the reality of Australian markets where builders are mainly competing with each other in the set of inclusions while the customers are using set of inclusions for a head to head comparison (instead of let's say house few plans you have designed and proud of, published set of 3rd party inspection reports including pictures during the building stages of your homes available online for everyone's review). But if you are in custom homes business (and therefore charge extra on top of standard project home costs), it probably makes a lot of sense to provide custom set of the inclusions too. You are not in the same game as project builders, after all! How specifically do you guys stand out when it gets to the build and design quality rather than set of standard inclusions? Will you be able to provide full list your existing customers and provide new potential customer an ability to interview ALL of them or at least some of them randomly? I am not even asking for the reports as none of the builders will be providing those, however, for a lot of people this kind of openness could become a deciding factor. Anyway, I am just a keyboard warrior, so please do not take anything I write seriously. Probably, Oliveri is not that bad at all. At least their pricing looks upmarket and their designs look good (this is what most customers purchase based upon?). I am actually a construction consultant that works with many different builders, what builder would be stupid enough to listen to your pathetic ramble and give clients names out to perspective customers, you are an idiot, its against privacy laws. Unlike you, I don't have the time to google everything to seem to be smart, I do what I do because I enjoy it and I enjoy working with smaller builders who do and always will put people before profit. Since you know more than the rest of the world answer me this, without inclusions, how do clients compare builders, without inclusions, how do companies price. And contrary to your belief about custom homes costing more, they DONT!!! it is perceived that way, the only thing that costs more on a custom home is the drawing of the home, everything else from that moment on is the same. Do you really think they pay a bricklayer more? If you do then you're definitely not in the building industry Re: Is Masterton Homes worth going for? 19Jul 09, 2020 5:01 pm Generally, it is being agreed with the clients that they are agreeable to provide a reference via email or phone, this is how most of builders work. The most advanced ones agree and organise visits to the houses pre-selected by the potential customer. Calling people's names and getting personal doesn't really increase your credibility here. Even project builders provide customers with several sets of inclusions and allow to dynamically vary between them. Having a an online (or offline) spreadsheet where customer can "play" with the inclusions and see the price difference effect can be a good starting point. And yes, custom homes will generally cost more when comparing to project homes due a set of factors, mainly due to the custom materials being used (which are not always purchased in substantial bulk amounts and oftentimes are even purchased by the customers themselves), more skilled traders required for more complicated (and lengthy!) jobs e.g., not every gyprocker can do coved ceilings well. Not every builder can build reverse brick veneer or hybrid construction or rammed earth wall. Nowadays, unfortunately, not every builder is experienced enough to put together a conventional rafted slab. Not every plumber knows can install a manifold plumbing system. Not every electrician knows how to design and run nicely looking conduits or can install smart switches. Those are all just few examples of custom preferences which custom builders can address, based on my experience and experience of my friends who built with custom builders. Nope, you may not be paying bricklayer more, but bricklayer will certainly charge you more for the jobs which take them more to complete. Even being a reputable building consultant, there is always opportunity to learn more and start thinking out of box. Re: Is Masterton Homes worth going for? 20Jul 09, 2020 5:02 pm GrahamB It is not against privacy laws to give clients names out to perspective customers if the clients have given their permission for this. Transparent and smart builders will provide such contacts, supported in this by their satisfied customers. Good builders will have nothing to hide here. This is common business practice that makes sense for builder and client which I recommend every prospective customer insists on. If they won't provide these contacts its a danger sign, thank them politely and walk away. Consider that most anonymous '5 star' posts about builders on social media are not genuine. Volume builders operate a high volume 'low cost' production line business model which means cheaper contractors, building materials, and administration, and minimal building supervision or QA costs etc. which enables them to provide a more affordable build. You get what you pay for. Hi I am wanting some opinions about the build of a steel shed I am going to get one about 4.5 x 2.5 m steel shed and the height will be about 2.3-2.4m high The one I am… 0 14442 I would never build with Fowler homes. 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