Is my builder very slow?

Moodyfish · Feb 23, 2010 5:12 pm

We're building a small house (19 sq) and we don't know a lot of ppl who have built and this is our first house. I'm really feeling very frustrated but don't want to bother my builder unnecessarily.

Around 17th-18th of Dec the site was cleared and filled in and leveled.
Around 22-23 jan, the pipes were put in

There has been no action since. When we asked the builder, he said that he had no concrete and so the slab will be put in 10 days time which is today (Day 10). nothing has happened so far.

All the plans have been passed in october and all the selections have been made..nothing is pending from us or from the council.
Please advise me whether he is slow or this is normal

It is needless to elaborate on my frustration about it as a lot of ppl have already gone through this but our current house is from the 50s and things are either falling off or breaking down!on top of that the landlord has increased the rent by a huge amount....there's so much happening.
I just don't know whether I should keep checking with my builder or not disturb him...

Please do reply ...I'll be very grateful.

ibfragalot99 · Feb 23, 2010 5:35 pm

If the pipes have been sitting there for a month, and no slab poured yet - yes, that is slow.

From other sites I've seen usually its a matter of days until the slab gets poured once you see pipes.

"does'nt have any concrete" ??? he's a builder! how does he not have concrete!

Since he said 10 days being today, I would give him 5 more working days, then absolutely crack the s**** if still nothings done.

Kelly_girl · Feb 23, 2010 5:40 pm

Hehe have a look at my blog and my building thread "Kel's house in Mooroolbark" I have had nothing happen in 4 weeks too now so I feel your pain with the slow thing - Lucky for me I did a quick drive by this morning and they are onsite today

Sometimes it seems we just have to wait for someone else's to be completed first I signed my contract in August and I am not even at lock up yet. I definately have seen some builders that are much quicker however you may want to ask those people when they signed the contract as you may find it was a long time ago and they just go on a waiting list until the builder is ready to dedicate time to their site....

Moodyfish · Feb 23, 2010 8:06 pm

Thanx for the replies guys

smeagol · Feb 23, 2010 8:38 pm

Have a look at your contract...

it should actually tell you how many days they can have with out activities on your build. Mine was two weeks and i think there was only 1 or 2 instances where nothing has happened for two weeks but they did email me to let me know when they will be back.

If it was my house and the builder said 10 days and they don't turn up..i'd be on the phone asking for an explaination and follow it up with an email so you have some documentation.

Also there should be penalties if they don't finish in time (should be approx 200-240 days) from when they start the build. I suggest that you ask them nicely when did the clock start with the total build days.

I read your email and i feel like you are so worried of your builders' feeling.

Don't ever forget that you are the customer and you are always right....so ask nicely to the builder but its your RIGHT not a priviledge to understand whats going on with your house. Never forget u are handing over hundreds of thousands of dollars to this mob so "TREAT THEM MEAN AND KEEP THEM KEEN"

nuff said

smeags.

anthonybaz · Feb 23, 2010 9:14 pm

Hi,
As a builder I would absolutely lose the plot if my foreman or project manager did not have any trades on site for 10 days. The most you wait for concrete is 3 days and that was when the Olympic works were going on in Sydney.He obviously either has a cash flow problem or is finishing a job somewhere else.
Is it a large project builder or private builder?
Be careful because he might say that he has a completion date and so long as he does not go over that then he can do what he wants in that time.
Track every day and be careful that he does not try to get delays to make up for lost time.
Good luck

fruitty · Feb 23, 2010 10:24 pm

Concrete don't come out of the builder's bottom

Looks like it a delay tactic as he though you don't know better. I'm sure there are many concrete suppliers eager to supply concrete.

BTW don't just disturb him, tell him 10 days up and you want concrete NOW

swarvy · Feb 24, 2010 7:53 am

slow.

chezza · Feb 24, 2010 7:55 am

VERY SLOW

perthhomelover · Feb 24, 2010 9:45 am

Your builder is taking your for a ride. My slab went down on 18/12/2009 and is now at roof level. Brickwork, Plumbing, electrical, some ceilings and gutters installed. Waiting for roof cover now.

Moodyfish · Feb 24, 2010 10:11 am

omg...lol...i havent smiled in days abt anything to do with my house build..lol...I've laughed so much!

I'll definitely have a word with him. He's a huge builder but a really nice guy. I think it has more to do with his sub contractor than him...

Thank you for your replies.thank you very much.

tcuzelac · Mar 01, 2010 1:12 pm

From my experience so far, 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease'. Check your contract to see what the length of building time is. (As someone noted earlier, generally up to 240 days.) The commencement date is when the builder first went on site to start building works, so I'm guessing that would have been when they had the site levelled. So count how many days from your start date, and remind the builder of that. It also states in every domestic building contract that the builder must take reasonable care to ensure there are no unnecessary delays. He's stalling you - start nagging! And as others have suggested, forget the phone calls, put everything in writing (email or registered mail). Any concerns, call the building commission in your state. (ie. in Vic you can call Building Advice and Conciliation Victoria for any queries on building problems, and if you have serious concerns, you can lodge a formal complaint.)
All the best!

Moodyfish · Mar 10, 2010 12:01 pm

Thought I'd add an update....the slab went down last week.now it'll be another week or so for the frames because the wood hasnt been delivered.

Sighhhh...

The contract states that the building will finish by 30/06/2010 but it doesnt specify any penalties or what happens if it doesnt.

Casa2 · Mar 10, 2010 12:18 pm

Surely there must be some liquidated damages specified in the contract. If not, I think you get whatever the house you are building would rent for, but you would have to go through the courts (small claims) to get your money.

Moodyfish · Mar 10, 2010 12:27 pm

Hmmm...wow..I think the rent would be a pretty neat amount!

Niki · Mar 10, 2010 1:42 pm

I have built twice and both times it was stipulated in the contract that I would receive $250 per week of delays. It should be somewhere in yours too.

Casa2 · Mar 10, 2010 1:50 pm

Niki

I have built twice and both times it was stipulated in the contract that I would receive $250 per week of delays. It should be somewhere in yours too.

$250 oer week is a Victorian thing. You don;t want to know what pitiful things happen in NSW.

Moodyfish · Mar 12, 2010 8:44 pm

Some of the wood has been delivered...I'm going to research on adding photos now :-)

elemist · Mar 13, 2010 1:55 am

Bit late to the party here, but it can be frustrating waiting with nothing happening. I was in a similar situation, and to make it worse one of my other mates was also building. We started at basically the same time, yet after 2 months they were pretty much at lockup and i was only just getting a roof!

My builder have certainly pulled there finger out in the last 2.5 months because i'm pretty much finished, and slightly (very slighty!) in front of them.

So i guess the message is, whilst they may be dragging their feet now, you never know what's around the corner. Just try not to *** them off too much hownding them with questions

Moodyfish · Apr 08, 2010 8:15 am

Thank you for your replies ::kiss::

@Elemist...I can only pray that he does something.The frames went up around 2-3 weeks back. Now he is waiting for bricklayers...he can't find any and is not sure whether he will be able to find any in the near future :-)