Lessons Learned - Building a House

[brod]

Settlement not til July

[Felch]

What area is the block in Brod ?

[brod]

Wilaston

[Felch]

You could probably get some idea on footing costs from people who have already built nearby.

My other piece of advice would be to get a good conveyancer. If they dont know what they are doing, things can turn pear-shaped quickly. A good one shoud be able to give you advice on other pitfalls too.

You might already be on the ball with this, but also check with the council that you can actually build what you want to build on the block. I know a few people who have been caught out with this.

All the best, wait until you start building on it....thats when the fun really begins !

[brod]

Cheers Felch. Its seems to one of those things that you look forward to the process...then just want it done, but not rushed..done properly

[Felch]

Hooray, finally have work being done at our block !!!

These pics were taken today -

[smac]

Nice work mate, you must be stoked.

I wonder if the bobcat drivers ever stop and realise they are one of the most photographed trades on a building site? They always get their mugs in peoples photos 'cos everyone is always pumped to see some action!

[Felch]

Very happy mate , even though we are almost 4 months behind schedule !!!

[Spot]

Good to see them started for you.

Keep a close eye on every stage if you can.

My plaster boards went up last week and they even put them in the shower?????? When I rang them to let them know
they had made yet another mistake they told me they put one half aqua board and one half plaster board in every
shower and that it was correct. Once I told them that I had the building code and had spoken to Planning SA about
the boards, they then told me yes they had made a mistake and will fix it. Shower is now fine, but a few of the other wet areas don't
flow the code. So I will be now sending them formal notice to fix it before the tiles go up.

It appears every stage has it headaches....

You might get the bill for the slab this week lol....

I hope you have no problems ahead...

[Felch]

Yeah, i might delay paying their bill, like they delayed starting the house

Cheers mate, i know we will have issues along the way but just hope things run as smoothly as possible.

Dont worry, i will be watching progress like a hawk

We have been told slab will be down next week.

[Dutchy]

Good luck Lads....as someone who has been through it recently the end product is worth all the pain you will go through...I travel with my work and none of the 4 & 5 star hotels feel as good as your new home anymore!

[Squawk]

Would highly recommend getting inspections done by a qualified person/organisation prior to each progress payment and at all the crucial stages of construction. If you are spending that much to build a house, $2,000 is nothing to make sure it is done properly and few retro adjustments have to be done. Better to have the arguments as they arise than go back in a few years time and tell them they stuffed up the footings!

[Felch]

Cheers for that Squawk.

Im actually pretty lucky, as i have a mate who does footings/slabs for a living and i already have him on the case, making sure everything is above-board. I know a plumber and carpenter too, and i work in the electrical game, so hopefully that will help me to keep an eye on those areas too.

[Spot]

Well after all the problems it seems to be full steam ahead now.
They have just installed the kitchen and bathrooms, starting to look like a house.
The builders have said sorry about the mess around the house and on the bricks and will be getting it cleaned up this week.

They told me they will call soon for final handover. Shame after waiting for 1yr it seems it has only taken them 4mths to build.
Even with Xmas in the middle.

But I need a building inspector, can anybody help and recommend one. Property is out North and I would need in about 2 weeks.

Please if you know a good one pm me,

Thanks

[Spot]

Well it appears handover this week, just got the final bill. After waiting so long it didn't take them to long to build. They have cleaned the bricks and the house is now looking good with a few small problems that need to be fixed, but in the final bill they added a variation that I know nothing about for the sum of $1700, I will find out what that is tomorrow. It's a bugger getting mail after work on Friday. I think they want to get rid of my house as they have many more going up in the area.

Hope everyone else that is building that every thing is going well for you and you to will have your house soon.

[Dutchy]

One thing you might want to check before handover is the tiles on your roof (if you have tiles)....we handed over 5 months ago but witht he decent rains recently we had 2 leaks, inspection of the roof showed 8 broken tiles, the roof guy said someone was up there who didnt know how to walk on tiles as he could see the patttern where they walked....

[Spot]

One thing you might want to check before handover is the tiles on your roof (if you have tiles)....we handed over 5 months ago but witht he decent rains recently we had 2 leaks, inspection of the roof showed 8 broken tiles, the roof guy said someone was up there who didnt know how to walk on tiles as he could see the patttern where they walked....

Don't worry the building inspector is going up there as I have tiles and they don't look right from the ground, they appear to be placed at a large angle on the edge and I want it to be checked as it looks like I will get a leak or two... The builders told me that boral did the roof and that they always get it right, but when you look through the man hole you get to see alot of sunlight??? I have never had titles so not to sure how they should look from the underside. The building inspector said they check the roof inside and out and check to see that there will be no leaks.

Thanks for the advise as I hope I have that covered.

My builder also told me today that they could charge up to 300% mark up on any variations that they have to make, even though the contract states 15%.. Can't wait to get rid of them and move in. LOL

[Dutchy]

Boral did ours as well!

[Spot]

Boral did ours as well!

Well good to see that what thought may be correct and that the building inspector will check this all out.

I have been told twice by my builder that this is the way they always do with 2 things that have been stuffed, they did back down and fix both, so it would be nice to find a problem with the tiles to.

Thanks for the advice once again, my builder will hate me even more.

[Felch]

Good work Spot, im jealous !

We just got the bill yesterday for our framework. Things have really progressed in the last few weeks since Easter. Our windows and patio doors went in last week, and the scaffolding and bricks are all on site ready to go. We have been told brickwork will start this week. I will post some pics in the next couple of days.

Our 'Customer service rep' got the boot last week too, after lots of complaints from many clients - hopefully the new one we have will be better, so far so good. At least he rings me back !!!