Lois1

Hi folks, just wondered if anyone out there can help us and share their experiences.... we are having a house built (Perth) and just wondered from anyone who has done simiar how they found the timeline?

What were you advised on how long it would take? and did the builders stick to this?!

Is there an "average" expected time for a new build once slab down?

Any info, tips, shared experiences etc would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Buzzy--Bee

You should have this time in your contract, with penalties for not achieving it.

Project build - about 20-26 weeks. Bespoke build - show me the plans!

BB

Bermudashorts

There was a house being built when I moved into my place in August 2010 - they have *just* finished it! We could not beleive it took so long.

itigo

Everything should be detailed and agreed and signed as Buzzy said before you start. You make me nervous even asking this!

We are at the first stages of building, not even done anything and the homework has been huge.

Good luck!

Buzzy--Bee

Sounds like a cashflow problem. There are 2 units being built in my street that have so far taken 3 years - with long periods of time of no activity I'm guessing for the same reason.

BB

Dorothy

Our build in 2009...Slab poured in January and we moved in July. Our neighbours next door (same building company, very similar plans) had their slab poured in January and didn't move in until October.

Every build, like every visa application is different. As others have said it should have been written in your contract.

perth tiger

at the moment the builder i do most of my work for is taking abt 16 weeks from slab to handover

Lois1

thanks guys, the building company allows 24 weeks, but at one point were completing in 17! now they say its back to about 20 and there is a penalty clause which gives them about 8 months to build it!

Its only that we are starting this while still in the UK !! Going to fly out once its underway but dont want to book a rental and up potentially homeless if the house isnt ready at the end of the rental !

So much to think about, my brain is frazzled !

Lois1

Now thats the kind of builder we would like !

Family of 3

Ours took over a year, but it's 2 storey and it was 4 years ago when builders were a lot busier. They told us this at the outset, and it was ahead of schedule and they did a great job.

So you do need current info as market conditions have changed.

itigo

Do they know you're out of the country?! I would imagine they would slow down and concentrate on other builds if they do as you're not there checking on progress. Have you someone who is checking up? And are you getting photos?

I think you are very brave doing it from outside Australia!

Family of 3

We were brave/stupid too. Luckily builders were good and nothing went wrong (except for air con, but they were third party). Having said that, I think I'd have been really stressed by worrying about it if we were actually here to see the progress/lack of.

perth tiger

theres not enough work out there for them to slow down. plus they get paid by stages and they want them up and paid for as quick as possible.

Japonica

Hi Lois...

Our own situation...slab down end of August, handover end of January, so ~21 weeks. We didn't move in until March though because it needed floors, paint, landscaping (I didn't want the kids tracking sand through the house)...you get the picture.

I agree that the builders will be keen to finish the stages and get paid, so they shouldn't be slowing down...it just keeps them from getting their money.

Only thing I'd recommend is having someone here you trust keep an eye on them during construction. We had a few issues arise...a staple through the telephone line, damaged cabinet, forgotten door (hello, a door frame with hinges and no door attached)...it's easier to spot these things while the build is going on. In the case of the first two, we wouldn't have been able to see the damage to either the phone line or the cabinet after handover (unless we crawled through the attic and moved the insulation or ripped our countertops out to see the whole cabinet).

Good luck with it! Can't wait to meet up with you again once you make the move.

Lois1

It has to have regular checks at certain stages before releasing payments and this would mean us having to sort out a suveyor while in the UK (any recommendations !??). Another reason really why we are thinking of getting a rental and being there to oversee it?

My husband is a builder/carpenter by trade, and the whole idea of letting someone else build his house is very alien to him!