McCarthy Homes
 

Afternoon all,

Following on from my Markcon :curse: thread does anyone have any stories, good, bad or indifferent with McCarthy homes.....??

Ta

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Be intrigued to hear responses to this also.. we well ROYAL WE !! Debs the missus has been and seen the fella down at Warner, representing McCarthy... said he was a very nice fella, and the build quality looked very good along with the inclusions...
WIll be keeping a BEADY :frown: eye on this thread

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Would I be right in thinking you might have something to do with timber flooring?:D

If so I dont s'pose you could PM me an idea of how much supply and fit of a reasonable timber floor would be? Promise I wont hold you to a price - just wondering how much these things cost! Tell me to sod off if I am being cheeky !

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

LOL

I ran a uk company and thought I could do same here.. long story short..i chose this forum name and abn.. prior to visa being granted.. got here and rekindled engineering and am now aircon man

We do supply flooring still, but i dont install anymore..

Best deal is to go direct , with Premium Cork and TImber
Find em on the internet, they are possibly Australias, largest stockholder and importer of wood flooring.

Regards fitting rates, I think our prices are still live on the internet..

click this link, and see if you can find us ;)

http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=e...cr%3DcountryAU

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Cheers for that my old man always used to say if you dont ask you dont get!!

Cheers

Jon

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Its a good trait to have mate, especially in Australia..

Its a more direct and upfront country than uk

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Okies...

Debs went to see McCarthy Homes today, not sure where, but must have been somewhere in North Lakes I would have thought...

Shes still extremely impressed with the company, I have yet to see their homes, or meet their staff...

The guy has said, we can take in our rough drawings, and he will happily and at no cost, draught construction plans for us to see, and he will cost it up..

Drawback, the plans we cannot take with us, as it is a free service, which is fair and reasonable.

But I am pretty impressed with this kind of service, and bodes well in our pursuit of a radically contemporary home..

However gonna have to pull the missus reigns in.. shes up to over 80 squares at the moment... and she can re doodle again !!!!!

We are off to see them tomoz, about midday , so will do a reccie report afterwards..

Steve

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Cheers Steve

Just to add to your findings so far....

When we popped up on Sunday we met a chap called Steve, he was more than happy to take us around a home a week away from completion, he was also eager to show us a house in the frame stage, which we declined as unless you are a builder or someting was obviously wrong I doubt I would spot it!

Finally I asked him about their build times, he said 6 months - then he said well it is normally 5 months but they like to add a month on just incase, he also mentioned that he was happy for us to speak to any of their customers to double check anything he said.

All in all pretty positive so far.

I would be interested in what they say to you.

Cheers

Jon

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

All good JON !

Debs mentioned that she has heard Plantation have upped their build times now to 14 months !!! FOR GODS SAKE !! 14 bloody months...

we initially built this place with plantation, and thoroughly pleased, but they dont offer what we want from the next place..

Metricon seem to expensive for my liking, but have some great features. like their 8ft high doors pmsl..

But Debs seems extremely keen on Mccarthy so will keep you upto speed, and VickyVercky please :) ( Vice Versa )

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Tis a deal sir!

I had the Plantation salesman we were dealing with on the phone to me on the weekend, as I had emailed him to ask if the build times were correct, and I mentioned that we werent going to sign with them until we found out the whole story.

Cutting a long story short I said to him by the time you factor in the cost of carpets (they dont include carpets- FFS!!!), the additional rent (we are renting at the mo) due to the build time and the fact that Plantation put their prices up every chuffing month -what is a 400k build starts to become a 450k build and if i have to spend that then I may as well look else where if only to compare!

His response was well, most builders are about 12-14 months and if all you are worried about is the build time, sooner you sign the better (or words to that effect).

And I totally agree with your other sentiments about Metricon - very nice, but really taking the p1ss with their pricing!

Good luck

Jon

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Hi Jon & Steve have pm'ed you both.

Donna

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Gday Fellas...

Well had a real good day actually, none the wiser on build costs, but.. here goes.

Just to reply to you Jon, Plantation fix the build cost of your home when you deposit up with them, this is for a start I think within 16 weeks of signing the deal. At which point they reserve right to ammend the material and or labour costs accordingly.

I have built with Plantation, so am pretty aware of the whole scenario, and stages within new home construction.

_____________________________________
OK<:)>
We went down to the Thornlands display, and I wasnt impressed with McCarthy homes, 2 on show, and look tired drab and slightly dark..
However, I was impressed with the construction, and level of finish, which is what i went for.

We popped in to, Ownit homes on the same display village, and shite WHAT A DIFFERENCE in terms of design flair, and sheer space. But wasnt impressed with there rigid stance on designs...

Then grabbed a sanga from the servo, a bottle of V , some smokes, and flew up to North Lakes, and to the McCarthy sales office. Met Troy, nice fella, laid back.. and very helpful.
Much better homes at this display village, and looked at 2 of their homes, and again the build quality and level of finish looks very good.

Their build times seem good to, at about 22 weeks .. ish.

Then walked over to AKC homes, met a nice guy, and looked at their stuff, was ok.. only one display, but nicely finished, and some good design ideas.

Walked straight past AV Jennings.. there homes look 30 years old by comparison to the others.

Went in Adenbrook, and they are very nicely done, kitted out etc.. but will not really budge on design choices..
Similarly with Metricaon, who I must say lead the field in terms of cutting edge affordable and stylish interiors, contemporary and fresh...
Again, not to impressed with their fixation on The PLAN is the PLAN ! lol.. but their build time is around 18 weeks, from council and for a lowset.

Went back to see Troy at McCarthy, and gave him a drawing I had done of what we would like, and said.. mate can you? and he said sure.. free of charge, as previously said, and in about a week..

So will get to know what its gonna cost me in about 6 or 7 days time...

Just to reiterate, McCarthy seem to have the most sensible inclusions I have found, and their build quality seems flawless... obviously show homes are designed to impress, but they really are good quality, totally non pressurising, and approachable..

However,.. I am decidely thinking now, of project building the entire house, as a owner builder.
Seems what we want, and what we can get could be more than we have and can afford...well.. thats true if Debs does the house the way she wants !!! But I am in agreement..

On a very positive note... the seller has signed the contract on the land we are buying !!!!! Got fax today !!! ... so gonna get Pished tonight !! cannot believe we got it in the end, I am soooo pleased

On a Bad Note lol.. our mortgage advisor who I have used for 4 years ( name and number supplied if you want it ) is a great fella !!! and a nicer guy you could not meet... and thats 110% genuine... advised us today, that we cannot, or seems extremely unlikely to raise finance to Owner Build..

So its kinda stumped me a bit now... lol.. but will work on a PLAN !

Anyhoo... thats my bit said lol

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Hi Steve can you explain what 'owner build is'

cheers

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Sorry.

In Australia its the same as a self builder, but you need a permit to work, or a licence.

So all owner builders must attend a short course, of about 15 hrs, pay a small nominal fee, and there licence is granted for a set period for 1 job only.

However, it does not mean that you can physically build the home yourself, you still need licensed builders and tradies, inspections etc etc etc..

The down side, is you do not get or can pass on a home builders warranty such as QBSA

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Just thought I would resurrect this thread as we are going to be signing with them on Saturday....

Anybody have anything good, bad or indifferent to say......

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Only "good luck this time" :thumbsup:

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

I know a really good house builder in the warner area if you need one
I have worked on his houses and they are top class he only builds 4 or 5 a year

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

if you have his details, id be well pleased...

thankyou...

we have however, possibly taken a different vein to the conventional construction system over here... i am now looking at tilt slab construction, the type they build car dealerships outta.. i love that semi commercial glass fronted, contemporary modernistic look.

I had found the ideal builder, Denton Homes, but they are only in NSW :(

Any info awesome ty

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Can you not contact some of the newest dealership building people :blink: and find out who they use. Also contact the Master Builders lot, they may be able to help.

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

yer.. debs is gonna fone some next week..

theres a crew doing a new aldi down in marsden, Walton Construction I think.. and if i was a multi millionaire, id get Hutchinson Builders to do it, they are ACE !
but good idea on the QBSA thing.. will give that a whirl thanks

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

What about GJ GArdner homes

we have been very happy so far with their efforts

Tambo

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Nice homes, not my cup of tea.. cos we want someat radical, but have a good rep

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Anyone else know of GJ Gardner Homes

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Only that my daughters go around singing their 'song' whenever they can :mad::lol:

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Ta - fingers crossed this time we wont need it !!

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Other than they are a franchise builder, dunno if that makes a difference, try the bsa website (search google for qbsa) you can see if they have had any complaints

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Not sure about McCarthy Homes but Adenbrook will build our next one. Very good quality, flexible about designs (e.g. will allow you to choose the front of one house and the rear of another depending on which aspects flick your switches) and have a guaranteed time to complete or they pay rent etc.

A word of warning - DO NOT TOUCH "Metropolitan Homes".
We have just had to pay to have all our ceilings (YES! ALL the ceilings, upstairs and down) refixed, plastered and painted at our cost. They have stated that their subbies used inferior, or not enough, glue to hold them up so the weight is bearing down and popping all the screws. Guarantee? No! we reported the problem 1 week outside the 6 yr minimum guarantee period and they don't want to know. Told the toerag that came to inspect the holy ceilings that our 1880s house in the UK still had original horsehair plaster ceilings and walls that were sounder than our house but he ignored us and blamed the environment, the pink batts, possums, the wind pressure, Muslims, John Howard etc. A bunch of charlatans that shouldn't be allowed to build cubby houses let alone human habitation. The even use the word "quality" numerous times in their brochures. Absolutely shonky quality. I mean! I don't know any self respecting tradie that would stick a screw straight into plasterboard (all toilets)

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Hi

haven't been on this site for nearly a year but just flicking thru and saw this thread. We built with McCarthy Homes and moved into the house in Feb this year. Really happy with the quality of the build and the high standard of the inclusions. We dealt with Steve and Ted at the North Lakes display home. Really helpful and not at all pushy (which always puts me off salesmen). They were honest and did exactly as they said.
All the staff at mcCarthy were very honest and helpful. Good communication throughout the build and all our questions and concerns dealt with quickly. Only thing that would have been better is to have been allowed access to the site for fences to be put up prior to handover as we have a dog and had to delay moving in until we had the fences put up.
All in all very impressed with the workmanship. It seemed like everything was done properly without cutting corners (not that i am a builder!) If we ever built again i think we would find it hard to match them for price and quality.

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Thanks for that - we have signed up with them on Saturday, we're yet to hand over cash though - no doubt that'll come soon after!

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Yup we are happy with mccarthy too ,friends are happy with metropolitan not heard good about adenbrook mind you.

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Adenbrook do nice homes, but they are a tad inflexible on where they want to build, similarly with Perry Homes.

Just as previous poster has said, go on QBSA website, and check out your builder, and complaints lodged against them.

Also we asked 3 builders, to give us details of previous builds, 1 2 and 5 yrs prior, not one would give us details, for us to contact clients, albeit they all said we could pop around to a new build just in final stages.. hmmm

ALSO Im not aware of a single builder that EMPLOYS its tradies, perhaps, the BIG BIG boys like Hutchinson do, but the likes of Coral etc dont.

Also, very very important... Some builder are shit hot with their supervisors, and they visit DAILY.

I can categorically tell you, this is not the case with the majority. Including Plantation, who at one point during our build, didnt visit the site for 3 weeks !!!!

Fortunately, im a whizz with builders, buildings, and the sneaky bastards copped a heap of shite off me when he did front up to site, including the removal and re instatement of 3 stud walls ( including gyproc ) one bowed ceiling, inc cornice....

Ask the question, and get it confirmed in writing, as to how often they are on site !!!

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Top tips .... ta

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

Loverly Jubberly :-)

Just a quick question - can you remember how long from start to finish it all took - i.e from signing contracts to moving in?

Cheers

Jon

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

arent McCarthy on a 16 week build or is that Metricon? sorry could be confusing the issue.
Just for the record, ours was 12 months exactly from buying the block, till moving in.

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

We signed on Saturday and the salesman said you'll be in by end of May/beginning of June. Which seems amazingly quick when you take into account the likes of Plantation who are (were) quoting in excess of 14 months (FFS!!!)

I think Metricon state 16 weeks, on an unchanged low set from one of their standard designs.

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

sounds about right...

I hope the salesman has taken into account the HOLIDAY period for tradies lol

Re: McCarthy Homes
 

We are looking at building with GJ Gardner here on sunshine coast, like most project home builders they give you the base price then you add everything else.
I have been keeping an eye on one of theirs just round the corner from us, it appears all ok so far. The only thing is you do not know who your builders actually are as all the work is sub contracted and as with most project builders their margins are tight so they pay less to their subcontractors.
They have a pretty impressive display home at pelican waters.