Plantation homes
Sep 30th 2007, 8:03 am
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Gold Coast, Qld
Posts: 1,074
Plantation homes
Hi we have been looking around at 2 storey display homes and have seen a Plantation home (Castella Design) that would fit our block really well and seems good value for the size compared to some of the other builders.
Has anybody got a recent experience building with them and have you found them any good and what is the after sales service like ?.
Has anybody got a recent experience building with them and have you found them any good and what is the after sales service like ?.
Sep 30th 2007, 9:17 am
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 296
Re: Plantation homes
plantation can take up to 16 months to build a house 12 months is about the average have looked at some of the smaller builders they are more flexy and a good bit quicker
Sep 30th 2007, 9:39 am
#3
*
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,073
Re: Plantation homes
Plantation were/are Henley Homes.... Henly had a bad reputation in NSW back in the early 2000s. I believe they may have been banned in NSW due to shonky building work. They may no longer build in NSW.
They have probably changed management and maybe better now so talk to a lot of people who have recently built with them.
Rumor has it that they don't pay the tradies top dollar so consequently get the poor quality workmanship....even tho the show homes look pretty good!
Whichever builder you decide on, make sure you hire an independent building inspector at each stage of building to check the building work. Its worth the money.
They have probably changed management and maybe better now so talk to a lot of people who have recently built with them.
Rumor has it that they don't pay the tradies top dollar so consequently get the poor quality workmanship....even tho the show homes look pretty good!
Whichever builder you decide on, make sure you hire an independent building inspector at each stage of building to check the building work. Its worth the money.
Sep 30th 2007, 10:24 am
#4
Member
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: Gold Coast, Qld
Posts: 1,074
Re: Plantation homes
We did a search on here and the comments people had made in the past about them were not great but we though we would ask the question again.
Now we know why they seem cheaper than some of the other builders.
We are also looking a Coral homes and Metro Homes anybody any comments on these two.
Now we know why they seem cheaper than some of the other builders.
We are also looking a Coral homes and Metro Homes anybody any comments on these two.
Sep 30th 2007, 12:01 pm
#5
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: Plantation homes
Friends are having a Plantation house built. Signed the papers last November. Diggers finally moved in on site a fortnight ago to stop three hours later saying there were too many roots and it would cost another $14,000
Being as the land was surveyed when it was still covered in trees someone cocked up. Got sorted but a year with sod all being done is very very stressful. No idea about the build quality - obviously.
Being as the land was surveyed when it was still covered in trees someone cocked up. Got sorted but a year with sod all being done is very very stressful. No idea about the build quality - obviously.
Oct 5th 2007, 12:48 pm
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Mansfield - North Brisbane (Mango Hill)
Posts: 202
Re: Plantation homes
Friends are having a Plantation house built. Signed the papers last November. Diggers finally moved in on site a fortnight ago to stop three hours later saying there were too many roots and it would cost another $14,000 Being as the land was surveyed when it was still covered in trees someone cocked up. Got sorted but a year with sod all being done is very very stressful. No idea about the build quality - obviously.
Being as the land was surveyed when it was still covered in trees someone cocked up. Got sorted but a year with sod all being done is very very stressful. No idea about the build quality - obviously.But building with any project builder is hit and miss as all are on a tight budget and no tine put into coustomer care. The coustomer is not always right in Queensland that is for sure.
One peice of advice aviod Cavalier Homes, and try and find an independant builder who cares as much as you do about your dream home.
Oct 5th 2007, 6:53 pm
#7
Dugongidae Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Location: Wimbledon, England
Posts: 441
Re: Plantation homes
we built with these people a while back and have to say i thought they were ok and good value for money. when the house was built they used steel across the ground level to add strength which apart from the completely steel frames you rarely see. it made the 2 story more solid imho.
we employed the crustiest seen it all ozzie as a building inspector to oversee them and get up their noses and i think that was money well spent. at the end before handover he told me he was actually impressed by what they had done and the quality of the decoration was really good. i met the painter at handover as well and he seemed genuinely proud of his work.
this is no frills building though and although you can spec up the homes they are still basic wood and brick veneer construction underneath and costs cut to the bone. i think though unless you pay the money, use architects, get a suspended concrete slab 2 story then nearly all the new houses are the same methods.
our build was a one off and not on one of their land estates and i think that helped as well. we were right by the bay near the water so the trades probably liked coming out there. i would strongly recommend you find a good inspector who is local takes no shit old and wrinkly to fight your corner and keep a watchful eye on them.
one more thing, watch them like hawks on the money side as they make little mistakes in the contract like using the council fee for pine rivers instead of redland bay thus increasing cost by 500. i.e. go through the contract line by line and verify the external costs.
we employed the crustiest seen it all ozzie as a building inspector to oversee them and get up their noses and i think that was money well spent. at the end before handover he told me he was actually impressed by what they had done and the quality of the decoration was really good. i met the painter at handover as well and he seemed genuinely proud of his work.
this is no frills building though and although you can spec up the homes they are still basic wood and brick veneer construction underneath and costs cut to the bone. i think though unless you pay the money, use architects, get a suspended concrete slab 2 story then nearly all the new houses are the same methods.
our build was a one off and not on one of their land estates and i think that helped as well. we were right by the bay near the water so the trades probably liked coming out there. i would strongly recommend you find a good inspector who is local takes no shit old and wrinkly to fight your corner and keep a watchful eye on them.
one more thing, watch them like hawks on the money side as they make little mistakes in the contract like using the council fee for pine rivers instead of redland bay thus increasing cost by 500. i.e. go through the contract line by line and verify the external costs.
Oct 5th 2007, 7:16 pm
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 42
Re: Plantation homes
Anyone heard much on Simonds homes? I have looked at plantation but the designs are modern enough for me, simonds look pretty nice, also considering Metricon but have heard a few bad things on the net about them too, although they look fantastic!! Still might go with metricon and watch them like a hawk, as I'm a sparky they said I can wire it myself.
we built with these people a while back and have to say i thought they were ok and good value for money. when the house was built they used steel across the ground level to add strength which apart from the completely steel frames you rarely see. it made the 2 story more solid imho.
we employed the crustiest seen it all ozzie as a building inspector to oversee them and get up their noses and i think that was money well spent. at the end before handover he told me he was actually impressed by what they had done and the quality of the decoration was really good. i met the painter at handover as well and he seemed genuinely proud of his work.
this is no frills building though and although you can spec up the homes they are still basic wood and brick veneer construction underneath and costs cut to the bone. i think though unless you pay the money, use architects, get a suspended concrete slab 2 story then nearly all the new houses are the same methods.
our build was a one off and not on one of their land estates and i think that helped as well. we were right by the bay near the water so the trades probably liked coming out there. i would strongly recommend you find a good inspector who is local takes no shit old and wrinkly to fight your corner and keep a watchful eye on them.
one more thing, watch them like hawks on the money side as they make little mistakes in the contract like using the council fee for pine rivers instead of redland bay thus increasing cost by 500. i.e. go through the contract line by line and verify the external costs.
we employed the crustiest seen it all ozzie as a building inspector to oversee them and get up their noses and i think that was money well spent. at the end before handover he told me he was actually impressed by what they had done and the quality of the decoration was really good. i met the painter at handover as well and he seemed genuinely proud of his work.
this is no frills building though and although you can spec up the homes they are still basic wood and brick veneer construction underneath and costs cut to the bone. i think though unless you pay the money, use architects, get a suspended concrete slab 2 story then nearly all the new houses are the same methods.
our build was a one off and not on one of their land estates and i think that helped as well. we were right by the bay near the water so the trades probably liked coming out there. i would strongly recommend you find a good inspector who is local takes no shit old and wrinkly to fight your corner and keep a watchful eye on them.
one more thing, watch them like hawks on the money side as they make little mistakes in the contract like using the council fee for pine rivers instead of redland bay thus increasing cost by 500. i.e. go through the contract line by line and verify the external costs.
Oct 8th 2007, 9:17 am
#9
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: North Lakes (Originally Newcastle, UK)
Posts: 118
Re: Plantation homes
Hi we have been looking around at 2 storey display homes and have seen a Plantation home (Castella Design) that would fit our block really well and seems good value for the size compared to some of the other builders.
Has anybody got a recent experience building with them and have you found them any good and what is the after sales service like ?.
Has anybody got a recent experience building with them and have you found them any good and what is the after sales service like ?.
Plantation started building our 2 storey promenade mid Sept 06. Our house was finished on schedule by early Feb 07 when we moved in. It would have been finished earlier but we had the christmas hols where tradies did not work for about 4 weeks around Dec/Jan. We had no major dramas with them. The house is in excellent condition. We have just passed our 6 months "fix up" inspection but we had nothing to repair! It is an awesome house - in my opinion!!
If you need any further info let me know
Thanks
Shell
Oct 8th 2007, 9:20 am
#10
Banned
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Morayfield - The Posh Part
Posts: 10,138
Re: Plantation homes
Hi we have been looking around at 2 storey display homes and have seen a Plantation home (Castella Design) that would fit our block really well and seems good value for the size compared to some of the other builders.
Has anybody got a recent experience building with them and have you found them any good and what is the after sales service like ?.
Has anybody got a recent experience building with them and have you found them any good and what is the after sales service like ?.
Oct 8th 2007, 9:23 am
#11
Banned
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Morayfield - The Posh Part
Posts: 10,138
Re: Plantation homes
we built with these people a while back and have to say i thought they were ok and good value for money. when the house was built they used steel across the ground level to add strength which apart from the completely steel frames you rarely see. it made the 2 story more solid imho.
we employed the crustiest seen it all ozzie as a building inspector to oversee them and get up their noses and i think that was money well spent. at the end before handover he told me he was actually impressed by what they had done and the quality of the decoration was really good. i met the painter at handover as well and he seemed genuinely proud of his work.
this is no frills building though and although you can spec up the homes they are still basic wood and brick veneer construction underneath and costs cut to the bone. i think though unless you pay the money, use architects, get a suspended concrete slab 2 story then nearly all the new houses are the same methods.
our build was a one off and not on one of their land estates and i think that helped as well. we were right by the bay near the water so the trades probably liked coming out there. i would strongly recommend you find a good inspector who is local takes no shit old and wrinkly to fight your corner and keep a watchful eye on them.
one more thing, watch them like hawks on the money side as they make little mistakes in the contract like using the council fee for pine rivers instead of redland bay thus increasing cost by 500. i.e. go through the contract line by line and verify the external costs.
we employed the crustiest seen it all ozzie as a building inspector to oversee them and get up their noses and i think that was money well spent. at the end before handover he told me he was actually impressed by what they had done and the quality of the decoration was really good. i met the painter at handover as well and he seemed genuinely proud of his work.
this is no frills building though and although you can spec up the homes they are still basic wood and brick veneer construction underneath and costs cut to the bone. i think though unless you pay the money, use architects, get a suspended concrete slab 2 story then nearly all the new houses are the same methods.
our build was a one off and not on one of their land estates and i think that helped as well. we were right by the bay near the water so the trades probably liked coming out there. i would strongly recommend you find a good inspector who is local takes no shit old and wrinkly to fight your corner and keep a watchful eye on them.
one more thing, watch them like hawks on the money side as they make little mistakes in the contract like using the council fee for pine rivers instead of redland bay thus increasing cost by 500. i.e. go through the contract line by line and verify the external costs.
Oct 8th 2007, 9:25 am
#12
Banned
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Morayfield - The Posh Part
Posts: 10,138
Re: Plantation homes
Friends are having a Plantation house built. Signed the papers last November. Diggers finally moved in on site a fortnight ago to stop three hours later saying there were too many roots and it would cost another $14,000 Being as the land was surveyed when it was still covered in trees someone cocked up. Got sorted but a year with sod all being done is very very stressful. No idea about the build quality - obviously.
Being as the land was surveyed when it was still covered in trees someone cocked up. Got sorted but a year with sod all being done is very very stressful. No idea about the build quality - obviously.Are you sure there werent covenants on the trees, as in protected, and became a council issue?
Oct 8th 2007, 9:34 am
#13
Banned
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Morayfield - The Posh Part
Posts: 10,138
Re: Plantation homes
We built our house with Plantation Homes in North Lakes. We had heard horror stories about them from years ago but still chose to go ahead as we always received great customer service. Plus we loved the display homes.
Plantation started building our 2 storey promenade mid Sept 06. Our house was finished on schedule by early Feb 07 when we moved in. It would have been finished earlier but we had the christmas hols where tradies did not work for about 4 weeks around Dec/Jan. We had no major dramas with them. The house is in excellent condition. We have just passed our 6 months "fix up" inspection but we had nothing to repair! It is an awesome house - in my opinion!!
If you need any further info let me know
Thanks
Shell
Plantation started building our 2 storey promenade mid Sept 06. Our house was finished on schedule by early Feb 07 when we moved in. It would have been finished earlier but we had the christmas hols where tradies did not work for about 4 weeks around Dec/Jan. We had no major dramas with them. The house is in excellent condition. We have just passed our 6 months "fix up" inspection but we had nothing to repair! It is an awesome house - in my opinion!!
If you need any further info let me know
Thanks
Shell
However if you wanna see the mother of all snag lists, we gave to Platation ( yes the RED DOTS )
PM me and I will give you the website link ( for Simba that is, or anyone else interested in building with Plantation )
And I can tell you.. I WAS THE NIGHTMARE WHINGIN POMMY TWOT CUSTOMER FROM HELL !!! and they did everything to an acceptable standard for me...were totally professional, and an awesome company to deal with from start to finish.
So much so, just gonna get em to do another one for me , if I can find the right bloody block of land
Oct 8th 2007, 10:06 am
#14
I've got time . . . . .
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: SE Queensland
Posts: 574
Oct 8th 2007, 12:41 pm
#15
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Mansfield - North Brisbane (Mango Hill)
Posts: 202
Re: Plantation homes
The main issue for us with Cavalier homes was the supervisor, very unprofessional, he took weeks to chase things up and that would be after trying to call the guy for 2 weeks and promising to return calls, after putting up with poor coustomer care from him we took matters higher, only to find that the arrogance at the top of the ladder was worse.
For instance we ordered handles for vanity units, the wrong ones were installed, so we mentioned it to our supervisor DD. His response being whats wrong with them. They are the wrong ones we said . Again he said whats wrong with them. I think he was happy for us to pay for his tastes.
On the walk round and handover no signs of a note pad to jot down unfinished items to be rectified, so weeks later he had no recollection of faults.
Like i say he made the whole building exp stressful, i was meeting trades on site to chat before they started to make sure things were done right. As i'm a plumber myself i hate doing things twice after some muppet had given wrong info.
We were made to feel like winging poms when we only wanted what was in the contract and paid for, i'm sure if we had a diffrent supervisor things may have been diffrent . But to deal with a man who takes 2 weeks to get in touch with for 8 months it slightly winds you up.
Hope this puts you off as they dont deserve honest peoples money.
For instance we ordered handles for vanity units, the wrong ones were installed, so we mentioned it to our supervisor DD. His response being whats wrong with them. They are the wrong ones we said . Again he said whats wrong with them. I think he was happy for us to pay for his tastes.
On the walk round and handover no signs of a note pad to jot down unfinished items to be rectified, so weeks later he had no recollection of faults.
Like i say he made the whole building exp stressful, i was meeting trades on site to chat before they started to make sure things were done right. As i'm a plumber myself i hate doing things twice after some muppet had given wrong info.
We were made to feel like winging poms when we only wanted what was in the contract and paid for, i'm sure if we had a diffrent supervisor things may have been diffrent . But to deal with a man who takes 2 weeks to get in touch with for 8 months it slightly winds you up.
Hope this puts you off as they dont deserve honest peoples money.