Anyone heard of 'Homes Now' builder?

[LBA_ENG]

Hi all,
I have a block of land near Werribee (Victoria) and have been looking at builders, Ive come accross a builder called "Homes Now" which seem to provide fairly cheap construction costs. Im a bit wary because never heard of them before, has anyone had experience with them or know if they are any good?

Thanks, Leon

 

[tobe]

They are like a broker for builders, National builders does the same thing. They sign you up, and then tender your plans to a construction company. Note, the lower price usually (in the case of National builders at least) is more than compensated in their inflated site costs, and 'optional' extras.
I recomend you go with a large volume builder. The price will be pretty standard, but you are more likely to finish quickly (and therefore have less holding costs) and more likely to get any grievences attended to as they are worried about their reputation.
Theres no such thing as a cheap block, except perhaps an on sell, its cheap for a reason, either site costs will be higher due to being full of fill etc, or due to developers guidelines the building costs need to be higher.
A cheap builder usually loads the profit margin into things outside of the advertised inclusions, ''oh you wanted a roof with that? thats extra''.
The exceptions are loss leaders from the major builders, (look out for the advertising on new products where changes arent permitted and the price seems very sharp), or spec homes sold by small builders who are just about to go bankrupt.....

 

[Daz10]

Homes Now

So what your saying is they tender the project out to a private builder. Is their site costs really inflated and what is their finished product like?

 

[Aaron Sice]

They are like a broker for builders, National builders does the same thing. They sign you up, and then tender your plans to a construction company. Note, the lower price usually (in the case of National builders at least) is more than compensated in their inflated site costs, and 'optional' extras.
I recomend you go with a large volume builder. The price will be pretty standard, but you are more likely to finish quickly (and therefore have less holding costs) and more likely to get any grievences attended to as they are worried about their reputation.
Theres no such thing as a cheap block, except perhaps an on sell, its cheap for a reason, either site costs will be higher due to being full of fill etc, or due to developers guidelines the building costs need to be higher.
A cheap builder usually loads the profit margin into things outside of the advertised inclusions, ''oh you wanted a roof with that? thats extra''.
The exceptions are loss leaders from the major builders, (look out for the advertising on new products where changes arent permitted and the price seems very sharp), or spec homes sold by small builders who are just about to go bankrupt.....

many brokers are like this - but remember - not all.

 

[Steve Fitz]

many brokers are like this - but remember - not all.

I agree Aaron, we don't practise business that way at all.