M.I.A

Sorry we seem to have just disappeared off the face of the earth!

We were on holidays for 7 weeks (travelling around all of Europe) and we forgot to post before we left! :)

So much has happened in 7 weeks - plasters in, stairs are in, kitchen cupboards are in (wrong colour after everything lol) first coat of paint applied, front of the house has been rendered. And the front door installed etc etc etc

Will provide a more detailed update with photos soon!!

mali

Surprise!!!

On Friday afternoon, I received a phone from Metricon that nearly made me fall off my chair at work.. lol

CSC: "Hi, not sure if anyone has contacted you or not but your requests for variations have been approved"
Me: "Excuse me? Sorry what did you just say? Wow, you're not joking right?!"

Anyway, after our first request to Metricon in mid June, and being declined more than 4 times, I am not sure who had a change of heart or what happened and I really don't care haha! It may have been the final email that we sent to everyone that we could find that mattered in Metricon but the variations have been approved (for a fee of course) and that's all that matters!! WOOOO HOOOOOOOO!!! :)

Besides that, the wrong size cladding was sent for our upstairs exterior facade and the SS expects to receive the correct size cladding this week and they hope to have all of the upstairs completed by mid next week and have organised to have the scaffolding taken down at the end of next week! Once that's all done, i assume it is then lock up stage!! Yay for next stage but boo to the next payment haha

Thanks Metricon, can't believe im going to say it but you did make my day :) (cringe)

mali :)

Wow - Super progress!

Exciting stuff! The brickies were on a break for the past week and only recommenced on Thursday but boy do they work fast as we received an email from our SS on Friday to advise that the bricks are now complete! According to our SS, the panels will go up this week and they are aiming for lock up stage in a fortnight! Super progress!

Now just a quick update on our situation with the email to the GM, we found out that he was away on leave so the email was forwarded onto the building manager. After 3 follow up emails and 10 days later, i received a missed call from him asking me to call him back but he didnt leave a return number...mmm hmm, gosh this company we deal with are just full of competent people!

Well it seems that after reviewing our situation and request, Metricon have again declined our request to change the colour of our kitchen cupboards and sink even when we were happy (not happy but willing) to pay the variation fee, The reason? There is no reason, its just because they can and because they do not care to live up to their mission statement!

Here are the latest photos of our house with the bricks complete!! :)

As of today Sunday 29th July 2012

 mali

Update on the Bricks

Well, the bricking is 90% complete on the ground floor, and they've even done some of the feature bricks at the front, which are looking amazing.  We've been told that scaffolding will go up this week and that the second level bricking and cladding will commence from next week. 

Progress is moving along nicely, and have had some good communication with the SS.  So no complaints.

Here's some quick pics for you, and we'll update you next week.
Aaron

Front of house with feature bricks

Close up of feature bricks

Bricks Have Started!

Latest update is that the bricking has started. In one day they've done the bottom third of the sides and back of the house, as well as starting on a couple of the pillars that will be rendered.

It's looking good and the brick layer reckons downstairs will be finished by the end of this week so that's exciting! Top floor is mainly the James Hardie Scyon Matrix cladding (http://scyon.com.au/matrix.html) so that should go up pretty fast as well, depending on when they install it.

Aside from that, not much else to tell. No communications from Metricon except to say the GM we've been emailing is sick and they've passed it to someone else. You won't be surprised to learn that person hasn't emailed us either. Not too long now before the whole email trail goes up and you can see what Metricon is really like to deal with.

We'll take some more photos on the weekend and put them up for all to see.

Aaron

One of the front pillars

Same pillar

Front of house

Garage side

Here's your next invoice

But technically, the frame stage was not yet complete! In true Metricon style, we were sent the invoice 3 days premature of the actual completion date which we are happy to announce was complete and inspected yesterday! :)

Start whinge:

Our CSC is hopeless and wouldn't know what customer service was if it hit her in the face. We had to send the accounts guy 2 emails before we even heard from our CSC to advise that the frame was now complete. Had to tell them to reissue a new invoice with the correct date which we have been advised they cannot do as their systems dont allow it but will note in our file the new due date. What the? What technology era are we in? She has yet to introduce herself or even contact us about anything without being prompted or asked. There is no apology for a response 3 days later nor is there ever an out of office.. Why do we even have a CSC since we seem to be the ones that are following up on everything? But she still had the audacity to finish her email with  "I am confident that you will enjoy the building experience as it is the time when all of your hard work during the pre site stage comes together. If you have any further questions I can be of assistance with please let me know."

Pft - Glad one of us is confident... confident my .....

Our own building surveyor inspected the frame and overall only had a few minor issues to which our SS advised wouldn't be a problem to fix.

We met with our SS today for the first time this morning and the house is coming along nicely! The bricks are due for delivery this week and they should hopefully commence bricking next week! Excitement! We forgot to take a photo whilst we were there this morning but here is one from last night, upstairs windows are in, the corner feature window and the wrapping has commenced! Sorry its a bit dark and blurry..





Now, I'm sure you are wondering how we went with our email to the GM and what the response was... Well if we had held our breath, we'd both be dead. The first email was sent back on Friday 22nd June and a follow up email followed on Tuesday 26th June. We know that he's read it as all our emails to Metricon are read receipted but have had absolutely no response. Nothing. Nudda. Frustrating much? Just plain rude. Grrr (May be replaced with whatever profanity pops into your head ;)). As we can all see, Metricon's management team lead by example.. How can they still be in business with an absolute shocker of an admin team and a GM who doesn't even have the decency to respond to an email even though he may not be able to assist? Absolutely disgusting customer service - do they even know what that is?
We have tried to be nice and we have tried to appeal their decision but they really do not care for the customer whatsoever.. So disappointing and so disheartening to know that this is the sort of service we're going to have to endure for the next 6+ months. Sigh.

End whinge.

mali

Frame Nearly Complete!

Well, we're nearly at frame completion stage.  And it's looking good.  Luckily our SS seems to know his stuff and has a great team of tradies to get the work done.

In saying that, we're having some issues with Metricon.  We want to do two variations (change of kitchen cabinet colour (upper ones only) and change from over mount sink in kitchen to under mount) and we're getting nowhere fast... grrrr.  Metricon is saying a resounding NO.  We've tried asking nicely, then a formal request as per the contract, then asking nicely again and all we get is NO, NO, sorry we really know you will enjoy the house but NO.  The sad thing is, the suppliers are happy to do it, and they've not even received confirmation of measurements from Metricon.

So frustrating.  Especially when the process to date has not been a great one.  We even put some feedback on their Facebook site, gotta love social media.  However, a warning to you; be mindful what you put on there.  It seems as though constructive feedback is not welcomed.  It backfired big time and now we feel like we're being targeted.  Basically they've said no changes to contract, none of our tradies allowed onsite (previously we were going to get some small changes done during build that were no issues).  Now it's no go but "we're sure you'll love where you live".  We learnt the hard way so if you want to complain, and you haven't got what you want yet, don't do it via their Facebook page.

Anyway, we've now progressed our 'request' to the GM of South East Region Victoria.  Fingers crossed that he may want to provide a really good customer experience.  We're hoping they'd rather have us praise Metricon than not.  But we're not holding our breath too much.  Next step will be to progress it further so stay tuned for more updates on that.

Meanwhile, here's some pics' of the house so far.  Most of the downstairs windows are in (except the front study corner feature) and they just need to do the second story windows.  This week should finish those off.

Aaron.

From the front

From the left

From the right

Yay and Nay

Yay - The second storey of our frame has been put up and it now looks like a house! Minus the roof which we think will actually go up today :) The frame has certainly gone up quickly.. bet Metricon have already got that invoice drafted and ready to send!!

Nay - On another note, I sent our CSC an email yesterday with a few questions and she advised that after some reshuffling within the organisation, we now have another CSC.. This is number 4 and we have yet to hear from her, not even an introduction.. Surprised? Nope, have to say that communication from Metricon has been less than average!

Nay - Also, I have to ask all our readers - Variation Fees. After a random search of google, there seems to be no set price on what Metricon charge and they seem to range from $500 upwards. What is the cost that Metricon have advised you on and has anyone been successful in making an internal change without having to pay this ludicrous fee especially after all the extras they charge you??!! Any info/advice on what you changed and what prices you have been advised/charged would be much appreciated!! :)



Thank goodness for high beams and iphones ;)

mali :)

Progress!

So it has been a week since our last post.. The slab has been paid for and they have commenced putting up the frame! Yay! Went by yesterday afternoon and happy to see some tradies working hard on a public holiday at getting our frame up :) Good on ya boys!

Nothing else to update but nice to have some progress :)

Our beautiful slab!

Front Door :)

mali

YAY - we have a slab

So its been just over a week since our last update.

Our slab was poured last Thursday morning and we received the invoice for it via email later that afternoon. Ha, at least we can count on Metricon to have that part of the building process down pat! Thank goodness the Melbourne sun was out for the next 3 days which allowed time for the slab to dry!

We had a call from our site manager yesterday to advise that the frame was delivered but due to the rain yesterday, they would try and commence that today and should take approx 2 weeks to complete - wow!! Looking forward to driving past it tonight :)

It has all definitely started now and the excitement is starting to set in and we hope that the roof and bricks commence before the real Melbourne winter weather kicks in!

mali

Update on updates or lack thereof

So we're supposed to hear from our site manager every Friday afternoon to with an update on how the week has progressed.. Friday has come and gone and we have yet to hear from him.. Disappointing considering it is only the 2nd week since construction :( Disappointment seems to be the only constant when it comes to Metricon..

Since it rained pretty much all of last week, not much has been completed on site besides the laying of the blade piles - the laying of what I hear you ask? Piles are like screws that go into our dirt all over the block to support and strengthen our slab - Sort of looks like there are land mines everywhere!

This is a blade pile

Besides that, nothing else has happened - Melbourne's weather is predicted to be cloudy for the rest of the week with no rain - fingers crossed so the slab can progress!

mali

Quick update & our colour selections..

So this week started with a dream last night that our neighbours garage was built 30cm into our block - Definitely know this wasnt the case as we were at our block over the weekend - Phew but anyone else dreaming of their blocks and future neighbours? Maybe I am starting to lose my mind lol

Our electricity box has been put in and it looks like they have dug trenches and holes throughout the whole block! So much for a nice, clean cut site! Question though, do they usually cut the site larger than the actual size of the slab?

Looking forward to the slab being poured this week, fingers crossed we have some progress and the rain stays away..

Weather forecast as of today - Sunny
Tuesday - Partly cloudy
Wednesday - Rain developing
Thursday - Showers
Friday - Showers
Looks promising! :(

So as promised, here is a list of our colour selections:

External:

Austral Urban One Bricks - Chocolate (We had originally chosen the Selkirk Blue Rain brick, but it then became discontinued, a blessing in disguise i think as the colour was not consistent from all the displays we saw)
Contrast Brick - Bluestone Splitface blocks
Render - Raku (Dark Grey)
James Hardie Cladding - Clear Concrete
Roof tiles - Boral Slimline - Ebony
Guttering/Fascia/Downpipes - Dune
Windows - Satin Black Aluminium (We originally wanted the beautiful timber window frames but after a lot of consideration, we opted for the aluminium frames as we both decided we couldn't be bothered maintaining them every year to keep them looking beautiful ;))
Garage Door - Tuscan style overhead in Monument
Front Door - Cabots Charcoal

Our bricks with the cladding and render colours above and garage and downpipes below



Internal:

Ceiling and Wall paint colour - Lexicon, we have decided to have the one colour for both our ceilings and walls on recommendation by our colour consultant - apparently makes the room look bigger! We shall see..
Benchtops - Caesar stone Snow (for our kitchen, laundry, bathroom, ensuite and powder room)
Kitchen Cupboards - Colourtech White and Colourtech Black for the overhead cupboards above our cooktop
Rest of the cupboards for everywhere else - Burnished Wood Laminex
Kickers - Decometal to all except for the wet areas which are being tiled
Floorboards - Wenge - we are in love with these floorboards and cannot wait to see it laid throughout the house!
Carpet - Californian Twist, Long beach 80% wool, 20% synthetic, Catergory 4 for a decent carpet (Anyone else find that M's carpet options were pretty ordinary??!)

So there you have it, our colour selections, which took an extrodinary amount of time to get correct as our consultant had not noted down half the items we had selected, upgraded or deleted!!

And lastly, here is a photo of the gorgeous sunsets we will be privvy to from our backyard - just stunning!!

Happy Monday all and enjoy your week :)

mali

Update on pouring the slab...

After talking to the SS today, it looks like we will have the slab completed by the end of next week!
Then we'll be weeks away from the frame going up - here's hoping the weather stays fine so this can progress quickly!

Have a great weekend all.
- Aaron

Rain rain go away

We received a call from the site manager! Woo Hoo!! Miracles do happen! He sounds like he knows his stuff and we hope that he is our saving grace to what has already been an experience to say the least.. The portaloo has been delivered and the site was cut yesterday even though it rained.. the estate is a mud haven!

Hoping that the rain stays away during the day for the next couple of weeks to allow them to set up the foundation, lay the slab, put up the frame and roof - surely we are not asking for too much right?

Well, just a short and sweet post today.. nothing else to report, have a good day and enjoy Melbourne's miserable cold weather!

mali

And so it begins...

So we have decided to start a blog on the construction phase of our home. More so to keep a record of when things are done or not done but also as a way of helping readers who like myself, turned to blogs for ideas on building your own home, colour ideas, types of homes being built and all the issues they have been faced with along the way. Aaron and I are building the Metricon Laguna 35, Modern facade in the South East suburbs of Melbourne.

So where do we start?

We have been through all the admin process of the build and have been told that our forecast site start will be Monday 14th May 2012 - TODAY!! We have yet to hear from our CSC or Site Manager to confirm this.. great start Metricon... Hope this is not a sign of things to come!

Just a bit of background on the admin process with Metricon. Out of 10, today they get a 2. From Sales to Final contract signing, the entire process is dis-jointed and below medi-ocre when you are probably making one of the largest purchases of your lives. For one of the largest main builders, you would have thought they would have gotten their admin process down pat and that the whole process would be seamless and fault free - dreams are free. In saying so, we have gotten there, through a lot of emails back and forth, phonecalls, tears, moments of wanting to throw in the towel and cut our losses, we have perservered and are now underway to start the construction of our dream home. (Pre-Construction process to follow in more detail soon)

I hope to have more of an update in the next few days and hope to hear from either our CSC or Site manager to confirm that indeed our house commences today! Fingers crossed!

mali