My understanding is that it is mandatory. Certainly, it was for us a year and a bit ago. For memory, we were fortunate, as with our own deposit…

... and there's now a reply PM awaiting you, Raul & Dolly...

Hi Raul & Dolly
Congratulations on building your house! You'll be very happy when you finally move in.
I just wanted to drop you a line, as we also built with…

We must have been one of the lucky ones, then, Echo.. as we got about $8K back in retaining walls that weren't needed, as our neighbours ended up putting them…

Thanks so very much for everyone's replies - I really do appreciate them!
I will certainly keep you posted as to how this one pans out... but, further to the…

Hmmm... interesting. I'm not aware of my builder having contacted the council earlier about the state of the footpath... but, that's not to say they didn't. I think…

Thanks very much, prov1xno1 - but, unfortunately, the developer has moved on, as it's not a new estate.
Hopefully someone else out there might have some words of advice...?…

Hi everyone
Just wondering if anyone else has been in the situation where the footpath surrounding their lot has been damaged during their build?
If so, did you have to pay…

Hello friends
We're currently building, and in 2-4 months, should be in our new house. So, right now, we're thinking about trying to organise some quotes for a number of…

The above post is correct. We're currently building with them, and so far, so good. Please be aware that Homes Now (HN) will get you through the door (ie.…

Great - thanks very much for that news, TheAlbany. We've very recently had to apply for extension of time ourselves, so I'm happy to hear your good news... hoping…

Thanks kindly, jimmalenko. I'm not overly happy about spending another few hundred on something that I don't think we really need... but, if this is the worst thing that…

Although we told the builder that we didn't see the need for temp fencing (to which he agreed. He actually said the fencing was more for keeping their rubbish…

Hi everyone
Thanks VERY much for all of your replies - they certainly have put my mind at ease!
I also rang up the SRO today (prior to seeing all of the…

Thanks Dexter - thanks again, TLM.
We're actually building in Gowanbrae. We've had the land for a few years and we're finally in the position to put something on it!…

Thanks very much for the reply, TLM.
It's an amazingly long story (as I'm sure most building stories are!), but we had to have our plans re-drawn 4 times. Add that…

Hello friends
We signed off on our building contract at the end of September - just in time for the $32K First Home Owners Grant (we're building in suburban Melbourne). …