Escape Homes
Verified139 reviews
- Pre-Construction
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- Mid-Construction
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- Post-Construction
We are extremely pleased with our experience building with Escape Home. The workmanship and attention to detail throughout the entire build have been outstanding and among the best we have seen compared to other major builders. We were fortunate to have Billy as our site supervisor. He was professional, responsive, and took great care in… Read more
overseeing every stage of the construction. During our walkthrough inspections, there were very few issues requiring attention, which speaks volumes about the quality of the workmanship and the high standards maintained throughout the build.
The entire construction process was exceptionally well planned and organized. The build schedule was managed efficiently, with clear progress at every stage, allowing the project to run smoothly and without unnecessary delays. Thanks to the team's excellent coordination and execution, we were able to receive the keys to our new home within six months.
We highly recommend Escape Home to anyone looking for a builder that delivers quality workmanship, excellent project management, and a stress-free building experience.
We are in the early stage of our journey with Gelcon Homes & I can say our experience is so far amazing! Krysie is really good at what she does & is very knowledgeable. We are very impressed to see their open plan designs & ohh the premium inclusions in the colour selection are stunning! So impressed to see a few great choices which we haven't experienced from our previous build & we can't wait to see our investment property come to life. :) Show details · 1
I had such a great experience building with Escape Homes and couldn’t be happier with the final result. The quality of the home is amazing and I’m so grateful for all the work that went into it. A huge shoutout to Corey, the building supervisor, he was honestly incredible throughout the whole process. So approachable, patient, and always on top… Read more · 1
of everything. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and he made what could have been a stressful experience feel so much easier.
You can really tell he takes pride in his work, and it shows in the finished home, the attention to detail was phenomenal. I absolutely love it and feel very lucky and grateful to have had Corey overseeing the build.
Would highly recommend Escape Homes to anyone looking to build — especially if you get Corey!
Reviews with attachments
- +1
Be very cautious of these guys! House looks great but lots of little issues On inspection we paid extra to upgrade our kitchen bench and they installed the Standard one then had to pay extra again to get the bench which meant I missed work to get it done ASAP as the house was nearing completion. The site manager didn't even know it was wrong as… Read more
his job is apparently not to see these things just tick the boxes that it's installed.
Our ensuite bathroom had a leak which granted they fixed very quickly so quickly in fact that the internal cavity was still wet from all the water that leaked. I did say that it should be dry before you patch it up. He said nah its all good I spayed this stuff in there no issues.. Then cracked another tile and didn't fix that... God knows what is growing inside there now! We have been in our house less than 12 months and we have leaks in windows that they will make you feel like it's your fault and wash the hands of the issue. Pray it doesn't rain sideways as apparently they think rain only falls straight down. If by chance we have more than 5mm of rain in a few hours and some wind the windows can't cope and guess what see the photo and damage it's caused. The guys are super nice when doing the inspection but say anything to them as it will get used against you down the track.
Make sure of one thing is that you check absolutely everything and I mean absolutely everything! when doing your PCI and have everything noted so that it's documented and completed 100% before handover as our first home they use anything not noted down against you especially the maintenance department they are horrible to deal with! They make you feel like your the worst person for being unhappy when things go wrong! Except nothing that seems below standard. As it will bite you in the butt down the track! They will use VBA laws to get out of fixing things but don't let that scare you read everything twice and don't let them brush you aside!
Photos aren't enough make notes of everything and sign nothing unless you are 100% sure its to building code.
If you do use them which i would recommend if you can deal with things listed above get your own independent inspection it's worth the money to save the stress!
So far I'm at 3 days of missed work due to people coming to fix things that shouldn't of happened and soon to be 4
Good luck
Thank you to the site supervisor Jimmy, for a flawless building process from start to finish. Really happy with the finished product. Look forward to working with Escape Homes again. Show details
This is my 2nd investment build through H&L Victoria, with Escape being the builder. Really happy with quality and timing - went really well. Appreciate the supervisor doing such a great job, and wrapped again with H&L Victoria. Show details · 1
Seamless building journey with central property – We recently completed the construction of our dream home with Central Property in Parkbrook, Manor lakes, Victoria and we couldn't be happier with the result. From start to finish, the entire process was seamless and professionally managed. The team was consistently prompt, courteous, and attentive to our needs. Special thanks to Domenic… Read more
Cugliari, whose dedication and attention to detail ensured that our vision was brought to life. The quality of workmanship is outstanding, and the project was completed on schedule and within budget. The final product surpassed our expectations, and we are thrilled with our beautiful new home. We highly recommend Central Property to anyone considering building a new project. Their expertise and commitment to excellence make them a top choice. Hari & Hema
Latest follow-ups
- +2
attached below in these files is a hand written explanation of complaints in review, as well as photo evidence of the severity of bad workmanship and unethical standards through this company. Show details
Follow-up · In response to your email about experience with escapehomesproductreview.com.au, the landscaping wasn’t even adressed. They came 4 times for plastering. Two [Content Removed] I couldn’t understand and two [Content Removed] that were helpful with materials up to standard. It’s been 14 months since handover and I’ve completely lost my patience. If… Read more
In-depth reviews
I recently built my home with H&L Escape Homes and overall had a very positive experience. Throughout most of the build, they provided regular updates and a clear timeline for each stage, which made it easy to track progress and stay informed. Towards the end of the build, when things were moving quickly, the updates became less timely and were… Read more · 1
sent in bulk, and I didn’t receive photos from the final stages, which would have been appreciated.
Erin was fantastic during the planning stages — her attention to detail in checking the plumbing, electrical, and flooring plans was excellent. As someone with a very busy schedule, I really appreciated how she put me at ease with her knowledge and support throughout the process.
One area for improvement would be the electrical layout in the base package. With modern technology being such a central part of daily life, it would have been great to see more power outlets included by default, particularly in the lounge and dining area. Currently, only two outlets were placed on the far side of the lounge from the kitchen, and none were supplied above the kitchen bench — which feels limiting for such a high-use space.
That said, the team was excellent during the inspection process — guiding me through what to look for and ensuring everything met expectations. The handover day was a joyous occasion, made even more special by a thoughtful welcome package that was a wonderful surprise.
Everything was taken care of for me, making the entire process smooth and stress-free. Now it’s time to settle in and truly appreciate the new home.
Great work delivered – We built our first home through Central Property Escape Homes. Domenic was very polite, in depth knowledge in property development. Right from day one and till today he is so professional, kept us updated well advanced(no last minute surprises) and responds promptly. We built custom plan to suite our needs and Domenic was very helpful in getting… Read more
that through. He gave us best price in the market without compromising the quality of the house. The house was delivered one month prior to the agreed date. The colour and design team from Escape Homes was so helpful in finalising our colour and designs and also very responsive on updating the progress of the construction. The site supervisor from Escape homes has done his job with great passion and made sure that it was well presented during our pre-handover inspection also explained each and everything during hand over. We recently moved in. Now we are in maintenance period and the team Escape Homes are prompt in responding our queries and addressing our issues though it’s minor.
An exceptional build thanks to Central Property and Escape Homes – I had a wonderful experience with Central Property and Escape Homes in the construction of my new house. A standout aspect of this journey was Dom from Central Property, who oversaw the entire construction process. He was exceptional in every way—delivering on everything promised with a high level of professionalism and always available for a call… Read more
or email, which made the whole experience incredibly reassuring.
The turnkey package offered by them provided great value, and I was impressed with the overall quality of the build. The few minor issues that did arise were quickly and efficiently handled, making the building process smooth and enjoyable from start to finish.
Additionally, based on my positive experience, other members of my family are now in the process of building their homes through Central Property and Escape Homes, following my enthusiastic recommendation.
Central Property and Escape Homes have given us a home that I'm extremely proud of. The dedication and quality of work have been outstanding, and I’m truly grateful to Dom, Central Property and the entire Escape Homes team for their hard work. I would heartily recommend them to anyone looking to build.
Positive reviews
Our build in St Leonards was completed in February 2026 and overall we were happy with the experience and outcome. I think some of the negative reviews come from overly pedantic customers with unrealistic expectations — at the end of the day, this is a volume builder so you're not going to get a Taj Mahal, but they offer fair value and clearly… Read more · 1
know what they’re doing with a solid process in place. Workmanship was decent and this was confirmed by my PM who is a straight shooter.
The online portal was generally kept up to date with progress, communication was reasonable, and the build was completed on time.
One thing to be mindful of is that engaging a private building inspector can add up to 21 days per inspection stage, which may impact overall timelines. Without a private build inspector our build was completed within around 9 months. Engaging A private inspector is recommended at certain build stages in case a tradie has an off day.
Building with Central Property was an absolutely seamless experience from start to finish. Domenic made the entire process incredibly easy, always communicating clearly and guiding us through every step with confidence and professionalism. The build itself was fast, efficient, and of exceptionally high quality. What really stood out was the… Read more · 2
attention to detail — the very few minor issues that did arise were identified and fixed by the team before we even had a chance to notice them. That level of care is rare, and it speaks volumes about their commitment to delivering a flawless final product.
I genuinely couldn’t be happier with the result, and I fully intend to return to build all my future investment properties with Domenic and the team at Central Property. Highly recommended.
Find out how Escape Homes compares to other Home Builders
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We built with Central Property who build with Escape Homes in 2023. House was completed on schedule. Dom is professional and knows the business and was always available if needed. We are now building our second project with Dom and once again he has delivered. We absolutely would build with Central Property and Escape Homes again. Lana and Tony Lazarovski Show details
Negative reviews
Frustration with the Maintenance Coordinator – Post Service - Dealing with their maintenance is very hard work. The coordinator does not seem to understand that some issues cannot be provided with evidence, it has to be felt. Near our kitchen benchtop area, the flooring is uneven, it seems to us that the concrete underneath is uneven thus there is a bump, and it is a trip hazard. She has not… Read more
been helpful at all instead, putting in writing that PCI has been completed and that we had private inspection - during this occasion, we missed this. I wonder what is the 180 days of fault reporting for then??
All other experience with ESCAPE home has been pleasant, the contractors, site supervisors etc. have been wonderful.
Thank you for your review. We aim to work with our… Read more
YOU WILL REGRET BUILDING WITH THIS COMPANY – As I work in the construction industry myself it was disappointing to go through the process of building with Escape Homes. If I could rate them with a ZERO star I would. It is now 2 years since I built with this company and I am have been advised that I am beyond the 6 months maintenance phase. Please check in your contract if building with… Read more
ESCAPE how long the maintenance period is They will not cover anything after this time. It is now 2 years later - gutter capping falling off gutters and eaves falling down. Contacted ESCAPE HOMES and they have advised this is not their responsibility as it is "maintenance" whereas I would think these are structural items.
During the build, you are not allowed to have contact with your site supervisor during the build so every issue has to go through the "client administrator". Sometimes it takes a week for them to reply to an email and you will not get to speak to your supervisor directly EVER, only the admin person. This is not the same with other volume builders.
Colour consultant missed adding cladding trim colour to colour schedule and then I was told later that I’m not allowed to have the colour I want for this even though it was requested at colour consultation.
Sales consultant quoted $1000 for a 90cm wide mirrored shaving cabinet for bathroom, which you could buy at Bunnings for less than $200. They also quoted double the price to upgrade the bricks than what you would pay if you upgrade them at the colour consultation instead.
There are standard wall tiles which are noted as standard in their colour selection catalogue and then you are told if you use these you will be charged extra, so mistake in their colour selection catalogue.
No credit given for original price of a door when you upgrade the door to a different style.
I requested to paint the front door a Taubmans paint colour (which is the brand of paint they use) and was advised that I am only allowed to select only "Colorbond colours" otherwise they charge you additional $250.
Their dodgy workmanship was confirmed when they accidentally cut a timber beam on the front facade & would not replace it so "repaired it" and now repair work is evident from front. Weeks were added to build time due to Escape Homes having to fix errors of their workmanship.
The temporary fence during build was down on the site and was therefore always open so no commitment to OH&S. This led to another builder stealing power on the site of my build which I was getting charged for.
I paid additional for ESCAPE to concrete a 1 metre border around the home and they left footprints in the concrete, so their solution was to paint it, as they would not re-do it. The paint is now coming away. Also I had paid additional for extra concrete in front of dwelling and the shape was poured incorrect. There are large cracks now also in the concrete.
Private building inspections are a must with this builder and will cost you an additional $600-900 at every stage you elect to have them to check their workmanship.
They installed grass one week before hand-over as part of the landscaping package. As it was summer the grass was dead on hand-over and when I complained about this they would not re-install it.
The paintwork on the ceiling and architraves was terrible. All of the paintwork on the doors has yellowed and is no longer white.
During the build they installed the incorrect bath tub. I had paid for a freestanding bath which they hadn't added in, and as I let them know this and they had to re-do the bath to add this in.
The height of the shower-heads are also incorrect, one is higher than the other.
They installed a range-hood with a scratch mark on the corner of it which I hadn't noticed until after I had moved in.
One of the blinds in the bedrooms was installed backwards so I had to get this re-installed.
All of the internal door-handles come loose and have to constantly be re-fitted.
The dishwasher didn't work when they handed over the home so they called in someone to repair it which took about a a week.
The supposed "builder’s clean” before hand-over was also terrible. There was dirt left in the sliding door jambs and practically every window's slider which was difficult to clean out.
Their service is terrible, during the build the admin team has no care for their clients and every email you will get from the warranty team will leave you disappointed.
Incompetent and Cruel – 2 years into a build, with no end date in sight. All we want is this nightmare to end and Escape Homes can not answer basic questions or book a single thing in advance. Don't worry though, you're not the only one experiencing this incompetency so there is long list of others who are waiting, hope that makes you feel better. Request in Jan 2023… Read more
for a schedule/program of expected build time, they don't have one - red flag Constant calls and follow ups to hear they cannot answer them and then the updates are not correct Fortnightly update which are incorrect
Do not make the same mistake that we have and try and build with these monsters who have absolutely no care for you, property or doing a good job. The only part that functions well is their accounts payable department and they will let you know exactly when an invoice is due however they cannot answer what day of the week a trade which is 'scheduled' to show up is meant be there.
If you want to enjoy your new build and not live with regrets go anywhere else.
Recent reviews
We built our home with Central Property/ Escape Homes and overall, it was a really good experience. Jimmy and Domenic were great to deal with always friendly and happy to answer our questions. The build quality is excellent, and we're really happy with how everything turned We're pleased with our new home and would recommend Central Property/ Escape Homes to anyone looking for a reliable builder. Show details
A++ excellent builder – Very happy we built with Escape. Very happy with the quality of the build and have had excellent dealings with the site supervisor and others along the way. Would build with them again. Build time wasnt dragged out, building materials are excellent quality and all the tradies did a great job Show details
Fast and relative good experience – We went with Escape homes via H&L team, in times of build period extending to over year our was done within 7months which was quite impressive. Overall build process was smooth and seamless with minimal intervention. Communication is bit delayed this is due to 1-2 person managing all company emails, we were not given site supervisors contact and… Read more · 1
us staying in different state it was hard to see progress and hard for us to ask questions. Apart from communication rest was acceptable, I hope they improve on that and make other customer feel bit more comfortable. We were bit hesitant to go with Escape home after reading their previous reviews but our experience was pleasant and satisfactory.
Highly recommend – This was my first time building with Central Property Group. Without a doubt, it was a great and seamless experience. Dom took care of everything, handling the heavy lifting from start to finish for my turnkey investment property. He provided me with the perfect house I was looking for, and Jimmy, my site supervisor from escape homes, went above and beyond to ensure the build was completed to the highest standard. Highly recommend Show details · 1
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Great home built by Escape Homes through Central Property – Central Property and Escape Homes delivered a home that I’m genuinely proud of. The quality and dedication of the team were outstanding, and I’m very grateful to Dom and everyone involved for their hard work. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to build a new home. Show details
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House construction – I am thrilled with the work provided by Escape home. They delivered excellent results and demonstrated remarkable attention to detail throughout the entire process. Every aspect of the construction was meticulously explained and executed. The finished house looks absolutely amazing. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a top-notch builder!" Our special thank to our site supervisor Billy for such an excellent job . Show details · 1
Great experience with Escape homes and H&L Victoria – We would like to say a big thanks to Escape homes, Peter Booth from H& L Victoria and his entire team. It was our second investment property with Escape homes and H&L Victoria and we are very much happy with the result. The entire process was smooth, accommodating to design changes, very supportive with high attention to detail. There were no delays throughout and finally we have received a high quality and beautiful home. Show details · 1
Quality built and value for money homes – We have recently moved in to a lovely home that we purchased from Domenic Cugliari at Central Property. The home was built by Escape Homes, and we couldn't be any happier. Both Domenic and Escape Homes have gone above and beyond for us. The house and land package includes quality appliances, block out blinds, landscaping and fencing, which makes… Read more
it fantastic value for money. I would highly recommend both Central Property and Escape Homes to anyone looking to build their own home. Thank you so much Domenic.
Great Finish & Value for Money – Very happy with our build in Mt Duneed. We were a bit unsure at the start not knowing the brand but our sales consultants from H&L Victoria were the best. He showed us a real house instead of a display with every upgrade we don't get. The quality is really good and the best part was having everything done when we got the keys. No headaches having… Read more
to deal with landscapers & fencers etc afterwards like our last build with a big volume company and paying heaps for it from our pocket. We made the right decision and will happily use again next time. Thanks guys
Overall, pretty good! – Overall a pretty good job. Best part was having this particular foreman. A most excellent chap and ensured all issues were rectified. I was impressed with the build time which came in well under the contracted date. Show details
- +7
Escape and H&L Victoria are awesome! – H&L Victoria made the process a lot easier for us the whole way through. They aligned us with Escape Homes, who (despite initial hesitation given some of the reviews) did a fantastic job for us and we're really happy with the end result. The price was definitely good value for money, the timing was really good and the built quality was very… Read more · 1
impressive. Would highly recommend to any buyer - first home, second home or investor - to go with H&L Victoria and they will help align you with a reliable builder like Escape Homes.
Great communication! – Great experience with Dom! Whenever I had a question or an issue, Dom was so quick to resolve it. Anthony would explain why an issue was resolved a certain way, very beneficial being first time building experience! Would recommend Dom and Anthony from central properties anytime. Show details
Great Home, Quality, timing and customer service – We recommend ESCAPE homes to anyone for their turnaround time, quality and 10 yr structural warranty. We had great experience with Domenic who is the director with century of experience in the building industry. He is very simple to approach and giving us great ideas on the modification on existing plans. His experience and eye on detail are… Read more
amazing. We had Antony as supervisor who is very kind, friendly and contactable at any time. They both are available physical/telephone to hear and fix any issues. ESCAPE home(s) highlights are:
1. Lead time for our house completion is 6 months.
2. Their plans are great with all features ticked. Also, the builders are quite flexible to make reasonable changes to the plan.
3. House package to include driveway, landscaping , curtains, cloths dryer, insect nets inbetween bricks, fencing, walk-in pantry, garage with sealed door gaps etc. with no extra costs.
4. They do built house plans including NDIS, (one land - two units).
5. Friendly supervisor who can be physically present on site.
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BAD handover of our property at 1234 Garfield Drive, Armstrong Creek today – We took the handover of our property at 134 Garfield Drive, Armstrong Creek today , from Escape Homes. Unfortunately, the experience has been marred by several unresolved issues that demand urgent attention. Despite our anticipation of a smooth handover, we encountered various setbacks, including: Lack of gas connection due to the absence of an… Read more
installed gas meter. Non-functional heating/cooling system. Essential paint jobs required in the garage, doors, front step, and garage door. Notable issues with windows in the front room. Missing locks on the powder room and master bedroom doors. Absence of toilet paper holders and towel rails in bathrooms/powder rooms. Deceased plants in the front yard. NO Grass in the backyard. Broken ROOF tiles . We've attempted to address these concerns with Escape Homes, but the resolution has been unsatisfactory. If these matters are not resolved within the next two days, regrettably, we may need to explore alternative legal avenues.
We regretfully advise the information you have… Read more
Excellent support for first home build – Domenic Cugliari is a great representative who helped me choose the right home and property for my first home. Excellent communication and was with us every step of the way which helped us ensure it was a smooth and successful build. Liam is a great site supervisor who helped us along the way and helped clear up any bits raised during the inspection. It all turned out great! Many thanks to Central Property and the team for their assistance! Show details
Never turned back after series of issues are reported – Escape homes never turned back after series of issues are reported. They said that they made "Multiple" calls to the tenant after trying to contact once or twice months ago. Very critical issues reported and RACV helped to resolve it. Quite irresponsible post build support and a bit of rude behaviour (email as well as call) by the staffs. Show details
Dream First Home – Thank you to Escape Homes and Central Property - especially Dom Cugliari for going above and beyond to make my first home dream a reality. It was a very smooth process and i was updated thoroughly along the way. They made sure i was updated often with the build progress and were quick to respond with any queries i had. Thank you for making my… Read more · 1
experience as a first home buyer a seamless one.
Highly recommend Escape Homes and Central Property if you are looking to build a home.
- +4
Had enough of delays and untrue progress reports – We signed an initial costs agreement with this firm in June 2022 and a building contract in November 2022. Work did not commence until March 2023. Since May 2023 we have monitored activity and to say the least it has been spasmodic, if not almost rare, with weeks on end of nothing happening. - Claims for progress payments have been made… Read more
without work even commencing let alone being completed - progress reports from their client service office have repeatedly claimed completion of works without ensuring such works were complete. - Much of the works are sub-standard e.g. painting, where some areas claimed to be finished are not, the finishes do not reflect any care (door low sheen paint all over adjoining flat finish walls, different colours on the same walls, where the contract requires low sheen to external components, they have used flat paint, not prepared the surface, splinters still protruding through what paint is there, cracks and holes in the timber not filled prior to paint application - Damage to some of what has been installed e.g. we paid a premium for a glass splash back behind the stove alcove in the kitchen and it has been installed with a 10 mm chip in it.
Despite all of this their site manager could not meet us on site for 3 weeks when we wanted to validate a progress claim. Even then this only happened with intervention and help from their marketing company. At the time (mid September 2023) they estimated the works to complete the house would be less than 10 working days.
Before then they had removed bricks from below a rear sliding aluminium door (probably an hour for a bricky to replace). The bricks are still where they fell when that were removed in late August/early September.
Recent requests for us to discuss this with someone in authority have been denied, ....."Not our Policy to do so". Overall the service and performance of this company has been abysmal, there is a total lack of honesty in their reporting, they have repeatedly threatened us with penalties when we refused to pay claims for incomplete works and they do not respond, other than to deny, any concerns raised
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Thank you Stuart. I understand our maintenance… Read more (+3 replies)