G.J. Gardner Homes VIC, Melbourne East

We recently moved into our new home, built by GJ Gardner Melbourne East. Throughout the process, every member of the team were amazing to deal with and took real pride in their work. Steve is clearly a very knowledgeable and experienced builder who has high standards for himself and his team. Bec made sure we were well informed about all the… Read more

financial steps along the way and made the process of coordinating payments very smooth. Gen, our contract admin, went above and beyond on many an occasion, chasing down suppliers to find just the right type of product based on our desires and requirements. Adam managed the construction process diligently, keeping us in the loop when unexpected things popped up along the way and helping us navigate the options. GJ Gardner were flexible and accommodating the entire way through our journey, being respectful of our budget and delivering months ahead of schedule. We are absolutely thrilled with our beautiful house and so grateful to the amazing team for bringing our vision to life. Would recommend GJ Gardner Melbourne East to anyone in the area looking for a custom builder.

We have just had the handover with them. They are not only very good in customer service, but also their craftsmanship is good. During the build, the office sent us weekly updates, the site supervisor was very responsive and attentive as well. Also they maintained the site very neat and tidy, it made my neighbours very happy. I am very happy with the build with them Show details

GJ Gardner Melbourne East have exceeded our expectations of our finished new home. They went above and beyond to add little finishing touches. Adam continued the herringbone tile from the Kitchen splashback to a small gap above the butler's pantry window, we did not expect this, a lovely surprise. The stain on the front door was also carried… Read more ·  1

through to the same wood stain on the door frame out from the laundry. We built a modified home from one of their plans, this was a major drawing card because we wanted an original home that suited our odd shaped block. Sharon was very patient at the sales/ design stage we had to postpone starting due to interest rates going up. At no stage did we feel pressured to sign as soon as possible. Their claim that everything is clearly described and priced at the time of signing is true. We were the ones who added variations and added costs from our own choice (not many changes just minor ones). We were blown away with the standard of quality of all the finishes and attention to detail. We would build with them again, I think that is the best sign of trust in people when you would go back and do it again (not that we will, they built our forever home.) All the team were lovely and being a small group it felt like we were a part of the team and got to know most staff really well.

We engaged with GJG Melbourne East from early 2021 to commence the design of our home up until completion and handover of our home in April 2025. Throughout the process everyone from GJGME has been patient and professional even through covid lockdowns and material supply issues as well as design revisions. Our build itself commenced in Feb 2024… Read more ·  1

and we were regularly updated on a weekly basis as to progress and any issues so we always knew things were moving along. Where possible and with building supervisor attendance we had access to check construction progress prior to making any stage payments and this included attendance by our independent appointed building inspector.

Overall no building process is without its problems and hiccups but GJGME strives to make it as stress free as possible. The entire building process is properly documented and recorded to avoid misunderstandings (or memory lapses). Our thanks to everyone in the office from Sharon as our first point of contact to Rebecca with her detailed accounts and Gen with her admin skills and weekly updates.

Also a big thanks to Tim for managing and coordinating the build to a high standard as well as accommodating our site visits. Final thanks to Steve as the owner who stresses that they are still around to help with any post completion building or warranty issues even when everything is done and dusted.

GJGME is highly recommended for anyone looking to appoint a builder that carries out its services professionally and to a high standard.

Having dealt with a well known volume builder to the point of signing a contract with a long list of conditions and unknowns we thought our dream home would never be built! After a bit of research, we landed in the office of GJ Gardner Wantirna and have never looked back, from the moment we walked into their office we felt like part of the… Read more ·  1

family. It was a collaborative process right from the beginning … GJ Gardner helped us tweak the floorplan to cater for our family’s needs, offering us their expertise and knowledge.

The team at GJ Gardner explained all parts of the process right from contract signing, thanks to Steves many years of experience, to the simple process of progress payments, right through to handing over the keys .. thanks for the care package … appreciate the toilet paper and cleaning supplies (and champagne )!

Throughout the build we were given access to all the experts including Gen for all the color selections, last minute changes and our Friday weekly updates – something we looked forward to .. always with a beautiful smile and nothing was too hard for her.

Now to Adam our Project Manager, who delivered the dream. His experience, attention to detail, ability to get things organised and exacting standards and great character made the whole process very easy.

The process from go to whoa was seamless, everyone performed their responsibilities to a high standard working as a well-oiled team, we were moving in before we knew it.

Having built before, Steve and Rebecca and their team are easily the best we’ve dealt with and highly recommend them. They were just as proud as we were … walking through the front door for the first time of our new forever home …

Fast build and beautiful home – We have received our keys and are very happy with the new home. We enjoyed the design and selections process and found that to be fun and exciting to think about the new home. Our Original house was built in 1950 and very small so it was fun to choose a new home. The house looks really good and the process was easy to go through. We are also so… Read more ·  1

happy with how much bigger the new house is, especially as we are on a smaller subdivided block. We think the Kitchen is our favourite part, especially having a full butlers pantry and we also got upgraded appliances for free because our original selection was on backorder. They showed they cared by doing this instead of pushing handover back into the new year. The best part of the actual build was how quick it was done, we started in May and got our keys in time for Christmas! We are happy we chose the GJ Melbourne East Team

A solid piece of build – Having lived in this G.J. Gardner Homes built home for 5 years now, we have experienced no defect/damage issues and hardly any wear and tear. The workmanship and quality of build is outstanding and we are very happy to have chosen G.J. Gardner Homes as our preferred builder. Highly recommended! Show details ·  1

Delivered early, on budget and to a really high standard – We chose GJ Gardner Melbourne East for our knock/down rebuild and couldn’t be happier with them and the end result. We had looked at renovating our 1950s house on a sloping block in Ringwood East in 2021 but could not get what we wanted for a reasonable price. In talking with GJs they had affordable and customisable plans for new homes that… Read more ·  1

suited our block and needs and being a local franchise (that doesn’t over commit) of a bigger group they could give us piece of mind with a fixed price and delivery date. It’s a small but really friendly and professional team at Melbourne East but that makes it really accessible and transparent in who you’re dealing with which was great for us as first time builders.

Sharon was great in working with us on rough designs and giving us info and costings up front. Once we committed Gen was fantastic in coordinating any changes, finding solutions and answering our many questions, really great project admin skills. Bec and Steve, the business owners, are fantastic – really considerate and took time and were available to make sure we were comfortable with decisions early on and at milestones. Finally Tim our builder was a total professional, keeping us informed and involved in the process but also just getting it all done. He’s friendly, knowledgeable and you can tell he takes pride in his work. All the trades that GJs used were also good from what we saw as were the finishes, even coming back on our request for a few changes and or alterations which was great.

Our house was delivered ahead of schedule (10 months into a 12 month contract). The finishes are great and the house works well.

Tim and the team have also offered after handover support which has been really useful During the build there were stressful parts like in any build but GJs handled what was in their control to keep things running smoothly, and they delivered as per the contract price (with the only increases in cost coming form variations requested by us).

Things to be aware of from our experience: - There’s a limit to the changes you can make to GJs listed plans but for us we found one that worked - You have to make a lot of decision early on and there are limits or costs associated with change but this is spelled out up front. - Don’t be afraid to ask questions and opinions of the team especially if you are a first time builder. We sometimes assumed outcomes or designs but could probably have considered harder a bit earlier on. Overall though these are more probably rookie consideration from us as first time builders.

For us GJs delivered early, on budget and to a really high standard in a process that was made as stress free as possible and very supportive. We would highly recommend them to anyone looking to build in the local area and have done so.

We have no hesitation in recommending GJ Gardner Homes Melbourne East – We hadn't built a home before, so had to feel that we could trust our chosen builder. Sharon (initial design and pre-contract stage), Gen (design finalisation through to completion), Tim (site supervisor) and Steve (owner builder) made that possible. Honest, responsive, client-focused - and all-round good people. The build was completed in good… Read more ·  1

time and we are so happy to be in our beautiful new home. Before signing, Steve was at pains to ensure we understood all of the contract provisions (and why they were there). At handover, he gave a very thorough overview of the house and it's inclusions. We definitely felt looked after and were encouraged to contact them with any questions or concerns that might arise. Tip for first home builders: it was recommend to us to try and do all of our research regarding what we wanted in terms of flooring, tiles, fixtures and fittings, built in robes, cabinetry, any special features etc... during the quote stage. It was great advice and we want to pass it on! This meant we didn't have price surprises late in the process and once we signed, the builders could get on with their job and didn't have to keep changing plans and/or suppliers or re-do things that had already been done. Do the work up front, then enjoy watching it take place!

Blown away from start to finish – From our earliest interactions with GJ Gardner Melbourne East to our last, we really couldn't be more complimentary. We engaged with Sharon from the sales team before we had even purchased our block in Warranwood. We had spoken to a couple of other builders about the project and all we seemed to get was 'No, sorry, we can't help with that' or… Read more ·  1

'Nah, we don't have anything that would work on that block'. We knew there were going to be challenges with the build given the fall we had to deal with - but Sharon listened to all of our ideas and came back with a 'I think we can do something here' - which was a breath of fresh air and gave us hope that we'd be able to build something that we'd be really happy with.

All through the pre-sales process, from account management, design, colour selection and contract signing, GJ Melbourne East were all class. Progressing into the build and throughout, we couldn't fault them either. Our Contract Administrator Gen was clear, up front, concise and provided feedback and regular progress updates like clockwork. If anything popped up that was a deviation from the plan, there'd be an email or a call to work through any issues that needed to be addressed as soon as they could be. Yes, there were changes along the way, but the price never changed. Fixed price meant fixed price. Only things that we made a change to post contract attracted a fee. Minor modifications that needed to be made to the design that were out of our control, GJ absorbed the cost - which was very comforting.

Our site supervisor Tim was nothing short of a super-star. He ensured we were always in the loop when we needed to be and if there was anything that required a conversation, he'd be straight on the phone for that chat. He was responsive to any queries that we had along the way and always dealt with us in a professional and respectful way - we never felt like we were a burden to him, which is something of a rarity so we hear from some others who build houses with different companies. As we were getting closer to the end of our build, Tim was always so flexible with his time - making himself available to meet different contractors on-site when we requested - concretors, landscapers, curtains & blinds people - which just made everything so much easier for us to manage when arranging access to the property.

Now we've finished and moved in - and we couldn't be happier. The end result of our house is exceptional. Everyone who comes through is blown away by the quality and finish - and so are we. We always said that we wanted to build a home that we didn't want to ever move out of - and thanks to GJ Gardner Melbourne East and their team, this is what we've ended up with. Thanks to every single person that was involved in our build - the office team and every tradesperson that contributed their expertise. To Steve and Bec, you guys have built an amazing team that you should be so very proud of - and thank you for everything you have done to help us realize our dream of building this amazing home.

Love our new home! – My partner and I recently had a house built and we couldn't be happier with the experience! The quality of the construction was great, and they finished it in a timely manner. The communication throughout the process was excellent, keeping us informed every step of the way. They were very knowledgeable and provided answers to the many questions we… Read more ·  1

had as we were first home buyers and had never been through this process before. The guidance and support they provided were invaluable, making the whole process smooth and stress-free. Highly recommend!

They really deserve 10 stars – We are so happy with our beautiful new home. The whole project was only possible thanks to the entire team at GJ Gardner homes. From the initial consultation to hand over and everything in between was faultless. This is our 4th new residential build and I have to say the most satisfying. We let them do what they do best without interfering and… Read more ·  1

they delivered on time, on budget and exactly what we ordered. They are professional with a family business touch that reflects that they really care about their clients and their building work. nothing was ever too much trouble even some of my silly questions during the build were handled professionally and thoughtfully. I highly recommend GJ Gardner Melbourne East for a quality building experience.

Great experience building – We have recently completed our new build with the team at GJ Gardiner Wantirna. We have enjoyed a seamless journey throughout. Having had an unfortunate experience with a previous build/builder, our experience with GJ Gardiner has been like night and day. What stood out from the beginning was that the team come along the journey with you. … Read more ·  1

They invest their time, advice and wisdom from start to finish. All our questions, queries and concerns were addressed in a timely and patient manner. I particularly appreciate that the team understand that we are not builders and that we as customers do not fully appreciate and understand terminology and building requirements and constraints, so to have these things explained to us was very helpful. Sharon was fantastic at the beginning assisting us to create a home that was unique to us and our requirements, offering suggestions and guidance to work within our parameters. The result was a beautiful home layout. Moving through the next phase Gen essentially ‘held our hand’ and guided us through many decisions regarding the build from in interior to exterior and everything in between. Steve is very knowledgeable, and this is incredibly valuable and critical to have someone with his knowledge and expertise overseeing things. I was impressed by his keen eye and pointing out to us that something might not work well and then offering suggestions and alternatives. Finally, Tim the site supervisor - incredible!! The finished product was completed to an extremely high standard and his ability to adapt and keep the build moving forward in the face of delays that were out of everyone’s control was so impressive. It is clear from our experience that this team really cares, and they want you to love your new home. They are enthusiastic and passionate about turning your vision into a reality.

Positive experience overall – We had an positive experience overall, it felt like a partnership along the way and the whole GJ office were invested in the build. The service experience provided by everyone in the office contributed to the overall experience. I found that everyone was honest and spent the time to ensure we understood what was going on. Steve does not take… Read more ·  1

his responsibility lightly as the owner of the building licence and is very transparent in his dealing with customers.

When we would drop in to say hi, everyone was so welcoming and it was lovely to chat to the team.

We found the plan & design stage an exciting part of the process, this is where you really need to plan, communicate with your partner to ensure you both understand what the other is after, what is really important to you.

For example, we all have a budget and you need to prioritise what is important. Our approach was to think about what are the things that you can’t do afterwards or down the track. For example, spending extra money to upgrade ceiling heights and door frame heights.

We also had our own process to review the information, both of us would read the information independently, I would draft a response and then Julie would review and we would sit down and go through point by point to ensure we both understood and agreed on what we were referring too.

I also think that you can’t strive for perfection. No matter how much planning and thought you put into something, I guarantee something will not go to plan and that is ok. Be kind to yourself.

In regards to the colour selection process, I can see this going sideways pretty quickly for many people. This did not happen in our case because we were really invested and are very decisive in making the decision. Additionally Julie has a much narrower colour palate than I do so it was easy for me to say, I like these 5 colours, pick the one you like the best. It worked for us. If there was something I really didn’t like than Julie would understand that it was a no go zone.

We also went through our own colour selection process prior to the appointment. GJ gave us the list of suppliers, eg, Beaumont’s, Reece Plumbing, Choices etc. We spent the time and visited all these suppliers and spoke to them, told them our colour selection was coming up. They took the time so show us through what the ranges of options were and helped us with the colour selection prior to the appointment in the office. This was such an important process to land the colour scheme and overall choices.

The colour selection lady (can’t remember her name) was very helpful, she understood the brief and didn’t try and get us to change our choices.

When I reflect on the communication from start to end, I’m going to say this was first class. I never felt like we couldn’t pick up the phone or email anyone in the office and received a quick response or discussion. It worked really well with both Julie and I. Adam was great along the way, always available and willing to discuss any key issues. The involvement of Rebecca and Steve along the way was great too. It’s cliché but we felt the confidence and structure of the GJ Franchise model and the family business service from the office and team.

I am very satisfied with the overall quality of the build and it met my expected standard. Certain trades were better than others but you expect this during the process. Overall many of our friend have commented on how good the quality of the build is, how neat the building site was during construction.

The rental we lived in during construction was a relatively newer home built by a mass builder, the quality was terrible.

The biggest call out for potential builders is you need to be realistic about your expectations as there is variance when people are involved.

Where there things that needed to be fixed or done to a higher agreed standard this was always met with a positive attitude from Adam.

We built through a challenging time from a construction industry perspective, we were very pleased with our choice of builder and did our due diligence prior to signing or progressing down the process too far.

You need to be realistic about the whole process, i.e. Timelines, cost, design, finishes. Building a house is not for everyone, you need to have strong communication in your personal relationship as this is a team effort to get the project completed.

If I was to build again I would easily go with these guys. I wouldn’t want to have to rent, that was annoying but a means to an end.

Exactly what we envisioned – We've just moved into our gorgeous new home and are loving it! The team at GJ Gardner East Melbourne have been amazing throughout the entire process. Their flexibility allowed us to redesign the plan layout to suit our lifestyle, and it also allowed me to lay the natural stone facade myself. It's been a terrific collaboration and the result is… Read more ·  1

exactly what we envisioned. Tim has been a really supportive and informative site supervisor. Sharon sold us the sizzle and they've delivered! Rebecca and Gen have made the selection and admin side of the build really smooth and easy, and Steve's deep building expertise and experience has underpinned the entire experience. Speaking to the various tradies on site, I kept hearing the same thing over and over, "GJ Gardner East Melbourne are fabulous to work for", and our experience has been the same. We're keen to build again when we do, there's only one builder we'll be talking to... GJ Gardner Melbourne East.