McDonald Jones Homes NSW, Port Macquarie

We’re currently in our pre-construction stage and couldn’t be happier with the experience so far. This is the second home we’re building with MJH. A massive shout-out to Danielle at the MyChoice Studio in Norwest – she absolutely exceeded our expectations! Danielle went above and beyond to guide us through the design process. Her knowledge,… Read more ·  1

patience, and genuine care made a world of difference. Rather than leaving us to figure things out on our own, she really took the time to understand our vision and helped us make confident, informed decisions.

She brought clarity to what could have been an overwhelming process and made it enjoyable and exciting. We truly felt supported every step of the way.

Thank you, Danielle, for your incredible service – we’re so grateful!

Positive pre-construction – Pre-construction has been a positive experience, Kathleen and Lyndle from Port Macquarie have been extremely helpful, as was the team at the my choice studio.Hoping the construction phase will be just as positive. Show details ·  1

Very pleasing so far – During my pre construction phase, the team at MJH out at the display village in Thrumster, Kathleen Ezard, Kerri Charnock & Kelli Wiggins were outstanding, nothing was ever too much of a problem for them. If the next stages of my build go as well as this then it’s happy days. Show details ·  1

Disappointing Experience with MJH on the Mid North Coast – I am building VALIENTE TWO i.e. approx. 28 Sq humble house. Building with MJH started well, with the pre-construction phase finishing smoothly within six months. However, the construction phase has been a nightmare. Despite initial progress, there have been significant delays, with the outer shells and electrical work still unfinished after 11… Read more

months. Many calls to the site supervisor and emails to the admin office over the period pretty much avoided any response or assurance. The excuses given, such as bad weather and a lack of trades, are unacceptable and seem to be the opposite of what has been committed during the sales phase.

This lack of communication and accountability has caused immense stress and anxiety. The constant delays and poor customer service have left me extremely dissatisfied, with no clear plan for completion. This is certainly not a great reflection on client management for such a reputed builder.

Very poor management – Our experience with McDonald Jones Construction has been nothing short of a nightmare. 2 Site Supervisor and 2 Project managers have come and gone, taken as little care as possible to complete the project. Engaging MDJ to build our house in Forster has proven to be a decision we deeply regret. Our land was registered in February 2023, yet it took… Read more

them a staggering ten months just to lay the slab. Their pace has been excruciatingly slow, and their responsiveness is virtually non-existent. Emails go unanswered, phone calls are ignored, and any attempt to get an update on the progress is met with silence. This lack of communication and efficiency has placed an immense financial burden on our family. It's been nearly 1.5 years since our land was settled, and the house is still not even halfway done. We are caught in a dire situation, paying both rent and a mortgage simultaneously, which is causing severe stress and frustration. McDonald Jones Construction has not only failed to deliver on their promises but has also shown a blatant disregard for the impact their incompetence has on their clients. Their delays and lack of transparency have played with our lives, leaving us in a constant state of anxiety and financial strain. To anyone considering McDonald Jones Construction, I strongly advise against it. Save yourself the trouble and money. Their poor management and unprofessionalism are not worth the risk. They have turned what should have been an exciting journey into a prolonged ordeal. We feel trapped and regretful for ever choosing them as our builders.

Our project manager Lyndle Wols from the Port Macquarie office has been fantastic to deal with. Lyndle has been in total control of our building project, responding quickly to any questions or concerns. Explaining the often confusing processes for us first timers. Lyndle has also shown an interest in our personal travels as we take on the next stage of our lives. We believe Lyndle is a great asset for McDonald Jones Homes. Chris and Kaylene Show details ·  1

Our journey started with Jade at Box Hill (NSW) we were very impressed with her knowledge and experience, extremely helpful, nothing was a problem for her. Even though our experience at the mychoice design studio was very pleasant, we needed more time to go through the myriads of choices. Next, we had the pleasure of dealing with Lyndle and Nick… Read more ·  1

(Port Macquarie) we were so lucky to have such helpful people on our side, nothing was an issue for them. Then, we were on our final journey with Mandy and Rylie (construction-Thornton) again, a great experience, we were kept up to date on how things were progressing with phone calls, photos etc. I can't emphasise how great our experience was building with MJH, the team that MJH have are exceptional and MJH should be very proud of them. I would like to thank MJH and their team for making out building journey a pleasant and memorable one.

Amelia and her team were fabulous, very professional and knowledgeable about the area we were wanting to build in, which was Forster and it just felt so good. We have had a good ride and now getting ready to build Show details ·  1

5 Star Project Co Ordinator – Pre-Contruction Stage Completed: Jedda has been absolute star for progressing our home to the construction stage - nothing was too much trouble, the level of expertise and communication was superb whilst dealing with all the twist and turns of getting a home to this stage. Highly recommend. Show details ·  1

Pre-Construction 5 Star! – Pre-Construction Stage has gone well. Time Consuming and seems to be a lengthy process, however, there really is a lot to do during this stage. There is a lot going on but very little to see for it so it feels like a waiting game. Jedda has answered all of our questions or referred us to others within MJH if she was unsure. A big thank you to Nick… Read more ·  1

and Jedda for getting us through this stage and we are super excited for our Construction stage to begin.

Positive Pre construction experience – We would like to give a big thumbs up to the Port Macquarie team from sales with Amelia, through to Lyndle as project coordinator. Nothing was too much trouble for them to assist us navigating up to the end of pre-construction. The team at Hunter MyChoice Studio were knowledgeable and professional and very helpful with the choices to be made. We look forward to the construction phase now. Show details ·  1

Perfect Pre Construction – Our MJH Journey continues in our pre construction phase. From the moment we met our Project Coordinator we had a great feeling. Lyndle has been absolutely amazing. Nothing was ever too much trouble and she calmly dealt with even our biggest issues. Lyndle’s communication and service were exceptional. Show details ·  1

Worst Building Experience Ever! – We have built several homes and this build with McDonald Jones Homes Mid North Coast NSW has been the worst experience from start of build onwards. Sadly, after sales and colour which was a good experience, the construction stage has been riddled with constant ongoing errors and huge delays each time to the point that the build is nowhere near… Read more

lock up stage after 16 months and little and poor communication that always ends in a conversation of ‘next week we will start’, or ‘next week we hope to have it fixed’, or ‘next week the materials will arrive’, but next weeks turns to weeks and months. The worst part is the errors are not simple and could have easily been avoided. How can a company that continuously tells its customers and advertises building quality homes get it so wrong?

Too many issues to mention but here are just a few: concrete slab laid whilst 3 days of torrential rain occurred that was well reported in all weather reports prior and other concreters cancelled their jobs, windows and stacker doors delivered before the frame was delivered and erected leaving the reveals exposed to weather for well over 6 months with some of them in direct contact with the sodden ground, the frame took many months to be erected which some of it has been damaged but still erected, some of the windows and doors which we paid to be double glazed due to fire ratings were not double glazed and need replacing, the protective plastic on the windows and doors as they sat in the weather for so long has been baked on so this glass needs to be replaced, some window frames are damaged and need to be replaced, brick work laid poorly with some areas not plumb or level, expansion joints not in the right place, some brick piers bowing, inside bricks mortar not scraped so big chunks of mortar that can cause moisture issues later down the track, cavities full of mortar some areas to the level of the slab and blocking weeper holes so water/moisture can't escape (cleaning of these cavities is usually done as the bricklayer goes each day but not in my build), bricks for the second floor above stacker doors with gaps between mortar and not laid in a brick pattern which means it needs fixing to ensure integrity, so many chipped bricks have been laid after paying for new bricks the build looks terrible, sarking is damaged and requires replacing and has compromised the moisture barrier. Even though 7 months earlier they had agreed to replace all the window and door reveals they went ahead and fitted the stacker doors and windows that had rotted reveals and mould on them and now 10 months later they are pulling them out along with bricks to put on new reveals and will also have to be bricked up again. McDonald Jones talked about using silicone to put the flashing back in which is not to Relevant Australian Standards. I have had to get an independent Building Inspector’s report due to so many issues and poor practices and am still waiting for how they intend to fix my house and on top of that when they plan to finish the build.

The undue stress and strain this has had on my wife and I cannot be stressed enough as well as the financial stress which should not be endured by anyone.

The only thing living in our shell of a ‘house’ that looks like something out of a ghost town, is birds, rats and mice and green mould on some of the bricks. It’s so embarrassing when neighbours comment on the ‘chaotic’ and rubbish laden state of the build site and the way the house just sits there with no work being done. This does not only affect us which is horrendous enough, but neighbours are impacted too which is not how you want to start in your new community.

Very slow, no contact or updates – Extremely disappointed with MJH, 12 months on and we are still waiting on plaster, I have had neighbours calling me about insulation blowing all over our site, I have tried to call 23 times with no answer, I have left messages etc very poor. Sick to death of seeing add every night saying (homes built how they should be) this is our 3rd build and we will never build again. Show details

Pre Construction Stage - So far Satisfying – The journey with the MCD Jones Homes pre-construction team was very satisfying. Our journey started with Amelia from the sales team at Port Macquarie. Amelia was always welcoming, and she quickly understood our needs with our plan and design of the house. The crew at my choice studio were very professional, and finally A big shout to Jedda… Read more ·  1

Crawford from the Port Macquire office, who efficiently handled all approvals. Jedda was also constantly in touch with us about the progress of the file. We are looking forward to the next stage of the build, hoping we will receive excellent service from the build team.

It is the most stressful and terribly slow experience we ever had. We have no idea when this torture will end! – Stay away from this builder!! Horrible and stressful experience! Slow and Incompetent & no capacity or interest to finish the project. Trades they use are either non-existing, non-reliable and if turns up providing poor workmanship which takes weeks and months to fix (if it ever will be…). MJH can’t build double story homes within their contract… Read more

build timeframe in Port Macquarie! We are nearly reached the end of the contract but not even the external completed. Unfortunately, we are not even halfway through our build. We have waited for 3 months for slab and 3 months for frames. This drained our patience thin and expected some effort to catch up on the lost time but instead it is going in a snail’s space. Trades are promised to be onsite and don't show for weeks. No one has been able to tell me our completion and handover date even though we signed a contract with a 230 day build time. We were told things will change but unfortunately, things haven't changed, and things haven't gotten any better. Interestingly it is getting even slower since we complained and demanded performance of the contract. They are selling new contracts in the promise that there are no more delays, but there are huge delays of every steps.

Higher management is uncontactable and won’t provide solutions or answers to the issues, employees and trades are unmotivated. We have a new SS who is trying to do his best, but the problems lie with higher management and their poor organisational skills. We are extremely disappointed with the whole process (7 months of pre-contruction + 11 months construction and no end to it!). We lost confidence in McDonald Jones as a builder. (We are "building" a modified Panorama 39 two story home in Port Macquarie). The extra financial pressure and stress we are now facing could and should have been avoided if we made a better decision and choose another builder. MJH will organise one or two days of work per months in a hope they can shut you up. The biggest regret of our life!

MJH - Quality Builder – Our home is at the Mid-Construction stage. So far our experience is positive. Our home construction is managed by Russell Coe, a great communicator and professional. He provides us with updates and contacts us on a regular basis. We also would like to thank Ben Mason construction coordinator, who monitors and coordinates construction processes. We feel confident that our new dream home is in good hands. Thank you MJH Team Kind Regards Show details ·  1

Stay Away! Slow, Incompetent & stressful – Do yourself and your family a favour and use another builder! We are nearly 6 months over contract! We have had constant problems and work that has had to be recompleted due to poor workmanship. Trades are promised to be onsite and don't show. Site supervisors/area managers don't communicate and never answers the hard questions. Have raised issues… Read more

higher in the organisation and the promises they make just go unfulfilled. If you want to be out of pocket and constantly stressed out and let down, build with Mcdonald Jones.

Outstanding – We began our journey with the sales team at Port Macquarie. Kathleen & Kerri are absolutely amazing. We felt at ease straight away and can not fault their dedication and professionalism. We have been well informed and have been greeted with a smile each and every time we have met with them. They have been really understanding and have made our… Read more ·  1

appointments fir in with our availability. We are so happy with our journey thus far. We would also like to give praise to Brendan from Mychoice home loans and LJ from Mychoice conveyancing who have both been extremely helpful and professional.

Think Twice Before Signing with MJH - DO NOT GO THERE – Our experience with MJH since signing our contract has been confusing, frustrating and extremely disappointing. We have been given mixed messages about what we could have and what we couldn’t. Someone would yes you can do that and someone else would say no you can’t. We are finally in the building phase of our contract and the lack of progress… Read more

and communication during this process is appalling. We have been told by numerous people in managerial roles on multiple occasions that we would receive regular weekly contact from someone. I’m not sure how long MJH thinks a week is, but we have gone 2, 3, even 4 weeks without any contact before we finally get frustrated and make contact ourselves. We have sat back and watch other homes get built around us and progress faster than ours and when we ask the question why, all we would get was that ‘it’s politics’. No one has been able to tell me our completion date even though we signed a contract with a 200 day build time. When I personally sat down and calculated that time frame and asked would we finish on time the answer from more than one person was that you won’t make that completion date and that you will not even come close. If MJH can’t build within their contract build timeframe, don’t put it into a contract. We budgeted for this build time and now we don’t know when we will be finished. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. The extra financial and emotional stress this puts on customers is something I don’t think MJH even cares about. Yes, you may be offered liquidated damages in your contract, but the meagre amount offered is an insult. It does not come close to the extra financial burden and expenses that we are now facing because MJH can’t build within their timeframe. I did not ask for our home to built within 200 days, that is what they stated. You get dripped fed information and told things will happen within a certain timeframe or things will be delivered in the next week or so and those timeframes come and go and nothing. It is embarrassing when friends and family ask how our build is going and we have to tell them that not much is happening, we hope things start to move soon. Had we chosen another builder we believe we would be close to, if not in our home by now. I am sad to say I would not recommend to anyone to build with McDonald Jones. We are starting to lose faith and wonder if the house will ever be finished. We just want our house built! Update: Nothing has changed and things haven't gotten any better. No-one can tell us where we are at with the build, why products haven't been delivered when we have been given dates for delivery. It's disheartening to think that we should have been in our home by now according to MJH build time, but unfortunately we are not even half way through our build. If you are given a build time frame, double it! The worksite itself is a disgrace. It is dirty, empty chip packets just thrown around, cigarette butts on the floor, drink cans just left and the list goes on. I find this extremely disrespectful and it shows no pride in any work that is carried out. We are extremely disappointed with the whole process. Building a new home is meant to be an exciting time, but this has been any thing but. We have lost faith with the whole process and don't believe our house will be finished any time soon.

Pre-construction – Ongoing support and assistance during the pre-construction planning phase. Professional and personable customer service. Helpful and available to answer questions along the way. Was always prompt and respectful with communication on any matters. Show details ·  1

Blessed with this Amazing Team! – No words could explain how much my wife and I appreciate all the MJH Port Macquarie Team involved during the pre-construction phase to build our very first own home. We’ve definitely gone through some complications along the way but they remained extremely supportive. Due to unforeseen circumstances, our land registration got delayed. COVID plus… Read more ·  1

constant rain and floodings happened. As a result, we had very limited time for the build to be approved (from the Council and CDC) for us to keep our original contract price. In short, we have a very tight schedule in order for us to meet our set budget. Inflation and building materials price increase soared as well. Furthermore, my wife just told me we are having our third child. My anxiety and stress levels were at its peak.

However, we have been blessed to work with Jedda (Project Coordinator), who was very reassuring and kept us updated with any progress. She guided us of what necessary documents and requirements we needed. And, even if we don’t meet the contract deadline, we always felt at ease with her. We haven’t met her personally but you’ll know how knowledgeable she is and how hard she must have worked to ensure we can get the construction started. This was proven when she surprised us that our build has been approved exactly on the due date of our contract! In view of that, we are extremely grateful!

Moreover, we would also like to thank MyChoice Design Studio Consultants, Courtney and Emily who were very accommodating and understanding. They knew what design we are aiming for and gave us options that can fit our set budget. We always felt welcomed and cared for during our appointments.

Would highly recommend MJHPM! Looking forward to building our home!

Grateful to the team at MJHPM – My husband and I are so grateful to Karen Coogan and the whole team at McDonald Jones Homes Port Macquarie for a stress free experience in getting our plans to construction stage. Professional and calm, nothing was too much trouble for Karen. We will miss working with her and now look forward to our new home come to fruition. Show details ·  1

MJH - Port Macquarie = Fantastic – Karen Coogan and the team at MJH Port Macquarie have been fantastic, They have managed to get us on the construction list ahead of schedule with a seamless and stress free process. Karen communicated very effectively with us and helped talk through each stage to make us informed and clear on what is next, Can not speak highly enough of her. Show details ·  1

Building a new home should be a grand adventure – All the MacDonald Jones staff have been friendly, passionate and professional. They have made our dream of a new home a wonderful and exciting adventure. We can’t wait for the build to start. Show details ·  1