Sarah Homes Questions & Answers

I am sorry, I don't know but I would advise that you go with a different builder. Look at the reviews (mine included).

Not sure Jack...but I can only very highly recommend against using Sarah Homes...the time taken to build and incredibly poor performance of their site managers makes the whole process completely unworkable.

Hi Jack, unfortunately we are not currently building in Naracoorte due to difficulties sourcing trades in this region. We wish you all the best in your building journey. Kind regards, the Sarah Homes team.

Hi Catherine, there are some limitations to our policy regarding building homes to lock-up, but yes we can do this. Please feel free to speak to a New Home Consultant to find out more.

Hi Catherine....after 5 houses....I would very strongly recommend you do not go near this company....they have zero project management, poor quality, don't communicate and have quite extended build times.

Hi MJL, I'm sorry to hear that you've had this experience. Extended build times are unfortunately a sign of the times at the moment in the building industry, and not unique to our business. We pride ourselves on the quality of our homes and supervision. Please contact our office to discuss any ongoing quality concerns you may have about your Sarah home. Kind regards, Jaye

I'm no expert on this... but it doesn't sound right to me. I'd get a building inspector involved.

Hi Nicholas. We are thinking of going with Sarah Homes and would appreciate it if you can provide an update to this once you've checked it out. I'm pretty sure that regular gyprock can't be used in wet areas under the Australian building code but also am no expert

Here's what I found when I searched under "Australian building standards for wet areas" Only use fibre cement sheeting for bathroom showers. Common Plasterboard does not meet Australian Standards for wet areas.

Alternatively you can buy waterproof sheeting manufactured from specially treated plasterboard…whatever you use it should be waterproof, or highly water resistant at the very least. Using ordinary plasterboard comes with serious defect problems if it is used in wet areas.

Hi Nicholas, We do plasterboard for some of the bigger builders in Adelaide Sarah Homes is one of them and Aquacheck is approved to be in wet areas around water penetrations, so to explain Laundry's, Vanities and WC's it only has to be around the pipes in those rooms the remaining walls can be RE Plasterboard. As for Bathroom and Ensuites, Aquacheck or Fibre cement board is Australian standard and is only required around the bottom sheets and top & bottom the shower areas. For Sarah Homes we do top and bottom sheets no plasterboard unless running from a main bedroom without a door attached would you find plasterboard on the top of that wall. We do, do for a bigger builder on their request and is still Australian standard Plasterboard on top of Aquacheck in Bathroom & Ensuite just not in shower areas.

Hope this is clear enough, in closing out of all the builders we work for I would say Sarah Homes have put more emphases in the water proofing department and would be very confident with their system! Regards Craig

No way should gyprock be used, Villaboard is the only materail that should be installed in a wet area. Would not use Aquacheck either.

I am (still) trying to finish my 5th (and ABSOLUTELY my last) house with Sarah Homes. Having signed in March 2021 it was February 2022 before the slab was poured and mid October, the house is still not complete. Jobs get started (eg over 2 months between flushing the gyprock and the cornices being fitted), I arranged the electricity connection for February and Sarah Homes continue to cancel the Origin booking, half the lights fitted, the balustrades painted while the timber safety rails are still screwed into it, and the list goes on and on.

They CANNOT continue to use the whole COVID thing, not that it ever really should have made a difference and certainly the greed they (all builders) displayed over the government handouts is not my problem...if they can't handle the work then don't take it on.

The fact that I was a "regular customer" ie trying to build 3 to 4 homes a year with them made zero difference so all the best of luck to the (mainly) first and only home buyers.

After waiting 12 weeks for the contract for my next house, I finally gave up and cancelled...of course I lost the initial fee but this pales into insignificance when I look at what I (am losing) and was likely to lose.

SO I am now my own builder, all my plans are approved, my materials orders in place and on schedule, my contractors lined up and the next house will be built on time, my way.

Oh...and their communication is appalling and any dates I was able to glean ended up being irrelevant anyway

Very interesting...my Sarah home bathroom has a skirting board that is swelling.

Hi Joe, unfortunately the housing industry is currently experiencing extraordinary sustained demand for new homes. This is stretching the industry's resources and causing congestion and delays throughout the process, not only on materials and trades. Sadly we are not immune from industry wide impacts and global material shortages and this was explained to you prior to you signing your contract. We understand your frustration, we are also frustrated at the impact these industry wide delays are having on timeframes. As an update for your home, you have received Planning Approval and your home has now progressed to truss design, you will be updated further when you home has been lodged for Building Approval. While the completion of your new home will take longer than in normal market conditions, our focus is on completing construction as quickly as possible in the current industry circumstances, and without compromising construction quality. Kind regards, the Sarah Homes team.

Joe... we're in a very similar situation. Paid our first deposit in or around Aug 21, signed a contract and paid deposit balance in Dec 21. We have final council approval but still awaiting our final contract variation (due mid Nov this year). Like you we're amazed - and extremely disappointed - by the glacial rate of progress.

We too are in similar situation. Paid for soil test October 2021, told it would take 4-6weeks. Then 6-8weeks for contract, then 4-6weeks for building approval, then 2weeks for certification Then back to council for final approval and adjustments to contract. WELL....soil test request didn't get submitted until Xmas eve, so was mid January, contract signed in April but didn't get submitted to council until June. First approval was back in August and nothing since. Now being told won't even be on site this year and at least months for build process. And price already gone up $15,000. Woeful. Was going to build again straight after, but will probably considering alternative. Why is it we have to keep chasing, you guys are the ones not doing as you said. October 2021 we were coming out of covid, maybe your sales team needed to be informed of delays of over a year, from the pitch theyre selling.

Hi Jeannette, there are significant delays being experienced across the building industry nationally. The unparalleled demand is stretching the industry’s resources and is causing congestion and delays throughout the process, from approvals to construction. The increased demand for surveyors, engineers and other resources required for technical documentation is causing delays and these have been communicated to you with updated timeframes provided at each milestone as we have progressed through your pre-construction documentation and approvals. We understand your frustration that it is taking longer to complete your new home than in historically normal market conditions, we are similarly frustrated by but not immune to these delays. Our focus is on completing documentation and construction as quickly as possible in the current industry circumstances, and without compromising construction quality. Kind regards, Longridge Group

Hi Mark, whilst there are many challenges in the building industry at the moment, Sarah Homes is a secure and conservatively managed business not under financial strain. Thank you for your question.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, that is great to hear that Sarah homes are in a good financial position given all the media coverage on how hard the sector is being hit with bankruptcies due to inflation and fixed price contracts, warm regards, Mark

Hi Stephen, If you have concerns about the speed of progress claims beind sent, please contact your Supervisor. They will be able to explain the progress made to date and how that fits with your claim schedule. They will also be able to provide a timeline of the next stage of works. If you have further concerns, please contact the office here on 8301 8333 to speak with our Construction Manager. Kind regards, Jaye

If they haven't completed the stage sufficiently, don't pay it!

Don’t pay if the work is not done, very important only to pay after they have completed each stage or you may get caught out holding the bag, be careful and don’t trust anyone :)

They are only legally allowed to invoice for up to $1000 worth of work not yet completed.

Hi Nicholas, Our 'normal' time frame for building a 2-storey home would be approx 7 months, this is pushing out to approx 9-10 months at the moment due to all of the supply issues being felt across the industry. This is also based on a metro build location, and regional builds may vary from this timeframe. Kind regards, Jaye

Thanks for the quick response!

Hi Trace, sorry to hear that you aren't sure where your home progress is at. Please contact the Head Office on 8301 8333 to speak to your Contracts Administrator and find out how far away your application is from being submitted. Kind regards, Jaye

We signed our contract in Dec 2021 and our plans were not submitted until April 2022. I'm sorry but I think you're in for a bit of a wait.

And....they will blame the council. When I cancelled the contract with Sarah Homes and designed my own home, we had it passed through council in 11 days.

Sarah Homes are completely incompetent when drawing up plans and considering the site requirements. They miss really basic things and then try and clause their way out of everything. For such a big company that has such a presence in some areas, I was shocked that they were not thorough. Steer clear for sure!!!!!

Hi 'Face', as per your previous review, we would really like to help resolve your concerns, however with your annonymous profile we are unable to assist. Could you please contact head office on 8301 8311 and ask to speak with me so that we can help. Regards Jaye

And they love to dig holes and leave you the dirt to get rid of too...

Hi Andrew.

There listed price is just a guide. Increase your final price buy 25% and you'll be close to your final costing. Council energy requirements and there listed prices for a very basic low speck home.

In the subdivision that I purchased my block of land, the Local Council would only allow Sarah Homes to built onsite, also they wanted me to install another window, before approving the plans for my home.

Therefore, I incurred extra costs of $2,400.00 to build onsite and $450.00 for a window to be installed, due to Local Council regulations.

I received two quotes for my home to be built, one without concrete piers, and one with bored concrete foundation piers, subject to the soil report.

With my soil report showing that I had to build my home with bored concrete foundation piers.

The difference between quote price, and actual contract price was $000.00.

The only difference in costing was what we asked for to be changed, however these were even out as we received a refund from the foundation cost.

Pat, Sarah Homes were on target with the final price. There were a few post-contract variations of our own choosing that we added ourselves.

F Harris

Sarah Homes quoted me a price to build a home without concrete piers, and with concrete piers (subject to the soil report). But my block of land, had to have concrete piers installed, and Sarah Homes final price was exactly what they had quoted me.

Every owner deciding to build a new home, has to have their block cleared, and leveled, and these costs can vary. I was very fortunate that my block of land was very level, and I only had to have the vegitation (Weeds, etc.) removed prior to the concrete piers being installed, and the building work commencing.

The only extra costs depend on your LOCAL COUNCIL PLANNING APPROVALS, and REGULATIONS, as I had decided to purchase a Transportable Sarah Home, but my Local Council would only allow dwellings to be built onsite, which added $2,500.00 to my final price,

and The Local Council also wanted me to put in another window, which was a post-contract variation costing me another $350.00.

Amanda

We haven't even turned the first sod yet and we are being advised by Sarah that the final contract variation is likely to be between $15K and $30K over the contract price. We're still awaiting that final variation, ten moths after siging the contract.

Hi Jacinta and Kim, We built at Hayborough (Victor Harbor) and it took around 11 months from contract to keys in our hands (it included the Xmas break too). Good luck!

Hi, We didn't build on KI so I can't answer this accurately i can only speak from our experience. From signing to moving in 12 months. Just depends on no. of variation, council issues, weather etc etc. Our slab was poured in March and we moved in 1st Sep

1 year and 1 month so far no roof yet, scaffold just put up, averaging 1 day work a week.

From start of build to handover was approx. 6 months in Mid Murray council area, no hassels with council.