I have been reading about MBG in another thread, and BOY! – weren't they given a serve by so many people?!?  We have decided to build in an estate in the western suburbs (currently living in the eastern 'burbs….our friends are ready to renew their passports when we move LOL).  However, after initially being impressed with NBG, we have decided to go with a smaller, more indpendent buildering firms.  Both use local builders, but one firm only uses three builders, while the other is a builder who now uses the same sub-contractors he's used for years.

We have said to all "builders" (read: marketing businesses) "we wish to be in our house, total turn-key, nothing else to do, by the beginning of such-and-such a month.  We will have this date written into the contract before any money is given out.  The only extensions will be granted BY US, and day-for-day (ie, every day of REASONABLE delay adds a day, not a month).  Can you deliver given our demands?"  The two builders who were happy to go with this are the only ones we are considering.  We discounted the Big Operators as they got a shifty look in their eyes when we gave them the spiel as quoth above.

One thing we have learned is to do one's homework and KNOW WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK AND WHAT DEMANDS TO MAKE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PROCESS.  If the company with which you're dealing gets evasive in the slightest as regards your requests and queries, they're not worth it.

One interesting fact: the property development rep at the estate in which we are building told us to NOT go with NBG.  If anything, we should go with the smaller firms and forgoe the Big Operators….

Hmmm…..good advice, we feel.

Fiona