Greatworth Properties

Didi · 30th July 2007, 20:47

We moved into a new home on 12th April this year and paid £245,000 for it. Like many of you who have posted we have had so so many problems. The stress of this is making me ill and I have taken a bit of time off work to try to chill out a bit.
We have along with 5 other families moved onto a building site. Had our home been the Dream Home that we thought we were buying we could have coped with the dust, noise and constant heavy plant vehicles roaring up and down our main drive to the site.
Everything that we need doing has taken constant pressure on them to do anything. The site managers are arrogant and obnoxious, in fact absolutely useless. They are not interested in dealing with the snagging issues and seem to avoid us. It is not only our house but the other 4 properties have the same difficulties.
One of the outstanding snags is that the ground level to the front of the property was above the damp proof course and partially occluded the air vent. The builders response to this was to peal back a couple of square foot of turf, remove some earth, replace the turf. It has left a big dip in the grass which banks up now as it adjoins next door and is truly an eyesore and not acceptable at all. A Director is coming out to see us on Thursday to try to resolve the issues but if we don't get anywhere... please can anyone tell us what to do next.

We have thought about contacting the press but have held off for the moment. Has anyone else done this?

Tony · 31st July 2007, 10:40

It is comon for them to send a Director - they will be charming, will promise the earth and may deliver little. This is not always the case though.

As Colin suggested in a previous post, it is good to have a witness and make sure you confirm what was promised in writing. i.e. send a letter to her/him by registered post stating what was agreed.

Lot's of people go to the press, or just name and shame here. The developers do monitor this forum!

As there are a number of houses you could get a good discount from a reputable snagging company such as www.newbuildinspections.com

Good luck

Tony

Didi · 1st August 2007, 17:10

Thanks for your reply.
We await tomorrow to see what else happens but as I see from many posts on this forum there seems to be lovely get out phrases ' It is considered acceptable' 'It is considered to be of a satisfactory standard' and so on. I bet we hear one of those phrases.
Just like the Director from West Country Fires last week was sent to report on our twisted fire back. He shook our hands with the limpest handshake I have ever felt and his report was even weaker. Guess what...the report said it is satisfactory. Well he would say that wouldn't he? His company put the Fireplace in for goodness sake.
:evil:
Or maybe we will hear something a little less flowery...
One site manager here couldn't take the criticism and couldn't make up any more excuses and said to one of the other neighbours 'I don't have to f****** take this sh**'and stormed out the house. How professional?
:unsure:
I will update here when we have got tomorrow out of the way. When we eventually get to see a Director, like you said Tony they turn up charming etc or so we hope... one never knows with Greatworth!.

Didi · 2nd August 2007, 17:30

Well I am very upset but not surprised by the outcome of todays visit from one of Greatworths Directors.
As regards to the outstanding snagging issues he had 'closed the book' on the issue about the twisted fire back. Though we did not know this before his visit. And in his loud assertive manner he would not be drawn into any further discussion about this. Any ideas as to what we can do?:angry:

The back lawn doesn't have top soil under it because there is a tree in a neighbouring garden with a TPO and they couldn't dig near it and therefore couldn't put down top soil before turfing. That is why the turf is so 'uneven'. We smell something with that explanation like Bull **** but hey...it is considered satsifactory. The patches of turf missing are from where he has observed our 'kiddy winkles' (his words) playing. What he must realise is that the other 3 properties adjacent that do NOT have a tree in a neighboring garden with a TPO have the same poor standard of turfing and no top soil undermeath the turf.
The other issues ie the cracks in the render will be done. The cracks in the stone work to the front of the house will be redone to match the other cement and my goodness he will even sort out the pit they dug to lower the ground level so it didn't occlude the air brick. To what standards these issues will be resolved is any ones guess.

So why are we so upset if they are going to put some of these issues right?

Its because we feel that we have greatly compromised already on the standards of the finish in the property because we have had enough and just want to try and live our lives in what should have been our dream home.
The outstanding issues were the ones that we thought were the most important that are expensive or vital things to put right. We feel they have won and we feel defeated.
The fireplace is worth £500 plus as we paid extra to have the lime stone surround. It is spoiled by the twisted fire back and makes the fire place look odd and out of line. When asked if he would be happy with that standard of that finish in his home he said 'I don't have to answer that question'. Says it all really.
This issue and the others we chose not to pursue are very poor standards of workmanship and it makes us feel so despondent. It seems to be a common scenario for people who buy new houses off Developers who ride rough shod over mugs like us who pay extortionate amounts of money for what we think will be the house of our dreams. This is so very wrong. :evil:
So where to now. Has anyone got any ideas or what are are rights now that this has happened.

Didi · 9th August 2007, 20:28

I was hoping for some advice but I think the reply is that the silence here is because there is nowhere else to go from here now. I think we are going to be stuck with the way things are here.

Shame on these developers. I will never recommend (not so )Greatworth Properties to any one and nor will our neighbours as they are in the same boat.
:evil:

Tony · 9th August 2007, 23:30

Hi Didi,

Sorry been on holiday in sunny Wales.

With regards to the fireplace you could go down the small claims route assuming costs are less than £5000.

Get a report and a quote for a replacement/remedial work from an alternative supplier. Tell the supplier what the situation is, so that everything is open. Present the quote and the report to the developer and tell them that you are going to claim the money back via the small claims court unless it is put right to your satisfaction.

I hope this helps

Tony

Didi · 10th August 2007, 12:55

Thank you Tony. Hope you're holiday was a good one for you.
I have been in contact with Premier Builders with whom Greatworth have used for our guarantee. They have advised me to have a look at the technical guidelines on their website. I just need time to look at this now:unsure:
Not sure if the standards will be the same as NHBC !
I was also advised to speak to our local authority to see if they had input re standards etc.

I notice that re our fireplace that West Country Fires are not members of the National Fireplace Assoc. So I will get a local reputable one who is a member of NFA to come and have a look. Thank you again.
Diane

Didi · 6th November 2007, 00:15

Hi,
Been a while since I posted. However we have no good news to report even after a time lapse.
I've had to step back and let my partner deal with this from now on.The situation made me ill because of the stress.

We now have a website
[url]http://www.notsogreatworth.co.uk/
It has been a last resort because we fear from hearing stories from previous projects nearby that we will never get anything resolved with Greatworth. Everyone says the same thing... the after sales service is non existent and nothing gets done.:evil:
If anyone is thinking of buying the remaining properties on our development in Yeovil or the new flats they plan to start building or the remaining exclusive houses in a near by town (Wincanton)please do your homework. Our experiences are not unique to us

Didi · 6th November 2007, 00:16

Hi,
Been a while since I posted. However we have no good news to report even after a time lapse.
I've had to step back and let my partner deal with this from now on.The situation made me ill because of the stress.

We now have a website
[url]http://www.notsogreatworth.co.uk/
It has been a last resort because we fear from hearing stories from previous projects nearby that we will never get anything resolved with Greatworth. Everyone says the same thing... the after sales service is non existent and nothing gets done.:evil:
If anyone is thinking of buying the remaining properties on our development in Yeovil or the new flats they plan to start building or the remaining exclusive houses in a near by town (Wincanton)please do your homework. Our experiences are not unique to us

Didi · 6th November 2007, 00:17

Hi,
Been a while since I posted. However we have no good news to report even after a time lapse.
I've had to step back and let my partner deal with this from now on.The situation made me ill because of the stress.

We now have a website
[url]http://www.notsogreatworth.co.uk/
It has been a last resort because we fear from hearing stories from previous projects nearby that we will never get anything resolved with Greatworth. Everyone says the same thing... the after sales service is non existent and nothing gets done.:evil:
If anyone is thinking of buying the remaining properties on our development in Yeovil or the new flats they plan to start building or the remaining exclusive houses in a near by town (Wincanton)please do your homework. Our experiences are not unique to us