Just a few complaints that we received from people looking for help - As can be seen there are no easy solutions to these disasters.

Example 1 of - “Building the cheap way, and not checking who you appoint as the contractor for your project ” - A disaster in progress!

Very often one tends to look at the quotes and think that they are way beyond your price expectations, and quite often one may decide to rather go the “do it yourself” or "Cheaper Route" without knowing anything about the contractor you award the contract to. Read the article on "Appointing of a contractor"  for more information.

The client had quotes ranging from between R 150,000.00 to R 300,000.00. He decided to go for the cheaper quote!

Although he had no experience in the building industry, he still decided to be “clever” - R 180,000.00 later (already over the initial quote of R 150 000) – and definitely not even R 100,000.00 worth of work done……and this is the outcome.

Quotes received to save the house, now range between R 325,000.00 and R 450,000.00 and the owner doesn't have the money to do this. He will each and every month be paying his bankers for a house that he can not even live in.

Thus the day the client moves in, his initial cost of R 300,000.00 contract would have cost him R 525,000.00 - If he can raise the money that is!

The arches are not same height and the arches differ in shape. The Entire roof will have to come down - timber discarded and redone. The job is not even finished, and already the plaster is falling off the walls. 2nd Hand Materials used? Part of the wall has already fallen out. The wall plate is not done correctly on top of the walls for securing the roof.

The lintel is not build in properly, it is actually falling out, and the wall is cracked. Hand made trusses with Black cross timber? It costs to remove, redo and supply new. All the Brass fittings on the windows have been broken off.

Please also read the article "Appointing of a contractor"

Example 2 of - "Appointing a contractor and paying him upfront for work not yet done, and no contract in place" - a financial  & building disaster!

The client was quoted R116 000 for this project, and after paying the contractor a redicilous sum of R 100 000 upfront, this is what he was left with.

The value of the additions done amounts to ± R 32 000, and the contractor simply states he is bankrupt, and he will not be able to finish the job. The home-owner lost a tremendous amount of money and no reputable builder wants to touch something like this, as nobody knows the quality of materials used, and if the foundations of the building was properly done.

The additions still need to be plastered, flooring still needs to be done and a "slab" roof still has to be constructed. In the meantime the owner still has to live in the house and make plans to fix this disaster.