I am wondering if you are able to help with an enquiry about obtaining quotes and quality control for a building repairs project that I am undertaking. I am an owner occupier of a unit in a strata...
I am wondering if you are able to help with an enquiry about obtaining quotes and quality control for a building repairs project that I am undertaking. I am an owner occupier of a unit in a strata block of four units built in approx 1930. The building, according to our insurance assessors, was in reasonably good condition in 2004, and had some cracking commensurate with its age and location, but which gave no cause for concern. The neighboring property was purchased by developers and the existing large family home was demolished to make way for a three story unit development which involved excavation for an underground car park. This also required extensive dewatering works to be done. In the course of the excavation our building suffered extensive cracking and movement with most of the damage being sustained by the two units adjoining the new development.We were advised by our insurers that the damage clearly appeared to be caused by the development, but that we should pursue negotiations with the developers to seek compensation for repairs. Whilst denying responsibility for the damage, the developers eventually offered to repair the damage themselves, but required the Owners Corporation of our building to sign a Deed of Release which, among other things, prohibited the Owners Corporation from having any further recourse to the developers or their contractors once repairs were completed. In the opinion of the Owners Corp, this Deed of Release did not allow us to have any quality control of the repair works, and so we did not sign it. At this stage we have a verbal agreement from the developer that they are willing to come to a financial settlement with us for the work that needs to be done. Should we go ahead with this there would be no need for the Deed of Release as we would be entering into a normal Builders Contract with the contractor, and, should the work be unsatisfactory, we would be dealing with that builder and not the developer. We have a scope of work that has been identified and agreed upon by both parties, in addition to dilapidation reports and engineering reports from both sides that have been made over the past four years. The developer has suggested that I should now go ahead and obtain independent quotations from builders for the repairs. They have also said that they have their own quotation which they have already obtained. We understand that the developer may have access to builders who can quote to them at well below market rate. We have no real issue with entering into a contract with the developers preferred builder, but are concerned that we may be left with an insufficient financial settlement should the work prove to be unsatisfactory or incomplete - in short, if the developers builder fail to complete the scope of work that has been identified. Consequently we have asked that the developers be prepared to commit to a financial settlement that allows for a market rate quotation, which may or may not be used. At this point they seem willing to do that and I am beginning the process of obtaining these quotes.
Ideally, what I am looking for is some assistance or advice in obtaining the quotes and ensuring that the work is properly supervised and quality controlled. Is this something that your organisation could help with?
