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If anyone is looking to build with Ecosmart Homes, DO NOT DO IT

Read this thread as context for better builder due diligence. Original historical wording is preserved and comments are not independently verified unless labelled.

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Historical comments are preserved for context with original wording where possible. They are not independently verified unless labelled, and may not reflect current circumstances. Use them alongside public records, third-party review sources, contract checks, and a direct response from the builder.

danielle

If anyone is looking to build with Ecosmart Homes, DO NOT DO IT. We were promised a 6 month turn around in 2020. Its now two years on and no house. They changed trades multiple times due to some walking off site as they werent paying the trades. They lied to use on completion stages saying a stage was complete and to pay them yet when we went out to visit the home to check as we were exited, we learn it is not complete at all. They have installed the wrong tiles, vanities and installed damaged things like doors that are broken. They installed upside down power points, all the light swtiches are crooked (yes easy fix but makes you wonder who they are using to do this!) We were luckily on a fixed price contract but they still emailed us a threat that if we didnt give them another 30k our build would be more delayed. Countless laywer fees and financial strain over the last two years paying mortgage and rent, now living in an awful home situation due to these people and there is still no end in site. they nearly never respond to emails calls or texts and when they do we get fake dates and told “trust the process, we are professionals” i know this isnt as bad as some people on here but i am at a loss and have no idea what to do about this situation
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iCowboy

Horrible. Try South African tradesman as their expectations meet reality. I don’t bother with irrationally confident tradesman from learned experience.
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Chris C

Hi Danielle, Apologies if you think it’s too late to say this. But it may avoid others getting into the same situation. The NZ Building Regs (I believe from 2014) specify certain minimum requirements for contracts worth more than $30K. So I assume that’s just about every house build contract currently operating. Among other things they are required to state the expected start and completion dates, and how to deal with any delays (it says, for example, delays as a result of ‘force majeure’ events, which implies problems genuinely outside the builders control, not just because the builder has gone to sleep on the job). I assume if your Contract does not cover these, the builder is already in breach of the regulations. However, I admit these are slightly vague requirements, and open to some argument about interpretation. But they are enough to remind any decent lawyer, that they need to be expanded and made clear enough, to minimise any later disputes about interpretation. Either by using the lawyer’s own wording, or if they have any common sense, using one of the several quite adequate standard contract forms already available. So, judging by what you say, you should now be in a position to terminate this Contract, and if it were worded correctly send a bill, or deduct from any payments due, the value of Liquidated Damages which you have suffered (to cover rent etc). I guess from your mention of ‘lawyers fees’, you got a lawyer involved after problems started arising. So it might be worth asking about whether your Contract complies with the Building Regs, and if not what recourse you have on that. But if the same lawyer was involved in writing the Contract, and yet you’re still in this mess, if it were me I would get a new lawyer immediately. And get him/her to communicate with the builder. A letter from a lawyer often produces results that an email from you does not. Good luck.
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