09/02/2020
DISHONEST BUILDERS
New homeowners are increasingly being run down by dishonest builders.
Some builders insist on a large deposit before building, especially from clients living in cities in other provinces.
A homeowner here in Hopefield has already fully paid a builder to build his house, to his regret. I sub-contract built the house from November last year, when suddenly I got less than requested amount last week. I left the job because no one was going to work for free. The homeowner is still trying to locate the builder, but the builder's phone stays off or he doesn't answer.
EXTRA DEPOSITS
Builders' excuse is usually, the purchase of building materials and other unforeseen expenses.
Homeowners: it's saver to pay the material's fees directly to the supplier.. The supplier will be able to tell you exactly what fees are left after each purchase. It is the builder's duty to make sure the supplier stays at the quotation prices, and the right material is delivered.
As a builder, I happened to work every time since 1999 for people who used Prinro Vredenburg to pay their material fees. These were new home owners from as far away as Kempton Park and Cape Town. Currently, I work for a new home owner who works in Tonga, and he uses Prinro Velddrif.
(I'm not trying to promote the provider, I'm just telling the facts)
If you hire a builder, make sure you contact enough previous homeowners for whom the builder worked. Make sure by visiting the site where the builder worked..I know of cases where friends are responsible for builders' references. (then the friend never build even a stoop)
Lastly: a crook builder comes in any color .... white, black or brown.
