We're building with Metricon - they have some really nice designs. It came down to either a Metricon or a Porter Davis house for us, but in the end we went with Metricon (just because the layout was a bit better). So far so good, although they haven't put down a single brick yet so can't say too much!!
We looked at lots of display homes but to get the house exactly as it was displayed you were looking at around $40k plus on top. We ended up purchasing a display home and got all the furniture including home theatre set up. Ours was a simonds home and I cannot fault them at all. When you buy an ex display house you know that everything is top quality, the paint is washable, the carpets are heavy duty and you even have the landscaping done.
Having looked at some display homes myself recently, Metricon are one of the very reputable builders, they have lovely designs, and also their guarantee is one of the best, much longer. Check out their website.
cheers
Olly
Porter Davis has one problem. When you find some issues are wrong, they always say, ok, we fix. But close to the end they only fix some small issues, hard issues, they try to find vary excuse. The quality looks not same as previous Porter David. May company becomes big, all become to this.
We visited display centres at Lyndhurst (Marriott Waters), and another place at Pearcedale ? i think, we looked at Simmonds, Henley, Porter Davis, Metricon and other smaller builders.
We were impressed by the amount of space these houses could offer, even the so called small one's !!!
After we enquired we too were shocked at what wasn't included, however, if your not too picky and go for the 'builder's choice' the cost can be kept down to a minimum, and at the end of the day the price can be a big deciding factor. However, choosing how many bedrooms you should have, does it come with a rumpus or a home theatre, or an outside room was a bit like being in a sweetie shop for us and I must admit the 'oohhss and aahhhss' came thick and fast. Also knowing that you can purchase a house to be built on a piece of land of your choosing is great.
The only downside we could see is that most houses on new estates are built so close to the neighbours you could touch their house over your fence, which didn't seem too appealing.
All I can say is wherever your going to live check out as many display villages and builders as you can, they can look similar but can be very different underneath.
Helenx.
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hi
ive been round the porter davis homes and i think they are fab, also going round the henley homes at caroline spring this sunday as the double storeys look great there.
ive heard alot of bad stuff of people about metricon. my husband says were not going near them as there like barrets in england.
i like the metricon homes though, every one has diffrent veiws though.
I think everyone has to go around the Display Villages when they get there, my favourite display house as to be the Carlisle Homes Atlantique with the automated home theatre room and the twinkling ceiling. We ended up purchasing a double storey Simmonds Ex display house after they had finished using it, we got all the furniture included, even the props and the home theatre room stuff, it saved us thousands. Unfortunately, it is hard to keep it in display condition with the boys and animals running around, lol.
If people can afford I recommend purchasing the ex displays as everything is top quality, the paint is washable, the carpets are hardwaring, you have a landscaped garden, high ceilings etc and if your lucky like we were you could get all the furniture thrown in.
There are lots of display villages around, there are two in Lyndhurst one on Marriott Waters and one on The Rise.
