McDonald Jones Homes Questions & Answers

we are building on a vacant block but does seem a little expensive, I would get a second opinion
Thanks

Hi Geoff, we also had worst experience from Fyshwick office in ACT

About a week for us.

Thanku

Glad to hear this.
Thanks for your reply.

Thanks for your quick response.

Sorry I am not sure what you are talking about and cannot comment on that

So that’s a yes.. ok thanks

Wotaj. Oke I am not sure what you mean by this “So it’s the reviews like Karen’s” I notice McDonald Jones have reached out to Karen all ready and I have no doubt Karen is a real genuine person who will quickly identify herself . But will you identify yourself to McDonald Jones ? I challenge you . Are you suggesting these clients, over 750 of them write nonsense reviews . How insulting to them . What do you mean Zero stars for transparency. Are you suggesting McDonald Jones is hiding something . Let me give you some facts published by Product Review on this site . When I built my home the Mc Jones sales person told me they build around 2000 homes per year . People have been commenting on this site for 8 yrs . In that time let’s assume this builder has built 15,000 homes .. or lets say they have had 30,000 customers (my wife and I are just two )
They have had
720 x 4 and 5 star comments
26 x One star comments (in 8 yrs 15,000 homes built 30,000 customers )
331 comments are re the pre construction process which no doubt will be added to as the build progresses
348 comments are mid or post construction comments
Wotaj. Oke Can you sensibly explain what your comment above means ?

Steve to be honest I don’t usually read your drivel... but your figures made me. From these 700+ reviews only 249 have a home

Percentages of pre construction (or in MJH case, cover up) reviews
Metricon 0.36%
Simonds 0.64%
GJ Gardner 0.8%

MJH 43% yes 43 percent!!!

I admit I was incredibly impressed by their pre construction process too... it turned to mud firstly when I signed a building contract without a final price. Just like Karen

Hi Thomas
After looking for a reputable builder myself now for a couple of months now. I fell in love with one of McDonald Jones display homes in Thornton and being the researcher I am, digging led me here. You and I are thinking the same Thomas.
Along with online research my sisters partner has a friend who is a site supervisor for McDonald Jones and I have been grilling him to no end. He has been quite up front with me which I appreciate but it has done nothing for my confidence in choosing them as my builder.
-site supervisors are not licenced builders
-site supervisors can be changed on your job without reason or notice
-tilers, plasters and painters are the cheapest they can find (cracks and poor workmanship *John P & tiling issues *Rebecca F both here in questions). Non local, non Australian, non qualified for the most part teams shipped from the nearest capital city
-the bare minimum is done to comply with regulations and often pictures are sent for sign off to their private certifier rather than the legal requirements of an on site inspection (hence the plumbing producing water 37 degrees as it’s not buried deep enough)
-compensation is offered first rather than a fix if you have defects
-he is trained to tell (bribe) clients who complain on here with he will fix it if the bad review is removed
-people in early stages are asked for reviews and staff who appear in those reviews are paid
I have seen many reviews disappear from here in the last few months and wondered why until I found my new friend

Took our relative 6 years to get the problems sorted with the build by MJH. 2 complaints to Fair Trading, & 2 personal registered letters to Bill McDonald and 1 on site visit by Bill McDonald who said "don't judge us on this judge us on how we fix it". Well the fix it took 6 years but am pleased to say it has now been fixed for 12 months with no further problems appearing - touch wood.

Thanks for the reply. I will keep this as a reference

Regardless of your (in inverted commas) answer...
Only 238 of 695 reviewers have a completed product to review?
You are a builder? Your job is to build homes?
Its lovely people say nice things about the process that leads them to the product eg. the completed home. But the fact remains only 1/3 of your reviewers have experienced this, and many of them dissatisfied. Hence the much much lower rating you had before you started flooding the pages with pre construction garbage.

My sources are just fine.

Simon 1 month ago - 2 reviews. 1 pre construction & 1 post construction. 5 months and 23 days apart

Kelly - 6/5 & 10/8
Two reviews of the same build

Mary - 21/9/17 & 22/8
Two reviews of the same build

More I have in my back pocket, including one who has written 3 reviews on the same build, 2 of them being identical. As well as many others that have disappeared today, I assume because of my reports. As of this morning the pre/mid construction count was 457 and is now only 373. Fancy that!

Im not the only one smelling this rat MJH

Gary Can you please refrain from making childish unnecessary snide jibes about this particular builder . You are becoming boring and most unentertaining . I have built a home with this company and have been very happy with their process and finished product . I am also interested in building a second home hence my interest in this excellent web site . I for one are offended what you write and I suspect many other people on this site who seem 5 star happy dealing with McDonald Jones are too . I suspect you have never built a home considering some of the comments you make and youre not understanding the important sometimes stressful journey we enter into . For most of us this is a journey . The pre built section can be as long as the build section and longer Im sure in some instances. Believe or not its success and ease is as important to most of us as the build itself . Most of us make our initial comments in the pre build as we did via my wifes blog. And we were very proud to do so and share our experiences with others in the process or those contemplating going into the Mc Jones system. There seems to be strong support from others on this site with a similar position.
Gary I am bored with you . I suspect you are a competitor builder or an aggrieved sub-contractor tradie. Take them on in the market place if you are a competitor which you appear to be . Or if you are a tradie and not good enough to work for them find someone else to work for . You are beginning to make yourself look like a fool. Stop hiding behind some anonymous pseudonym. Please leave, go away and get a real job my friend .

My heart goes out to you Wotaj. Sorry Mate

Wotaj Hi
It looks as though when I tried messaging you on here you’ve been banished from the site.
If you read this I’d like you to sign up and contact me please about who you’ve chosen to build with
Thank you

a date?

Do your research... save time by skipping MJH

Todays count is 5 reviews from 20 that have a home to review

I can probably help you - I have done a great review after our 1 year process of plans and contract and council approval - now I have just tried to do another as we are at week 11 of our build and its going fantastic - but product review does not let you post another review - I can only update my previous review.. which I have done - so it still has it listed as pre- construction... maybe thats the reason..

sorry i cant help you, i dont know

Id be more worried about who lays them

Look at Rebeccas tiling job -_-

Hi Amanda. I’m not sure of the Hunter area. My build was in Leppington NSW.

Hi Amanda. I would not recommend McDonald Jones to my worst enemy.
My review was removed
My review read as follows:
Wish we hadnt chosen a builder with a reputation like McDonald Jones. All we have had since we first engaged them are problems and price increases.i wouldnt recommend them to my worst enemy.
I find it remarkable that a company with such a big name are such big flops
Sort the reviews by most liked to see the big picture, and beware

I cant believe you. I have heard from others here with the same experience.
I dont blame your dodgy-ness. It was always there right under my nose. I blame my own stupidity for choosing McDonald Jones to build my home. I shouldve researched and read between the lines