Built for thousands of happy families.
Home Owner’s Guide
2016 e d i t i o n
The purpose of this booklet is twofold:
• As an explanation of the Choice Homes
(QLD) Pty Ltd Home Owners Warranty and
• To provide you with a guide on general
maintenance which should be undertaken
by you the home owner (or your property
manager) to preserve your investment as
well as the warranty.
Property maintenance is very important.
Your property was built to comply with strict
standards set in place by various local, state
and federal government agencies.
As with a new car, regular maintenance will
help to not only maintain the property value
but will also increase it considerably. Proper
care of your property does not take a lot
of time or effort, as long as you familiarise
yourself with this ‘Home Owners Guide’ and
use it to assist you to protect your investment.
Some items mentioned in this booklet will
only be applicable if they are included in your
‘Building Specifications’.
Your New Home By Choice HomesOnce again – thank you for selecting Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd.
Contents
Introduction 1
Home Owner’s Warranty 3
Practical Completion Inspection 3
6 Months Maintenance 3
Service Contract 3
Interior Maintenance 4
Bench Tops 4
White Goods/Stainless Steel Appliances 4
Tiles 4
Interior Plaster Walls 5
Painted Surfaces 5
Doors and Windows 5
Ceiling Joints and Nail Marks 5
Exterior Maintenance 7
Termite Control 7
Land 7
Landscaping 7
External Painted Surfaces 8
Garage Doors 8
Brickwork 8
Concrete 8
Roofing 9
Plumbing 10
Burst Pipes and Joint Leaks 10
Drainage 10
Blockages 10
Toilet Cisterns 10
Shower Compartment 11
Hot Water System 11
Water Hammer 11
Rainwater Tank and Pump 11
Electricity 12
Electricity 12
TV Reception 12
Telephone Line and Outlets 12
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CHOICE HOMES
Practical Completion Inspection
Your house is made up of hundreds
of components sourced from quality
manufacturers, suppliers and trades people.
Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd utilises an
independent building inspection carried out
prior to the Practical Completion Claim.
Minor adjustments and defects will be
attended to after a joint inspection of your
property by a Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd
representative and either yourself or your
agent. This inspection is very important.
Choice Homes will endeavour to rectify
relevant defects within two weeks, however
rectification of defects is not a precondition
to your obligation to pay the Practical
Completion invoice.
6 Months Maintenance
120 days after signing off your inspection,
you are entitled to a Maintenance
Inspection. You will find a Maintenance
Request Form in the Choice Homes
Handover Pack. Please complete and send
to Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd towards the
end of this period listing any maintenance
requirements. This service to you is free.
If an owner or their agent reports a
maintenance or warranty problem, which
turns out to be their responsibility, Choice
Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd reserves the right to
charge a service fee and cost of replacement
parts. Example: a domestic blockage in the
sewer line, an occupant not switching on the
stove isolator, faulty electrical appliances or
general occupant damage.
Service Contract
If you are a tenant renting this property,
please be aware that all maintenance
needs are to be directed to your Property
Manager listed below.
Home Owner’s Warranty
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Bench Tops
Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd uses high
quality laminate and stone bench tops.
Care should be taken not to use appliances
such as kettles and toasters directly over
joins in the beach tops, and pots, pans
and baking dishes should never be placed
directly onto the surface.
Ensure you clean any spills on or near the
joins immediately. Bench top surfaces
are not designed to be used as chopping
boards or ironing surfaces.
White Goods/Stainless Steel Appliances
The working surface of your stove and oven
are usually finished in glass and/or stainless
steel. To maintain the appearance of these
appliances, stains may be removed with hot
soapy water and a clean cloth prior to the
stains drying. For stubborn stains, place a hot
damp cloth on the surface for a few minutes.
There are a number products on the
market designed specifically for stainless
steel goods. Do not use gritty soaps or
abrasives, as these will leave dull patches
on the surface. Refer to the manufacturers
handbook for service or repair work. Contact
the manufacturer directly for warranty claims.
Note: If the stove does not work, check that the
isolator switch located near the stove is turned on and
the trip switch is in the ‘on’ position in the meter box.
Tiles
Tiles, particularly in damp areas such as
bathrooms, should be washed regularly
and the room ventilated to reduce the
likelihood of mold growth.
Tile chipping is not covered under warranty.
It must be noted that the grouting between
tiles will take approximately 12 months to
completely set. Powder residue from the
grout is easily removed by regular cleaning
and polishing with a dry soft cloth.
Interior Maintenance Interior Plaster Walls
Weather extremes, timber shrinkage, brickwork
expansion and contraction of the plaster itself
can contribute to hairline and minor cracks
in plaster joints and cornice joins. For these
reasons, it is not advisable to fill minor cracks if
any appear in the first 12 months.
However, if you wish to repair them, Gap
Filler (available at all hardware stores) can
be used by carefully filling the cracks and
then touching them up with paint to match
the wall colour. Excess paint used in your
property is usually left by the painters in the
garage or laundry cupboard.
Painted Surfaces
The highest quality paints available for
each surface have been used in your
property, however they are not designed
to be washed daily, as some may believe.
Paints labeled as washable simply means
that accidental surface marks can be
carefully cleaned off.
Paint manufacturers suggest this may be
achieved using warm soapy water and a
soft cotton cloth dabbed on the marks until
they are removed as wiping or scrubbing will
leave shiny patches on the surface. Chips
or grazes should be touched up with a small
fine brush with a small amount of paint.
Doors and Windows
Graphite lubricant or dry lube spray should
only be used to fix a squeaky door hinge –
never use oil-based lubricants as they will
attract dirt and dust.
Aluminum sliding doors and windows
should only be lubricated with dry lube
spray occasionally - more regularly on high
use doors.
Tracks should be regularly cleaned
removing dust and dirt to allow the rollers
to move freely. Never use harsh chemicals,
abrasive cleaners or scourers.
Note: the weep holes, located at the base of the
window tracks, must be kept clear to ensure no
water builds up in the tracks.
Ceiling Joints and Nail Marks
Modern designs use the beauty of the
appearance of flat surfaces to give space to
rooms, hence the use of seamless plaster
walls and ceilings. It must be remembered
that a completely flat surface is impossible
to achieve and the combination of materials
used for walls can add to this. Lighting
can also greatly contributed to this by the
placement of lighting close to surfaces and
also windows without blinds or curtains
throwing glancing or side light.
Do not store items in the roof cavity above
ceilings. This area is not designed for
storage. When installing heavy items, such
as gym equipment, ensure you locate a
suitable beam to ensure sound fixing.
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Termite Control
Your home has been treated in accordance
with Australian standards and local by-laws
to guard against “white ant” infestation.
This treatment is very effective, however
inspections every 12 months are a must
and necessary for warranties. Please read
the information supplied to you with your
construction contract in relation to this.
Note: if you are thinking of building extensions,
fences or retaining walls which will adjoin external
walls, or of moving earth against the building
(including garden beds, paving or concrete works),
consult a Certified Pest Controller first. Any
disturbance may void your Termite Warranty.
Land
The placement of the house slab has been
planned by an engineer to allow for the ground
to slope away from the slab. This is done
to prevent moisture building up under the
slab itself. The homeowner should not plant
gardens, shrubs or trees against the house
that may cause a change in the slab moisture.
Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd will not
cover structural slab damage as a result of
alterations made by the owner to the fall
of the land, including layers of pavers or
concrete. The natural ground underneath
must slope away from the building at all times.
Landscaping
Landscaping is usually undertaken by
Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd professional
contract landscapers in accordance with
local government requirements. Regular
mowing, watering, fertilizing and garden
mulching should keep your lawns and
gardens looking great for years to come.
Note: it is important that you never plant gardens,
shrubs, trees or place water features against the
house above the weep holes as this may cause
a change in the under slab moisture and could
encourage termite infestation. The natural ground
around the slab should slope away from the
building at all times where possible.
Exterior Maintenance
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CHOICE HOMES
External Painted Surfaces
External surfaces should be washed down
twice a year with water and a soft broom,
otherwise the build-up of dust and dirt on
the surfaces can cause pitting and peeling
of the paintwork.
When repainting, do not use dark colours on
external doors as the heat absorption could
cause the door to warp.
Garage Doors
Roller and panel lift doors are generally
maintenance free. If squeaking occurs,
wipe the rollers and track clean then apply
a silicon spray. If the problem persists,
contact the manufacturer. A service by
the supplier is required every two years to
maintain the warranty.
Brickwork
Bricks are used on exterior walls for a
number reasons, one of which is the
minimum maintenance required. The most
common problem with brickwork is the
appearance of salts and minerals on the
brick surface in periods of high humidity.
This is not a long-term or structural problem,
it is merely cosmetic. Simply use a wire
brush to remove the powder from the bricks.
Do not use water.
Concrete
Due to the nature of the material it is virtually
impossible for any builder to prevent minor
cracking in concrete. The slab in your home
has been designed by engineers to meet the
‘Building Code’ and Australian standards so
as to withstand anticipated pressures.
Cracking may result however from
uncontrollable conditions such as unequal
ground settlement, shrinkage and prolonged
periods of unseasonable weather. Hairline
cracking has no detrimental effect on the
structure of your home and Choice Homes
(QLD) Pty Ltd utilise the expertise of
qualified tilers who lay tiles on flexible glue to
safeguard any cracking of the tiles. However,
should you become concerned or the cracks
in the concrete are clearly wider than 3mm,
contact our maintenance department.
Roofing
The roofing material used on your home is
designed and installed to be maintenance
free, but it is extremely important to keep
gutters, valley boards and down pipes clear
of obstructions such as leaves, twigs and
balls as they may cause internal flooding.
Note: do not walk on the roof unless it is absolutely
necessary. People retrieving balls from roofs
and TV antenna installers are common causes of
leaking roofs. Any damage cause by walking on the
roof will void the warranty.
Cracked roof tiles are not covered by our
six-month warranty. Any internal damage
resulting from cracked roof tiles is not
covered by our six-month warranty. Hairline
cracking to the bedding of your ridge capping
and hips tiles is very common in new homes
due to the settling of the timber supports.
Regular maintenance to the ridge and hip
capping and pointing is your responsibility
after 180 days from Practical Completion.
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Burst Pipes and Joint Leaks
The main stop cock is located on the road side
of the water meter situated in the front corner
of your boundary. If you have a pipe leak, turn
the main water off immediately. If possible,
wrap bags or sacking around the pipe at
the leak and place containers underneath to
catch any drips. This will minimized any water
damage to walls and ceilings.
If the problem arises within the warranty
period, call Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd to
determine cause and liability. Note: ensure
the area around your water meter/stock
cock is kept clear of plants and soil build up
and do not mow directly over them.
Drainage
Keep lawn and garden storm water grates
clean and clear of leaves, soil and grass at
all times. Do not place any items over storm
water grates as it will restrict the drainage of
surface water, which could create flooding in
the yard and in extreme cases the house.
Blockages
All baths, basins, sinks and floor wastes
are fitted with a grill over them to stop
solids from entering and blocking the drains
however small solids such as vegetable
matter, hair and tea leaves can pass through
and also block the drain.
Note: do not empty teapots or fat down the sink
and always run hot water down the sink after
washing fatty utensils. If a blockage does occur, it
may be necessary to dismantle the drain below the
sink. This is not a warranty issue and thus would
incur costs to rectify.
Nappies, sanitary pads and toilet rim blocks
are some of the main causes of blockages
in the toilet systems. Again this is not a
warranty item and a call out will incur a
charge by the plumber.
Toilet Cisterns
If the cistern overflows, turn off the water at
the tap located behind the toilet and drain the
cistern. There is an adjustment screw in the
cistern that will lower the water level when
refilled. Ensure the float valve arm is free.
Plumbing
Shower Compartment
Glass shower screens are made to be
maintenance free, however they are not
designed to withstand direct contact with
hot water as the rapid expansion of the
glass can cause cracking.
Hot Water System
The hot water system installed in your
house will give many years of reliable
service. Any adjustments are best left to
the manufacturer. The overflow pipe over
the drain next to the system is designed
to relieve the pressure build up in the tank
and so will drip from time to time. However
it is advisable to check the pressure every
six months or so by opening the relief valve
on the side of the system until a constant
stream of water flows from it – if this flow
occurs in a manner of seconds the system
is working correctly. Caution: overflow
water is very hot.
Water Hammer
Water hammer is the thumping of pipes
when the water is flowing, not when the taps
are turned off. If the latter occurs, check that
the taps to the washing machines are turned
off and that all taps are turned off. Taps
turned off quickly may cause a pressure
thump, which can also loosen pipe clips and
damage the tap washer. If water hammer
does occur within the first six months,
contact the Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd
Maintenance department.
Rainwater Tank and Pump
Please refer to your warranty pack.
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CHOICE HOMES
Electricity
Circuit breakers and safety switches are
fitted in your meter box. If a breaker or
safety switch trips, do the following: turn off
all appliances. Reset the breaker or switch.
Turn on each appliance in turn to ascertain
which one is causing the problem. Do not
plug the suspected appliance in again but
have it serviced immediately by a qualified
electrician or service person.
If the breaker or safety switch continues
to trip during the six months maintenance
period contact the Choice Homes (QLD) Pty
Ltd maintenance department. Note: storm
damage of any kind is not covered under
maintenance or warranty.
TV Reception
TV reception may vary from site to site.
As per your Building Specification, Choice
Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd provides a TV antenna
and two outlets. If you experience poor
reception, please arrange to have a booster
installed by a reputable supplier.
Telephone Line and Outlets
As per your Building Specification, Choice
Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd provide a telephone
lead-in from the front boundary to your home
and two outlets. Please contact your preferred
retailed to arrange telephone connection.
Electricity Notes
Important Note
If you have an electrical, plumbing or structural problem, you must contact the Choice Homes (QLD) Pty Ltd maintenance department so we can establish responsibility and cause. Choice Homes cannot reimburse monies spend on other contractors you have engaged at your property. We must be given an opportunity to resolve an issue providing the house is still under warranty.
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CHOICE HOMES
44 The Esplanade, PO Box 396,
Paradise Point, Qld 4216
Phone: (07) 5501 3300
Fax: (07) 5501 3399
www.choicehomes.com.au
Master Builders Gold Coast
2014 Finalist
Master Builders Gold Coast2013 Winner
Housing Industry AssociationGold Coast2015 Winner
Housing Industry AssociationGold Coast
2015 Finalist
Gold Coast Business
Excellence 2015 Awards
Built for thousands of happy families.
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