Best builders in Adelaide: find options near you

We are currently in the selection process stage of our building journey with Dechellis and have been really happy so far. From the moment we walked into the display home at Old Reynella we were blown away by the quality and finish of the home and we knew we had found a plan we loved and the builder to do it. Our consultant, David, has been amazing and has helped us customise one of the plans to fit our block and suit our family’s needs. We love what we have designed.

The selection process so far has been excellent. We have really enjoyed the process Dechellis use where you go to each individual supplier to make your selection choices. Everyone we have dealt with has been so helpful and provided a high level of customer service. We visited many of the suppliers multiple times prior to our appointments so felt really prepared when going to our selection appointments.

We are so excited to move on to the next part of the process of finalising all our choices at our final meeting and can’t wait to see our beautiful home come to life. We genuinely are happy to recommend Dechellis Homes to anyone looking to build their home. Thank you.

We’re currently at the selections stage with Dechellis, and the experience so far has been fantastic. The team has been professional, responsive, and incredibly helpful in guiding us through the process. They’ve made the process feel seamless and exciting. We really appreciate their attention to detail and willingness to answer all our questions. Can’t wait to see everything come together!

Dechellis have amazing display homes, and we found one that fits our block. The display home provided us with a great range of finishes to model, and we were also able to customise rooms to our preference. The whole experience was great, and we’re excited to see the final result after construction.

We are currently approaching the final plan sign-off stage with Dechellis Homes and we couldn’t be happier with the journey so far.

We have had the absolute pleasure of working with Julian who has been an absolute standout – professional, responsive, and incredibly patient throughout the process – always available to answer our many questions (and there were a lot!) making what could have been a stressful process feel calm and enjoyable!! His attention to detail, clear communication, and genuine care really stood out against the rest.

The broader Dechellis team has also been excellent during the selections process – well organised, transparent and tailored to our needs.

We highly recommend Dechellis Homes to anyone starting their home-building journey.

Thank you so much to the Dechellis Team. The process has been long (through council) and Dechellis were so attentive and empathetic to our situation. We are now at construction stage and the selections process has been so thorough and clearly thought out. We look forward to moving into our beautiful new home in 2026.

We have had a good experience with Dechellis Homes so far, our consultant David was very helpful and answered our several questions and explained how the entire construction process would flow.
At the selections, Tamika was well organised and helped us breeze through it.
We were very impressed by their display homes and it gives us confidence that our new home will be just as good.

The quality and design of the Dechellis display homes are a real standout as well as our Sales Consultant Etienne. He took the time to explain everything and help us to come up with a customized design that we are very happy with. We could not recommend him more highly. Chloe from our final selection has been fantastic as well. Nothing is too hard and they are very accommodating and understanding.

Scott and his team has been very helpful and gave us a lot of suggestions and advices since the day we embarked on our building journey, slightly more than a year ago.
The entire build process has been transparent and the communications was fantastic. As the site was just 2 blocks away from my home, we had regular updates and they are very accommodating to minor changes along the build.
They may not be the cheapest, but am sure the quality and service provided is amongst the best, which we did not regret at any point of time to have chosen and entrusted them to build our dream home.

We built our home with HBC in late 2018. We are extremely happy with the end product, it was delivered on time, exactly on budget and we feel like we got even more than we expected. The owner and office staff are very friendly and approachable and made us feel like we were their most important build, even though we knew they had many bigger projects on the go at the same time. The foreman for our build, Aman, was absolutely fantastic, he had great advice, great attention to detail and fantastic communication, even our neighbour (also building at the time) had spoken with our foreman more than the one building their house! They were very transparent and allowed us to organise our own upgrades through their suppliers and pay the supplier direct, without taking a builder’s fee. We noticed small things during the build that we had changed our minds about or hadn’t thought of, like adding a niche above our bath that we expected to pay for but they were able to add it in at no extra charge. We would definitely recommend HBC to anyone building a new home, especially if you want personalised service and high attention to detail.

HBC is a very professional yet friendly builder. My experience with Scott is exceptional. Scott has great experience in building, great attention to details, a problem solver, and always find ways to cost effective for customer. During the process of the design, he proposed a cost effective design for my 3meter slope land and he took time to explain to me patiently on the site land. Thereafter he continued to spent many hours with me to optimise the design. His action is beyond a builder’s responsibility. Always prompt communication from HBC. I would highly recommend building with Scott and his team at HBC.

We couldn’t be more happy with the service, professionalism and guidance We received from HBC Homes. Previously HBC Homes have built for our members of our family therefore we were happy to pass on our dream house to be built by HBC Homes. From beginning to end the staff were approachable, nothing was too much trouble and no question of mine was too stupid. I trusted their expertise and respected their opinions. We highly recommend it to any who wants to build their dream house. Thank you HBC Team

HBC homes Great experience, from initial custom design (thanks Vani), all the way to the finished product. We received a high-end product without being charged a high-end price. Special mention to Scott who was our site manager – incredible service from beginning to end – nothing was too hard or a hassle, and he was always prompt in responding to calls or messages along the process. We would happily recommend the HBC team and would not hesitate to build with them again in the future.

We moved into our custom build home last year and we are in love with our final product. The team at HBC homes were super friendly and lovely throughout the process. We love that we were able to be involved in the design process and making the house our home. We couldn’t recommend HBC homes enough and are thankful that they deliver our home so perfectly l.

thank you Team.

From start to finish very impressed with HBC Constructions.

From the design to the build we have been very happy.
Very professional and were easy to communicate throughout the process.
Finished product met all requirements with great quality! We love our family home.

Definitely recommend to anyone looking at designing/ building their home 🙂

We are really satisfied with the build. Seeing all our ideas come to life is such an amazing feeling! The build only took 10 months but originally we were told 12 months. We got so many free upgrades from our build. The most amazing thing we got was a new fridge! It has an ice maker and a water filter. After building with them, now I know why they are number 1 in South Australia. Building your dream house doesn’t need to cost much. Because Hickinbotham homes can make it happen at a lower price compared to other builders. Once again thanks for building our dream home…..

UPDATE 08.04.25 TWO STEPS BACKWARDS. DISAPPOINTING EXPERIENCE:
Our pre-handover inspection was scheduled three weeks ago for April the 8th, so you would assume evrything is ready, and while we understand that minor defects and issues are typically identified during such inspections, the situation today was far from satisfactory. The house was not ready for a pre-handover inspection. In addition to the usual defects in paintwork and finishing details, the main issues we encountered were as follows:

None of the silicone was applied around the house at all, the supervisor informed he was told the job was going to be done but he found out in the morning that it was not the case.

The kitchen sink was missing a connected drainpipe. Basic stuff. Cannot test it

The sliding door in the living area lacked the top of the frame you can see the timber frame.

The ensuite bathtub did not have water taps installed. Useless bathtub

Most concerning, the porch columns were misaligned, with the right column positioned almost half an inch further back than the left one. This gap is unsightly and does not meet quality standards. No effort was made to rectify or at least make this defect presentable. This issue was noticeable from the completion of the brickwork, yet it was never addressed. Supervisor explained that he was unaware of the problem, but as the supervisor, it should have been evident during his visits, also told us they delivery a lot of houses with the same problem and no one complaint about it. I do not belive it.
Summarizing we waste our time, taking time off from work to inspect a hous that was not ready.
Finally and bestvof all in the afternoon we got the invoice for the final payment as the house was ready according to them.
Poor customer service, no one has contacted yet. Some photos attached to verify what I am talking about.

UPDATE 11.03.25: Customer care contacted me by phone and email couple of days after my initial review, tried to clarify the timeline, some of it does not make sens to me yet, however they came out with an action plan to try to tackle the delayed works, with a potential handover date of June rather than august, it does not look as a massive improvement having just painting and tili g to be done, however I drove pass by the house this weekend and I could evidence that painting has been started, some layers still to be done, and also can see tiling started up already too main areas almost done, wet areas to be done, so it is a massive adavnce since they came with the action plan so hopefully we potentially will see these works completely done by the end of the month or early April and hopefully an even earlier handover date. Thanks to Cassie and Paige for contacting me and following up on my case.
I’m hoping to write another update soon with a final outcome.

DO NOT GO WITH THEM if you would like to have your house built in a reasonable amount of time my best advice at this point is do not go with Hickinbotham for any reason, they are wonderful in the early stages but once you reach a certain stage in the building process it all goes downhill, in my case all that is left is to lay the tiles and paint the house, the pallet of tiles was received at the end of December and they are still sitting in the garage waiting to be laid, and yet they are telling me the delivery date is August, 95% of the contract has already been paid on which interest is obviously being paid, 90% of the house was completed from August to December, and yet they are telling me there is still 8 months left in the process it is ridiculous. Absolutely no communication from the site supervisor. save yourself a headache, build with someone who guarantees less than 32 weeks completion time, or at least covers your rental costs if they don’t deliver the house in a reasonable time, just do it with Hickinbotham. All the respond I got is an email saying they will review the issues reported.

The Hickinbotham team were fantastic to work with. We purchased a turnkey home that left us very satisfied both in terms of build quality and time. Our house is perfect for our growing family and we cannot wait to add our own touches. Atticus was very prompt with his emails and time frames and we couldn’t recommend him enough for future clients.

I wish I never built with Hickinbotham. It was the longest nightmare that I was in (2021-2024). The amount of defects was so hard to keep up with. They did not rectify the defects when the framing was out, they continued building when it was clearly stated to not continue with the build. After handover the house was in shambles, grey paint splattered over my white ceilings and frames, all the door handles scratched, alfresco sliding doors were flipped inside out and the film got scratched. Was told they would flip them but the permanent damage would still be there. After having to get professionals out to fight for me, they finally replaced them. My sister got electrocuted from a live wire EXPOSED. The wire was shoved in my kitchen drawer and was only millimeters away from creating a house fire. I had to get an electrician out ASAP to fix it. Glass was scratched, walls were wonky, painting was awful, glue and cement splattered on floors/tiles for handover. They said they would come clean it up but never did. The photos speak for themselves. All these photos were after handover. It took 6 months to come fix all the hinges on the front door and they never fixed it properly anyway. I’ve only attached a few photos of many that I have. Please don’t make the same mistake that I made.

From start to finish, my experience with Atticus and the Hickinbotham team was outstanding. Their reliability and transparency throughout the entire process provided a strong sense of confidence and trust. Communication was consistent and clear at every stage, ensuring that I was well-informed and reassured along the way. Most importantly, the final product delivered was exactly as promised—an exceptional, high-quality home. I highly recommend Hickinbotham to anyone seeking a reputable builder committed to high standards.

We recently built with Hickinbotham and we would 100% do it again. From start to finish the process was made super easy and everyone communicated really well. Whenever we had a question either in person, on the phone or by email we always got a reply the same day. Everyone was super helpful, kind and lovely. A special shoutout to our consultant Josh he was absolutely amazing, he was great at taking his time to go through everything and always ready to answer any questions we may have had. I would 100% recommend Hickinbotham.

Just finished building with Hickinbotham, the process was easy and there was lots of communication. The house is amazing, and everything we wanted it to be. They did an amazing job. Will be building through them again

We recently completed building our home with Regent Homes, and the entire journey has been really memorable for us. From the very first interaction to the final handover, they made the experience seamless. In the end, we have a beautiful home with excellent build quality, delivered on time and well worth the money we spent.

Our initial conversations with Tina led us into our decision to choose Regent Homes. Many thanks to Tina, Clint, and Scott for your patience, and for helping to put together our ideas into the custom home plan.

The selections process, one of the most overwhelming stages, was made effortless by Lydia, our interior designer. Most of the vendors (except Packers for wardrobes) offered great standard inclusions, so we only needed minimal upgrades. Thank you, Lydia, for guiding us through the key selections and helping us make thoughtful choices. Your support truly meant a lot.

At the construction stage, we were fortunate to have Lee Reynolds as our site supervisor and building manager. From the very beginning, his genuine care, dedication and honest approach gave us the confidence that our home was in the right hands. Thanks Lee, for always being responsive to our questions, for giving us accurate status on where things were at every stage and for taking care of every detail as if it were your own home. It was always a pleasure to meet you onsite.
We’re genuinely grateful to Regent Homes for assigning Lee to our build—he played a key role in making this a positive and stress-free experience.

In summary, we are absolutely satisfied with the overall journey. Regent Homes exceeded our expectations, and we wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone seeking a high-quality, seamless building experience.

We have been so happy with Regent Homes. They actually stuck to the time frames promised. Every stage of the build was done to a high standard (as confirmed by people in the industry who know what the standard should be). They were approachable, quick to respond to any questions and issues. They showed flexibility, and gave us time and attention regardless of how many projects were on the go. They have an excellent, long-standing reputation in the state, known for their high spec finishes and quality workmanship. In an industry that is really under pressure at the moment, Regent Homes shone!

We recently completed our home build with Regent Homes, and the entire experience exceeded our expectations from start to finish.

The build was completed on time, the quality is exceptional, and the attention to detail throughout the home is something we truly appreciate. Every aspect, from the finishes to the layout, has been delivered with care and precision.

But what really made this journey stand out was the incredible work of our Site Manager, Lee Reynolds. Lee was simply outstanding. His communication was absolutely on point—timely, clear, and honest. You always knew where things were at, what was happening next, and he made even the trickiest parts of the build feel manageable.

Despite us probably being pedantic customers at times (and we’re sure there were a few eye-roll moments behind the scenes!), Lee never let that show. He listened to our concerns, took everything on board, and worked tirelessly to deliver an end product we are genuinely proud of. He showed great balance between the requirement of the customer and the needs of the business. On top of all that, he was just great to deal with—always up for a bit of banter and made the process feel that much more human and enjoyable.

We’re beyond happy with our new home, and so much of that is thanks to Lee’s dedication and professionalism. If you’re building with Regent Homes and you get Lee as your site manager, you’re in incredibly good hands.

Thank you again to Lee and the whole Regent team!

We are thrilled to have settled into our newly constructed home crafted by Regent Homes, and the journey of bringing our dream abode to life with them has been nothing short of exceptional. Their strengths in exemplary communication, meticulous planning, and engaging with amiable and supportive contractors, along with sourcing top-tier materials, have truly set them apart.

Special thanks to Tina Booth, our Home Consultant, whose guidance through major design decisions was invaluable. Additionally, having a stellar project manager like Adrian Ousman onboard, who is not only friendly but also a great planner and communicator, significantly enhanced our overall experience.

To the entire team at Regent Homes, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for making our dream home a reality! Your dedication and expertise have truly made a difference in our lives.

We are in the early stages of looking for a builder and getting a little confused with all the options and designs. We thought we were settled on a particular design and builder when we stopped into the St Peter’s display home and met Michael Gleeson. Michael was welcoming and friendly and opened our eyes to the possibility of having our new home custom built rather than using a standard plan. We will definitely be returning to Regent homes to further investigate the build of our new home thanks to Michael’s advice.

We had a rough plan for a house that would suit our site and family needs. We went to Regent with this and through a few consultations we came up with the plan for our new house.
Regent were great in the way they assisted us make our plan into a great functional home. We changed our mind on a few details many times in that process with no added costs until we agreed on the plan and signed the contract.
The build quality is great with attention to detail in all the furnishings. From the brickwork to the square set cornice’s to the cabinetry and tiling.
Our site supervisor Ben was great and every concern we had was followed up promptly.

I would recommend Regent Homes to those who want to build a quality custom house for a reasonable price. There is no added cost to alter the layout/plan before signing the contract.

There are increases to the cost once the selections are made if you wish to upgrade. We upgraded some things but the standard they start with is very reasonable.

Regent homes recently built a single storey home for us in Rostrevor. Our building supervisor Adrian Ousman was a pleasure to deal with. Adrian informed us of any problems that came up and worked constructively with us to resolve every one of them. He kept us informed of the next stages of the build and the anticipated dates. Nothing phased him and he was always calm and pleasant, always answering my calls or returning them or a text the same day. He was ably supported by the construction manager Phil who was also very helpful and knowledgeable during the build. The overall result is excellent and we would recommend Regent homes.

We built our home with Stunning Homes and were impressed by their professionalism and the pride they take in their work. It’s hard to know who to trust in the building industry, but from the start, they were transparent, honest, and easy to work with.

The construction quality is excellent — solid workmanship, great finishes, and no corners cut. Even the small details were done properly, and you can tell they care about getting things right the first time.

They kept us informed throughout the build, and if anything needed adjusting, they handled it without fuss. It was a smooth, stress-free experience overall. We’re very happy with the final result and wouldn’t hesitate to build with them again.

We had a really positive experience building with Stunning Homes and couldn’t be happier with the result. From the very first meeting, it was clear the team knew what they were doing. They were upfront about timelines, realistic with expectations, and always kept communication open — which made a huge difference to us during the build.

We worked closely with Jason and Dean throughout the process, and both were fantastic. They were approachable, professional, and genuinely cared about the outcome of the home. Any time we had a question or needed clarification, they were quick to respond and never made us feel like we were asking too much.

The workmanship across the board was excellent — from the exterior finishes right down to the small interior details. There was no cutting corners or sloppy work. Everything was done properly and with care.

It’s not just a great-looking house — it’s one that feels well-built and thoughtfully put together. You can tell the team takes pride in what they do, and that flowed through in every stage of the build.

Really thankful for the effort Jason, Dean, and the rest of the Stunning Homes team put into our build. We’ve already recommended them to friends and wouldn’t hesitate to build with them again.

I’ve worked with several builders before, but Stunning Homes impressed me from the outset with their professionalism and attention to detail. This was a custom dual-occupancy build, and they handled the complexity with confidence and consistency from start to finish.

A big part of that came down to Dean and Jason, our project supervisors. Both were highly organised, responsive, and genuinely took ownership of the job. They kept things moving, communicated clearly, and were always a step ahead when it came to planning and problem-solving.

The team stuck to deadlines, flagged variations early, and kept the entire process transparent — which, in my experience, is rare in the building industry. The workmanship speaks for itself: clean finishes, no shortcuts, and excellent execution across both dwellings.

What also stood out was their understanding of the bigger picture — not just the construction, but the long-term value-adding decisions that matter for resale and investment. For anyone looking to build for return, Stunning Homes strikes the right balance between quality, efficiency, and smart communication. I’ll definitely be using them again.

I had the pleasure of building two homes with Stunning Homes, and it was an experience that truly exceeded my expectations. Despite facing some challenges along the way, the team at Stunning Homes was always in constant communication, ensuring that every detail was handled with care and professionalism. Their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction made the entire process feel seamless. The results were nothing short of stunning both homes turned out beautifully, with thoughtful designs and impeccable craftsmanship

Wow, Stunning Homes truly lived up to their name on our 1-to-3 house subdivision project. From the very first meeting, it was clear we were working with a team that was organised, experienced, and genuinely invested in delivering a top-quality outcome.

The project involved splitting one block into three standalone homes — something that can quickly become overwhelming without the right builder. But Stunning Homes made the entire process feel smooth and under control. Their systems were sharp, timelines were realistic, and any challenges were addressed proactively without excuses.

A big part of that success came down to the leadership team. Mr. Naveen Malhotra and Mr. Manu Gupta were involved at key stages, bringing a level of oversight and strategic input that ensured everything stayed on track. You could tell the team on site operated with clear direction, high standards, and a focus on long-term value — not just ticking boxes.

The final product speaks volumes: all three homes finished to a high standard, great workmanship, thoughtful layouts, and no shortcuts taken. If you’re looking for a builder who can handle complexity with confidence and deliver real results, Stunning Homes should be your first call. We’ll definitely be working with them again.

A.

Stunning Homes delivered a strong outcome on our duplex investment build. The team was efficient, organised, and always accessible when it mattered.

We worked closely with the site supervisors throughout the build, but it was clear there was solid guidance in the background, especially Mr. Naveen Malhotra, ensuring the project stayed on track. That kind of oversight gave us peace of mind from start to finish.

We’re very happy with how everything turned out, both in terms of workmanship and overall value. Would highly recommend them to other investors or developers.

I’ve worked with several builders before, but Stunning Homes impressed me from the outset with their professionalism, structure, and ability to handle complex builds. This was a custom dual-occupancy project, and they delivered with confidence, clarity, and consistency from day one through to handover.

Naveen set the tone early with his honest, no-nonsense approach and deep understanding of the industry. Manu brought great design insight and was always solution-focused, helping us get the most out of the site while keeping resale value in mind.

Day-to-day, Dean and Jason were outstanding as project supervisors. Both highly responsive, organised, and completely on top of the build. They kept us informed every step of the way and ensured the level of finish met the high standard we were after.

Timelines were met, variations were communicated early and clearly, and there was genuine transparency throughout. Something that’s unfortunately rare in the building space. The workmanship across both dwellings is excellent: clean finishes, no shortcuts, and quality you can see.

More than just building well, the Stunning Homes team understands what adds long-term value. For anyone building for investment, resale, or high-quality living. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them, and I’ll definitely be building with them again.

From the moment we began our journey, Kookaburra Homes stood out with their genuine care, professionalism, and commitment to excellence. What started as a vision soon became a reality—thanks to their incredible team who brought our dream home to life with skill, heart, and attention to detail.

When we decided we wanted to build, we felt so naive and in over our heads but from the second we stepped foot in the Kookaburra display home and met Jake we felt welcomed, at ease and comfortable to ask EVERY single question (even the stupid ones). It was because of that positive interaction and the obvious high quality of that display home that was beyond any other display we had looked at that we decided to take on this journey.

From then on, every single person we met at Kookaburra made us feel much the same.

Dave, our site supervisor, is an absolute legend who took such good care of us and ensured the highest quality at every point. He was more picky than us!

Thank you so much for everything you have done. We have definitely caught the building bug and will be coming back when we are ready to build house number 2. You guys are the best around and we couldn’t recommend you MORE.

We would like to thank all Kookaburra staff for making our build an easy experience. Nothing is ever too much trouble and this company genuinely care. The quality of build is something Kookaburra Homes should be proud of. Everyone who has toured our house has commented on such class. We love our new home and the credit lies with Kookaburra and their high quality of tradespeople.
If anyone is looking at building a new home with minimal stress, I highly recommend Kookaburra Homes.
You won’t be disappointed.

Our greatest decision in building our forever home was choosing Kookaburra to build it. From our first contact with Nordz in the design stage.He was brilliant and pleasure to deal with.
On going support through the process, thank you Belinda, nothing was to much trouble. You are truly a gem.
Thank you to our building supervisor Daryl, all work was done to the highest standard. Daryl was always contactable and his knowledge and great ideas were invaluable.
We would definitely recommend Kookaburra.
Colin & Carol

Kookaburra were easy to contact and able to address any questions or changes we needed to make. The design service was great and selection process was easy and helpful staff guided us through the process. The finishes were top quality and trades very professional. I have not found a any problems. Our site manager was great and handover was as promised. loved the welcome gift of a weber bbq. would recommend them and use them again if the opportunity arose.

Kookaburra delivered an extremely high quality build that exceeded our expectations. Their eye for detail and care for our home was amazing and they went above and beyond to deliver an amazing result.

Through out the build the communication was great with their supervisor James who was always open to sharing ideas and happy to work with us to achieve our goals

Dylan and Jake in the sales team were both awesome to work with and remained invested throughout the build. Their ideas and suggestions throughout the design process really helped us achieve our vision and bought our home to life

Thanks to all the team at kookaburra

Choosing Kookaburra to build our dream Home was the best choice we could have made. The experience from design to building completion was a great experience and all staff were kind and professional. Thank you to all Kookaburra staff

Thank you Fortune Group for these two houses.

Houses got finished in five and half months.
Quality of the houses are wonderful.

Supervisor Savan on top of everything when it comes to scheduling, quality check and notifying us regarding update.

Shivam in Estimating department helped us to reach end product what we wanted through right selection and to be cost effective as much as possible.

I would definitely recommend developers and clients to go with Fortune.

Big thanks to Ravi and their team for these houses.

I already planned for next project with fortune as well.

Thanks Fortune.

Regards
Taqi

my house built with Fortune over 6 months ago. Right from the start of the build Ravi bhai, Shivambhai and Rishabbhai were very helpful in every stage. They were there to answer any question i had and guided through. They came in person to talk to me when i had issues on site. Their some inclusions were great which meant we didn’t had to pay extra for upgrades. Also we not charged for any last minute changes. There was no cap of 3 or 6 months on maintenance issues like other builders. They were very understanding with my finances and gave me plenty of time to clear my invoices with the company for which i am ever grateful.
They did some of works at my home no extra cost as good client.
Only one thing, they took extra time to finish as normal.
On the whole it was a good experience building with Fortune Living.
My family is very happy.

Thinking of Building with Fortune Living or Using Adelaide Building Consulting (ABC) in Kent Town? Please read this before you sign anything.

This was my eighth home build — I’m not new to the process. I chose to engage ABC because I wanted a smoother, stress-free experience. They promised to manage everything from start to finish, liaise with the builder on my behalf, and act as a buffer if issues arose.

What I got was the complete opposite.

I provided ABC with a custom floor plan, detailed specifications, and a fixed turnkey price. They assured me that Fortune Living were reliable builders who’d deliver a quality home within six months of slab pour. The contract stated the slab would go down within six weeks of council approval and the build would be completed within six months after that.

But once my deposit was paid, the professionalism stopped. Selections were changed or removed despite being in the signed contract and emails. Much of what I’d worked out with ABC was never passed on to Fortune Living. Once issues started surfacing, ABC stopped responding to emails and calls entirely. I was left doing exactly what I paid them to avoid — managing the builder myself.

That’s when I learned the hard truth: ABC act like they’re working for you, but really they’re just a middleman. They take a hefty consulting fee and also receive a $20,000+ kickback from the builder they send you to. Once the contract is signed, they disappear and take no accountability.

As for Fortune Living? The delays and quality issues were beyond belief.

Here’s the actual timeline:
• Contract signed: Dec 2020
• Council approval: Mar 2021
• Slab promised: May 2021
• Slab poured: June 2022
• Handover: Dec 2023 — with over 80 pages of defects

Now it’s May 2025, and I’m still chasing Fortune to fix the outstanding faults. Despite near-daily follow-ups, we get constant delays, broken promises, and unqualified tradies who sometimes ask me how to do the job. They leave a mess every time, with no cleanup in sight.

I’ve now spent over $80,000 more than originally budgeted. What was meant to be a 6-month turnkey build has turned into a 4.5-year nightmare.

This has been one of the most stressful, disappointing, and expensive experiences of my life. I wasn’t going to write a review, but after years of false hope and being ignored, I felt compelled to warn others.

My advice:
• Avoid Adelaide Building Consulting (ABC) — they don’t manage your build and vanish when problems arise.
• Avoid Fortune Living — they do not deliver on quality, timelines, or contractual obligations.
• Get independent inspections at every stage.
• Never pay progress payments until defects are fixed.
• Don’t make final payment until every issue is resolved.

If this review spares even one person from going through what I have, it’ll be worth it.

You’ve been warned.

Fortune Living — if you’re reading this, finalise the outstanding faults and you’ll never hear from me again.

We recently built our home with Fortune Living and couldn’t be happier! From start to finish, Gurtej and the team were supportive and made sure our vision came to life. Any small adjustments needed after handover were taken care of quickly and professionally.

The workmanship, communication, and follow-through have been fantastic, and we’re now enjoying our beautiful new home. Thank you to the whole Fortune Living team for making our dream a reality! Highly recommend.

Just want to share my experience about my recent house build.From the initial consultation to the final handover, the team at Fortune Living was exceptional. They went above and beyond to understand my needs and budget, and their communication was prompt and clear throughout the entire process. The quality of the materials used and the workmanship were outstanding, and they completed the build on time, even slightly ahead of schedule! We had a few minor issues that arose during construction, but they were addressed promptly and professionally. I highly recommend Fortune Living to anyone looking for a reliable and reputable builder

Thank you fortune for handing over house at right time and very good quality.

I would recommend Fortune if you are building your own home.
Definitely recommend Savan as site supervisor.

Thanks a lot.

Fortune Living consistently delivered poor workmanship, constant delays, and unprofessional conduct. It was only through the intervention of government agencies like CBS that these serious issues were highlighted and addressed. Their involvement shows just how far this builder falls short of Australian building standards and legal obligations. Save yourself the stress, cost, and frustration—do not hire this builder.

Completely unprofessional and unethical — beware if they’re building near you!

Sterling Homes is building in my neighbourhood, and based on my experience, I would never trust them with my own construction.

Their team trespassed on my land without permission, using it to store materials and even accessed my water supply—before my build had even started. This blatant disregard for property rights is shocking.

Despite clear evidence, including photos and confirmation from an independent builder, they refuse to take responsibility for missing boundary pegs, damage to my property, and the mess their team left behind.

If Sterling Homes is building in your neighbourhood, please be extremely careful. Their lack of respect and accountability has caused me serious stress and inconvenience.

We wish we had never used this builder. We signed to have our house built in October 2022 and finally moved in October 2024.
During the build, we did not feel valued as customers, they were difficult to get hold of, often our requests for contact were not met and we had to chase them up. When we did have contact with staff they were often abrupt or just plain rude.
They did not discuss anything with us, such as the design of the kitchen, in particular didn’t tell us the kitchen would not have drawers.
I hated the process of choosing our colours etc. At the appointment, the lady rushed us through, she was impatient as we were choosing and did not even offer us a coffee.
The standard of workmanship especially painting is very unsatisfactory, paint on downpipes has been badly scratched during the build, some internal doors are rough on the sides, they should have been sanded before painting, and the skirting boards are a different colour. There are quite a few unresolved maintenance issues but they won’t respond to my requests by email or phone.
A power point (to supply electricity to the house) needed upgrading which was communicated to us, but they did not tell us they would be installing a big green box and safety bollards. When complaining they totally missed the point that they failed to inform us about installing the green box and bollards.
There is a lot more I can say.
The only positive is the house design itself suits our needs, sadly it is not the quality of standard promised.
Word of caution, please take these negative reviews seriously before using this builder.

I’ve been trying to resolve an issue with Sterling Homes since last month, regarding a pile of soil dumped on my land since June. I contacted their office multiple times to get in touch with the site supervisor, but they never provided a number. When I finally spoke with Karen, the manager, she said she would investigate. However, she didn’t even know my lot number and kept insisting it wasn’t their dump—despite it clearly sitting between both properties.

If someone had to dump soil, there are over 5 acres of land available, so why would it end up specifically on mine? Even my neighbor confirmed that the construction team dumped it there. When I tried to follow up with Karen, she was dismissive, repeatedly stating it wasn’t their responsibility without properly investigating. She even requested proof, which I provided via email, but never received a response.
It is obvious to anyone who visits the site where the soil came from. We initially assumed they would remove it once construction was done, so we didn’t raise concerns earlier. However, ignoring the issue and refusing to take accountability is unacceptable. You cannot investigate properly just by sitting in an office—you need to visit the location.

I spoke with the owner and he accepted this is their soil dump but sterling not accepting that at all. Ridiculous people working in this place.

Since my concerns have been ignored, I will now be pursuing legal action. With clear proof and witnesses, the truth will be evident. Very disappointed in the lack of professionalism and responsibility from Sterling Homes.

Seem’s others have had the same issue with Sterling Homes building near them.
Their contractors have trashed the side of my house, building next door. Damaged Air duct system and ruined my exposed agg concrete and normal concrete.

They refuse to reply to emails and deal with it.
Judging by other peoples reviews, seems nothing will come of it.
Screw Sterling Homes

Just completed our second home with Sterling Homes, and once again, we’re incredibly happy with the result. The quality, attention to detail, and smooth building process have exceeded our expectations—again! A big thank you to the team for making our dream home a reality, twice!

Don’t use unless you want problems with your neighbours. Removed our fencing and put it on the trash heap which we had to recover, left our property unsecured for weeks. Told us we needed to contact the other owner if we wanted them to fix up what they had done. Really poor customer service. Eventually we had to engage our builder to fix what they had done. Obstructive, arrogant and difficult.

I went to visit the Sterling display home in Riverlea and was really disappointed with the experience. When we first walked in, Abdul Rahman was on the phone, speaking very loudly and even yelling, with air pods in which immediately created an unwelcoming atmosphere. He barely acknowledged us—no greeting, no hello and we felt completely ignored. For a display home where first impressions matter, the service was extremely unprofessional and rude considering we are building with sterling homes it has left a very bad taste in my mouth.

We are looking forward to receive our keys next week, and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of building with Simonds Adelaide.

We’d like to particularly mention Jason Wear, who was our first point of contact. We made quite a lot of design changes and Jason was instrumental in assisting us even in choosing the appropriate block of land. He continued to follow up and help us even after handing over our project to the building team. Massive thanks to you Jason.

We are super thankful also to our site supervisor Donato Sofia, who’s provided us great service, advice and support.

Once again thank you to the whole team.

We recently had our selections appointment with Brianna Kearns, Interior Design Consultant at Simonds, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. Brianna is a truly lovely person—warm, patient, and incredibly professional. She made what could have been a stressful and overwhelming process feel smooth and enjoyable.
What stood out most was her patience and understanding. After our initial appointment, we changed our minds about a few things and needed a second appointment. Brianna didn’t just accommodate us—she came prepared with examples from our first session to help us easily pick up where we left off. That level of attention to detail made a huge difference.

She was easy to work with, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about helping us create a home we’ll love. Both my partner and I are extremely happy with how the selection process went, and we’re very grateful to have had Brianna guiding us through it.

Thank you again, Brianna!

Our experience with Simonds has been nothing short of amazing during the initial stage as of now. We’re especially grateful to our new home specialist, Sid, who has gone above and beyond in helping us navigate every step of the home selection and design process. Being first-time builders, we’ve learned so much thanks to Sid’s insights and suggestions. We are waiting for an exciting gallery selection and so on from here.
Thanks Simonds & Sid.

We had a great experience so far with Simonds, special thank you to our new home specialist Sid, who has been exceptional, guiding us throughout the whole process in selecting and designing our home. As first time builders, Sid has also provided us a wealth of information and ideas. We could not ask for anyone better to start this journey.

Absolutely irate this morning. I’ve woken up to machinery and loud noise on your building site across the road. Work started at 5:30am! I spoke to trades onsite and was informed that they had to start work this early as Simonds Homes had told them to. My partner is in SAPOL has been on night shift. I will be making a complaint to the council for the second time for this job site.

Just moved into our new home. We cannot fault the service we received from Simonds especially our Site Supervisor Jon Taylor. We had weekly emails with updates and open communication. Nothing was ever too hard and the timing from slab to completion was on 3.5months. So far, we have not had any problems with the finishes, and we are so happy with how everything has come together. I would highly recommend Simonds to anyone about to build a new home.

Simonds built our house in very good time, with few delays, so I can’t gripe about their project management. The house quality leaves a lot to be desired – paint and plaster are both substandard, but my biggest criticism is of the site manager, whose arrogance and obvious belief that shoddy work is OK, is legendary. For example, badly sealed windows let water in during a heavy rain at handover, but we have to wait until three months to get that fixed up. The seal is visually defective, with the glass edge showing outside the seal, but according to the site supervisor, that either doesn’t matter (because we’re going to fit shutters), and besides, “silicone will fix it”. Finding a gas leak at the HWS was the icing on the cake, but at least the words “gas leak” got his attention and a plumber came out within two hours. Another gripe: you pay good money for certain items at Selections, and end up with something cheaper, at the same price. Examples: a Steel-line roller door instead of the B&D we paid for, and a house lot of Clipsal switches/powerpoints that was substituted for cheap s**t (but we actually won that battle and had it changed). Put simply, between the site supervisor, the quiet substitution of inferior products and the generally appalling finish inside our house, I wouldn’t touch Simonds with a 60-foot barge pole. EDIT: wrote to the email address in Simonds’ response, surprise surprise, no answer. No problem, maintenance visit is in a couple of weeks, I will happily be showing them the numerous code violations.