Marion couple’s anguish after Adelaide Designer Homes goes into liquidation, leaving their dream home unfinished

A southern suburbs couple have shared their heartache as their dream home is left in limbo after the builder abruptly collapsed into liquidation.

The unfinished home of Alan Chang and Linda Wong of Marion. Picture: Supplied

A southern suburbs couple has been left in limbo after Adelaide Designer Homes abruptly went into liquidation last week.

Former customers of the Myrtle Bank-based building company, Alan Chang, 45, and Linda Wong, 36, started building their future family home with the company in Bedford Park in 2021.

The Marion couple expected to move into their completed dream home in early 2023, but they were faced with a series of constant delays during the building process.

Frustrated by the lack of answers from the builders, the couple sought help from Consumer and Business Services (CBS).

CBS mediated an agreement which would see different phases of the home completed by a specific time frame, so the home would be finished by March next year.

But instead the company went into liquidation last week.

The couple say their dream is in tatters. Picture: Supplied

Much of the home is unfinished. Picture: Supplied

“First stage was supposed to be finished in the first week of August (this year),” Mr Chang said.

“My partner had actually driven past the house multiple times, taking photos of what was happening.”

However, about “a week before that deadline” on Thursday of last week, the couple were notified the debt-ridden business had gone into liquidation.

“The last time we spoke to them was exactly a week before the letter from the liquidators,” he said.

Their property was among 20 homes left incomplete, with more than 80 creditors uncertain if the homeowners will receive the money they are owed.

The backyard looks like a building site. Picture: Supplied

. . . with the interior missing windows, walls and . . .

doors and ceilings.

They are now attempting to reclaim their losses through insurance but expect to only receive about $150,000 – despite already paying the collapsed builders $380,000 from their initial $580,000 loan.

“Everything on the outside has been done but it’s just internal stuff,” he said.

“We’re hoping that the remaining loan might cover the costs to fix the remaining parts of the house. But, if we do find a builder, we don’t know if that will be enough.

“We’re not sure if we have to demolish it again or resell the land.”

Mr Chang said the process has left the couple disappointed and nervous about finding another builder.

“I think I’ve lost my trust in these building companies,” he explained.

“I’m disappointed and extremely angry about how this has turned out.”

The couple believes the state and federal government should be doing more to prevent builders from going into liquidation.