Monti Build

I had an excellent experience with Monti Build from start to finish. The quality of workmanship across all trades was outstanding, professional, respectful, reliable, and clearly very skilled. Every stage of the build was handled with care and attention to detail, and the site was always well managed. A special mention to Shadi and Milan, the owners, who were exceptional to deal with. They were communicative, honest, and genuinely invested in delivering a high-quality outcome. Any questions or concerns were addressed promptly, and I always felt supported and informed throughout the process. What really stood out was the consistency,timelines were respected, expectations were clear, and the finished result exceeded what I had hoped for. It’s rare to find a building company that combines strong project management with trades that take real pride in their work. I would confidently recommend Monti Build to anyone looking for a builder they can trust. Professional, reliable, and a pleasure to work with.

Absolutely horrible experience with reno of bathroom and kitchen in my 1 bedroom St Kilda flat, which was 'managed' by Shadi. This company is NOT registered with the Victorian Building Authority, which means it is illegal for them to take on jobs worth over $10k. The original quote for my kitchen and bathroom renovation was $50k, and the total job cost ended up being $75k. Monti’s lack of building license also means they do not have builders warranty insurance. Issues in summary: * Huge delay in completion time, was advised it would be 4 weeks which then turned into 4 months. This is likely because Monti do not have a building background so do not understand what a reno of an older style building will entail. It also meant there were significant additional plumbing costs ($4-5k) which a were not factored in to the original quote; * Poor completion of job by Monti contractors, eg. gap left in the flooring, plastic covering left all over kitchen tiles but then grouted on top so bits of plastic hanging out everywhere. This meant the grouting had to be removed, plastic taken off and essentially the whole job done again; * Ugly chip was on one of the bathroom tiles, with tiler attempting to cover by adding extra grouting. Builder who fixed this later, at serious expense, commented that the tiler had actively chosen to install the tile even though it was clearly damaged; * Shadi seemed to want to cut corners and pick out the absolute cheapest fittings possible, without consulting me or making any suggestions about what would look good. I had to chase her around anticipating what was happening on the project (very difficult from interstate) so I could organise for the fittings I wanted to be delivered on time. I don't think she has any qualifications in terms of interior design or building management and it shows; * Mis-measurement of space for vanity meant that this had to be re-ordered and a restocking fee paid, which I had to front up the money for. This contributed to project completion delay. Contractors then cut an unnecessarily large hole in the bottom of the vanity, leaving it very untidy looking and reducing storage space in an already tiny bathroom. This vanity was an expensive, pre-ordered item from Melbourne Bathroom Company which was damaged for no good reason except lack of care or concern for other people's property; * Handover of job was done without attending to the most basic of bathroom fittings such as hand towel & towel rail, doorstop to protect brand new shower screen, and bathroom mirror. I repeatedly reminded Shadi about these items and she essentially ignored me. This attitude and failure to respond goes to Monti's lack of care and integrity in managing an expensive project; * I had to repeatedly remind Shadi about small items, another one was the shower shelf that needed to be installed. She actually suggested to me that I get a 'stick on' shower shelf as a solution. When I forced the issue she then had a cheap and very small shelf installed. I was not consulted about this and it was very obvious she had chosen the cheapest item possible to cut costs; * Builders mess on tiling and also on external wall from plumbing works was not cleaned up properly, leading to a complaint from the Body Corporate. I asked Shadi to have this cleaned up early in the project and it was simply not attended to; * Items at the property that were left in the main bedroom (where no renovations were being completed), were discarded and when I asked about them I did not receive a response. This included two heaters, one of which was brand new, and a large mirror; * Rubbish was left at the property post job completion which I had to arrange to be removed. In summary I would strongly recommend choosing another project manager and ensure they are registered with the VBA as legally required. I had to have this project completed by a builder to address all of the outstanding issues and the mess left behind, paying another $4k to fix everything and complete the job properly. I have now had to chase Monti for the last 2 months to force them to return these funds to me. During this period of time they have been rude and extremely disrespectful and dismissive in their communication with me. In order to force the company to do the right thing, I had to threaten to go to VCAT and also to report them to the VBA for illegally taking on a job that they are not licensed to do. They also wanted me to sign a letter agreeing not to put up reviews online, another unethical action, which needless to say I did not sign. A lot of their positive google reviews appear to have been completed by friends and family, which is pretty unethical but seems typical of the way they conduct their business.

Absolutely horrible experience with reno of bathroom and kitchen in my 1 bedroom St Kilda flat, which was 'managed' by Shadi. This company is NOT registered with the Victorian Building Authority, which means it is illegal for them to take on jobs worth over $10k. The original quote for my kitchen and bathroom renovation was $50k, and the total job cost ended up being $75k. Monti’s lack of building license also means they do not have builders warranty insurance. Issues in summary: * Huge delay in completion time, was advised it would be 4 weeks which then turned into 4 months. This is likely because Monti do not have a building background so do not understand what a reno of an older style building will entail. It also meant there were significant additional plumbing costs ($4-5k) which a were not factored in to the original quote; * Poor completion of job by Monti contractors, eg. gap left in the flooring, plastic covering left all over kitchen tiles but then grouted on top so bits of plastic hanging out everywhere. This meant the grouting had to be removed, plastic taken off and essentially the whole job done again; * Ugly chip was on one of the bathroom tiles, with tiler attempting to cover by adding extra grouting. Builder who fixed this later, at serious expense, commented that the tiler had actively chosen to install the tile even though it was clearly damaged; * Shadi seemed to want to cut corners and pick out the absolute cheapest fittings possible, without consulting me or making any suggestions about what would look good. I had to chase her around anticipating what was happening on the project (very difficult from interstate) so I could organise for the fittings I wanted to be delivered on time. I don't think she has any qualifications in terms of interior design or building management and it shows; * Mis-measurement of space for vanity meant that this had to be re-ordered and a restocking fee paid, which I had to front up the money for. This contributed to

Shadi and Milan were a great team to work with. The entire house was renovated and painted, both inside and outside, in just 2 months which was unexpected and such a relief. The result is just wonderful. Great workmanship and excellent communication with Shadi returning calls immediately to questions raised. Would certainly recommend them.

Shadi and Milan were an absolute pleasure to deal. Both Shadi and Milan provided us with a brand new bathroom/toilet and an ensuite. Her tradies were well polite and well mannered. Absolutely loved dealing with Shadi - she would return calls as soon as possible and communication was on the ball. Work was completed to a high standard. Highly recommend using Shadi and her team again for any future projects.

We recently partnered with Monti Build for a project at Catalyst Education, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. Monti Build's team impressed us with their professionalism, reliability, and ease of collaboration. From the beginning, their insightful guidance made the project seem effortless. They demonstrated a keen understanding of our needs, providing valuable and informative input throughout the process. Monti Build's professionalism shone through in their clear communication and adherence to timelines. They were always prompt and kept us informed every step of the way. The quality of their work was outstanding, showcasing a meticulous attention to detail that left us thoroughly impressed. They made the entire process easy and enjoyable, actively seeking our input and ensuring a seamless partnership. In summary, Monti Build exceeded our expectations with their professional, reliable, and informative approach. If you're in search of a construction partner, we highly recommend them and look forward to working with them again in the future.